Louw says Sharks are ready to bounce back after a restful bye

IT IS not very often that a rugby player has a chance in the regular season to kick their feet up on a weekend, or public holiday. But if a bye can come at a good time, it did so for the Sharks, who managed to cash in a little on the long weekend.

Some of the boys managed to make their way to weddings across the country, such as hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle’s, or former Shark flank, Christiaan de Bruin’s in the Midlands. But most importantly, the players got to rest.

Now, with the Highlanders in town, the Durbanites are back at it, preparing for what is setting up to be a monumental task. The Highlander’s showed what they can do, on enemy turf, and with very little ball, when they defeated the Bulls by one point at the weekend.

However, according to Sharks centre Marius Louw, they have been itching to get their boots back on and face the challenge headlong.

“I told the guys earlier that I have missed the feeling of being in my boots,” Louw said. “Everyone is feeling fresh, we all got a change of scenery, and that brings a bit of a positive mindset coming back. I think it is something that will help us look good this week.”

The Bulls came to Durban after a week off and totally caught the Sharks unawares as they put on a clinical display, winning 40-10. The Stormers welcomed the Blues to Newlands after a break and also put on a sparkling performance to down the Kiwis 37-20.

It is now up to the Sharks to kick into gear from the outset against a dangerous New Zealand side, and if it comes down to it, get the win in any way possible.

“No one really likes an ugly win, but at this stage we will take it as it is quite congested in the log,” Louw explained. “We will take any win, and we know from now on, it is what we strive for. It is not that we did not strive for it previously, it has just become more of a pressure situation.”

This weekend is crucial in terms of the log position as the Sharks are currently bottom, but could easily jump to second as everyone baring the table-topping Lions are separated by two-points. The Jaguares have a tough encounter against the Chiefs, while the Stormers and Bulls face each other in what will be a tough derby.