Sharks bracing for Glasgow test
After a baptism of fire in their United Rugby Championship
opener last weekend, the Cell C Sharks head to Scotland to face the Glasgow
Warriors in their second match of the competition this Saturday.
The Sharks were given a cruel welcome to life in Europe’s top-flight when they went down 42-17 to Munster in their in first match last weekend.
Following that disappointing start to their campaign they head to Scotstoun Stadium to face the Glaswegians who also suffered defeat in their first match of the competition.
The Warriors went down to Ulster and will offer up another interesting test for the Sharks this Saturday.
Assistant coach for the Sharks John McFarland was happy to get the competition underway and says the Sharks now know what they need to work on going forward and believes that the basics are the same in Europe as they were in Super Rugby.
“If you are letting teams into your 22 through penalties then things aren’t any different,” McFarland said.
“They going to be mauling, they going to be coming at you around the corner so that’s the way it is and we think the big thing we need to work on is our discipline.
“They (Munster) had twelve entries into our 22 and they all came through penalties; that’s the only way they got into our 22.”
It’s been a big learning curve for the Sharks and this week they’ve had an opportunity to address their discipline issues.
“Referee Marius van der Westhuizen says there has been great improvement from the Sharks in terms of our discipline.
“In terms of our advancing after kicks, rolling away after the tackle and things that they are really strict on we’ve become really good at.
“Some of the interpretations at the weekend were very different and we’ve got to get used to Northern Hemisphere referees and we’ve got to get used to them quickly,” he added.
