Du Preez keeps focus as Sharks win again
You will not find Sharks coach Robert du Preez swinging from the chandeliers and it was no different even after his team comfortably disposed of the Waratahs in Durban. The score was emphatic enough‚ but the coach was measured in his appraisal of his team’s second consecutive win.
You will not find Sharks coach Robert du Preez swinging from the chandeliers and it was no different even after his team comfortably disposed of the Waratahs in Durban.
The 37-14 score was emphatic enough‚ but the coach was measured in his appraisal of his team’s second straight win.
Du Preez lamented his team’s failure to convert their opportunities in the second half‚ while injuries to flyhalf Pat Lambie‚ flank Philip van der Walt and Clement Poitrenaud gave the coach further cause for caution ahead of this Saturday’s home clash with the Southern Kings.
He did not know the extent of Lambie’s injuries.
“He hurt his back. He got tackled and fell on his back. Hopefully it is not too serious‚” Du Preez said.
He did not show it, but the coach must have been chuffed with the performance of young Curwin Bosch, who replaced Lambie in the sixth minute and contributed 27 points to the Sharks’ cause.
Du Preez failed to gush about the performance but recognised that Bosch was “very talented”.
Van der Walt went to hospital after his heavy collision with Waratahs’ replacement Senio Toleafoa in the 65th minute and may have to be put through concussion protocols this week.
Du Preez said Poitrenaud had struggled with a groin injury in the build-up and his withdrawal was precautionary.
Du Preez is expected to shuffle his selection deck this week and the experienced Frenchman is one of the men earmarked for action. After all‚ some maturity will be needed as the Sharks are likely to press several youngsters into action.
“I didn’t want to push him‚ especially in the light of next week. Some time we are going to need to give the Boks a rest. Not that we want to take the Kings lightly‚ but after that we’ve got the Cheetahs away and the Lions away. So we are going to have to box clever.
“The guys in the wider squad and the guys on the bench‚ you have to play them. I believe they will do well‚ they’ll step in and they’ll be fine.
“I have no problem with that. This competition requires that you test your depth. We have to do that some time‚” said Du Preez.
● Cheetahs coach Franco Smith may have watched his team concede four tries in their 38-31 escape against the Sunwolves, but he said there was nothing wrong with his team’s defensive system.
“If you play Super Rugby‚ other teams will score tries against you and that’s how it works‚” Smith said.
“If you compare it with the northern hemisphere‚ it’s about out-pressuring the opposition.
“Here in SA‚ if you want to win a Super Rugby or Rugby Championship match‚ you have to outscore the opposition,” he said.
“Defence is important but we’re leaning towards an attacking mindset and we’re very happy with our defence even though our line speed wasn’t great.” /