Durban – Like any good coach should, Gary Gold has backed his selection since it settled after Round Two.
However, like every smart coach would, the Sharks boss has been savvy enough to mix things up when the results were not forthcoming. This weekend the men from Durban have made a few tactical changes that look to be shrewd moves, adding experience in some key positions to match the excitement in others. All this in the hope of causing Western Province a few headaches.
On paper, sitting in fourth place halfway through the pool stages does not read poorly in terms of results, but digging deeper there was a lack of performance – against traditionally weaker teams – that needed to be addressed. Gold and his management team have had the luxury of having very few selection disruptions through the Currie Cup. However, an injury to Daniel du Preez and the return of Odwa Ndungane has allowed for some tinkering.
The boldest tactical move the Sharks have made for their coastal derby is handing regular fullback Joe Pietersen the No10 jersey. Pietersen proved he is a classy flyhalf during Super Rugby where he was utilised at pivot for the Cheetahs. In fact, part of the reason why the former Stormers man moved to Bloemfontein was the promise that he would play some rugby at flyhalf.
Pietersen replaces Lionel Cronjé who has done a job for the Sharks. His performances have been nothing spectacular, and a few mistakes cost them dearly, but Gold was not about to blame all their failures on one man.
“You go in with a group of guys and you want to back them,” Gold said after announcing his team.
“I am not talking about results on the scoreboard, I am talking about performance, so we have had to make some changes.”
Pietersen brings a lot of experience and calm into the pivot position. With him and Philip van der Walt, probably the Sharks’ best players this season, teaming up with exciting Springbok discard in the No8, 9, 10 axis, Gold feels the spine of the team is far more settled. Ndungane fills the vacant position at the back and suddenly the Sharks have dependable experience interspersed with exciting young talent, like Paul Jordaan and André Esterhuizen.
In the forwards, another big tactical change is that youngster Thomas du Toit is back at loosehead, the position fans are most accustomed to seeing him decimate opposition scrums.
Gold has been steadfast in his aim to turn Du Toit into a tighthead, but he has also said he will play a role at loosehead from time to time.
“I think he deserves a start,” Gold said of the prop who came on against the Pumas last week and won two scrum penalties and then forced a tighthead which led to a try from the loosehead position.
Province coach John Dobson has said they are wary of the Sharks’ kicking game, but this has left his rival coach somewhat perplexed.
“It was a bit confusing. They said they thought our kicking game was a strength, but then they said they are very worried about our backs,” Gold added.
This match is building up to be a cracker. With members of the legendary Sharks team from the ’90s set to attend, after coming together to celebrate the union’s 125th year anniversary, one can only hope that the class of 2015 are as fired up as the Argentinians were in Durban back in August when their heroes of yesteryear looked on against the Springboks.
l In the only Currie Cup match played last night, 14-man EP Kings recorded their first victory of the season, beating the Free State Cheetahs 32-24 in Port Elizabeth. - Saturday Star