Scrum Doctor Jannie's diagnosis

 

The Sharks efforts against the Stormers at Newlands on Saturday steadily disintegrated as the game went on.

 

Their set piece meltdown culminated in three tightheads over a period of 15 minutes.

 

Du Plessis might not have had a front-row seat on Saturday's proceeding, but he did manage to get his hands on a video which he scrutinized at length.

 

"I was certainly not expecting it [conceding three tightheads in 15 minutes]," the Springbok tighthead said.

 

"We had prepared really well, but there are a few technical things that went wrong.

 

"I watched the video over and over again; my wife must think I am crazy because I kept going through it in slow-motion and super slow-motion.

 

"I went through everything with a fine-tooth comb.

 

"As a whole we did not get what we wanted, but it was only one or two technical things that we were not getting right and we have already addressed those issues. 

 

"It will go better."

 

The traveling Sharks were without their Springbok star props Tendai Mtawarira and Du Plessis in the front row against the Stormers, but in giving his diagnosis the good Doctor was not ready to blame any individuals.

 

"I almost want to say that scrumming is a 15-man thing because, at the end of the day, props may not be the ones scoring 10 tries in a game or getting onto the front cover of a sports magazine, but what they do is earn the respect of their backline if they are able to provide good front foot ball.

 

"It is the encouragement from the guys outside the scrum that plays a massive role.

 

"But scrumming on its own though is an absolute eight-man thing.

 

"You could be the best player in the world in your position but if you have a few guys who are not giving it their all, or they are making a technical error, then you wont go as good as you want to.

 

Du Plessis believes that the focus on individuals may be what is causing the Sharks slump, stating that their focus this week for the return clash against the Cheetahs has been on gelling as a team.

 

"As a unit we are not getting that synergy that we know we can get," he continued.

 

"The focus this week has been to get that focus and to play well as a team instead of just as individuals.

 

"Many teams have had good individuals but that does not always mean you will play well as a team

 

"Our emphasis has been trying to gel together."