Sharks warning for Kings

SOUTHERN Kings skipper Steven Sykes has warned his team that the Sharks will want to finish their troubled Super Rugby season “on a high” in Durban tomorrow.

Sykes was talking as his new-look team prepared to round off their regular Super Rugby season with an elusive South African derby win.

The problems in the Sharks camp culminated in the firing of coach John Plumtree after his team failed to reach the play-offs.

“The Sharks will want to end on a high after all the trouble they have had in recent weeks, ” Sykes warned.

“They will be determined to pull together against us. This game will also be exciting for the young guys picked in our team who are getting a chance to play Super Rugby.

“For me it will be nice to go back to Durban to play against my old teammates. I know all of them and they all know me so it will be interesting and exciting to run out again at Kings Park,” Sykes said.

Even though his squad will include inexperienced players and untested pairings, Sykes has not given up hope of snatching a historic first South African derby win.

The debutants are 30-year-old flank Mpho Mbiyozo, who is in the starting line-up, and Baby Bok Aidon Davis and Thabo Majomela who will both start on the bench.

“This is a game of rugby and it is 15 guys versus 15 guys and it is always going to be the bounce of the ball and who wants it most.

“I really believe that if we go out with the right frame of mind we can win.”

Sykes, who has taken over the captaincy from the injured Andries Strauss, says his team have been working hard at improving the attacking element of their game.

“We have done well on defence and a lot of credit must go to our defence coach Omar Mouneimne.

“But we have also been working hard on our attack and and we need to get some more ball.

“If we get ball we are a dangerous team with ball in hand,” Sykes said.

Despite being out of contention for the play-offs the Sharks are hoping a decent crowd turns up at Kings Park.

“It’s a home game, so hopefully there will be a big crowd because the players want to thank their supporters,” coach Hugh ReeceEdwards said.

“For some players it’s their final fixture before moving on, so there is a bit of emotion, but we really just want to go out and play some good rugby.

“The bottom line is to come out and perform. The players know they are coming off a good performance against the Bulls, and we want to finish off the season well and perhaps end in seventh place.

“That ’ s not good enough, but it’s far better than the 10th place we’re in now.”