Sharks the Super Rugby team to watch, Bobo says
THE Sharks could spring a surprise in this year’s Super Rugby tournament, former Springbok centre Gcobani Bobo said.
The Sharks kick off their campaign against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday and it could be a rematch of epic proportions.
It was at the same ground against the same team in the quarterfinals where the Sharks bossed the game for large swathes‚ only to lose 23-21 to a 77th minute longrange Ruan Combrinck penalty.
The officiating in the game left a lot to be desired to the point where Sharks coach Robert du Preez only spent 90 seconds in the post-match match media conference.
The Sharks have also added Dick Muir and Braam van Straaten to their coaching backroom staff.
“I think the Sharks will be the dark horses‚” Bobo said.
“As much as it was unfortunate for them to lose the Currie Cup final‚ the addition of Dick Muir in their coaching setup will give more balance in terms of what Robert du Preez has been looking for.
“They’ve also recruited well and I think they also have depth in places where I think they lacked.
“However, I’m not going to write off anyone else.”
Whether the Lions will be a continuation of the Johan Ackermann template remains to be seen.
The Lions have managed to retain the core of the players who have done duty for them over the past two seasons.
However‚ coach Syws de Bruin is a different rugby character compared to Ackermann.
Bobo said the Lions would still be a tough team to deal with.
The Lions topped the log last season and played all their playoff games at home.
However‚ they came up short in the final against a smart Crusaders side that became the first New Zealand side to win a Super Rugby final in South Africa.
“The Lions will always be the front runners because of their history‚” Bobo said.
“In the last two years‚ they’ve been quite exceptional and their levels of conditioning have been outstanding.
“I feel the Bulls will struggle because they need to get used to their new system and get used to John Mitchell.
“Mitchell will try to make sure these guys will immerse themselves in terms of his plans and what he wants to do.” – TimesLIVE