Ruthless Sharks now the hunted
THE Sharks have put a target on their own backs by sprinting ahead of the pack on the Super Rugby combined log, coach Jake White says.
The Highlanders are the latest team looking to knock them off their perch when the two teams square off at Kings Park tonight.
In an expected move, JP Pietersen and Paul Jordaan return to the starting lineup to form part of the quickest Sharks backline available.
White’s men are six points clear at the top and are likely to maintain their lead, if not extend it.
With the good times, of course, comes the risk that each team you face will be doubly motivated and look to knock over the team that is leading the standings.
“Everyone wants to beat us because we are at the top of the log,” White said. “I said last week that the one win the Cheetahs craved was one against the table-topping Sharks. There is no doubt that the longer the competition goes on every team will want to beat the team that’s sitting on the summit.
“The Highlanders are here to get their South African tour off to a win on their first game. But we want to control our own destiny.
“We want to make sure we get a home semifinal and final and we have to win as many games as we can to be able to do that.
“Whether they are home games or away games, or against teams below us on the log, or even against teams with many All Blacks and Wallabies, we’ve got to make sure we win.
“We have to beat everyone who’s in front of us so that we win this competition. The target on our backs gets bigger each week because people want to knock us over but we’ve got a good squad. I’d much rather be in this position than at the bottom of the log.”