Sharks v Crusaders... full throttle, high intensity

IT ALL appears to have passed in a flash, but this afternoon the Sharks will reach the halfway point in the league phase of their Super Rugby campaign, and one can certainly expect plenty of pyrotechnics when they take on the Crusaders at Kings Park.

Indeed, director of rugby Gary Gold has suggested they will need to fight fire with fire against a formidable Crusaders side that has also reached a crucial crossroads in their season.

It’s the sort of clash that promises to provide an early Easter Saturday treat between two sides filled with Springboks and All Blacks, and which is sure to bring the best out of all the players involved.

Fans should be prepared for an unpredictable, highintensity battle where anything can happen.

In fact, “intensity” is sure to have been one of the buzz words the Sharks would have been using during their preparations this week, and it has been reflected in their training.

The Sharks will know that this sort of intensity and physicality will be crucial today if they hope to overcome a well-drilled Crusaders side that will be smarting after their defeat to the Bulls last weekend.

“The biggest thing we can learn from that game is the level of intensity the Bulls brought to the encounter,” Gold commented. “This is a Crusaders team that will be hurting. They will come out firing and we’ll need to do the same.”

In particular, it’s going to be a brutal battle at scrumtime and at the breakdown, which is where the Sharks will need to be at their best if they hope to provide their backs with quick, clean ball.

“We want to get through the phases, we want to ask questions of the Crusaders with ball in-hand, and we’re going to have to win the collisions to do that,” Gold said.

“Our attack hasn’t really fired the way we want, but we’re hoping to see that spark this weekend. You can’t go into your shell against the Crusaders, you have to match fire with fire.”

In many ways, this is a moment of truth for the Sharks as a fourth successive victory would well and truly signal their resurgence as real title contenders, while a loss would undo much of the hard work that has been completed in scrapping their way to recent wins.

Crusaders coach Todd Blackadder said he had been keeping a close eye on the Sharks, and had been impressed by the manner in which they had ground out important results.

“I’ve been watching these Sharks closely; they’ve guts it out and played some good tough rugby. It hasn’t been pretty, but they’ve done enough to win by displaying some real grit and determination.

“We like the way the Sharks play, and we have real respect for them,” he added. “If anything, I think it seems to bring the best out of our team.”

Having won three and lost three so far this season, it’s also a huge match for the Crusaders, and yet another reason why it’s shaping up to be a humdinger .

“You can’t take anything for granted in this competition; we haven’t really hit our straps either,” Blackadder said.