WP ready for Shark attack

THE 2013 Currie Cup final defeat against the Sharks still haunts Western Province.

WP were the favourites to win on a glorious October afternoon in Cape Town that year. But soon after kick-off, everything went pear-shaped for them and they ended up standing beneath their posts before the butterflies in the stomach had a chance to settle.

The Sharks outgunned WP tactically by chipping the ball in the area between their flat-laying backs and the back three. The visitors found acres of space behind Province, and the hosts couldn’t get any momentum to counter it.

However, WP are certainly not going to be caught out by the same tactic when the teams meet in Durban on Saturday (kick-off 5.05pm).

“Playing against the Sharks, even in Super Rugby and in previous games over the past seasons, they always come with their tactical kicking and attacking kicks. It’s going to be a different defensive effort this coming week compared to Griquas,” WP defence coach Paul Treu said yesterday.

“Griquas are more direct. Although they also play into the wider channels, they didn’t really test us on defence.”

WP are likely to set up their defence a bit differently this weekend, with scrumhalf Nic Groom playing a sweeper role behind the defensive line, while also covering fullback Cheslin Kolbe and his wings at the back.

Treu says this shift will influence how they approach their tackling, as they may be inclined to get the opponent on the ground and then fan out again. But they also have an option to press the Sharks and compete hard at the tackle area to force turnovers, errors or relieving kicks.

“The decision that we will have to take is whether we take one defender out of the line and put him at the back, especially our nine. Or, are we going to suffocate them, put them under pressure and force them to go for distance kicks,” Treu said.

But, while the Sharks do tend to kick a lot of ball, especially from the flyhalf position, they do possess a lot of electric runners in their team, who Treu is all too familiar with.

The likes of Paul Jordaan, S’bura Sithole and Wandile Mjekevu have all made their names on the Sevens circuit before doing their thing in the 15s game. All three players are incredible runners with the ball in hand, and can hurt you from broken play and from a set-move.