Vodacom Bulls vs Cell C Sharks Preview Article:
An age-old rivalry continues this Saturday when the Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Bulls go head-to-head in Rainbow Cup SA battle in Pretoria in a game not only about log positions.
For the Cell C Sharks, top of the table status gives credence to what they are doing both on and out of match day, but they acknowledge that the perfect performance has not quite been reached yet. That’s the sign of a good team, that there is something special brewing despite knowing that there are more arrows in the quiver.
The fact that the Bulls too have not lost a match in the tournament adds to the spice of what is expected to be a bruising encounter between the sides. After this weekend, one remains unbeaten; the other will have tasted their first defeat. Unless fate conspires to offer up a draw.
Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt admitted in the build-up to the clash that he expects it to be a game about pressure. Both sides have used this prominently in their successful marches to date and he believes it will be no different on the weekend.
“I don’t think we’ll get anything different from what they gave against Western Province last week,” he pointed out. “They kicked a lot and I imagine with their good defence they will want to kick t the corners and isolate us at the back.
“They’ve been outstanding on defence, they have a good record there, so they’ll look to exert pressure on us and look to play from our mistakes.”
Another area both sides have been similar is in their discipline and both have won twice despite having the highest penalty count of the four teams in the competition.
“The Bulls gave away 20 penalties on the weekend and we gave away 19 and I’m sure both teams will be looking to tidy that up a bit.
“We gave away penalties all around the field [against the Lions] although we improved a lot at the breakdown, conceding just one penalty there which had been a concern going into that game. We’ve continued to work on that and the other penalties we conceded on defence and at the tackle area are controllables and we have worked on our decision-making at the breakdown. But it’s certainly an area we need to improve upon this weekend.”
The last meeting between the sides saw the Cell C Sharks inflict a heavy 45-12 defeat on the Bulls at Jonsson Kings Park in the Preparation series. Before that, it was the Carling Currie Cup Final with the Bulls taking the spoils after extra time.
Does history play any role now?
“We don’t look at this game from a revenge point of view,” Everitt admitted. “Every game against the Bulls is going to be a competitive and highly physical one and we expect nothing different this time.
“What that final has done for us is to give us the confidence to go to altitude and perform for a long period of time, like we did in that game. But, the Currie Cup Final is gone and I don’t think anyone thinks about the past when you’re playing a game of this stature.”
What is he expecting from his own charges as they seek that complete performance?
“The guys play with a lot of effort and energy, we want to play quickly, we want to see the game pushed to its limit as far as ball in play time is concerned.”
The post Vodacom Bulls vs Cell C Sharks Preview Article appeared first on The Sharks.
The Cell C Sharks team named to travel to Pretoria to take on the Vodacom Bulls on Saturday shows just one change to the matchday 23 as the team continues to build momentum in playing personnel in the Rainbow Cup SA competition.
At the end of the halfway stage, head coach Sean Everitt will have been able to play an almost identical team each week, with just one change to the starting line-up for this match after retaining the same XV for the opening two matches.
Jaden Hendrikse returns to the side in the place of Grant Williams at scrumhalf, with Sanele Nohamba playing off the bench.
Building momentum is all about continuity and being able to retain the bulk of the team week after week provides the platform for a side to grow as a unit and for the individuals to revel in the sustained opportunities they are being given.
It won’t be easy against the only other unbeaten side in the tournament and these two sides have a powerful rivalry that goes back many years.
With two bonus point victories so far – against the DHL Stormers in round one and the Emirates Lions in round two – the Cell C Sharks are clearly doing something right, although there are still areas of their game that they know are still works in progress.
There is a lot of excitement when this team gets into its stride and this makes them a dangerous proposition.
“With the freedom we’re given to play, decision-making becomes crucially important,” explains flyhalf Curwin Bosch.
“That’s knowing when to run and when to kick and with all the hard work put in with that in mind, hopefully we can put in the perfect performance this weekend.”
Cell C Sharks
1. Ox Nche
2. Fez Mbatha
3. Thomas du Toit
4. Ruben van Heerden
5. Reniel Hugo
6. Siya Kolisi
7. Henco Venter
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
9. Jaden Hendrikse
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Yaw Penxe
12. Jeremy Ward
13. Lukhanyo Am (C)
14. Sbu Nkosi
15. Aphelele Fassi
Replacements
16. Kerron van Vuuren
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Wiehahn Herbst
19. Le Roux Roets
20. Phepsi Buthelezi
21. Sanele Nohamba
22. Manie Libbok
23. Werner Kok
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