Sharks will stick to their game - Du Toit
Cell C Sharks and Emirates Lions will meet in a Vodacom Super Rugby quarter-final this weekend.
The Sharks and Lions will clash in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.
Kickoff is at 14h30.
The Lions have built a reputation for expansive and adventurous rugby under head coach Johan Ackermann.
Sharks prop forward, Thomas du Toit, believes they will not try to match the Lions at their own game this weekend.
"I don't think we will change the way we play. I think we play a more conservative game than the Lions do. We will look to play with high intensity. We will not be playing a loose game. We will be playing a very intense structured game," Du Toit said.
The Lions beat the Sharks 27-10 in Durban last weekend.
The scrum was an area of the game that fluctuated at Growthpoint Kings Park. The Sharks seemed to have the edge in the first half, while the Lions scrum appeared on top in the second half.
Du Toit feels that the Lions had adapted well.
"You build a relationship with the referee in the course of the match. We built the impression with the referee that we had dominance over the Lions pack. This dominance can be broken when the reserves come on. The Lions deserve credit for changing a gameplan that did not work for them in the first half. They came out with a new gameplan in the second half. They stuck to this new gameplan and it worked for them. They did well to adapt to the circumstances," Du Toit added.
The set-piece is a key area for a Lions team keen to provide their playmakers with quality attacking ball. Du Toit feels the Sharks are aware of how important the set-piece is to the Lions gameplan.
"It is certainly the platform that they base their play on. It is also the platform for our game. So we are going to try our best to have the perfect base to play from. This goes both for the scrums and the line-outs. The aim is to provide quality ball so our backs can play. We also will try to disrupt as much of their ball as we can," Du Toit said.
Du Toit is feeling good ahead of the quarter-final on Saturday.
"I am ready. I am super excited about this game. It is probably the game I am most excited about this year," he said.
The Lions ended top of the Super Rugby log, while the Sharks were eighth in the standings. Du Toit does not believe this will add significant pressure for the Lions to win on Saturday.
"I think it will play a small role. Bottom line is that we will still have to bring our best game. They have been playing very well in Johannesburg. Their good record at home is not something that worries us. I think it will inspire us to win," Du Toit added.
The Lions beat the Sharks last weekend, but this coming weekend will be a knockout game. Du Toit believes this is likely to have an impact on the game.
"The psychology of the game is different. I am guessing it is like Test match rugby. Not that I have played in a Test. It does not matter how you win. It is the final outcome that is important. I can assure you we will do everything we can to get the win this weekend," Du Toit concluded.
Kickoff is at 14h30.
The Lions have built a reputation for expansive and adventurous rugby under head coach Johan Ackermann.
Sharks prop forward, Thomas du Toit, believes they will not try to match the Lions at their own game this weekend.
"I don't think we will change the way we play. I think we play a more conservative game than the Lions do. We will look to play with high intensity. We will not be playing a loose game. We will be playing a very intense structured game," Du Toit said.
The Lions beat the Sharks 27-10 in Durban last weekend.
The scrum was an area of the game that fluctuated at Growthpoint Kings Park. The Sharks seemed to have the edge in the first half, while the Lions scrum appeared on top in the second half.
Du Toit feels that the Lions had adapted well.
"You build a relationship with the referee in the course of the match. We built the impression with the referee that we had dominance over the Lions pack. This dominance can be broken when the reserves come on. The Lions deserve credit for changing a gameplan that did not work for them in the first half. They came out with a new gameplan in the second half. They stuck to this new gameplan and it worked for them. They did well to adapt to the circumstances," Du Toit added.
The set-piece is a key area for a Lions team keen to provide their playmakers with quality attacking ball. Du Toit feels the Sharks are aware of how important the set-piece is to the Lions gameplan.
"It is certainly the platform that they base their play on. It is also the platform for our game. So we are going to try our best to have the perfect base to play from. This goes both for the scrums and the line-outs. The aim is to provide quality ball so our backs can play. We also will try to disrupt as much of their ball as we can," Du Toit said.
Du Toit is feeling good ahead of the quarter-final on Saturday.
"I am ready. I am super excited about this game. It is probably the game I am most excited about this year," he said.
The Lions ended top of the Super Rugby log, while the Sharks were eighth in the standings. Du Toit does not believe this will add significant pressure for the Lions to win on Saturday.
"I think it will play a small role. Bottom line is that we will still have to bring our best game. They have been playing very well in Johannesburg. Their good record at home is not something that worries us. I think it will inspire us to win," Du Toit added.
The Lions beat the Sharks last weekend, but this coming weekend will be a knockout game. Du Toit believes this is likely to have an impact on the game.
"The psychology of the game is different. I am guessing it is like Test match rugby. Not that I have played in a Test. It does not matter how you win. It is the final outcome that is important. I can assure you we will do everything we can to get the win this weekend," Du Toit concluded.
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre