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Christo Buchner
Johannesburg – If the Blues want to maintain their unbeaten record in Super Rugby this year, they will have to achieve something against the Sharks on Saturday that they could not manage for the last five years.
The Sharks have won the last five matches between the teams and are eager to set about making it six in a row.
Their five consecutive wins over the Blues includes three in Durban and two in New Zealand.
Last year the Sharks won 23-10 at Kings Park and in 2009 they triumphed 32-25 at Auckland.
In 2008, the Sharks won 22-17 in Durban and in 2007 they won 32-25 in North Harbour. The Sharks also won comfortably 32-15 in Durban in 2006.
The statistics point to another victory for the Sharks, but it won’t be that easy this time.
Apart from the Bulls, Crusaders and Brumbies, the Blues are the only side that also boast a Super Rugby tournament win.
They kicked off this year’s tournament in impressive fashion in New Zealand last week by beating the Crusaders.
With the two wins that the Blues managed at the tail-end of last year’s Super 14 factored into the equation, the Blues boast three victories in succession with Pat Lam as coach.
It is the most successive wins the Blues have managed since Lam became coach.
The Blues have won 13 games and lost 14 under him. Lam is hoping to boast a 50% winning ratio after Saturday.
“We have to challenge one another and expect more from each other as a team,” Lam told the New Zealand Herald.
Sharks coach John Plumtree said on Wednesday that he would like his players to follow the example set by battering ram loose forward Willem Alberts.
“Willem stood out head and shoulders above the rest with 15 runs, but I don’t want one player to do all the work,” said Plumtree.
“Many more players need to carry the ball over the advantage line. It should not only be expected from one or two to perform that task. I’m expecting a major improvement in that regard against the Blues.”
Johannesburg – If the Blues want to maintain their unbeaten record in Super Rugby this year, they will have to achieve something against the Sharks on Saturday that they could not manage for the last five years.
The Sharks have won the last five matches between the teams and are eager to set about making it six in a row.
Their five consecutive wins over the Blues includes three in Durban and two in New Zealand.
Last year the Sharks won 23-10 at Kings Park and in 2009 they triumphed 32-25 at Auckland.
In 2008, the Sharks won 22-17 in Durban and in 2007 they won 32-25 in North Harbour. The Sharks also won comfortably 32-15 in Durban in 2006.
The statistics point to another victory for the Sharks, but it won’t be that easy this time.
Apart from the Bulls, Crusaders and Brumbies, the Blues are the only side that also boast a Super Rugby tournament win.
They kicked off this year’s tournament in impressive fashion in New Zealand last week by beating the Crusaders.
With the two wins that the Blues managed at the tail-end of last year’s Super 14 factored into the equation, the Blues boast three victories in succession with Pat Lam as coach.
It is the most successive wins the Blues have managed since Lam became coach.
The Blues have won 13 games and lost 14 under him. Lam is hoping to boast a 50% winning ratio after Saturday.
“We have to challenge one another and expect more from each other as a team,” Lam told the New Zealand Herald.
Sharks coach John Plumtree said on Wednesday that he would like his players to follow the example set by battering ram loose forward Willem Alberts.
“Willem stood out head and shoulders above the rest with 15 runs, but I don’t want one player to do all the work,” said Plumtree.
“Many more players need to carry the ball over the advantage line. It should not only be expected from one or two to perform that task. I’m expecting a major improvement in that regard against the Blues.”
