Sharks not underestimating ailing Bulls
THE Sharks may not have developed at the pace they wanted to‚ but securing of a playoff spot under a new coach this season is far better than what the Bulls have achieved before today’s Super Rugby clash at Kings Park.
For starters‚ the Sharks have collected 42 points‚ 12 more than Africa Conference One leaders the Stormers.
With 16 points from their 12 matches‚ the Bulls are mathematically out of playoff contention‚ especially with the Stormers having the easy task of having to deal with the Sunwolves in Cape Town next week.
At least Bulls coach Nollis Marais has the benefit of three Springboks in Lood de Jager‚ Jesse Kriel and Jan Serfontein, who all put in decent shifts for the national team against France.
Sharks coach Robert du Preez has seen fit to rest some of his Springboks as there is the prospect of having to travel to New Zealand for a date with the Crusaders if they finish top of the Australasian conference.
The Sharks have done the hard yards expected of them in a year when they avoided the might of the New Zealand sides‚ but there have been times when they have not quite done themselves justice.
Du Preez said the month-long international break could also have been counterproductive even though the players had needed it.
“The players do need a break because they have played 13 games in about 13 weeks‚” he said.
“A break was necessary but maybe a month was too long.
“Fortunately, we had some guys playing for the Boks and South Africa A.
“We played all the available guys in the Cheetahs game last week. Regardless of how hard you prepare‚ you can’t replicate match practice.
“The Bulls-Sharks derbies are always tough encounters and they’ve got nothing to lose. That makes them very dangerous.
“They’ve got exciting backs and they’ve also got the Springbok centre pairing along with a tough pack of forwards.”
Meanwhile, what should have been a sparkling season for the Cheetahs under Springbok assistant coach Franco Smith has unravelled into an epic shambles.
The Cheetahs’ date with the Stormers at the Free State Stadium tomorrow is an opportunity to atone for some of their embarrassing performances‚ mostly at home.
After their 38-31 win against the Sunwolves on March 11‚ the New Zealand teams wiped the floor with them, with the Highlanders‚ Crusaders and the Chiefs all collecting wins.
What was galling about the defeats to the Highlanders and the Chiefs was that the Cheetahs were leading before proceeding to take a leaf out of the Proteas’ choking handbook.
They will have to do without the services of regular captain Torsten van Jaarsveld‚ whose neck injury has ruled him out for the remainder of the tournament.
Elandre Huggett will deputise for him, while Springbok centre Francois Venter will take hold of the leadership.
As for the Stormers‚ who named U20 star Damian Willemse as the starting flyhalf‚ it will be a case of them stitching up their playoff spot. Springboks Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth have been rested after monumental shifts for the national team.
And if there was the notion the Lions would ease back into Super Rugby by resting their large Springbok contingent against the lowly Sunwolves this weekend‚ coach Johan Ackermann emphatically banished it yesterday.
He assembled his best available team for the occasion as they hope to stay in touch with the pacesetting Crusaders.
Regular captain Warren Whiteley is unavailable through injury‚ as is inside centre Rohan Janse van Rensburg‚ while scrumhalf Ross Cronje is fit again after he missed the third test against France.
In Whiteley’s absence, the team will be captained by Jaco Kriel.
Whiteley’s spot goes to Ruan Ackermann‚ while Kriel and Kwagga Smith will pack down on the side of the scrum.
The Bulls and Sharks derbies are always tough encounters