‘We couldn’t handle the physical stuff’

SHARKS and Springbok centre Andre Esterhuizen reckons the Rebels team that is currently top of the Australian Conference plays differently to the other Aussie sides because of the influence of their South African coach Dave Wessels.

Cape Town-born Wessels was a defence consultant at the Stormers in 2008 and 2009 before later taking up the same position with the Brumbies. He was head coach at the Western Force (2014-2017) and now heads the Rebels.

“The Rebels are a very different side in that they like to play the ball very flat, they like to be on the front foot so if we can take that away from them it will be good for us,” Esterhuizen pointed out.

“They have brilliant playmakers in Quade Cooper and Will Genia, so if we can take their gainline away to put them under pressure, it will be a lot easier for us,” Esterhuizen said. “That is what the Lions did in that second half – because the Rebels didn’t have the ball, they couldn’t score.”

The Rebels are clearly a good attacking side and to prevent them from getting them into their srid the Sharks have to win the physical battle.

They have a different game to the other Aussie sides,” Esterhuizen said. “They have a good pack as well, their scrums and set pieces are good, which is probably a South African thing coming in there. Dave (Wessels) likes front foot ball, getting over the advantage line, so that makes it hard to defend second and third phases.”

The Sharks will be in mean mood for this one after two successive derby defeats. They will be desperate to get over the line in this one at Jonsson Kings Park (5.15pm).

“The fact that these losses happened early in the competition means there is still a lot of time for us to catch up and make it right,” Esterhuizen said. The 24-year-old said the bye last week had given the players opportunity to reflect on where they went wrong.

“We are working hard this week on keeping the ball and playing our rugby, as well as trying to get back the physicality in our game,” Esterhuizen said.

“In the last two games against the South African teams there was a lot of physicality; I am not saying we couldn’t handle it but we did not handle it enough ... we could have been more physical, that is what we were working on this week. We have a great pack when they are firing, so let’s hope this week they are firing.”