Sharks blessed with captains

Although home ground advantage is a big factor, beating the Hurricanes will take a special effort this weekend. The visitors will run onto Kings Park riding a wave of confidence following their demolition of the Lions last weekend and the Sharks are well aware of that threat.

“I’d hope we’ve done our homework to have an understanding of how they play,” Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold said earlier this week.

“You still have to stop them though and they are good, every one of the five New Zealand teams.

“This is going to be our biggest challenge just from the point of view of confidence. You consider how good these teams are that we’ve played against and then you add 50 points of confidence and the fact that both coaches are comfortable in Durban and know our ways, structures and players, I think this is going to be our toughest ask.”

The Lions were guilty of playing to freely against the Hurricanes last weekend and the visitors proved just how clinical they are. However Gold believes that striking a balance on attack and defence will be key to weathering the Hurricanes’ onslaught.

“I think the Lions played better against us, beat us 24-9 and shoved it down our throats to be quite honest. They’ve definitely got the ability to play that game and have done so on many occasions – it’s not for me to comment on the Lions game plan.

“From our point of view, we have our style. We have made no bones about the fact that we want to be a team that gets the balance right but I’m not going to apologise for winning games in the way we have.

“First and foremost, you need to stop New Zealand teams from scoring tries against you. Then you need to be more clinical in the way you look after possession. Then when you have the ball, you have to be clinical in the way you look after it.

“There are points out there so it’s about getting the balance right. We’ve said we want to be better with ball in hand and we’ve made some changes in the last month or so.

“There is a foundation to our game and it has by and large worked for us and given us confidence to play. I don’t want to get into what I think works against New Zealand teams; I think that would be arrogant. I just think we need to go out and put a proper effort against a great team.”

Blessed with captains

The Sharks will be buoyed by the return of a couple of senior statesmen this weekend. Upfront, Beast Mtawarira returns to the starting lineup after a week’s break to captain the side at loosehead prop. Meanwhile Pat Lambie is on the bench and will get his first taste of Super Rugby this year.

With an in-form Keegan Daniel in the starting lineup as well, the Sharks have three captains in the squad - not forgetting that Jean Deysel has also skippered the side. Gold believes the collective experience is a blessing to have.

“It’s fortuitous how it has worked out. Obviously it was very sad that Patrick got injured when he did but I think Beast has done a great job since he took over. It was always our plan to rest Beast for that last game on tour because of the travel and itinerary,” Gold said.

“Beast was out and Keegan was making his way back into the team so it made sense that he took over last weekend. With Beast back this weekend he takes the reigns and as was always the plan, when Patrick gets selected to start he will come back and captain the team.”

While the Sharks are quietly confident that their defensive structure will hold the Hurricanes out, there is the matter of the Durban connection in the visitors’ camp. Hurricanes head coach Chris Boyd served as an assistant coach in Durban from 2006 to 2008, while John Plumtree was head coach from 2008 to 2012.

Plumtree’s exit from the Sharks was far from pretty and there might be twinge of revenge in the air if the Hurricanes win the match. Nevertheless Gold wouldn’t be drawn into the extra hype.

“Boyd and Plum both did very well here; they’re hugely admired and loved by a lot of people in Durban and I’m sure from a personal view they will want to do well.” 

The Sharks face the Hurricanes at 15h00 on Saturday.

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