The Cell C Sharks team to host the Waratahs in our first home game of the Vodacom Super Rugby competition this Saturday at KINGS PARK shows a few changes from week one.
Beast Mtawarira is back in the starting line-up after playing off the bench against the Lions in one of two changes to the pack from the team announcement in week one (Keegan Daniel was named but had to pull out due to being unwell, but is back to full health). Tyler Paul comes in for Philip van der Walt, who has an ankle ligament sprain.
Amongst the backs, Cameron Wright took a knock in the Lions’ game and will play off the bench this week, but his replacement, Louis Schreuder, has returned from injury timeously to fit in to the starting line-up. The final two changes (one a positional switch) see Sbu Nkosi shifting to the left wing in place of Makazole Mapimpi (who is being rested), with Kobus van Wyk named on the right wing after playing off the bench two weeks ago.
Both teams will have watched videos of their opponents and identified areas of concern – either to counter or look to dominate. One area is the lineouts, the other is scrums, both of which are expected to be hotly contested.
“The set-pieces are a key part of the game, both your scrums and lineouts need to be functioning at 100%,” explains lock Stephan Lewies.
“I think it’s going to bring out a big effort from both sides because we both have exciting backlines and the forward pack that can give them that platform to strike from will be victorious. Hopefully we can have a similar performance at lineout time to that we put in against the Lions – maybe go one further – and since we’ve put in a lot of hard work on our scrumming since then, hopefully we can reap the rewards.”
He acknowledges that the forwards’ will have their work cut out for them, but it’s all part of delivering what they’re required to.
“If we can get that platform going, we hope to unleash our backs; we want to strike to score,” he points out. “In previous seasons, we’ve looked to strike set it up for later, but we’ve changed, we want to strike immediately off the lineout or scrum. We want to run with intent, not just set it up.
“And if they don’t then the forwards come back into play on attack and we’ll be looking to showcase our skills and intent. We have exciting backs, but the forwards are also exciting, everyone’s been working hard on their skills. The forwards will be looking to get the ball in hand too.”
“There’s a lot of positive energy in the squad.”
The match kicks off at 3.05pm on Saturday.
| The Cell C Sharks | Replacements |
| Beast Mtawarira | Akker van der Merwe |
| Franco Marais | Juan Schoeman |
| Thomas du Toit | John-Hubert Meyer |
| Ruan Botha (Captain) | Hyron Andrews |
| Stephan Lewies | Tera Mtembu |
| Jacques Vermeulen | Cameron Wright |
| Tyler Paul | Marius Louw |
| Keegan Daniel | Curwin Bosch |
| Louis Schreuder | |
| Robert du Preez | |
| Sbu Nkosi | |
| Andre Esterhuizen | |
| Lukhanyo Am | |
| Kobus van Wyk | |
| Lwazi Mvovo |
The post Home Game Excitement appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
His final match for Western Province saw Robert du Preez (junior) playing a starring role in his team’s Currie Cup Final defeat of the Cell C Sharks. Fortunately, that was his last game against the Durban side and he has joined his brothers Jean-Luc and Daniel, as well as his father Robert, the head coach of the team.
“I’ve always been on the winning end against my father, now I’m looking at giving back,” he says with a relaxed laugh. “I haven’t played with both of my brothers just yet in one game, but it’s been relatively easy settling in here. I grew up in Durban, I was in the junior ranks at The Sharks before leaving for Cape Town so it’s been an easy transition; I’m very comfortable here.”
The last two weeks have been a period of introspection and analysis following the Cell C Sharks open round loss to the Lions while the team enjoyed their bye in week two. “Although our first game of the season wasn’t the start we wanted, we’ve had two weeks to get over it, analyse the wrongs and focus on the positives from that match,” he explains.
“There were a lot of good things in that game, just certain areas where we let ourselves down. But after the break, the boys are revving to go for our first home game of the season, we’re expecting a big one.
There is always the fear of losing momentum with a bye, especially as early as this one, but du Preez explains that their training methods should obviate any hiccups caused by the bye. “We try to keep training as match specific as possible and we’ve ramped it up this week. We were also told to do some work on our own during the weekend off, so there was a lot of personal work being done behind the scenes.”
Looking ahead to the Waratahs who the Cell C Sharks host on Saturday at KINGS PARK, du Preez explains that, “We’ve done a lot of review work on them and they bring a good, physical pack to the game. They also have some aerial threats out wide with Bernard Foley and Israel Folau who have the ball on a string. By no means are we expecting an easy game, we need to be up for it and mentally prepared.
Obviously there is a kicking element to each team’s arsenal of tricks, but du Preez accepts that anything wayward from his side could be punished by the very lethal Folau and Co.
“We need to be very tactical with the way we kick,” he explains. “We know that he (Folau) is a big aerial threat.”
As the flyhalf general, he admits that the Cell C Shark backline is one he is looking to ignite, one with plenty of potential.
“I think we have a very exciting and youthful backline so my job is pretty much to get them into space and get the ball to them to do some good things. We have a good mix of big and strong with quick and exciting.”
The Cell C Sharks have two home games (next weekend we host the Sunwolves) before hitting the road and traveling to Australia and New Zealand for a tough month of matches against the Brumbies, Rebels, Blues and Hurricanes.
So how are we focusing on the next fortnight?
“It’s vitally important because they are home games and we want to do well at home and make KINGS PARK a fortress, and secondly, we’d like some momentum and good vibes before setting out on tour.
“It’s going to be long and challenging, although we haven’t really looked that far yet, we’re focused solely on this weekend.”
The post Making His Mark appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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