Room for improvement in Sharks camp

Durban - Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold says there is room for improvement after their 33-25 Currie Cup win over the EP Kings at Kings Park at the weekend.

“It was not too satisfying from a performance point of view, but at least we have put our foot in the door with the win,” Gold was quoted as saying on the Sharks' official website.

“At 18-5 up, we had set foundation, but I’m disappointing that we did not look after the ball better and we let them back into the game.

“Internally we knew our plans for the night and we were not ruthless in some of our execution,” he explained. “We want to play ball-in-hand rugby but we have to look after the ball and not kick it away.”

He acknowledged that they have a very different side to the one which featured in this year’s Super Rugby competition - just eight players in the match 22 featured in the last game of Super Rugby.

“We have targeted a young team for the Currie Cup and they are going to make the errors. But I am quite forgiving on mistakes, although not so on effort; but the effort was there in sticking to the fight, especially when the Kings took the lead. But I think we made life too difficult for ourselves.

“When we did look after the ball and played to our shape, we looked dangerous and there was good finishing.”

One of the tries of the match came from Paul Jordaan who has shown remarkable fortitude to remain positive despite an horrific injury. But he has stuck it out, even when there were minor setbacks.  His try was simple stunning and showed what remarkable talent he possesses.

“After his hip operation, a month ago he tweaked it again and we wondered if another op was needed, but he has just been coming good with his attitude to recovery and we will introduce him slowly.

“But that was a proper finish for his try, there is no substitute for pace and he has gas to burn. And he has experience and will be a calm head in the midfield,"said Gold.