The Sharks believe that their superior balance between attack and defence has given them the edge over their opposition this season

Published 23 October 2012 | By Sharks_forever

Word out of Durban so far is that all is going according to plan, even with an adjustment either way to the team dynamics, depending on coach John Plumtree’s planning.

Would there be changes to the team? my prediction is one or two at most, but much depends of returning injured players as well as weather conditions. One would ask the question, but why make a change to a winning team? the answer simply being that much depends on how the coach sees the opposition and how they will play and how the make up of his team can counter any threats they pose.

There are also the concerns of the team itself as to what they did right, and what they did wrong in their previous match. And if one looks back to the semi-final there is no doubt that the lineouts need serious attention.

And this is where I see a change in the team, My prediction is that coach Plumtree will strengthen the lock situation in the starting team as well as the bench, and that the more experienced hooker in Craig Burden will start in the final. This also mean that instead of the two props on the bench as in the semi-final he will revert to one prop on the bench.

This is of course mere speculation as one does not yet know the outcome of late fitness tests as well as weather conditions, but if there is one thing John Plumtree has shown this year? is consistency in selection which means absolute minimal changes to last weekends squad.

 

THE ARTICLE BELOW SHOWS OUT THE MINDSET IN THE SHARKS CAMP RIGHT NOW ALSO EXPLAINS THE INJURY SITUATION.

Thanks to rugby365

The Durban side are preparing to host a home final after topping the Currie Cup log and playing in the Super Rugby Final, and assistant coach Grant Bashford believes that the key to their success has been their ability to put the opposition under pressure on both attack and defence.

The Sharks backline mentor pointed out that although his team have played the majority of their home games in wet conditions, they have still scored plenty of tries and completed nine out of ten tackles.

“Definitely we have enough opportunity to practice in the wet this campaign and we’ve had a lot of wet weather games, but having said that, we still scored the highest number of tries in the tournament so it isn’t like the wet weather has affected our try-scoring ability.

“The biggest plus for us is that the group shows a good balance between attack and defence, we’ve managed to defend really well, this weekend we achieved 93 percent tackle stats. And when we’ve had the ball, we’ve been able to put teams under pressure as well,

“We’ve been able to hang on to the ball for long periods of time, we have enough X-factor in our backline that we can hurt people. And when they have the ball, we’re able to put them under pressure defensively,” he said.

Bashford said that another positive for his side has been their defensive discipline which has seen them fail to concede a try in the last two matches.
“The players have stepped up hugely in terms of defence, statistically, we’re the best side in the competition, averaging 90 percent for the tournament which is huge, especially with the young group because that is generally the area you find them most wanting.

“It’s been really good and in the last two weeks, to keep the opposition from scoring any tries against us has been rewarding. Even with a minute to go against the Bulls, when they were pressing on our line and the game was already won, there was enough pride in the group that they didn’t want any tries scored against them,” he said.

Bashford said that whilst making a fast start like they did in the 2010 final against Province would be a great boost, the Sharks are aware of the Cape side’s ability to play for 80 minutes as they showed in their last-gasp semifinal victory over the Lions last weekend.

“In the 2010 final against Western Province we had a really good start, we were quite well up in the first 20 minutes and in play-offs, it’s always difficult to come back, especially with the pressure involved.

“So although we started well in that game, if you look at Province this past weekend, they never gave up against the Lions, they managed to hang-in, there was belief and they backed their driving line-out at the end to win them the game,” he said.

The only injury concerns for the Sharks is prop Jannie du Plessis who will not take any contact in training until Thursday as a precaution for the concussion he suffered in the semifinal victory over the Bulls, and coach John Plumtree will be further boosted by the return to training of Odwa Ndungane (ankle) and Jacques Botes (back) on Tuesday.

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