What can we expect from the Sharks?

Cape Town - After a World Cup in which the Springboks were far too one-dimensional to even be considered the best side in the world, the spotlight is firmly on the South Africa sides to deliver something different in Super Rugby 2016. 

And Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold knows that change has to happen.

Skill levels are the focal point of the new brand of rugby that South African fans and critics want, and while Gold acknowledged the need for this, he highlighted some of the complexities involved.

"I think that from a coaching point of view, we have a responsibility to skills and upliftment of skills and we’ve spoken at length – particularly because we have the time – about developing levels of skills," he told the Sharks website.

"This covers a wide range of areas, like attention to detail around the breakdown, and the speed and efficiency there – how quickly you recycle the ball.

"The game is about numbers, mismatches and momentum and the quicker we can recycle the ball, the quicker we can outnumber the opposition. That’s something that the All Blacks are outstanding at and something none of us take cognisance of.

"So that’s the kind of thing we’re going to embrace although I’m not making outlandish statements about how we’re going to play.

"What we are currently doing is looking at the squad of players we have and adapting our game plan around where I believe our strengths are.

"The game has moved and there is a responsibility for us to score tries. The days are gone of being able to just defend yourself to a win because there are too many teams out there who will outscore you. Attacks are getting better."