News

In-form Sharks won't lose their bite

October 02 2008

The Sharks go into the Currie Cup match against Griquas this Saturday intent on improving their accuracy despite scoring a bonus-point win over the Lions last weekend.

They have openly admitted that they had a poor start to the game, but in scoring four second-half tries showed how well they can play once they find their rhythm.

"The Lions are a really good side and we knew it was going to be tough up there and that it would take some time to break them down," captain Johann Muller told the Sharks website.

"We probably didn't play as well as we should have in the first half and the way we wanted to, but in the second half we came out and played the kind of rugby we can and wanted to play.

"And if we want to win the rest of our games, we have to do it for 80 minutes, not only 40."

The Sharks will be looking to build on their performance in the second half to an overall great display this weekend at the Absa Stadium in Durban to set themselves up nicely for the play-off stages which start next Saturday.

And that means no costly slip-ups. It also seems likely that the team will pretty much remain the same over the last month of the competition in an effort to build continuity and momentum.

"The side that will be picked is at full-strength," said Muller.

"It doesn't matter who we are playing this weekend, regardless of whether it is Griquas, Cheetahs or the Bulls or whoever, it's about us, it's not about them and we have to start building momentum now and really playing some good rugby for 80 minutes."

Despite the fact that Griquas might not be considered one of the top five unions, Muller admits that there is no complacency in the camp ahead of this match.

"There is certainly too much riding on it and it would be a severe disappointment if all the effort in the preceding months was undone in one match.

"We have done the hard work over the last eight weeks and one slip-up could be costly, we are definitely not taking this game lightly.

"We saw on the weekend against Griquas that the Bulls really only ran away with it in the last 10 or 15 minutes.

"Griquas are a really competitive side, they have a good pack of forwards who are really tough and some clever players at the back so we'll have to play well if we want to beat them."

Although no-one likes to look too far ahead at the winning line and miss the final hurdle directly in front of them, obviously having earned a home semi-final regardless of the outcome of this week's match, Muller won't be drawn into a likely - or preferable - opponent in next Saturday's semi-final.

"It's about us, if we come to the park and play the kind of rugby we can play, it doesn't matter who we meet," said Muller.

"It's always going to be tough and regardless of which top five side we play, each will be as tough as the other.

"At this stage we really just need to play well against Griquas and then we'll take next week as it comes."

With a semi-final wrapped up, just how difficult is it to remain focused on a pool match without giving thought to the semi and final?

"If we lose this weekend, we won't have a home final if we win our home semi and that means traveling to Bloem or Loftus or Cape Town or Johannesburg to play the final and that's really tough," said Muller.

"We have three finals in a row now, it's as easy as that, and we have to win all three if we want to life the cup.

"There's a lot to play for and we'll just make it so much easier for ourselves if we beat Griquas and end top of the log."

After two weeks on the road, the Sharks are back at home and looking forward to playing in front of their home crowd.

Not only that, Bok skipper John Smit is playing his first game in Durban for the Sharks since May last year, and the World Cup-winning captain will certainly want to make a huge impact.

"It's fantastic to have him back," said Muller.

"He's a great player and a great leader, he's someone the whole side can look up to and he just lifts everyone.

"I'm very grateful as a captain that he's back. It's great to learn from him and just to tap some of his wisdom and make sure I can learn as much as possible from him."