Ex-coach recalls Sharks' 2000 Sydney win

Cape Town - Hugh Reece-Edwards, the last man to coach the Sharks to victory over the Waratahs in Sydney, has given the team a few words of encouragement.

The embattled Sharks face a tough task against the defending Super Rugby champions there on Saturday.

Reece-Edwards coached the Sharks to their only win ever in Sydney in 2000.

"We also had a dismal season, although it was with a new team after the retirement of several Springboks the previous year," Reece-Edwards told Netwerk24.

"We did have established guys like Chris Rossouw, Ollie le Roux and Mark Andrews, but there were also a lot of inexperienced guys.

"They were, however, determined to resurrect things and stood together. The day we beat the Waratahs, the ball also bounced our way," he recalls the 26-19 victory.

"If you want to win over there you have to believe in what you do and you need to be in control of what you do. Confidence is key to success on the rugby field.

"Especially when it comes to defence, you have to trust the guys next to you," Reece-Edwards, who currently coaches in Japan, continued.

Saturday's clash at Allianz Stadium kicks off at 11:40 (SA time).

Teams:

Waratahs:

15 Israel Folau, 14 Taqele Naiyaravoro, 13 Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12 Kurtley Beale, 11 Rob Horne, 10 Bernard Foley, 9 Nick Phipps, 8 Wycliff Palu, 7 Michael Hooper, 6 Stephan Hoiles, 5 Dave Dennis (captain), 4 Will Skelton, 3 Sekope Kepu, 2 Tolu Latu, 1 Benn Robinson

Substitutes: (three to be omitted): 16 Hugh Roach, 17 Jeremy Tilse, 18 Paddy Ryan, 19 Mitchell Chapman, 20 Jed Holloway, 21 Jack Dempsey, 22 Tala Gray, 23 Pat McCutcheon, 24 Brendan McKibbin, 25 Matt Carraro, 26 Peter Betham

Sharks:

15. Lwazi Mvovo, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. JP Pietersen, 12. Frans Steyn, 11. S'bura Sithole, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Renaldo Bothma, 7. Etienne Oosthuizen, 6. Marcell Coetzee, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. Stephan Lewies, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Dale Chadwick, 18. Lourens Adriaanse , 19. Mouritz Botha, 20. Kyle Cooper, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Andre Esterhuizen, 23. Waylon Murray