Sharks focus on set-pieces

The Sharks will have to dig deep and find their strength so they won’t be bullied in the set-piece by the Stormers when they clash today at Durban’s Kings Park (5.05pm) in the United Rugby Championship.

John Plumtree (above), the Sharks’ coach, has observed that teams have been targeting them in the scrums and the mauls this season.

Indeed, the Sharks have been pushed over by their local rivals in the URC at scrum time. When they played against the Stormers over the festive period, where they lost 16-15, the Stormers had the upper hand in the scrum, with prop Sti Sithole proving to be the destroyer.

The Sharks have received a timely boost to their pack, as hooker Bongi Mbonambi and loose forward Vincent Tshituka have returned to the playing team after recovering from their respective injuries.

Knowing the Stormers will look to assert dominance in the set-piece, Sharks mentor, Plumtree, has called on his players to be strong in the scrums and mauls.

“We concede up-front, whether it’s a scrum, whether it’s stopping a maul, that’s where sides are targeting us. We have to be really strong in that department,” Plumtree said this week.

“We have to be really strong up-front. We know we have a strong pack but I haven’t yet been able to put that pack out onto the park because of injuries to key players which has probably been my biggest frustration,” he said.

Plumtree is confident his side will be able to withstand any pressure from the Stormers when put under siege.

“When we played the Stormers down in Cape Town, it was a really gutsy performance built around pressure, aerial game and big defence, and we really stood up in that department,” he said.

The Stormers, who are seventh on the log, declared the encounter against the Sharks as important for their play-off aspirations, while the Sharks, who are bottom of the table need a win to ignite their campaign.

Plumtree has welcomed the Stormers’ strong intentions of leaving Durban with the points.

“It’s good they are taking it seriously, we are taking it seriously too,” Plumtree said.

“The Stormers are a really good, consistent side. They are a little bit ahead of us, but I’m hoping we can catch up soon,” he said.