Sharks bent on a tour win
HE MIGHT well have been relieved of the captaincy following some disciplinary indiscretions, but it will be a boost for Sharks fans to hear that Bismarck du Plessis’s old obstinacy is still intact.
The Springbok hooker has been passed as fit to play against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday, a ground where the Sharks have won just once in 11 attempts over the history of the competition.
But Du Plessis said the Sharks were fed up with losing… and history be damned.
“We need to turn the ship around, and whatever has happened here in the past for us is totally irrelevant,” the 29-yearold said.
“We have had two losses in our two tour matches so far – that’s unacceptable for the Sharks. We’re underperforming, and we’re just going to give it all we can this weekend. The tour is so much better when you win, and we’re definitely not happy with losing to the Highlanders and Hurricanes in New Zealand.”
The Sharks are now at a cosy resort at Coogee Beach in Sydney, where they have often based themselves before – always with the same result.
The Sharks have beaten New South Wales in Sydney just once in 20 years.
Du Plessis said ending the five-match losing streak with a drought-relieving win in Sydney would mean “the world to the players”.
“Every single one of us is trying to turn this ship around,” Du Plessis said.
“We will never be happy with any kind of performance that ultimately results in a defeat, but we do take confidence from the fact that we are improving on tour.
“We certainly took a step up from the Highlanders to the Hurricanes.”
Du Plessis said the Sharks traditionally enjoyed touring, but two losses in New Zealand meant the players were determined to turn the tour around with two wins in Australia – against the Waratahs this weekend, and the Reds in Brisbane next week.
“This is not how the Sharks tour,” Du Plessis said.
“We like to enjoy ourselves and we like to win, and obviously the two go hand in hand.
“We are underperforming and we’re just going to give it all we can this weekend.”
Du Plessis’s attitude is good news for South African rugby fans. When he smacked his knee cap against a Hurricanes forward last week and collapsed in agony, many thought the worst in this World Cup year.
But Du Plessis has shrugged it off and will start against the Waratahs. There could be further good news regarding a number of the Sharks who took knocks in Wellington.
No 8 Renaldo Bothma has been one of the standout players of the competition, and the word from the Sharks camp is that they are optimistic he will pass a concussion test and be fit to play.
The same goes for Lwazi Mvovo, who started at fullback against the Hurricanes before having to be stretchered off, apparently out cold. Again.
The concussion test protocols will be followed and the Sharks are hopeful the Springbok wing can play.
Bismarck’s brother, Jannie, is doing his best to get over a calf niggle and front-row partner Tendai Mtawarira should be okay after taking a shoulder knock.
Sharks captain Marco Wentzel has been playing all tour with a sensitive rib problem, a bruised rib cartilage, but the Sharks camp said they were optimistic that the lock would play this week.