Natal Sharks Tries - Super 12 1996

[@danielviles38]

I was at Ballymore the night that Natal destroyed us (Queensland) in the semi final. They were such a great side. Andre Joubert and Henri Honiball were geniuses, Cabous van der Westhuizen was just coolness personified, Gary Teichmann was a very skilful and tough leader. James Small was a bit of a prick but everyone else in the side just played brilliantly without being nasty. Definitely a side of which Sharks fans should be forever proud.

[@tawerapetera9327]

Honiball is one of my Springbok favorites.. Smooth operator.

[@rolandjohannes6734]

Man those were the days.... these guys really set the standard!

[@paddy8046]

Thank you for the upload. Andre Rolls Royce Joubert man still the standard for full back for me what a player, silky smooth! Big fan of Dick Muir as well.

[@ay613]

James Small was class. May he R.I.P.

[@willemkotze2611]

One of the best ever Sharks sides. Best game for me was how they absolutely dismantled the mighty Transvaal(Lions), who at the time had the majority of the 95 world cup Bok team playing for them.

[@travismcgarry]

Amazing era... great team and classy players. McIntosh was ahead of his time

[@ablyndon]

Awww man, awesome memories! Thanks for this.....

[@RealRugby]

Thanks for the support!

[@bretondaluva]

awesome. How good was Honiball? He reinvented flyhalf play during this era, taking the ball flat combined with such deft handling.

[@RealRugby]

He was epic. I see a lot of Honiball's play in Pollard. Both like to play flat and are not afraid to attack the line

[@bretondaluva]

@@RealRugbydefinitely. I also recall a rumour that when Larkham converted from 15 to 10 they gave him footage of honiball as reference.

[@RealRugby]

@@bretondaluva I've heard the same story before. Larkham still couldn't tackle like Lem...

[@davidseptember5170]

Why did Jeremy Thompson never become a Springbok? The guy was world class for Natal for a considerable period.

[@RealRugby]

He did tour in 1996 but never played in a test. I agree with you, he was superb and should have played for the Boks. Great player - go check out our tribute to him

[@davidseptember5170]

@@RealRugby Thanks. I will surely check it out... old classic rugby gives me goosebumps.

[@johnbo51able]

Japie Mulder was a better tackler

[@MrDugiwe]

Henry Honiball, what a baller! Such classy touches

[@sandorclegane3658]

Man that team was stacked with talent. Shame they couldn't go all the way.

[@danielviles38]

It took a truly great Auckland side to beat them. But yes, it's a shame that Natal couldn't get a title at some point during that era.

[@sandorclegane3658]

@@danielviles38 it was essentially the Springboks vs the All Blacks

[@georgedouglas3930]

Both Teichmann and Honiball are underrated.

[@georgedouglas3930]

Can you make thier tribute videos?

[@JonathanParker1986]

Really been enjoying your stuff. I feel like we need a Marius Joubert tribute video though :D

[@RealRugby]

I can do that... thanks for the support!

[@John-pl8fe]

To beat Queensland those days at Ballymore is like beating the Crusaders in Christchurch nowadays. Man I miss this era of rugby especially Super 12. All teams had depth and every game was like a test match, until greed took over and the pride of the southern hemisphere perished.

[@Ashton_Pillay]

The best jersey ever.

[@danielviles38]

A question from an Australian to South African rugby fans: why is it that when you have teams stacked with Sharks and Stormers players, you play really attractive and largely successful rugby, but then someone decides that Test rugby needs giant players so the selectors then stack the side with Lions, Blue Bulls and Cheetahs players who play boring 10-man rugby that isn't any more successful than when you were playing open rugby? There seems to be this constant tension in South African rugby between the north and south. Your thoughts, please.

[@20165776YEAR]

andre joubert, henery holibal, ruan pinaar, willie le roux, frans styen in fact most of the skillful rugby players come out of the orange free state and thats just a fact

[@lm_b5080]

@@20165776YEAR die ou grappie is wanneer die sharks in bloemfontein gaan speel slaap hulle nie in 'n hotel nie, hulle slaap by hul ouers

[@toetap3937]

Went to the highlanders game. Midweek game. Natal lead 30-13 and lost 30-32

[@John-pl8fe]

33-32 you mean

[@toetap3937]

@@John-pl8fe correct. It was 32-13. Good day that

[@John-pl8fe]

The Shark blew a few games that season as well againt Otago, ACT, Queensland and Auckland.