Sharks’ captain Tera Mtembu admits that the defending Currie Cup champions have slumped into a “desperate” position in their bid to defend the title.
The Durban-based side drew 30-30 with the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein last Saturday and must now win all of their four remaining games if they want to have any chance of reaching the semi-finals.
“I think the word we can use is desperate,” said Mtembu said on Tuesday.
“We’ve slipped into a position now that we have to win every game.
Planet Rugby
“But our focus obviously is the Bulls first and it’s a must-win game for us. The other games will then follow.”
The Sharks must beat the Blue Bulls in Pretoria this week and follow that up with home victories over the Eastern Province Kings and the Golden Lions before playing another must-win game away at current table-toppers Western Province.
They also need to pick up bonus points along the way, or else they can be caught by the Cheetahs or the Bulls, should those two rivals win all their matches.
“Ultimately we’d like to get a semi-final spot,” Mtembu said.
“But that’s something we can’t control. We want to try and win the last four games and if we can do that the log will take care of itself.”
Brad Macleod-Henderson’s side has been boosted by news that Lwazi Mvovo will be available after he was released from Springbok duty for the Loftus Versfeld Stadium clash.
But team doctor Alan Kourie confirmed that veteran Bok wing Odwa Ndungane will be out after sustaining a groin strain.
He joins centre Heimar Williams, sidelined with the same injury for four weeks, on the casualty list, which also includes England prop Matt Stevens (knee).
Another front rower, Thomas du Toit, faces a late fitness test ahead of Saturday’s clash.
Mtembu, in his first season at the helm, said they have worked on two areas of their game this week.
“I think our big thing is that we are creating opportunities but aren’t executing well,” he said.
“Our discipline has let us down, even though there was a big improvement at the weekend.
“Still, we’re not executing as well as we’d like to. Those are the main areas we’ve been focusing on in the last two weeks – improving on the execution and the discipline.”
But the Sharks’ skipper felt there were plenty of positives in the draw in Bloemfontein, which came on the back of defeats to the Pumas and Griquas, results that have left them hanging desperately on to fourth place.
“I think our discipline was quite good,” added Mtembu.
“Our defence was also good at times and the linkage play between the forwards and backs was probably the best it’s been all season.
“I think we’re creating a lot of opportunities. It’s just that last pass or the finishing that’s missing.”
Good evening all, seems like the pub is not open yet, don’t think I will still be around for when it opens, work beckons, so here is a song:
@ Bullscot:
The pub is always open.
It’s your round. 😀
@ IAAS:
ok IAAS what can I get you, mind you make a good choice only getting one round tonight
@ Bullscot:
Would a Johnny blue be pushing it then? 😆 We come from an entitlement society after all.
4 @ IAAS:
Hey no problems, over here where we make the stuff that’s not pushing it, could even offer you a Glenfiddich or Lagavullin if you like, but only one
@ Bullscot:
Ok then – make it a double Glenfiddich. 🙄
Very important few days up here but we don’t do politics here, so just a song that was really nice to hear Dougie performing live on Sunday night:
6 @ IAAS:
There you go would you take it with a dash of water, don’t drink the stuff myself but that is what I hear is best for it, none of this on ice
Oh well time to go, have a good night all for me as Janice Ian says :
@ Bullscot:
G night Bull scotty
Stupid farking conputers just spent an hour trying to figure out why my display resolution won’t resize
Gooood Evening Everyone!
11 @ MacroBok:
It’s a fooking conspiracy against normal people of the world!
@ Scrumdown:
A great song for spring. Alas, an Arab Spring. The more things change, the more they stay the same.
14 @ IAAS:
Yeah. Some of the lyrics may be a bit inappropriate given what some of the religious nutters are doing in the world at the moment.
Still, a good song in its day.
Now here’s a bunch who CAN hold a note.
so the publican’s taken the night off…? 😯
evening all…
urgent message for everyone…
go and tell everyone you love that you love them…
not tomorrow… not later… not just now…
right now…!!
tell them if they with you… phone or whatsapp them if they’re not…
then repeat it every day and every time you leave them…
if you do this every day… one day… you will be extremely thankful you did…
I wonder if our friends from the far North will adapt this as their National Anthem next week?
Definitely one of my all time favourites.
The Royal Marines marching tune. (Glo dit of nie!)
Well, I made quite a mission to get to a palce where I could access Youtube, and now the boss doesn’t open the bar tonight . . .
But let’s hope this works:
@ ufo:
Listen to the words of this song then. Gooseflesh stuff. Sung by one of my favourite vocalists – David Byron.
even folks. Anyone by the name of Maryanne around?
@ Jeraldjay:
Vincent, great song
Can’t keep an old rocker down!
Holy shit! Just found this. Def not as good as the original, but quite an original combo (Fergie and Slash) in my opinion.
@ ufo: that’s real cute UFO. And for good measure, my wife’s favourite old time chrooner happens to be dear old Satchmo. 🙂
@ Scrumdown: @ 26
Awesome choice! I’m trying to find a “remixed’ version of War Pigs that they used in the trailer of the last season of Game of Thrones.
Users Online
Total 184 users including 0 member, 184 guests, 0 bot online
Most users ever online were 3735, on 31 August 2022 @ 6:23 pm
No Counter as from 31 October 2009: 41,814,051 Page Impressions
_