About performance, not results for Sharks
SHARKS flank James Venter was asked yesterday how many log points the Sharks had set as a goal for their four-match tour of Australia and New Zealand, and his answer was revealing.
“To be honest, that hasn’t come up for discussion. Not at all,” said Venter.
“We are a performance-based side (as opposed to being resultsdriven) so we are looking after our processes and are chasing solid, good performances, and if we get that right, wins are the bonuses.
“Positive results are great but first and foremost we are looking to get out there and enjoy our rugby, improving week by week.
“With the side that we have, if we improve each match, the results will be favourable.”
Venter was signed by the Lions after finishing school in Durban at Glenwood but was lured back to KZN by Sharks coach Sean Everitt, and the 23-year-old has hit the ground running with excellent performances in the Sharks’ victories over the Bulls and Highlanders.
It was Venter’s try on the half an hour mark against the Highlanders last week that broke the deadlock between the teams and sparked a spree of points for his team.
Venter made the most of a turnover and after taking a pass from Sikhambuzo Notshe he dashed 40 metres to the try line.
“I saw the defence opening up for me and I thought, ‘drop the clutch and make this work!’,” he said enthusiastically from the Sharks’ base in Wellington, where they play the Hurricanes on Saturday.
“I was thankful for the extremely gruelling pre-season fitness work we did … the speed and stamina were there.
“If you have worked hard enough, those opportunities will present themselves and you can make the most of them.”
The Sharks scored five fine tries to beat the Highlanders and Venter says they are hoping for more of the same against the Hurricanes given that conditions are again expected to be dry and conducive to attacking rugby.
“The conditions in Dunedin were perfect for playing attractive rugby. It was nice and dry and that is ideal for our game – we have a lot of speed in the backline,” he said.
“Training and playing in the humidity of Durban at this time of year means a wet ball, which is testing, so getting a dry day meant the offloads stuck and we could move the ball.
“Being able to play like that against the Highlanders has helped us build confidence ahead of the Hurricanes,” he added.
“They are a physical bunch off guys, they are going to niggle a bit off the ball, as we saw when they played the Stormers, but that is what rugby is about.
“It is a physical battle and our forwards have a big job to do to create a platform so our backs can finish off.”