Jake: 'Win, no matter what'
Sharks Director of Rugby Jake White has a simple message to his team: 'Beat the Stormers, no matter what it takes.'
The Sharks, having already won the South African conference title, are currently sitting third on the global standings – behind the second-placed Crusaders, only on points difference.
Theses two outfits – the Sharks and Crusaders – will be fighting for second spot on the Super Rugby standings, with the Waratahs having already secured top spot.
While the Crusaders are at home to the Highlanders in their quest to get the points that will seal the much-sought-after second place (and a bye in the first round of the play-offs, not to mention home ground advantage in the semifinals), the Sharks have to travel to Cape Town to take on a much-improved Stormers outfit at Newlands.
By the time they take to the field, White's team will know exactly what is required of them to finish second.
Both the Sharks and Crusaders have 46 log points after 10 wins each, but the Crusaders lead the Sharks on the standings thanks to a better points' difference (+97 for the Cantabrians and +89 for the Durbanites).
White, speaking ahead of his team's trip to Cape Town, said it is not all doom and gloom after last week's demoralising loss to the Cheetahs.
"The permutations are varied," the Sharks boss said, adding: "We might have to win with a couple of points, we might have to win with a bonus point, or it could happen that the Highlanders beat the Crusaders and we just need a win.
"But at the same time, if you're going to go into these play-offs you need to get some winning momentum and some cohesion going.
"The message is plain and clear – we need to get on an aeroplane and get a result there – whatever way we do it."
Asked about the fact that they will know exactly what is required, given the Crusaders play in the first of Saturday's multiple match shoot-out, White said there are positives and negatives to that.
"You know what your destiny is, whether you need a bonus point or just grind out a win.
"But sometimes that's difficult because you need to pick your side, put them out on the field and have a game plan of how you want to play.
"The Stormers have shown in the past that's it's difficult to get a bonus point there at the best of times.
"We've got to go there and get a result. We want to make sure we win."
White said that because it is a derby game, it becomes all the more perilous.
"We picked up two loses – the Stormers at home and the Cheetahs away – which just shows how tough it is playing local opposition," the Sharks mentor said.
"It's what we've grown up with, Currie Cup rugby and nothing's changed.
"Those who designed the competition deliberately factored in eight derby games.
"They were always under the impression and in the hope that these derby games would produce exactly what they've been."
