Much room for improvement for Sharks
The Cell C Sharks
began their Rainbow Cup SA campaign with a tight 33-30 win over the DHL Stormers at
the Cape Town Stadium last weekend but will eye a marked improvement when they
face the Lions in their first home match of the competition this Saturday at Jonsson
Kings Park.
The Stormers did receive two red cards during the clash which meant that they
lost Seabelo Senatla and Willie Engelbrecht but were able to replace both
players after the team played twenty minutes with fourteen men.
Ultimately it was the determination from the Sharks that saw them overturn an eleven-point
half-time deficit to win the game, however number eight Sikhumbuzo Notshe believes
there are crucial areas that need to be improved on.
“You can never be pleased with yourself after your first match and the one area
we need to improve on is the breakdown,” Notshe said.
“Their stealers managed to get their hands on the ball, and we were slow to
react when our teammates were carrying the ball.
“(The breakdown) is something that we haven’t shown consistency at and I think
this last weekend was a case that we didn’t look after our teammates when they
went into contact.
“It is an issue that we have addressed and we are working on it.”
Having come back from the deficit that they did showed confidence and belief in
the systems that the Sharks have created under coach Sean Everitt.
“Under the poles we spoke about how good our energy levels and intensity were
and that’s what got us over the line.
“At the end of the match we could have given away a penalty but we forced them
to kick that grubber which is always a fifty-fifty and I guess the ball bounced
in our favour that time.”
The Sharks might find that there are many areas to improve on but there were
glimpses of brilliance as they ran in five tries against the three of the
Stormers. Notshe was happy with how the side muscled up against a physical Stormers
outfit.
“Defensively I thought we were good and made a lot of good tackles,” he
commented. “We were very disciplined in terms of the new laws.
“There were a lot of positives and there was growth which is what we want to
see.”
The Cell C Sharks will face the Lions this Saturday in their second match of
the Rainbow Cup SA at Jonsson Kings Park. Kick off is at 4pm.
