The Cell C Sharks team named to play the Sunwolves has a different look about it to last week’s side, but it’s an opportunity for the coaching staff to rotate and keep the team fresh during a long Vodacom Super Rugby campaign.
This is the second consecutive home game for the team at Jonsson KINGS PARK and the players would like nothing better than to secure a convincing win, particularly as we are on the road for four weeks after this match.
“We’ve always said that we want to utilise the strength and depth of our squad and we have to do it, we can’t just talk about it or pay lip service to it,” explained head coach Robert du Preez.
“We believe this is a good opportunity to give the guys a start. Curwin has been there and thereabouts anyway, Mapimpi is back from his rest last week and Tera gets a well deserved start. He’s been part of this union for a long time, he’s very experienced. Wian Vosloo has a start too, he has tremendous potential. He’s very abrasive and a great talent; we would like to see what he can do this weekend. Thomas du Toit has a niggle with his AC Joint and is being rested this weekend, giving John Hubert Meyer an opportunity.
“There is a lot of competition in the team which is a great space to be in.”
Looking ahead to tomorrow’s clash with the Sunwolves, the focus is all about improving what the team has delivered, much of it not technical fixes.
“Last week was disappointing and the players themselves were very disappointed, we just lacked patience and if we can that right, we will be fine,” the coach pointed out.
“We’re on the cusp of playing really well, I think it’s just a matter of time. We’ve had a great week of training, the boys are energised and looking forward to this match. They want to have a great last game before we travel.”
Although the team want to play running rugby, exciting stuff that heralds lots of scoring opportunities and plenty of tries, the reality is that Durban, in February, is not conducive to an open style.
“People see the sun shining and think we have unbelievable conditions. But it’s difficult to play multi-phase rugby now. Having said that, at times on Saturday, had we shown more patience, having put the phases together and looking dangerous, we could have scored more tries.
“That’s what we’re going to do on Saturday: we’re going to put the phases together.”
While the Sunwolves haven’t won in their opening two matches, there is no discounting the fact that they are a dangerous side who have a strong desire to run the ball, keep the action alive and spread opposition defences thin.
“They’ve been good in both their previous games. They have an excellent coaching staff, they’re a well-coached team with some very experienced players. In last year’s match we only took the game away from them in the last five minutes so we know it’s going to be a very tough game. You can’t underestimate the Sunwolves, not at all.”
Ruan Botha, captain of the Cell C Sharks offered similar sentiments to his coach. This is a match about showing potential.
“The Sunwolves haven’t won a game so far, so they’ll see this as an opportunity to prove they’re not struggling,” he explained. “We still haven’t played the game we want to play and I reckon the Sunwolves will come here with all guns blazing and that’s something we’ve prepared for.
“We’re a dangerous side, if we put the phases together and hold on to the ball, we’ll be ok. We want to play a multi-phase game of rugby.”
The post Cell C Sharks vs Sunwolves appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
Keegan Daniel last represented the Cell C Sharks in Vodacom Super Rugby two years ago, missing out last year and also in the first game of the 2018 season after .
“It was frustrating last year,” he explains. “I broke my arm early in the season and the team was going so well that when I was available, it was hard to get a look in. Then I was sick before the Lions game two weeks ago so it hasn’t been ideal starts to two seasons.
“But it feels nice to get the boots on and get back into action. For me, this is the premier competition in the world and it’s great to be involved again.”
The other frustration is the draw the Cell C Sharks managed out of their clash with the Waratahs this past Saturday, a game Daniel admits was theirs for the taking.
“In any situation, when you have a team on the ropes and you don’t put them away, it is frustrating. We had so many opportunities but just didn’t convert them. But it is still early in the competition and we’ve been back at the grindstone this week preparing for the Sunwolves.”
Looking at the mistakes made and venturing an opinion on what might be stifling their best efforts, he explains: “I don’t think it’s over-eagerness, you don’t want to curb anyone’s enthusiasm or creativity. The margins are miniscule between being a hero and being a villain.
“As long as the guys are trying something new or exciting, if they’re willing to be creative, eventually it’s going to pay off. We’re not far off, it’s not like we’re tossing games away, I think we’re pretty much on the right track. We just need one or two things to click and we’ll convert those opportunities.”
As a senior player, one who has captained the side to glory and played a leadership role for many years, he denies that this adds pressure to the demands of his position.
“Pressure is why we play this game, those make or break moments in a game are the attraction and why we want to be here, we enjoy living on the edge. Ultimately it is for the guys who have been around to carry the youngsters and it’s up to us to absorb that pressure as much as possible. Although we have one or two newbies, I wouldn’t call the younger players in our team ‘youngsters’, they’ve been around now for a bit and we have a fairly settled squad.”
The Sunwolves come to Durban off the back of a tough start to their campaign and like the Cell Sharks, will have every intention of playing to win.
“They have had some horrific injury problems and that depletion really hurts your squad. The foreigners in their team have Super Rugby experience and add massive value to the Sunwolves. They started the comp fairly well before slipping up in their second game. They’re a team that can rock up any weekend and cause an upset; we aren’t taking this game lightly.”
The Japanese side play an exciting brand of rugby, one which is sure to test us on defence. Having spent some time playing club rugby there, Daniel is qualified to analyse them and explains: “Japanese rugby is generally a high tempo, high pace style of rugby. They’ve already shown vast improvement from last year. We’ve done our homework and identified some of their strengths and weaknesses.
“If you look at the timing of their local competition, they don’t have a lot of time to prepare as a Super Rugby squad. I’ve had the privilege of playing there and the level of physicality isn’t as high as a Currie Cup or NPC. For me, Vodacom Super Rugby is the premier competition where some of the best players in the world play. This is a game of physicality and if you can’t match the opposition there, you are going to struggle.”
Finally, there is the importance of what a win will do before the team tours. Although there is pressure on the Cell C Sharks, Daniel admits that it’s nothing different to any week.
“There’s pressure every weekend. If you’ve won five in a row, there’s pressure to maintain your winning ways. If you lose five in a row, there’s pressure on you to win the next one.
“Ultimately, for us, I think we’re close. I don’t think we’re far off. We’re creating some great opportunities, we’re just not converting and that’s what’s hurting us. Once we start converting, we’ll be ok.”
The post Converting Opportunities appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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