The Cell C Sharks match against the Golden Lions could have been calamitous given the situation we were in, but when calmness was needed, that’s exactly what we showed to take control of the game and come back from the dead to win.
The Lions, down to 14 men for the last half hour of the game, appeared to panic as we wrestled control back in our favour. Around the 50 minute mark – with half an hour’s play remaining – we were 31-5 down and seemingly in a massive hole too deep to emerge from.
But words like passion, courage, character and belief need to be mentioned. Jacques Vermeulen scored our second try, was kicked in the face in the process and the Lions lost their hooker. The whole complexion of the game was about to change.
And although we were in serious trouble at half-time, head coach Robert du Preez admitted that there were no stern words for the team.
“I didn’t really have harsh words, but everything had gone wrong for us in the first half, we just couldn’t get going and had made way too many errors,” he explained after the match. “We needed to sort out our set-pieces which hadn’t functioned all that well.
“That try we scored just before half-time was crucial, we really needed that to give the guys some belief. That was truly a fairy-tale second half.
“It was fantastic to win here, a lot of guys haven’t ever before, it was really pleasing and it gives the team a lot of belief.”
Talking about the red card, he said that, “It definitely changed the way the game was going, it’s tough to play with 14 players. At that time, we needed to get into the Lions half, especially at scrum-time because we were really dominant then; we needed territory and possession, which we did.”
Finishing strongly for teams not used to playing on the Highveld is rare, and given how much work needed to be done – and was – is testament to the fighting spirit and fitness of the team who looked to be dead and buried at 31-5 down.
“We did finish strongly, we scored 42 points in the second half, we had a fantastic second half and that’s testament to the players’ conditioning.
“I said to the boys in my chat to them before the game, that winning takes a lot of talent and hard work, but to win three games in eight days takes character, and that’s what the boys have shown.”
There was just one injury concern to report. “Thomas hurt his ankle and will be sent for scans,” said du Preez. “That’s the only real injury, although the boys are going to be very sore. But we do have a nice break now.”
The Cell C Sharks now take fantastic momentum into the rest of the competition after four consecutive wins. Obviously the plan is to keep on track.
“We have a bye next week then we play Western Province in Cape Town, we want to build on the momentum we’ve created.
“But three games in eight days was tough, I think the boys handled it well.”
The post Panic and Calm appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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