Jake set Sharks up for success

Jake White's experience of coping with the pressure of major finals is what helped the Sharks manage an Augean Australasian tour and set them up to break their Super Rugby duck.

Following their loss to the Brumbies in Canberra, pundits were ready to write them off. However, victories over the Crusaders and Blues put them back on top of the competition's totem pole.

It is not so much the victories, but the manner in which they were achieved, that highlighted the qualities White has installed in his star-studded squad.

Against the Crusaders they were down a man for more than an hour of the match and down to 13 men at a crucial sage in the final quarter. Yet, they made the Kiwi team look almost second rate with an extraordinary and purposeful show of resilience.

The victory over the Blues may not have been as theatrical, but two yellow cards meant they were again a man down for a quarter of the match and still came out on top.

It is that mental fortitude that has been a trademark of all White's victorious teams – winning an Under-21 World Cup with South Africa, a senior World Cup with the Springboks and taking the Brumbies from bottom-feeders to finalists in just two short years.

There is further evidence of his ability to take talented players and make them true champions.

During the early parts of the season some so-called 'experts' questioned Bismarck du Plessis' captaincy credentials, especially after a few ill-humored and splenetic exchanges with match officials.

However, it was a far more mature and composed Du Plessis that took charge when his team recorded not only their first-ever win in Christchurch, but also secured a New Zealand whitewash.

White's influence over his team was there for all to see, a fact acknowledged by the players since their return home.

Shark centre Paul Jordaan, speaking to the media ahead of their Round 16 home match against the Stormers, said the franchise's Director of Rugby, White, has been a key figure in allowing the group to grow in confidence.

"Jake tried to help us relax a lot and we did a lot of fun things on tour," Jordaan said.

"I guess a happy team is a winning team, so we had a good time and were fortunate to come away with three out of four wins from the tour," he said of wins over the Rebels, Crusaders and Blues – with the only hiccup a loss to the Brumbies.

The 22-year-old believed the Sharks were now set up nicely for the remainder of the season.

With only three regular-season games to go, they were sitting five points clear of the Waratahs at the summit, although the Sydney-based outfit do have a game in hand.

After hosting the Stormers, the season goes into a June break for the international season.

When they return from the month-long interruption, the Sharks are due to visit Bloemfontein to face the Cheetahs and travel to Cape Town for the return encounter with the Stormers.

They would need to top the log to have every chance of winning the title for the first time – given that only once ever has a team finished outside the top two and won the competition.

"I think we've set ourselves up nicely throughout the season," Jordaan said.

"We just need to stay composed and work harder. If all goes well, we'll hopefully keep our spot."

Jordaan added that they are thriving on the confidence gained from their Australasian tour.

There was plenty of optimism in camp as they prepared for the final match before the international break after the weekend, Jordaan said.

"We got a lot of confidence from the tour where we were the first South African side to win overseas this season," he said.

"It's not easy to beat sides in New Zealand and we're definitely on a high and will look to improve on it this weekend."

The victory in Christchurch, one of the greatest in their history, was especially impressive after the red card of Jean Deysel in the 17th minute and a yellow card to Willem Alberts in the 64th minute.

Jordaan said they were still reaping the rewards of that 30-25 scoreline.

"The Crusaders win helped us grow a lot as a team and we definitely need to build on that, but the match against the Stormers will be a tough a game."

SAPA