Publications
Partners
The Lions pack is rated inferior to the star-studded Sharks eight, so just as the Waratahs were the underdogs last Saturday, the Lions will be out to prove themselves on Friday night.
Even though the Waratahs forwards were deserved winners over a much bigger Sharks unit last week, second-rower Will Caldwell said he and his teammates still needed to step up a level against the Lions at Coca-Cola Park.
"We knew we were working towards something, and last week was the best in the lineout, scrum, breakdown that we have been collectively," Caldwell said. "It was really confirmation of all the hard work we have done this year. But it is important that if that is the benchmark, we go ahead again."
Caldwell said that if there was something to be learnt from the Lions' 27-22 win over the Highlanders at altitude (1753 metres) on the high veldt last weekend it was that "they play for the full 80 [minutes]".
"We saw against the Highanders that you can never write them off. For us to go there and play a full 80 minutes and do what we did last week, it is important that we back it up. We kept [the Sharks] in the game last week in some ways. So we have to keep them out of the game early and stick to that.
"We have to perform this week. We have to score tries." Caldwell, 26, has shown he can back up words with actions this season, his sixth in Super rugby.
While consistently durable - he played in 39 of the Waratahs' 42 games from 2006 to last year - Caldwell has been one of the big improvers in the forwards this year.
"You play a few games and back up a few games you get confidence and enjoy your rugby a lot more," he said.
"I have learned a lot off 'Foles' [forwards coach Michael Foley]. But it is just that belief in yourself."
