Sharks to tighten defence for Jaguares

The Sharks started their Super Rugby campaign with a 43-8 bonus-point win in Port Elizabeth, but Mouneimne feels they still gave the Kings too much space around the park.

"It perhaps wasn't our best defensive effort; it was brutally physical and ruthless, but we can be better," Mouneimne told sharksrugby.co.za.

"For a first game though, nerves and adrenalin can contribute to that but going into the Jaguares game, we need to be absolutely spot on because they will be at a very high level physically."

The Jaguares came from behind to beat the Cheetahs 34-33 last Friday and Mouneimne knows that they will have to be more accurate if they are to get a win against the Argentinians. 

"We made it very difficult for ourselves in the first half [against the Kings]," he said. "We needed to adapt quicker to what was happening at the breakdown. We were also a bit messy and could have been a little more accurate. 

"But in saying that, I think it was down to nerves. You're not going to do things perfectly, and at half-time, the talk was about lifting the intensity, about playing at another level and to outpace and outmuscle them and there were signs of that."

Mouneimne also gave credit to the Kings who frustrated the Durban team in the first half.

"Everyone said the Kings would be at their most dangerous in the first few games, and at home, with all the hype and passion and wanting to prove everyone wrong, they had the recipe to hold us out," said Mouneimne. 

"Credit to them, they were physical, they brought it to us and had the flow of the game, everything was going their way. But we showed character, I think we absorbed the pressure and went into half-time in the lead."

@TheSharksZA