Sharks set to battle Crusaders

IT’S a do or die battle when the Sharks tackle the Crusaders in the semi-final of the Super Rugby at Christchurch, New Zealand, on Saturday (kick-off 9.30, SA time). In the other semi, the Waratahs will do battle against the Brumbies in Sydney, Australia.

For the Sharks to win, they will have to go into the match with a positive mindset. What they must not harbour is their poor showing against the Highlanders at King’s Park last weekend.

Although they won 31-27, with a penalty in the dying seconds, their performance was far from impressive.

The Crusaders will be out for revenge, after having lost to the Sharks in a pool game in May this year. In that match most of their talented players were missing.

Victory for the Sharks then was sweet because they won with a man short after Jean Deysel was sent off in the early stages of the game.

Now looking at Saturday’s semis, the Crusaders will start as favourties and will be at full strength, including the availability of Daniel Carter. The Sharks, too, will have all their players available for selection, to be skippered by Bismarck Du Plessis.

The Sharks have a simple game plan ... attack from the onset and get the pack moving forward all the time.

Sharks coach Jake White said: “Even though history is against us, this Sharks team have the belief and talent that they will lift the trophy and this is the key ingredient to success.” The Sharks team have found a new hero in Baby Boks star Thomas Du Toit. The big prop has been the back bone of the Sharks’ forward dominance and should start ahead of Tendai “The Beast” Mtawarira.

Patrick Lambie is also sure to slot into the Number 10 jerseys, shifting Frans Steyn to 12. This will allow the Sharks to have on the bench players with the X-factor, and bring them on in the last 20 minutes to make an impact.

Highlanders coach Jamie Joseph said: “Saturday’s semi final will be a ripper. It will be too close for me to call. The Crusaders is a complete team that is loaded with All Blacks. They won’t be dominated in forwards like us but this Sharks team has amazing belief and have a captain in Du Plessis who is in sublime form. Can’t wait for encounters.”

Last season finalist, the Brumbies will be determined to shock their Australian counterparts, the Waratahs, in the second semi at 11.35am.