Unchanged Team for Hurricanes Clash:
Defence and discipline will be the focus points for the Cell C Sharks team as they prepare to take on the high-riding Hurricanes on Friday in the last tour match of the Vodacom super Rugby competition.
Head coach Robert du Preez, speaking about preparations for the match, has identified these two important factors as absolute non-negotiables for our match against the 2016 champions.
“We know this week will be tougher than last week, the Hurricanes are the number one team in New Zealand in my opinion,” he admitted. Last week the Hurricanes put 50 points on the log leading Rebels and du Preez warned that big scores are possible if a team’s discipline and defence fall apart.
“It just shows that if you have a little bit of an off day, you can catch 50 points. It happened to us against the Rebels and the Blues against us on Saturday.
“This means that our defence is going to have to be out the top drawer. We’ve given away too many soft tries and Saturday showed what a massive effect a yellow card can have on a team, so a massive focus for us will be on a discipline. In saying that, we only gave away six penalties, but the card was costly because we gave away three tries in the period. You just can’t lose a player against the New Zealand teams.
“Defence will win us this game.”
The Cell C Sharks not only came away with a vital win last week, but a pretty much injury free scorecard, allowing the coach to name an unchanged line-up for Friday’s clash.
“There have been a couple of niggles but nothing serious and everyone was available for selection.”
The team will go into this match with confidence which is a vital component for teams seeking victory, but it will take more of what was delivered last week against a top class side.
“After the disappointments of the first two weeks on tour, the boys were hurt, but they were desperate to get a first win on tour,” said du Preez. “If there had been a lack of effort previously I would have been really worried, but that wasn’t the issue. This time around the boys brought the effort and the accuracy, so it was much better and I was really pleased with that performance.
“Everyone was desperate to put in a good performance, and that aim was achieved. Every player had a part to play, including the bench players when they came on.”
| The Cell C Sharks | Replacements |
| 1. Tendai Mtawarira | 16. Franco Marais |
| 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle |
17. Juan Schoeman |
| 3. Thomas du Toit | 18. John-Hubert Meyer |
| 4. Ruan Botha (Captain) | 19. Hyron Andrews |
| 5. Stephan Lewies | 20. Tyler Paul |
| 6. Philip van der Walt |
21. Cameron Wright |
| 7. Jean-Luc du Preez | 22. Marius Louw |
| 8. Tera Mtembu | 23. Kobus van Wyk |
| 9. Louis Schreuder | |
| 10. Robert du Preez | |
| 11. Lwazi Mvovo | |
| 12. Andre Esterhuizen |
|
| 13. Lukhanyo Am | |
| 14. Sbu Nkosi | |
| 15. Curwin Bosch |
The post Unchanged Team for Hurricanes Clash appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
The Fidelity ADT Premier Division league for the most prized and oldest piece of silverware in World Rugby the Moor Cup, kicks off this Saturday with the 2017 champions College Rovers hosting what looks like a hugely improved Varsity College outfit on KP 3. Going on the results of many of the preseason friendly games we are possibly looking at entering into one of the most competitive of club seasons in recent years with a lot more sides in with a chance to take the honours. Certainly for Rovers it is not an easy opener for them to start their 2018 campaign.
Rovers, like many of the clubs, will go into the new season with a lot of unfamiliar faces in their line up but the 2017 champions will no doubt feel their biggest loss going into this all important opener after their long time star player,a former Sharks and Pumas utility back,Chris Jordaan having retired at the end of last years season. With that its certainly never easy replacing experience.
Rovers neighbours SA Home Loans Durban Collegians, runners up last year, will also have a tricky opener whilst also fielding a few newcomers when they host eThekwini Refractories Amanzimtoti on KP 10. In the remaining game Richards Bay travel to the Capital to face FNB UKZN Pietermaritzburg at the Peter Booysen Stadium. Bidvest Insurance Crusaders sit the opening round out with a bye.
With all the main games kicking off at 3.30pm we are in for an explosive opening round
Meanwhile after the First Division games last Thursday Hillcrest and South Coast Warriors are the early front runners with Jaguar Land Rover Durban Hillcrest accounting for Westville 25-12 and South Coast Warriors beating Durban Mets 36-26 in a high scoring game. In the other games Maritzburg Collegians had a good away win beating Jaguars 20-7 and Zululand Rhinos beat UKZN Durban 20-8 at Mick Kelly Park in Empangeni.
On Saturday Ballito host Hillcrest, Westville entertain Jaguars and Maritzburg Collegians travel to Howard College to face UKZN Durban.
In last weeks Under 20 ‘A’ League games Varsity College and Durban Collegians remain unbeaten with Durban Collegians beating a never say die Midlands side 78-38 in yet another high scoring game. College Rovers, after beating Crusaders 29-22. find themselves as the early log leaders even after losing their opener against Midlands in their first match at Woodburn in Pietermaritzburg.
The Under 20 leagues will only continue next weekend after the Sharks Academy Easter recess.
The post WEDNESDAY COLUMN CLUB RUGBY appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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