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Christo Buchner
Johannesburg – “The Sharks would rather have died than lose the game against the Blue Bulls.”
Those were the words spoken by Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford in outlining the hunger for success in the Sharks team.
Some eyebrows may be raised about his choice of words, but it also sums up the seriousness with which the Sharks are approaching their playoff games.
Last year they fluffed their lines in the semi-final against the Cheetahs and they are determined for it not to happen again.
“You have to give credit for the manner in which the players flexed their muscles on the day when it was necessary,” Bashford said about the 16-12 Currie Cup semi-final win over the Bulls.
“We showed with this win that we can play under any conditions. We could adapt, but still played the kind of rugby that suits us. There is a pattern with which we get the best out of our players.”
The Sharks kept possession well and took the ball through phases. They are set to use the same tactics in next Saturday’s final against Western Province.
The loose-trio of Willem Alberts, Keegan Daniel and Ryan Kankowski will again be key figures - as they were against the Bulls.
They stood out like trojans in the win over the Bulls and will have to perform well again if the Sharks are going to prevail in the final.
As far as injuries are concerned, there is concern over Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis and right wing JP Pietersen.
Du Plessis has an injured hand, while Pietersen only spent 18 minutes on the field in the semi-final before a hamstring injury got the better of him.
There are those who believed that Pietersen should never have played in the semi-final and that it was a risky selection.
Fortunately for the Sharks they had a worthy replacement in Odwa Ndungane.
Johannesburg – “The Sharks would rather have died than lose the game against the Blue Bulls.”
Those were the words spoken by Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford in outlining the hunger for success in the Sharks team.
Some eyebrows may be raised about his choice of words, but it also sums up the seriousness with which the Sharks are approaching their playoff games.
Last year they fluffed their lines in the semi-final against the Cheetahs and they are determined for it not to happen again.
“You have to give credit for the manner in which the players flexed their muscles on the day when it was necessary,” Bashford said about the 16-12 Currie Cup semi-final win over the Bulls.
“We showed with this win that we can play under any conditions. We could adapt, but still played the kind of rugby that suits us. There is a pattern with which we get the best out of our players.”
The Sharks kept possession well and took the ball through phases. They are set to use the same tactics in next Saturday’s final against Western Province.
The loose-trio of Willem Alberts, Keegan Daniel and Ryan Kankowski will again be key figures - as they were against the Bulls.
They stood out like trojans in the win over the Bulls and will have to perform well again if the Sharks are going to prevail in the final.
As far as injuries are concerned, there is concern over Springbok hooker Bismarck du Plessis and right wing JP Pietersen.
Du Plessis has an injured hand, while Pietersen only spent 18 minutes on the field in the semi-final before a hamstring injury got the better of him.
There are those who believed that Pietersen should never have played in the semi-final and that it was a risky selection.
Fortunately for the Sharks they had a worthy replacement in Odwa Ndungane.
