Gold: Sharks must stay grounded

Cape Town – Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold has urged his players not to get overconfident after their impressive 32-15 win over the Hurricanes last week.

This Saturday the Sharks tackle the Jaguares in Buenos Aires and Gold believes that they cannot for one second think of taking a foot off the gas.

“This is a week where we really need to stay grounded, we haven’t achieved anything yet and we still have some really tough encounters ahead,” he told the Sharks’ official website.

“We’re still in the fight in our pool and the games ahead are going to be critically important. If we think the Jaguares will be easy in Buenos Aires, we have another thing coming. They’re a team improving every week they play together, there is no doubting their passion.”

While the Sharks have impressed with the level of intensity they have played at and what they have encountered recently, there’s no denying the fact that they have a massive challenge ahead of them.

“The Jaguares are very physical, they’re going to come at you hard and they have a partisan crowd behind them, I think it’s a very tough challenge for us.

“We must remain humble and rest. Those are the most important. We know what is waiting for us on Saturday night.”

Gold on Thursday made a number of changes, from rotational, to rest to welcoming back players from injury for this vital clash with the internationally laden Argentinian side.

Lwazi Mvovo has been given the week off, as per Springbok requirements and this opens the door for Odwa Ndungane to start.

Campaign captain Pat Lambie starts at flyhalf after last week’s return to action off the bench in the two changes to the backline. Garth April therefore moves down to the bench.

Amongst the forwards, Jean Deysel replaces Jean-Luc du Preez who was not considered for selection after sustaining a minor injury in training on Tuesday, while Etienne Oosthuizen, who has carried a heavy workload, will play off the bench with Lubabalo Mtyanda named to start.

In the final change to the starting XV, Lourens Adriaanse makes way for Coenie Oosthuizen in the front row, while there is a welcome return to action for Tera Mtembu who has been named on the bench after missing much of the season due to injury.

Saturday’s clash is scheduled for 22:40 (SA time).

Teams:

Jaguares

TBA

Sharks

15 Willie le Roux, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Patrick Lambie (captain), 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle / Kyle Cooper, 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Tera Mtembu, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Garth April, 23 S'bura Sithole / Joe Pietersen