Sharks take leaf out of Brumbies' book
The Sharks are adamant they can resurrect their season and get back into play-off contention. However, that will mean getting back to basics.
On a three-match losing streak, which includes an embarrassing 10-52 loss to the Crusaders, the Sharks start their Australasian tour with a tricky encounter against the Highlanders at Dunedin's indoor stadium on Friday.
The Sharks, 10th in the standings, are sevens points down on the sixth-placed Highlanders.
However, in order to overcome the dangerous Highlanders outfit and put their campaign back on track they will need to get their fundamentals right.
Not only has the Sharks' discipline been a major problem – with three red cards for foul play and a handful of yellow cards to boot – but their set pieces have not been up to the expected standards either.
Their line-out success rate of 84.7 percent puts them ninth in this category, while they are 10th in the scrum success rate with 86 percent.
Add to that the fact that the Sharks are last on the tackle success rate, with only 83.5 percent, it means the men from Durban are facing a torturous tour if they do not get their basics right.
Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold feels his team should take a leaf out of the Brumbies' book if they are to return to the winners' circle in Dunedin on Friday.
"They're a very good team," Gold said, when asked about the challenge of facing the Highlanders.
"They have a good balance – a good scrum and line-out. They also have lethal backs – the likes of Aaron and Ben Smith, Patrick Osborne and Malakai Fekitoa."
Gold admitted beating the Highlanders in Dunedin's indoor stadium is a tall order.
He said the weather was a neutralising factor in the past.
"However, it [the indoor stadium] does definitely work in their favour now," the Sharks mentor said.
While the Highlanders have lost two of their six home matches this season, it is the style of play – rather than the venue – employed by the Brumbies in their 31-18 win in Canberra last week that gave the Sharks confidence.
"We saw with the Brumbies [against the Highlanders] that if you stick to your basics well, you can be successful against the Highlanders.
"However, they will be smarting after the weekend's loss to the Brumbies, no doubt, it will be a very tough challenge."
@rugby365com
