Sharks must pull out all the stops

The Jaguares, eyeing top spot in the South African Conference, will look to shore up their defence and end a seven-match losing streak in South Africa as they take on the Sharks in the final round of regular-season Super Rugby fixtures at Kings Park in Durban today.

The Sharks also have plenty to play for because, depending on the outcome of the Highlanders versus Rebels match in Dunedin, they are still in with a chance of making the play-offs. But with their consistency and temperament being called into question this season, the Jaguares will offer them the sternest of examinations.

The Jaguares are the masters of hanging on to possession, carrying and passing the ball with aplomb and showing fantastic efficiency at the rucks. They will test the patience of the Sharks, whose game plan revolves around looking for the line-break and then getting the offload away.

The Sharks’ more pragmatic approach, centred around territory, has seen them score three fewer tries than the Jaguares this season, while also conceding three more than the Argentines.

The Jaguares boast two of the best attacking players in the competition in fullback Emiliano Boffelli, who will play off the bench, and wing Bautista Delguy, but the good news for the Sharks is that they are sitting second in the standings in terms of missing the least tackles.

The Sharks are without their gainline supremo and dangerous offloader Jean-Luc du Preez, but Andre Esterhuizen (pictured) is still there and has led the attack well, with more variety than in previous years.

The Jaguares suffered narrow defeats (19-15 and 18-13) in their two previous matches at Kings Park, but are an unrecognisable side this year, their confidence sky high after reeling off a string of victories.

The Sharks will need to be at their best if they are to have any chance of sealing their play-off place right at the death.

Kick-off: 5.15pm.