With no real winter to speak of in Durban, it would have been even tougher for the Sharks to get out of holiday mode for game week as of yesterday.
Super Rugby returns in a big way for the men in black and white as they prepare to travel to Johannesburg for a match with the ever-higher flying Lions to determine their destiny.
In all honesty, the Sharks would need some sort miracle to top the Africa Two group ahead of the Lions, even if they did manage a bonus point win on Saturday (5.10pm).
The Lions are seven points ahead, on 42, and even if the Sharks happened to get within two, it would be hard to see the conference leaders dropping many points in their last two fixtures against the Kings, and even the Jaguares in Argentina.
So, the true contest is for the final wildcard spot across the African conferences. At present, the Sharks have that lucrative third spot with 35 points, just ahead of the Bulls on 32. But with three games remaining, Africa One is not yet sewn up, as the Stormers only have 36 points, and a tour of Australia to contend with.
However, before the break, coach Gary Gold said he was happy to be facing the impressive Lions first up.
The coach believed it would set the tone for the remaining games - against the Cheetahs and Sunwolves - before a potential play-off match. With that in mind, the Sharks will know if they can beat the Lions, they will feel comfortable about taking maximum points against the remaining opposition, and as such waltz into the play-offs.
However, things don’t look good from there. The biggest advantage of topping the group has to be the path through the quarter-finals and semi-finals. Whoever comes in on top gets the homeground advantage, for both the quarters and semis. But with the Sharks seemingly destined for the wildcard spot at best, it will mean a trip to New Zealand to play one of the better teams near the summit of the table - and probably a solid boot out of the competition following that.
No doubt, if asked, the coaching staff and team would say they are taking things one game at a time, and they will be well aware how tough that game will be.
The Lions are the cream of the South African crop, and that was proved when eight of their players finished the final Test against Ireland last weekend. The likes of Ruan Combrinck, Warren Whiteley, Jaco Kriel, Julian Redelinghuys and especially Faf de Klerk will be overflowing with national confidence.
The Sharks on the other hand are rather overflowing with backline selection issues. Their talented captain and flyhalf, Pat Lambie, is still going through his return to play protocols after being knocked out by Irish flank CJ Stander’s hip in the first Test. Lambie’s participation in the match is still to be determined later this week.
Another issue is that fullback Willie le Roux has been suspended for one match after a reckless tackle in the final Test against Ireland. Coach Gold will no doubt be lining up Garth April for the No 10 jersey should Lambie not recover, however, he would be just as happy filling in at No 15 if Lambie is fit. There is no calling on the ever-reliable Joe Pietersen as he broke his collarbone in a 10s tournament in Mauritius over the break. It would not be inconceivable, with both Lambie and Le Roux out, to see April at No 10 and Odwa Ndungane at fullback with JP Pietersen and Lwazi Mvovo on the wings, should worst come worst.
A mid-season break will no doubt play a big part how much flow and cohesion there is in this weekend’s match, and that bit of rustiness could well play into the hands of the more regimented Sharks. The Lions have been praised for their ability to throw the ball around all season, but pitted against the Sharks’ dogmatic defence after some time apart, the home team may well be the ones to stumble. - The Star