Loftus is ‘home territory’ for Sharks

HILE the Sharks mean no disrespect to the Bulls and Fortress Loftus, they will be treating tomorrow night’s Super Rugby opener against the Bulls in Pretoria as a “home” game in the context of the overall Super Rugby competition.

The Sharks, and indeed all the South African teams, last year saw the importance of winning the local conference when the Stormers had a week off after the pool games before enjoying a home semi against the Crusaders.

Runners-up the Sharks had to immediately board a plane for Nelson on the New Zealand South Island for a play-off

Wwith the Crusaders, and were summarily whipped after having already been taxed by trips to Australia, New Zealand and London (where they played the Crusaders, funnily enough).

“Winning the conference is ultimately what we have to go after, it helps so much and you could see what the Stormers had in front of them (a home semi) as opposed to what we did (an away play-off),” coach John Plumtree said.

“There is a big difference. We’ve got to get our confidence high and treat this weekend’s match as a home one. We’ve played in these places often enough to be able to have the attitude that this is a home South African match.”

Plumtree then added: “I’m sure the Bulls won’t have that attitude, they’ll be saying ‘this is our territory’.”

Plumtree said that his team had to make the most of the familiarity his team have with their opponents and the venue, rather than be intimidated.

Neither team needs reminding that the Sharks enjoyed a spectacular triumph over the Bulls in the final pool game last year when the Bulls were billed to be saying farewell to a host of their legends (Matfield, Botha, Rossouw, Du Preez et al) while at the same time winning the game to go through as the wild card.

Instead, the Sharks won a memorable match.

“We’ve got to go up there with the mindset that we’re going to win,” he said. “We enjoy playing them and they enjoy playing us.

“We’ve had a great rivalry over the years and I’m sure this game will have great intensity. Even though it’s an early-season game, both sides will be very fit and very physical and I reckon the result will still be in doubt as we hit 80 minutes.”

Of the Sharks’ 22, 13 of the players played in the corresponding opening fixture against the Cheetahs in Durban last year, while the Bulls have nine newcomers to their match 22.

Plumtree said that a young hungry team was potentially more dangerous than a squad of well-known stars.

“I think we are going to see some unbelievable local derbies this year because there are a lot of emerging players out there with a point to prove (after the exodus overseas of many World Cup Springboks),” Plumtree said.

“I think we are in for a heck of a season teams.”

Captain Keegan Daniel said his charges were eager to rumble after “the toughest pre-season I have ever experienced”.

“It has been a great buildup,” he said. “We will not forget our workouts in the dojo where we had incredibly tough boxing and wrestling sessions.

“The way the game is played under the new laws, you need an ultimate level of fitness, week in and week out. That’s something we’ve really concentrated on.

“The boys are looking in really good nick. You could see that in the way we finished strongly in the warm-up games, so we are very encouraged about our pre-season.”

from

the SA