Can Sharks take down Wolves – then Lions?
THE Sharks resurrected their hope of a Super Rugby play-off spot after beating the Cheetahs 26-10 on Saturday.
They should beat the Sunwolves handsomely this Friday night and then its the big one – the Lions on their home turf.
The Lions are expected to beat the Jaguares in Argentina on Saturday night and move to the top of the log.
Japanese outfit the Sunwolves have been the whipping boys this season, with the Bulls trouncing them 50-3 at the weekend.
Friday’s match will be an ideal opportunity for the Sharks to rest some first-team players in preparation for the Lions clash.
The cracks in the Sharks lineup were plain to see against the Cheetahs, and these need to be fixed if they are to down the Lions.
Coenie Oosthuizen was again exposed in the scrums and he could have cost the Sharks dearly if the referee’s decision went against him.
The Cheetahs were 7-0 up when Oosthuizen’s infringements in the scrum went unnoticed by the referee.
The Sharks will have an ideal opportunity to try out Lourens Adriaanse as the tighthead against the lowly Sunwolves.
Tendai Mtawarira is also in need of a breather and Thomas du Toit should get his opportunity in his place. This move will need a new captain to take charge and Keegan Daniels has all the credentials to take over Mtawarira’s job.
Good news for the Sharks is that Patrick Lambie has recovered from injury and should come on from the bench on Friday night.
Sharks winger JP Pietersen, who scored two tries, said: “We started poorly against the Cheetahs but the important thing is that we found our feet and have made the play-offs. After a poor start we are here in the play-offs. This is my last season with the Sharks and I want to end my career here with a bang.”
The match starts at 7pm.