Sharks needs to get 'desperate'
WATCH as Sharks coach Sean Everitt speaks about the aspects of his team’s game that concern him most ahead of the resumption of their United Rugby Championship campaign.
The Sharks had a mid-season friendly against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein at the weekend, getting valuable game time – despite losing 34-40 to their hosts.
Everitt said he was grateful for the hit-out, ahead of resuming their URC campaign against Scarlets in Durban this coming Saturday.
The Sharks coach spoke of how their defence on the short side was ‘exploited’ by the Cheetahs.
“We probably were not as desperate as we should have been,” he said of the trip to Bloemfontein.
He added that the ‘work rate of the players – in terms of bouncing off the ground and getting back in line on defence – was disappointing.
“There were also moments on attack where we should have taken out opportunities,” Everitt said.
“At times in the game, we were in control and played some good rugby.
“We didn’t get the result [win] and there is a lot we can learn from this.”
He also had concerns about how the team’s set pieces “deteriorated” in the final quarter, something that will be very costly against their Welsh opposition this week.
The Sharks are sitting outside the top 10 on the URC standings – having lost to Munster (17-42) and Glasgow Warriors (24-35), before breaking their Euro duck with a 27-13 win over the Ospreys.
However, they slipped to 17-23 loss to Cardiff in the final match of their month-long tour.
Having had a nice break during November’s international season, the Sharks host Scarlets and Zebre in their first two home match, before going into a December break.
The URC then resumes in January.
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