Oosthuizen gives props to preparation

COENIE Oosthuizen is never one to mince words or to spout out mediatrained cliches, the Springbok prop rather tells it like it is, and most of the time in rather elegant and interesting ways.

The 2017 Sharks player of the year is making his return to the park after a long injury lay-off and is raring to go against an always unpredictable Sunwolves side. Oosthuizen, when asked what he was expecting from the Sunwolves, put it like only he could.

“For me, this game is like playing the Cheetahs away … a lot harder than people think,” Oosthuizen offered, knowing more than many what the Cheetahs are all about having started his career in the Free State. The Sunwolves away are never easy. They can stop a pack at scrum time, they can maul. Underestimating them would be a huge mistake. We are not taking this game lightly. We have to start on a high. We can’t be coming back playing catch up rugby.”

One area that the Sharks will feel they have an edge, or at least will be on par with the Sunwolves, is being prepared for the typical humidity of Singapore. The Sharks and Bulls played out to a rather dull 7-7 draw in a warm-up game in muggy conditions in Ballito.

“Playing in Ballito was extremely hot, so we will be well prepared for Saturday’s conditions. It will be the same conditions for both teams but we have ticked all the boxes,” added the prop. Mentally we are prepared.

“Pre-season we worked on every possible thing, the coaches really got into the nitty-gritty, so it’s exciting to finally have match week after all that prep.”

The Sharks will be blessed with incredible depth in the front row, and in the forwards in general with Oosthuizen, Thomas du Toit, Akker van der Merwe, Beast Mtawarira and Juan Schoeman a bevy of talent front rankers.

“As a pack, we have the depth other teams strive to have,” Oosthuizen agrees.