Du Preez wants the real Sharks to stand up at Kings Park

DURBAN: There is a lot more to the Sharks’ match tomorrow night against the Jaguares than first meets the eye, and it could be season-defining for the Durban team.

Coach Robert du Preez has made eight changes (six unenforced) to the side that was so poor against the Rebels last week and while the coach was quick to say earlier in the week that “there would be changes but not performance-related ones”, we can take that with a pinch of salt.

The Sharks have been hot and cold all season and there have been highs such as the performance against the Lions at Ellis Park (where they should have won), but then curiously poor displays at home against the Kings and Rebels. More than anybody, Du Preez wants the real Sharks to stand up.

They have talked the talk about playing an attacking game but after the halfway mark they have scored just 17 tries. Of the 18 teams in the competition, only the Rebels have scored less tries than the Sharks and Force, while the Hurricanes have scored 56 in the same number of games.

Something with the Sharks is just not adding up ... It is time they walked the walk about this try-scoring game they keep banging on about. Tomorrow night’s game for the Sharks is as important for the log points they need to stay in playoff contention as it is to how they play the game.

The Sharks must rather stick to their attacking guns and lose than disintegrate into a shambles as they did last week when nobody seemed to know what to do. The ball was kicked away aimlessly, passes were made directly into touch and there were drop-goal attempts from the halfway line.

One comment from Du Preez after the game stood out more than his other remarks: “The senior players did not stand up and take control.”

I don’t think it is a co-incidence that there are six changes, including a new captain, together with the change necessitated by the suspension of Andre Esterhuizen and the injury to Kobus van Wyk.

Tendai Mtawarira has been “rested” at loosehead prop and youngster Thomas du Toit comes in at hooker. Chiliboy Ralepelle gets a shot ahead of Franco Marais, who had a nightmare against the Rebels, while completing the new front row is Lourens Adriaanse, replacing Coenie Oosthuizen.

The captain against the Rebels, Tera Mtembu, has been dropped to the bench, as much due to his culpability for the performance against the Rebels as to the need to get Philip van der Walt starting. The former Cheetah is also the new captain.

It is a beefy loose trio now that the Du Preez twins are back in tandem.

The need for experience will explain the re-emergence from nowhere of veteran Odwa Ndungane. The 35-year-old has been nowhere near the Sharks 23 this season and has been mentoring the second-string side in the SuperSport Challenge, but is suddenly back on the right wing.

There is also a welcome return on the other wing for Lwazi Mvovo, who has recovered from injury and his experience will also be useful.