News

Sharks focus on Lions clash

September 22 2008

A week ahead of the Sharks' potentially crucial Currie Cup clash with the Lions, captain Johann Muller expressed his disappointment with his side's

performance against the Falcons, despite winning with a bonus point.

The Sharks arrived in Kempton Park with the sole aim of getting maximum points. Seven tries later and the bonus point in the bag, it was a case of mission accomplished, but Muller wasn't entirely happy with his team's execution, saying it was not quite as clinical as they would have hoped for.

"We came here for five points and while we're happy to take the win and the bonus point, it wasn't pretty and we played some bad rugby in stages," Muller told the Sharks website.

"Credit to the [Falcons] though, they really played well at the breakdown and we didn't attack well enough. We must now go back and concentrate and plan for the way forward."

With two weeks left of the round stages, every game and every win is important for five sides vying for a semi-final place. For the Sharks, it's not only about making the top four, but maintaining their position at the top of the table.

"It's getting bigger each weekend, we know we have to play well and win against the Lions in our next game if we want a home semi and a home final," said the Sharks Captain.

"We know it will be tough against them and will have to play well to beat them in Johannesburg."

Both the Sharks and Falcons went out to play positive rugby with the aim of scoring tries, and the home side had to admit there were also some disappointments in their performance.

Falcons captain Hanno Cotezee, like his coach prior to the game, admitted that their goal for the match was about getting a bonus point for scoring four tries.

"We said we were going to play positive rugby and it was a nice, tough game, but we will keep positive despite the result," he explained. He added that losing their fly-half to injury was a big disruption but his team showed commitment despite the challenge.

"It was a disturbance, but we showed heart and guts and I am proud of the boys."

The Man of the Match, Ruan Pienaar, who seems to be making a habit of winning this award - winning three in his last four games for the Sharks - was his usual humble self, deflecting praise to the rest of his team-mates.

"The Man of the Match award could have gone to anyone," he said.

"It wasn't pretty out there and we weren't clinical enough, we didn't play well. We have a tough week ahead, we know it's going to be difficult against the Lions and we're expecting a big game."