Coach pleased, but slams limit

Ken Borland

Victory over the Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld has seen the Sharks join the Free State Cheetahs at the top of the Currie Cup table on 15 points, but coach Robert du Preez knows they have a lot of improving to do if they are to sip champagne from the famous cup at the end of the competition.

“We played really good rugby at times, we took the ball through the phases but one or two offloads didn’t go to hand. But I was very pleased with the intent, the guys had the self-confidence to play some good rugby and I’m especially pleased we scored four tries because that’s an area we struggled in during Super Rugby, even though the standard of the Currie Cup is not at the same level,” Du Preez said after the Sharks’ 28-20 triumph on Wednesday.

What marred the victory the most were some ill-considered passes and offloads, as well as kicks, when keeping the ball would have been a better option.

While flyhalf Innocent Radebe gave an itty-bitty display of his talents, centre Lukhanyo Am and fullback Garth April were the stars of a Sharks backline that scored three of their four tries and looked penetrative.

“Both Innocent and Garth played well, especially Garth, who was outstanding at times with ball in hand. Lukhanyo is actually an inside centre, he’s played there for SA A, although he’s a fantastic 12 or 13. Certain guys have really made an impact this season and he’s one of them, I’m sure he’ll be up for higher honours soon. I would have selected him for the Springbok squad now,” Du Preez said.

While the Sharks chose a complete front row on the replacements bench, the limit of 22 players per squad meant they had to sacrifice a specialist loose forward substitute and Du Preez said it was a disgrace for a premier competition like the Currie Cup to operate with one man short.

“We shouldn’t have to have only seven replacements when the whole of world rugby is now playing with 23-man squads,” he said.