Sharks will be trying to notch up points
IF YOU thought the waves thrown up on Sunday were huge, get to Growthpoint Kings Park on Saturday to see the Sharks unleash wave after wave of attacks on the Kings in search of a bonus-point victory.
The Sharks go into this Super Rugby match on the back of two impressive victories, against the Brumbies in Australia and the Waratahs at the weekend.
The most exciting development in the Shark Tank is the coming of age of a prodigious young talent, Curwin Bosch. The 19-year-old full-back had an indifferent start to his career with the Sharks, against the Reds.
That performance led to his warming the bench for the better part of the game against the Brumbies. With 20 minutes to go, Bosch was unleashed and he came good.
On Saturday, he was introduced much earlier, when Patrick Lambie was injured six minutes into the game. Bosch responded with aplomb, scoring 27 of the Sharks’ 37 points.
Coach Robert Du Preez said: “In the first game Curwin was very nervous and did not play his natural game. I had a heartto-heart chat with him and told him he needed to go out there and express himself, and that’s exactly what he’s done. I’m glad for him and the team.”
On Saturday, Bosch comes up against a journeyman in Lionel Cronje. Cronje is vastly experienced but does not have the silky skills of a Bosch. It will be fascinating to watch how Bosch puts the Kings to the sword.
The Kings, made up of surplus players from other franchises, have been the whipping boys in Super Rugby and are in danger of losing their place in the competition at the end of the season.
This is an ideal opportunity for the Sharks to press home their advantage.