Looking to keep momentum
THE Sharks are gearing up for what coach Robert du Preez describes as a Currie Cup “quarter-final” against Western Province at Kings Park tomorrow (3pm), with all the attendant focus that goes with a door-die match.
It is the last round of the Currie Cup before next week’s semi-finals and with the Sharks having won 10 in a row to top the log, Du Preez is taking no chances as the competition winds up to crunch time.
“This game is really important and we are giving it play-off status,” Du Preez said.
“Of course we want to have momentum going into the semis and you always have to be careful when you are coming back from a break. Post-bye games often pose a challenge for teams,” he said.
“We have had a bit of disruptive week. The storm on Tuesday took care of training but we had a fantastic session today (yesterday),” he added.
The coach has made just one change to the side that beat the Lions two weeks ago in Durban, with Lukhanyo Am finally over injury and resuming at outside centre. Tristan Blewett drops to the bench.
“We are pleased to have the guys back from the Boks, and we want to play them off the bench, which means the guys that did well against the Lions have another opportunity to start,” the coach said.”
Du Preez said that with most of the squad having game time tomorrow, he would be in a good position to pick the best starting line-up for next week’s semi-final. It means a powerful bench that includes Chiliboy Ralepelle, Jean-Luc du Preez and Louis Schreuder, as well as wing Kobus van Wyk who, like Am, is over injury.
The return of Ralepelle and the starting berth for Franco Marais means there is no place for former Lions hooker Akker van der Merwe in the squad, an indication of the quality of depth the Sharks have in some positions.
Province have plenty riding on the game — an upset win will secure them a home semifinal — and Du Preez says the Sharks are preparing accordingly.
“They are getting guys back from the Boks (tighthead Wilco Louw and wing Dillyn Leyds) and will be coming to play some serious rugby,” Du Preez said. “It will be a big team effort from them. They like to attack out wide, so our defence will have to very strong.”
Province have also shown that they have one of the better scrums in the Currie Cup and made a point against the Lions in their match in Johannesburg last week.
KINGS PARK TEAMS
Sharks . . . . . . 11 W Province . 11 FS Cheetahs 11 Golden Lions 11 Blue Bulls . . . 11 Pumas . . . . . . 11 Griquas . . . . 12 10 6 6 5 4 4 4 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 332 198 7 5 379 288 8 5 340 414 7 6 302 378 10 7 405 410 11 7 316 319 10 8 391 458 10 47 32 31 30 27 26 26
“They have been scrumming really well. I think the set scrums are going to be hotly contested,” Du Preez agreed. “And Wilco will give them an added boost. I think the set pieces are going to be a big battle. Both packs have been going well.”
The Sharks are unbeaten at home in the Currie Cup (their sole loss was when an understrength team lost to the fullstrength Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in the first round) and the early kick-off for the Odwa Ndunange Tribute game could draw a good crowd.
“We are hoping so,” said Du Preez, who is big on re-establishing Kings Park as a feared fortress for visiting teams. “We like to play in front of our fans, we owe it to them to put on a proper show. Home advantage is great but having said that we still have to go out and perform.”
Rain has dogged the Sharks in their previous two matches in Durban but the Sharks showed they have a sound wet weather game and comprehensively beat the Bulls and the Lions.