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Johannesburg - Amid growing concerns about potential World Cup players picking up injuries in the Super Rugby tournament, Springbok loosehead prop Tendai "The Beast" Mtawarira said on Wednessday that there will be no holding back as the play-offs approach.
"If you are taking it easy you are going to cost yourself a place [in the World Cup team] so it is very important for everybody to give a 100% every time they play," said the world famous frontrower.
Although he may be a clear favourite to represent the Springboks in New Zealand later this year, Mtawarira had to admit that there are other contenders keeping him on his toes.
"There is competition and everybody wants to make the squad and that brings out the best in everybody.
"Super Rugby is very tough and every week you have got to bring your best and we did not do that against the Bulls."
This weekend the Sharks host the Waratahs in what will be their final pool match in Durban.
After that they go on a tour of the country - taking on the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, the Lions in Johannesburg and then the Bulls in Pretoria.
Mtawarira said that the Sharks - who are currently placed seventh on Super Rugby's cobined log standings - are still confident that they can make it into the play-offs.
"Obviously we didn't do so well over the weekend, but as a team I think we know exactly where we stand at the moment.
"We have four more games left in the season and we've got a very good chance to make the play-offs, so we will have to stay positive."
The Sharks are expected to announce their team for Saturday's match on Thursday. Last week's loss to the Bulls has to a great extent served as a wake-up call for the current Currie Cup Champions, yet Mtawarira insisted that there is no panic in the camp. "Sure, the boys are very disappointed after last weekend's loss but as a team we know where we went wrong and we have been working hard on fixing those errors."
The Super Rugby competition will this weekend enter the phase where in previous years all teams who failed to make the semi-finals would already be enjoying a break.
The big Bok prop said that he, for one, is as ready to cause devastation as he has ever been.
"Our conditioning has been great, we have really worked hard during the pre-season so I think it is very important to recover well during the week and see to all the niggles.
"As rugby players we get used to it, our bodies are made for this."
