Durban - Sharks flyhalf Robert du Preez is wary of the “aerial” threat posed by the Waratahs ahead of Saturday’s Super Rugby encounter in Durban (kick-off 15:05).
The ‘Tahs exposed the Stormers in this area last weekend and the Sharks have taken note.
“We’ve done a lot of review work on them and they bring a good, physical pack to the game. They also have some aerial threats out wide with Bernard Foley and Israel Folau who have the ball on a string. By no means are we expecting an easy game, we need to be up for it and mentally prepared,” Du Preez told the Sharks’ official website.
Du Preez accepts that anything wayward from his side could be punished by the lethal Folau and his team-mates.
“We need to be very tactical with the way we kick,” Du Preez continued. “We know that he (Folau) is a big aerial threat.”
As the flyhalf general, Du Preez admits that the Sharks backline is one he is looking to ignite, one with plenty of potential.
“I think we have a very exciting and youthful backline so my job is pretty much to get them into space and get the ball to them to do some good things. We have a good mix of big and strong with quick and exciting.”
The last two weeks have been a period of introspection and analysis following the Sharks’ open round loss to the Lions while the team enjoyed their bye in week two.
“Although our first game of the season wasn’t the start we wanted, we’ve had two weeks to get over it, analyse the wrongs and focus on the positives from that match,” Du Preez added.
“There were a lot of good things in that game, just certain areas where we let ourselves down. But after the break, the boys are revving to go for our first home game of the season, we’re expecting a big one.”
There is always the fear of losing momentum with a bye, especially as early as this one, but the flyhalf explained that their training methods should obviate any hiccups caused by the bye.
“We try to keep training as match specific as possible and we’ve ramped it up this week. We were also told to do some work on our own during the weekend off, so there was a lot of personal work being done behind the scenes.”