Sharks coach loves the colour purple
SHARKS coach Sean Everitt is hoping that the purple patch his team enjoyed in the third quarter of their game against the Stormers last week will be the template for tomorrow’s match against the Lions at Jonsson Kings Park (4pm kick-off).
“I think we were sublime in that period after halftime where we fought back into the game by keeping the ball in hand, and if we can replicate that by keeping possession against the Lions, then we can play great rugby,” Everitt said. ‘We had a lock in Reniel Hugo scoring a hat-trick of tries in that period, and we could have scored a few more, we were playing that well.”
It is for that reason that Everitt has kept faith with the team that started against the Stormers.
“I think the guys deserve consistency in selection after the way they fought back to win that game,” Everitt said. “We were really good in the last 60 minutes against the Stormers and now we have to be good over 80 to make sure we beat the Lions.”
Interestingly, Everitt has made a change in his scrumhalf back-up, bringing in Junior Bok Jaden Henrikse for Sanele Nohamba, while keeping Grant Williams as the starting No 9. Nohamba for some time was Everitt’s first choice, but not any more …
“We have three great scrumhalves and Grant had not played because of serious injuries but he came good in the Preparation Series and we can now rotate in that postion,” Everitt explained.
“Jaden is now back from concussion, so we are giving him a chance — he and Sanele are still young and growing, so it is great that we can rotate them and develop them into international rugby players.”
Everitt said the big focus for the Sharks ahead of the Lions game in training this week was tightening up on their breakdown work.
“The Lions are a side that are really good on the ball, and we conceded 29 turnovers against the Stormers, so all round we are looking to sharpen up our play in that regard,” Everitt admitted. “We want to play a certain way and unless we fix our breakdown work, we can’t do that. It is very important to the way we play.”
Another area of concern for the Sharks from last week was their lineout work.
“In Reniel Hugo we identified a guy a while ago (when he was at the Cheetahs) that could call the lineouts, and he was on debut with new combinations, but what a debut! For any No 5 lock to score three tries is amazing, but the way he was taking quick taps to get our game going in the second half showed how he is embracing the way we want to play.”
SHARKS
Starting XV: 15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Sibusiso Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Grant Williams, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Siya Kolisi, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Le Roux Roets, 20 Phepsi Buthelezi, 21 Jaden Hendrikse, 22 Manie Libbok, 23 Werner Kok