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Christo Buchner
Johannesburg – A victory on Saturday in Perth over the Western Force will see the Sharks equal the record for most Super Rugby victories by a South African team against Australian opposition.
The Sharks have triumphed on 22 occasions against Australian opposition and the Bulls 23 times.
The Sharks have beaten the Brumbies seven times, the Reds six times, the Waratahs five times and the Force on four occasions.
On the negative side: Since 2006, the Sharks have lost more against Australian teams (11 times) than any of the other countries’ teams.
It is therefore not a foregone conclusion that the Sharks will on Saturday keep their unbeaten record in this year’s tournament intact.
Sharks coach John Plumtree admits that the Force is a difficult team.
“We have studied footage of their games for the past few days and we’ll have to be at our best to win here,” Plumtree said from Perth.
With James O’Connor and Cameron Shepherd there, the home side has a strong backline. However, they also have an experienced pack, including an international lock pairing and three Test players in the loose-trio.
The Sharks will also have to stand their ground on defence.
Together with the log-leading Waratahs they are the only side not to have conceded a try to date in this year’s tournament.
“Defence is just as important an area of the game as attack. Teams are becoming smarter on defence. They do not all pile into a ruck – only one or two players get involved at the breakdown when it’s obvious that opponents will get possession,” said Plumtree.
“The rest commit themselves to defence and that is why there are so few gaps to get through. Teams will have to find different ways of scoring tries.”
The Waratahs are the only side to have managed two bonus points for four or more tries in the first two weeks of the tournament.
Johannesburg – A victory on Saturday in Perth over the Western Force will see the Sharks equal the record for most Super Rugby victories by a South African team against Australian opposition.
The Sharks have triumphed on 22 occasions against Australian opposition and the Bulls 23 times.
The Sharks have beaten the Brumbies seven times, the Reds six times, the Waratahs five times and the Force on four occasions.
On the negative side: Since 2006, the Sharks have lost more against Australian teams (11 times) than any of the other countries’ teams.
It is therefore not a foregone conclusion that the Sharks will on Saturday keep their unbeaten record in this year’s tournament intact.
Sharks coach John Plumtree admits that the Force is a difficult team.
“We have studied footage of their games for the past few days and we’ll have to be at our best to win here,” Plumtree said from Perth.
With James O’Connor and Cameron Shepherd there, the home side has a strong backline. However, they also have an experienced pack, including an international lock pairing and three Test players in the loose-trio.
The Sharks will also have to stand their ground on defence.
Together with the log-leading Waratahs they are the only side not to have conceded a try to date in this year’s tournament.
“Defence is just as important an area of the game as attack. Teams are becoming smarter on defence. They do not all pile into a ruck – only one or two players get involved at the breakdown when it’s obvious that opponents will get possession,” said Plumtree.
“The rest commit themselves to defence and that is why there are so few gaps to get through. Teams will have to find different ways of scoring tries.”
The Waratahs are the only side to have managed two bonus points for four or more tries in the first two weeks of the tournament.
