Sharks love it when it gets hot in the kitchen
SUPER RUGBY REACTION: The New Zealand conference has a clear leader, but the picture in South Africa and Australia is a lot more clouded.
The South African conference is the most competitive of the three, with just four points separating the Sharks in first (26) and the Lions in fifth (22). The Bulls (24), Jaguares (23) and Stormers (23) are sandwiched in between – with another seven rounds to go before the play-offs.
The Sharks made the most significant move of the weekend – going from third in the conference to the top in their group, after both the Lions and Bulls (who were ahead of then) had lost.
That dramatic shift in position was courtesy of their 23-15 win over the Waratahs in their opening tour match in Sydney.
Sharks coach Robert Du Preez said he is happy how his team coped with the pressure – the Sydney victory having come after back-to-back defeats at home, to the Jaguares (17-51) and the Reds (14-21).
“The log is quite congested, so it is really a tough contest,” the Sharks coach said.
The Sharks – with five wins and five defeats – now head to New Zealand, where they will face the Crusaders (in Christchurch on Friday) and Chiefs (Hamilton, next week).
Du Preez described it as a “fantastic” situation to be in.
“It was really good to win our first game on tour,” he said, adding: “Our forwards were magnificent.
“We knew we had to get the upperhand up front.”
* It is an equally interesting situation in the Australian conference.
The Melbourne Rebels will travel to Wellington this week relieved to still be leading the Australian conference, after the Waratahs and Brumbies blew good chances to catch them.
Coming off a bye, the Rebels (five wins and four defeats) face a difficult assignment against a Hurricanes team which is second only to the Crusaders in the overall standings and hitting its straps, inspired by brothers Beauden and Jordie Barrett.
But they were helped when the Waratahs (four wins and five defeats) lost lock Jed Holloway to a red card early in the second half and then fell 23-15 at home on Saturday night to an aggressive and disciplined Sharks outfit.
The Brumbies (four wins and six defeats) produced an error-strewn second half as they lost 15-20 to the Jaguares in Buenos Aires.
The Reds (four wins and five defeats), who also had a bye, are fourth last in the Australian conference – ahead of the bottom-placed Sunwolves – but just six points behind the Rebels.
They also have arguably the easiest assignment this week, at home to Japan’s Sunwolves (just two wins and eight defeats), who are coming off a 0-52 loss to the Highlanders.
The Waratahs’ woes have been compounded by the loss of key forwards Jack Dempsey (Back) and Tolu Latu (calf) plus prop Rory O’Connor (ribs) as they tackle a two-match tour of South Africa to play the Bulls and Lions.
Holloway will also likely face a stint on the sidelines for elbowing Thomas du Toit after being held back off the ball by his jersey.
Brumbies coach Dan McKellar said he was happy with five points from their tour to South Africa and Argentina and they’ll return home to host the improved Blues full of confidence.
“When you travel from Canberra to Sydney to Johannesburg to Cape Town then back to Jo’burg to Sao Paulo to Buenos Aires, it’s taxing, and to come away with five points from this trip is a real positive for this group,” McKellar said.
“Errors at critical times hurt us and we didn’t take the opportunities we were presented with, but it was a very brave effort.
“We’ve got to take the opportunities, without a doubt, but the effort was outstanding.”
@rugby365com & AAP
