VIDEO: 'Sharks in a much better space'
World Cup-winning Springbok Grant Williams believes the Sharks are close to finding the ‘spark’ that will see them play to their true potential.
The Bok-laden Durban franchise host the Lions at Kings Park on Saturday in a United Rugby Championship catch-up match and this could be just the occasion for them to go on a winning run.
Given the array of international stars at their disposal, the Sharks will be fancied to claim the ‘W’.
The Lions’ last game was a Challenge Cup win over the Newcastle Falcons on December 16 – a three-week break between outings.
In contrast, the Sharks – who also had a break since mid-December – have the advantage of having played last week, losing 15-16 to the high-flying Stormers in Cape Town.
The 27-year-old Springbok utility, who featured on the win in the World Cup pool games against Romania and Tonga, said it is always a challenge when coming of an extended break.
However, Williams expects the Lions to pose a major threat to the Sharks in Durban on Saturday – a team that is “physical”, but also “moves the ball around” a lot.
“We can expect a physical battle on Saturday,” he told @rugby365com, adding: “We need to find our stride and give the fans a performance they deserve.”
Despite having won only two of their 10 starts this season – against Section Paloise and the Dragons – last week’s performance in Cape Town has given them heart.
(WATCH a Springbok utility Grant Williams chats to @king365ed about the URC crunch encounter with the Lions in Durban on Saturday…)
They are also in a “much better space” as a collective and are starting to rely a lot less on the brilliance of individuals.
“There are more positives now in our squad than negatives,” the eight-times capped Bok said.
“We are building as a unit and looking forward to the next couple of games,” he said of Saturday’s encounter with the Lions and the back-to-back Challenge Cup outings against Oyonnax (in Durban on January 13) and the Dragons (at Rodney Parade on January 21).
It has been a slow start – losing their first five matches, coupled with the late arrival of their World Cup Springboks and the addition of returning coach John Plumtree.
“It is not that we lost games by 50 or 60 points,” he said – with four losing bonus points for close finishes.
“We just need to find that fire [spark] and we will be fine.
“We are building as a team and much stronger as a unit.
“It starts on Saturday with the Lions.”
The other advantage is that after just three home games since the season started in October, the Sharks will now spend a bit more time on South African soil.
“It’s nice to play in South Africa again, after being away [at the World Cup in France] with the Springboks for months.
@king365ed
@rugby365com
* Picture credit: @SharksRugby
