Du Preez and Co’s Sharks here to serve

LAST SUNDAY, before the dust had settled on the Sharks’ disastrous loss to the Jaguares, the coaching staff met to thrash out what went wrong and how to put it right before this week’s game against the Reds (Friday at Jonsson Kings Park, 3pm).

“We looked at everything from mental preparation, to technical and tactical issues, as well as conditioning, because the week before we had a fantastic performance against the Lions but then could not back it up,” coach Robert du Preez said.

The coach said the accountability starts with himself and the coaching team and filters through to the team.

“It is a joint responsibility, from management to the players,” Du Preez continued. “We can’t single out individuals because the whole team played badly, so it is about the team rectifying matters.”

Du Preez was speaking at the team announcement for the Reds game (he has made five changes to his starting line-up) where he was joined by experienced flank Philip van der Walt. Du Preez asked the flank to give the players’ point of view on what had to be done for the Sharks to get back to winning ways.

“We have taken ownership and the only thing we can do now is rectify things,” the 29-year-old said. “We have had this in the past (inconsistency) and so it is important thatn we learn now. The mood is not a desperate one but it weighs heavily on our hearts that we have disappointed our friends, families and supporters.”

Van der Walt, pictured, proceeded to wax lyrical on the way forward.

“We have identified that we need to have a common goal, and we need to all work towards that goal,” he said. “When we really play together as a team – which we managed to do against the Lions – the platform is laid for individuals to play well. So, our focus this week is to serve the man next to you, to work hard for the guy next to you so you can put him in a position better than you.

“We feel that attitude of serving and doing the hard yards for each other is the key.”

Du Preez added that the Sharks need this win so much that it has indeed become an obsession.

“It has to be an obsession from us to win this game, and it is,” the coach said. “The boys have responded well. No player goes out to intentionally perform badly but, in a competition as tough as this, if you are five percent off when you play against a quality team, then that is what happens to you (51 points).”

The changes to the team see props Tendai Mtawarira and Coenie Oosthuizen returning for Thomas du Toit and Juan Schoeman, while Lukhanyo Am and Makazole Mapimpi have been rested and are replaced by Kobus van Wyk and Lwazi Mvovo, respectively.

The other change sees Jacques Vermeulen resuming on the flank for Luke Stringer.