The Cell C Sharks team named to take on the Emirates Lions in Johannesburg on Friday evening shows just two changes to last week’s side for this important Vodacom Super Rugby derby match.
There were some encouraging signs last week that the Cell C Sharks were about to assert themselves and dominate territory and possession, but frustration with closing out the opportunities created. This will have been a major focus in preparation for the Lions this week.
Up against a team who love to run the ball, the Cell C Sharks defence will certainly be tested, although it is in this facet that the team cannot be faulted. We have conceded just nine tries in six matches, by far the tournament’s leading team in this department and mixing great defence with finishing off opportunities created will be the recipe the team hopes to accomplish.
Head coach Robert du Preez has made just two changes to last week’s side, one upfront and one in the backline.
The loss of Akker van der Merwe to a three-week suspension has necessitated a change in the front row, with Kerron van Vuuren starting and Fez Mbatha coming onto the bench as cover at hooker.
Despite his relative youth (23 years of age), van Vuuren will have the country’s most experienced Vodacom Super Rugby player packing down beside him (and a fellow Bok in Coenie Oosthuizen on the other side of the front row).
Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira will start this crucial match and make national history when he becomes the most capped South African rugby player in the competition. This will be his 157th appearance, overtaking the former record-holder Adriaan Strauss.
Curwin Bosch replacing Aphelele Fassi at fullback is the only other change to the starting XV.
On the bench, Juan Schoeman comes in for Khutha Mchunu while JJ van der Mescht (like Mbatha, another player from last year’s triumphant Cell C Sharks Under 19 campaign) is poised to make his Vodacom Super Rugby debut, replacing Gideon Koegelenberg as cover at lock.
Friday evening’s clash kicks off at 19.10pm.
Cell C Sharks
1. Beast Mtawarira
2. Kerron van Vuuren
3. Coenie Oosthuizen
4. Ruben van Heerden
5. Hyron Andrews
6. Luke Stringer
7. Jacques Vermeulen
8. Daniel du Preez
9. Louis Schreuder (C)
10. Robert du Preez
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Andre Esterhuizen
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Lwazi Mvovo
15. Curwin Bosch
Replacements
16. Fez Mbatha
17. Juan Schoeman
18. Thomas du Toit
19. JJ van der Mescht *(Debut)
20. Philip van der Walt
21. Grant Williams
22. Kobus van Wyk
23. Aphelele Fassi
The post Minimal Changes for Lions appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
The Cell C Sharks have proven to be a team that is able to dominate and create opportunities, finishing those off is the primary focus as the team prepare to do battle in another local derby match.
On Friday night, we travel to Emirates Airline Park to take on the SA Conference leading Emirates Lions in a fourth derby match of the Vodacom Super Rugby competition, looking to take positives from the past weekend’s match and build on those, while aiming to fix the issues that are hampering progress.
“We’re always chasing performances with the aim of winning the next game, regardless of what has gone on before,” explains assistant coach David Williams.
“The performances have been there, it’s just the execution, that final moment to get over the chalk.
“The possession statistics – off-loads, line breaks, tackles – we’re getting those, it’s just the finishing. We credit the defences we’ve played, the two South African teams we’ve met [the Vodacom Bulls and Stormers] who tend to load pressure on you which has challenged our game model. But we have to be better at what we do.”
Playing local derbies is a completely different challenge to what can be expected when playing the Australian and New Zealand sides says Williams.
“The bravery with the ball that they play with is something we’re chasing, but we have to manage it within our mindset to win the derby games where the physical attrition is greater.”
With a points’ differential of +37, the Cell C Sharks have the second best statistic in the competition (behind the Crusaders with +73) which shows that our attack is working. Even in the loss on the weekend, we outscored the visitors by two tries to one. Like the Crusaders, the Cell C Sharks are the only team to have scored bonus points for tries on two occasions.
“We focus on the performance and when we get the performance right, the tries do come,” he explains. “Either from pressure forcing turnovers or from phase play.
“The positive is in the opportunities we are creating. In the performance review of Saturday’s game, it is clear we are getting the things we’re looking for, it’s just those final moments not going right for us.”
This week in the Cell C Sharks camp will be all about corrections to the area of concern: finishing
“It’s all about capitalising on those big moments. Chasing them and executing. That’s what we’re building towards this week.”
Looking to the opposition, Williams explains that, “They have a very solid what we call game model, what they are all about and they’re a team that chases possession. Whoever comes out, positive about possession and achieve positive outcomes, will come out on top.
“What’s important is set-piece gains, to carrying the ball. And because they have guys who like to attack the ball on the ground, if our plan to counter that comes off, we’ll be able to exploit them.”
The post Finishing Off appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
Fill in the form below to have your blog featured on MyDurban – we will post a snippet and title link to your new blog posts.
Submit and get free press releases here: MyPR Free Press Release | Meet the Durban Bloggers.
