Canberra a happy hunting ground
If the Sharks wanted to start an Australasian tour in a reasonably comfortable manner, they could do a lot worse than playing the Brumbies first up.
No one is denying that tomorrow’s Super Rugby meeting in Canberra won’t be tight but that overshadows the fact that the Durbanites actually have a pretty decent record in the Australian capital.
Most recently, they squeezed a 27-22 win there in injury time last year.
Don’t bet though on coach Robert du Preez, a serial pragmatist, looking too much into that.
“History counts for nothing, there are different teams now. We won last year in the last minute but we were under pressure that whole game,” he said.
“The Brumbies are a very good team. Their pack of forwards is really strong and that is where the game is going to be won or lost. We have to neutralise that pack of forwards to be dominant and be in the game.”
Indeed, Du Preez and his lieutenants have carefully reviewed their opponents’ 33-10 loss to the Rebels last week and come to the conclusion that somehow they weren’t as bad as the scoreline suggested.
“The Brumbies were unlucky not to have scored a few more tries,” he said.
What the Sharks are looking forward to is more bearable weather Down Under, with their more attacking game being hampered by the humidity and the slippery ball.
“We are looking forward to the fact that there is no humidity on tour, which will help us,” said Du Preez.