Improved Sharks target ‘Tahs

THE Sharks arrived in Sydney yesterday battered but unbowed after having improved significantly in form in their defeat to the Hurricanes on Saturday, and determined to get a win this weekend against the Waratahs, a team they have traditionally struggled against in Sydney.

A host of players are carrying injuries from the 32-24 loss to the Hurricanes, the Sharks’ fifth in a row, but it is encouraging that none have been sent home, including Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis, who seemed to have taken a bad knock to the knee, and all could be cleared to play the current champions.

After a six-hour journey to Sydney, Director of Rugby Gary Gold said today would see assessments on Du Plessis, captain and lock Marco Wentel (ribs), No8 Renaldo Bothma (shoulder), and backs Odwa Ndungane and Lwazi Mvovo (concussion).

“Some seasons you barely pick up an injury and then you can have a season like this one where you pick up several every game, and it is very disruptive, but we are not dwelling on the negative – we are very positive after a muchimproved performance,” Gold said.

The Hurricanes scored 11 points in the last 10 minutes (including a penalty at the very death) to secure the game and deny the Sharks a bonus point. The Durbanites could have had a second bonus point had what seemed to be a perfectly legitimate try from a rolling maul not been disallowed. The Sharks scored three tries and felt they were robbed of a fourth.

“Obviously we’re massively disappointed with the result,” Gold said. “After a very poor performance against the Highlanders, the guys worked extraordinarily hard during the course of the week and I was impressed by the commitment from the players.”