After a day off to overcome their travel weariness, the Sharks returned to training in earnest on Tuesday morning as they set their sights on Saturday’s game against the Reds, with coach John Plumtree identifying the visitors’ 9-10 combination as a major threat.
By Craig Lewis
Multitalented scrumhalf Will Genia and mercurial flyhalf Quade Cooper have certainly masterminded more than one win for the rampant Reds in 2010, with the former having been particularly instrumental in their win over the Cheetahs at the weekend.
“The Reds are a team that really has that X-factor and have a lot of momentum with them at the moment,” said Plumtree.
“Their 9 and 10 really run the game and the team works hard around that dangerous combination.”
Nevertheless, the Sharks will be backing themselves to handle whatever is thrown at them at Kings Park on Saturday and it was indeed a buoyant squad that returned to training on the outer fields of the Shark Tank.
Unfortunately, though, centre Adrian Jacobs has been ruled out of action for an extended period after suffering a dislocated shoulder during the Sharks’ win over the Hurricanes at the weekend.
It’s a big blow for the Sharks, as the Springbok centre had just started to find some form after being given an extended run in the No.13 jersey, but his involvement in the Super 14 may well be over, with Waylon Murray the likely candidate to step into the outside centre berth.
Veteran lock Johann Muller is also still unavailable after missing last Saturday’s match with a fractured finger, but otherwise Plumtree said the team was “not in bad shape”, with inside centre Riaan Swanepoel – who also sustained a blow to the shoulder at the weekend – expected to be ready to face the Reds.
Despite Jacobs being a casualty of the Hurricanes match, Plumtree said the team had certainly taken a lot of satisfaction out of the gutsy win.
“It was a really long overseas tour but, despite being tired and having had to make a large number of tackles against a good attacking side like the Hurricanes, we hung in there and took the opportunities when we could.
“That final match-winning penalty was so important and to have won the last two games on tour was a fantastic achievement,” said Plumtree.
However, he emphasised that they could not afford to get ahead of themselves and needed to make sure of the result this Saturday before looking forward to next weekend’s bye.
“We are eagerly anticipating the break but every week is like a final for us so we can’t afford to slip mentally at all. We know what our strengths and weaknesses are and we need to keep working really hard for every win.”
Indeed, if the Sharks can keep winning, they will continue to pry open the back door to play-off qualification, but they will also know that this small window of opportunity will just as quickly slam shut if they aren’t 100 percent focused on the job at hand on Saturday.
I would have rested the players on Tuesday too. Sometimes rest is far better than the extra day of training.
Reds looking superb this year, going to be far tougher for Sharks this week. Without Adi we will lose something in attack. Most important our defence must be spot on, we need to get first time tackles. Reds for me are a team that could make the semi and are far more dangerous than the Canes. Saying that, never thought Reds had a great game against the Cheethas, seeing Cheetahs had 4 players missing.
Go Sharks.
Puma, Without Abi you dont have an attack….
2 – BLboerSN…. 😀 Yes but he was starting to play well the past two games. We now have Murray, who is not always that great. Needs to tighten his defence this week.
Look if Sharks beat Reds they doing both Stormers and Bulls a favour here. So we need to beat em. Think Reds could knock one out on the top there and take a spot in the semi. So if we can beat them it will make the road to the semi harder.
The problem now is Goode our FH……hehehehe. Well at least he has had a few games now with the Sharks. So must be a bit settled. So having a laugh there, but actually pleased he may still play. Even if he is not that great a player. Team will feel more settled with some consistency with players starting in the same position for a few weeks.
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