AUDIO: Depleted Sharks gear up for Jaguares decider
REACTION: The Sharks will prepare for their decisive Super Rugby Round 19 encounter with the Jaguares without the services of two of their most influential players.
The Durban-based franchise, who host the Jaguares in a must-win encounter in Durban this coming Saturday, will be without the Du Preez brothers, Jean-Luc and Dan, who suffered injuries in the last fortnight.
Requiring favours from other teams if they are to qualify for the play-offs, the Sharks could have done with the grunt of the Du Preez brothers against the Jaguares – who are also coming off a disappointing loss, to the Bulls.
Jean-Luc du Preez suffered an MCL injury in his team’s impressive win over the Lions in Round 17.
Dan injured his neck in the loss to the Stormers at Newlands at the weekend.
Although the full extent of Dan du Preez’s injury is not known, it was serious enough for father Robert du Preez (senior) to skip the post-match formalities and head to hospital to see to his son’s welfare.
The Sharks did themselves no favour with the 16-27 loss to the Stormers.
They must record a bonus-point win against a difficult Jaguares team and then hope the Highlanders beat the Rebels to sneak into the play-offs through the back door.
“Our destiny was in our own hands and now we are hoping that another team loses and then maybe we can still get through if we beat the Jaguares with a bonus point,” assistant coach Dick Muir, who stood in for head coach Du Preez, said at the post-match media briefing.
If the Sharks do scrape through‚ they will face the table-topping Crusaders in Christchurch.
However‚ Muir believes his team is equipped to cope with such a challenge.
“We’ve been good against the New Zealand sides, so I don’t think that would be too daunting.
“However, if you look at the history of the competition, the travelling is against you.
“We do have team that, on the day, can beat anybody.”
@rugby365com
