Buthelezi throws backing behind Sharks' system
SPOTLIGHT: Springbok flanker Phepsi Buthelezi has thrown his backing behind his side after their 19-35 defeat to Glasgow Warriors.
The Sharks’ next assignment is in Newport against the Dragons, who have historically been one of the tournament’s strugglers.
Despite the loss to the Warriors, Buthelezi has thrown his backing behind the Sharks’ system.
He also said he and the team did some self-reflection.
“There is nothing wrong with our system,” Buthelezi said.
“After reviewing that game [against Glasgow], it was just individual errors from two maul stops, one of those errors coming from myself.
“We’ve got a system that works for us, but once we move away from that system, then we scramble
“We look for desperate actions and, at this level, when a team is close to your try line, actions like that get punished.”
He also lamented their discipline, which proved to be costly in the end result.
“Our discipline wasn’t good enough. We conceded something close to 15 or 16 penalties.
He also spoke about the challenge the Dragons will pose and which areas the Sharks should tighten up to win the clash.
Last season, it took a try in the 85th minute by replacement hooker Fez Mbatha to steal a late win against the Newport side, and Buthelezi is wary of how dangerous the Dragons can be.
“We had a look at their game against Ulster and we thought they were really competitive.
“They’ve got a bigger, slightly more physical pack, so we’ve got our work cut out for us this Friday.”
