Sharks: we can tame Crusaders
BRASH: SKIPPER BOTHA SAYS PACK CAN SURPRISE KIWIS
However, any error will be pounced on by champions-elect.
There is no doubt an element of naïve optimism about it, but the Sharks believe they know how to unsettle the high-flying Crusaders in their Super Rugby quarterfinal in Christchurch on Saturday.
The Sharks are pegging their hopes of beating a side that topped the table by 17 points and have not lost a match at home for two years on one of the basic truisms of rugby: that the team that wins the battle up front usually wins the game.
“The Crusaders like to hold on to the ball and they use small little mini-plays, so we need to put their skill-set under pressure. Our defence is capable of doing that and rugby is also always a set-piece battle. They have worldclass front-rowers and locks, but they haven’t really been tested by a pack yet. Hopefully we can do that,” Sharks captain Ruan Botha said.
Like any New Zealand side, the Crusaders are clinical in punishing turnovers and the Sharks will have to ensure they hang on to the ball extremely well in contact situations. Botha felt his side showed they could do this under pressure in the wet, must-win game against the Jaguares last weekend.
“We don’t need to change anything, we must just finish our opportunities this time. If we do the basics well and hang on to the ball, then we can back our defence to do the rest. I thought we stayed composed against the Jaguares, although there were a few opportunities that should have been taken. We stayed cool and calm,” Botha added.
By losing by just one point to the Hurricanes in Wellington though, largely due to some questionable officiating, the Sharks showed they have the game plan to stay in touch with the best of the Kiwi sides. One thing that is certain though, is that their error rate will have to be close to zero against a Crusaders team that just always seems to get the job done, whatever the circumstances.