Sharks on a high for Lions clash

But they may be without Bosch’s big boot for the big match on Sunday at Ellis Park

THE Sharks look likely to be without ace flyhalf Curwin Bosch for Sunday’s Currie Cup clash with the Lions at Ellis Park.

The 21-year-old injured his lower back against the Cheetahs and stayed on the pitch as long as he could before being substituted for Rhyno Smith in the 60th minute.

A call will be made on Bosch later in the week but he is sitting out training and his chances of playing on Sunday do not look too promising, and Smith is running at No 10.

The loss of Bosch’s prodigious boot would be a blow for the Sharks especially because they aim to play a game based on dominating territory, as they did when they demolished the Lions in the Super Rugby match between the sides earlier this year at the same venue.

Sharks assistant coach Nick Easter yesterday said territory is all the more important at altitude because the ball travels further, and he added that it is an area of the game that the Sharks have not been great at this season.

“Territory is a big thing in rugby, it allows you to exert pressure, and in all four games we have played we have lost the territory battle,” Easter said. “In all four games there have been some very good performances without the ball, and some clinicalness with it, but just how we manage territory is going to be huge at altitude in Joburg. The kicking game is going to be massive.”

One thing the Sharks won’t be short of is high spirits after they snatched a last-minute win over the Cheetahs at the weekend.

“Last-minute wins where you have worked yourself from a losing position to win at the death do wonders for the belief in what you are trying to do as a team, and for the cohesion and trust among the players,” said Easter.

“You can’t put a price on it. When you are having a topsy-turvy time of it (as has been the case for the Sharks in this Currie Cup), to be able to find a way to win is massive in terms of boosting your confidence.”

Looking at the Lions, Easter said the Sharks will go to school on the way they routed the Lions in a superb performance earlier this year.

“I know both the teams are very different now but a big thing about our win up there was that we were very disciplined without the ball and were very clinical with it.

“We can learn from that. The territory game is vital in rugby and It is very difficult to win the territory game if you’re giving away penalties. The All Blacks discovered that at the weekend against the Wallabies... If you can’t get your discipline right you won’t win the territory battle.”