Sharks’ pride at stake against Hurricanes

IF THE Sharks are to salvage any pride or get their Super Rugby campaign on track after what has been a disastrous season, the bulk of the weight will be resting on the Eastern Cape’s Lionel Cronje when the Durban side take on the Hurricanes today.

The Sharks have only managed four wins in their 11 matches so far in the competition – their most recent match being a humiliating 48-15 defeat to the Highlanders last weekend. Chances of reviving their campaign to make the cut for the playoffs are almost as good as dead and buried. It is more pride the Durbanites will be playing for, to give some dignity to the crusade that has given Gary Gold’s side plenty of blushes.

The Sharks coach has backed the former Queen’s College captain at flyhalf and Stefan Ungerer at scrumhalf to form a new Sharks halfback pairing against the Canes at Wespac Stadium in New Zealand today at 9.35am.

Whether “Crunchie” (as Cronje is affectionately known) will prove to be the answer to the Sharks’ woes in his first start of the season will only be known at crunch-time between the two sides.

In the only other fixture Down Under, an Australian derby will see the Western Force hosting the defending champs, the Waratahs, in Perth at 11.40am.

Port Elizabeth-born flanker Jacques Potgieter – who is bound to join the Sharks next season – will be hoping to contribute to the Tahs’ success in their attempt to defend their title.

At home – in what is dubbed the match of the weekend – the Lions will be at home at Ellis Park where they will be facing an in-form Highlanders team.

Johan Ackermann’s side will be aiming to bounce back from their narrow 35-33 defeat to the Bulls at Loftus last weekend, but they have a tough task ahead against the side that thrashed the Sharks last weekend.

In Cape Town, the Stormers will also have a tough battle against the Brumbies at Newlands.

After suffering a surprise 25-17 defeat to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last weekend, Allister Coetzee’s side will also want to redeem themselves in front of their home crowd.

The visiting Brumbies will also want to turn around their 10- 13 loss to the Waratahs last week.