Durban – Sharks coach Robert du Preez is emphatic about what it will take for the Sharks to beat the Golden Lions at Ellis Park in Joburg tomorrow (5pm) and has billed the effective Currie Cup quarter-final as a ‘final’.
“Nothing short of 80 minutes of concentration and clinical application of our game plan will suffice if we are to win this game,” Du Preez said of a pool match that will see the losers bow out of the competition, while the winners could conceivably go on to a host a semi-final.
There is that much riding on the game.
Du Preez went as far as to say that for these Sharks players, it approximates a ‘Test match’ in that it is all or nothing.
Du Preez agreed that his squad had received a significant boost in leadership and experience through the return to fitness of senior players in flank Keegan Daniel and lock Stephan Lewies, plus the release from the Springbok squad of tighthead prop Lourens Adriaanse and wing Lwazi Mvovo.
Further, Du Preez has picked former Springbok hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle ahead of Franco Marais and there is also a welcome return from long-term injury for openside flank Francois Kleinhans.
Sadly for the Sharks, experienced former Cheetahs loose forward Philip van der Walt has not yet recovered from the concussion he suffered against Free State side at King’s Park on September 10.
At scrumhalf, coach Du Preez has opted for old campaigner Michael Claassens instead of Stefan Ungerer.
On the bench there is a fresh face in Super Rugby flyhalf Garth April, who is once more back in the frame after a long period in the wilderness.
“We have gone for the blend of youth and experience that we believe will give us the chemistry we need to win this game,” Du Preez said.
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Inny Radebe, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse , 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 John-Hubert Meyer, 18 Stephan Lewies, 19 Khaya Majola, 20 Stefan Ungerer, 21 Garth April, 22 Wandile Mjekvu
The Star