Unforced errors costing the Kings
COACH: ‘IT’S IMPORTANT THAT WE UP OUR WORK ETHIC’
Du Preez backs the Sharks’ outstanding talent to earn points.
The Southern Kings find themselves languishing at the bottom of Africa Conference 2 largely because they have turned over the ball more than most teams in Super Rugby this season, so the Sharks will be highlighting this weakness when they meet at King’s Park in Durban today.
The Kings have conceded 18 turnovers per game (only five teams have a worse record*) and nothing causes those errors more than defensive pressure, an area the Sharks excelled in against the Waratahs last weekend.
“Our defence was good against the Waratahs and we want to step up that intensity, that defensive pressure on them must definitely be there,” Sharks coach Robert du Preez said in the build-up.
The Sharks have been able to get off the line quickly largely because of stable set-pieces and they need to focus on laying the platform first against a side which everyone expects them to beat.
Kings coach Deon Davids admitted that he is being driven mad by their unforced errors.
“At times we seem like we are losing against ourselves. We need to be more clinical. It’s important that we up our work ethic and work for 80 minutes. There were aspects of our game last week against the Stormers where we did some good things, but there is also stuff that we need to tidy up,” Davids said.
Just to highlight the contrast in playing resources between the two teams, Kings wing Alshaun Bock will make his Super Rugby debut at the age of 34, the oldest a player has ever been for their first game in the tournament, while the Sharks have chosen 20-yearold Benhard Janse van Rensburg as the replacement at flyhalf for the injured Pat Lambie.
Du Preez has also relied on some back-up players as the Sharks play their second consecutive game on home soil after their fortnight in Australia, but he is confident they will do the jobs required of them.
“We have some outstanding talent and we are going to back all the guys. It is a long competition and the coaching staff have no qualms in backing our bench and giving everyone a shot. We need to keep improving, as we have done since the poor first game against the Reds, and new guys coming in this week won’t make a difference to the overall challenge,” he said.
*Stats courtesy of Opta Sports