Time for Sharks to mix it up

Director of Rugby Gary Gold made two injury enforced changes this week – which has afforded Keegan Daniel his first starting berth this season while JP Pietersen shifts to outside centre in the absence of the injured Paul Jordaan.

Loosehead prop Coenie Oosthuizen is back in the starting lineup while the most interesting change sees Garth April earn a long-awaited run-on spot at flyhalf. His inclusion speaks volumes about where the Sharks are in their season and what they will be looking to achieve against the Highlanders on Friday.

Joe Pietersen has been pulling the strings at flyhalf all season and has done a good job by all accounts. Despite one or two missed kicks, he has steadied the ship in the absence of Pat Lambie but he hasn’t quite provided that x-factor spark the Sharks have needed.

April may have been frustrated by a lack of game time this season but he has a chance to prove he can be the attacking catalyst the Sharks need at a pivotal part of their season. When he has featured off the bench, the Sharks attack has had purpose and they've looked more deadly out wide.

He has four Springboks outwide in JP Pietersen, Lwazi Mvovo, Odwa Ndungane and Willie le Roux - so there will be plenty of emphasis on getting the ball into their hands this weekend.

Last week’s loss to the Blues was a result of a lacklustre second half showing. The Sharks played some phenomenal running rugby in the first half, the best we’ve seen all season, while their defence continued to be rock-solid.

But that unravelled in the second half and a number of penalties cost the travelling Durbanites the match.

Gold admitted that the Sharks lineouts were a shambles in the second half and the team has spent the week hard at work on their set pieces. Rectifying that aspect of their game is crucial if they are to afford April the platform to direct play and unlock the Sharks’ outside backs.

Add some ‘Chili’

As a result of their misfiring lineouts, Gold has given Chiliboy Ralepelle his first opportunity of the season off the bench while Kyle Cooper drops out of the team. The former Springbok hooker has only been eligible to play for a week so he could be in for a baptism of fire after two years out of rugby serving a doping ban.

The Sharks will be hoping Ralepelle reintegrates quickly to Super Rugby, as Cooper has failed to provide the impact needed from the bench this season. Once a promising talent, Cooper has been off the pace and missed his lineout jumpers when it mattered most against the Blues.

Franco Marais and Ralepele will have a strict mandate to hit their jumpers and steady the Sharks scrum – the team’s performance will be dictated by their accuracy at the set piece this weekend.

Last but not least, the Sharks need to prove they can marry their attack and defence on Friday. All that is needed is a bit more patience.

Their defence has been their greatest weapon this year. The pressure applied has led to plenty of turnovers and penalties. However, the Sharks haven’t capitalised on the chances created which has seen a number of results go against them.

If they are to beat the Highlanders, they will have to turn that pressure into points – provided that players like April provide the spark to do so.

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