The Sharks are in a good place, both mentally and physically, as well as on the Vodacom Super Rugby log following their bonus point win over the Rebels and the confidence they would have gained from their execution of the basics on Saturday.

Official Sharks Media Release

It wasn’t so much the achievement of the bonus point within the opening 35 minutes of the match against the Rebels at KINGS PARK on Saturday that was the focal point for The Sharks coaching staff, but also maintaining the intensity that had allowed them to get that reward to go on and continue their dominance.

They were to be rewarded with a further six tries in the second half to suggest that the players lost none of their drive and focus.  In all, it was a match when pretty much everything came together and this bodes well for their confidence – and log position.

The Sharks finished the weekend in third place, top of the South African Conference, but accept that it is still early days and the match against the Crusaders, and then onwards until their next bye (in June), is going to test them severely.

“We are obviously happy,” states assistant coach Hugh Reece-Edwards. “Four tries in the first half was the same situation against us the week before, so after half-time it was going to be a big mental test – and effort – for us to make sure we didn’t allow them to come back in the second half like we had done the previous game as it would have soured our first half achievements.

“But there was some great, champagne-type rugby in the first 10 minutes of the second half [when they scored another four tries], we played some good rugby, put them under pressure and got the turnovers we’ve been looking for, for a long time.

“In saying that, while we were good, they were poor. This wasn’t the best Rebels’ side and as such, we can’t say with our 10 tries we’re this great side.”

So what was the difference?  Reece-Edwards says that there were no major changes, just an increase in intensity at training which came through in the game.

“We tweaked a few things at training for the Rebels, we had to. But we had good training before the Brumbies’ game which obviously didn’t show in that game.  We had a good training week last week and changed a few things which made the guys concentrate a little harder and that adjustment came through in the game.

“It was a long week last week and it’s a good feeling with the result and the way we put it together. Obviously the next game is very important to us.”

He explains that The Sharks are hoping to have some firepower back after the bye which will obviously give The Sharks greater depth going into a phase of eight games before the June break.  The break will also allow for tired and bruised bodies to enjoy respite from the physical demands of Super Rugby.

“We should hopefully have Jean Deysel and Tim Whitehead back after the bye – if they are available that will be fantastic because it adds to the depth we have going forward – and there are a few bruised bodies after the game, so the bye comes at a good time.”