Sharks season comes to a head this week
AFTER looking a dead cert for a semi-final, probably even a home semi-final, through the early part of the Currie Cup, there is now a real chance that the Sharks could miss out.
The men from Durban take on the ever-improving Lions on Friday (5pm, at Ellis Park) knowing now that a win is crucial, and a bonus-point win decisive, in their push for Currie Cup glory.
After their bye last week, the Sharks have dropped to third on the table behind Free State and the Bulls.
The Cheetahs, still undefeated, are assured top spot with a game against the Griquas remaining. They sit four points ahead of the Bulls, who are on 30 points, and who have completed their run in the round robin stages.
The Sharks, with 25 points, will have set their targets on five points in Johannesburg – no easy feat – as they have a superior points difference over the Bulls and as such would nab secondspot and a home semi-final.
However, they are playing a team who is just as desperate as they are for the win.
The Lions are in a position where this match is basically a quarter-final for them on 22 points. Win and they stay alive, lose, and it is game over for the defending champions.
There is more competition coming from the chasing pack, however. Western Province, who have fourth spot at the moment, face Boland at home in the final match on Friday evening.
The outcome of this match will be the final factor on deciding where the Sharks end up.
Best case scenario, again, is that bonus point win – then there will be no stressing about what Province manage to do against the less-fancied Boland. However, a win alone still keeps them in the competition, but out of a home semi-final spot.
The real worry for coach Robert du Preez and his charges comes if they lose on Friday.
Should that happen, the Lions will jump to third, with 26 points, and the Sharks to fourth – only momentarily, however.
If Province then beat Boland, which should be expected, they will come in third, knocking the Lions down, and the Sharks out.
This week will no doubt be the most important one for Du Preez in his very young Sharks coaching career.
His tenure as Currie Cup coach will be defined on first, making the play-offs, and then kicking on from there.
Failing to reach knockout rugby, after such a bright start, and shift in attacking mindset, will be truly devastating for a team that only lost two games before this week.
The competitiveness of this year’s Currie Cup has all gathered towards the end as teams like the Lions, Bulls, and Western Province have finished strong; all the while, the Free State seems to have regathered its own mojo this year and will probably be the team to beat come the final.