Sharks wary of Jaguares’ teeth
RESULT IN BUENOS AIRES VITAL TO CAUSE Stakes are high in South African Super Rugby Conference as Du Preez’s men make their way across Atlantic Ocean.
The Sharks end the first sector of their Super Rugby campaign this weekend with what has become arguably their toughest fixture yet – playing the high-flying Jaguares in Buenos Aires on Friday in a match that could be crucial in deciding second place in the South African Conference.
Frankly, the Jaguares looked in a different league when they dismantled the Bulls at the weekend to go second in the group, seven points behind the Lions but with a game in hand. But they are just one point ahead of the Sharks, so whoever wins this weekend will go into the June international break in control of second place.
But while the Jaguares have been the most-improved team in this year’s competition, Sharks coach Robert du Preez was raving about the strides his side has made following their 28-24 win over the Chiefs in Durban at the weekend.
“The Jaguares are a full-blown international team, they are Test players and they are quality. Plus they’ve sorted out their discipline. But this Sharks team is busy growing. We are taking one game at a time, but this is a great team, they have got the makings of a side that can win the championship. Whether it happens this year or next, I don’t know, but it’s gonna come,” Du Preez said.
The Sharks, eight points behind the Lions but also with a game in hand, still have first place in the conference as their target, so they know there cannot be any slip-ups, however tough it is going to be travelling to Argentina and playing just four days later.
“It was a good victory over the Chiefs and we will enjoy that, but we’ve got to win every game here on in and we’d like to beat all the teams we play against, including some Australian sides too. It was a great result against the Chiefs because we knew we badly needed to get our campaign back on track.
“The Chiefs are also a helluva tough, physical side, so I was really pleased with the performance. There were a couple of opportunities we did not take, so we have to work on that. I’m pleased we’re creating opportunities, but we just need to be more patient in the opposition 22. But the good thing is we’ve learned our lessons as we go along,” Du Preez said.