Sharks wary of wounded Cheetahs

Sharks wary of wounded Cheetahs

7 Apr 2009

The Sharks refuse to get drawn into talk of thumping the beleaguered Cheetahs.

The teams could not be at more opposite poles – the impressive Sharks at the summit of the table, while the Cheetahs occupy 14th position having failed to win in seven matches.

However, South African derbies are renowned for being great levellers, and the Sharks’ coaching staff have stressed this to their squad. The Cheetahs last beat the Sharks in Super Rugby in 2006, but have beaten them numerous times in the Currie Cup, resulting in the Durban boys seeing them as their bogey team.

The Sharks are, however, heavily favoured to trounce their hosts in Bloemfontein. Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford acknowledges that expectation, but remained wary of Naka Drotske’s charges.

‘They’ll be really up for this game, no doubt about it,’ Bashford told keo.co.za. ‘With South African derbies the form book goes out the window.

‘We’ve learnt our lesson about underestimating teams. I think that was the case against the Reds and that came back to bite us. Complacency won’t be a factor for us. We know they’re a quality unit despite their bad run. They’ll be confident of taking points off us and we don’t want to drop any, so it’s going to be a typical South African derby.’

Bashford predicted that the Cheetahs would focus their energy on dominating the forward battle, with set phases being their primary avenue of attack. He also noted their strength at the breakdown with two specialist fetchers in Heinrich Brüssow and Hendro Scholtz.

‘Our game relies heavily on quick ball at the breakdown and we’ve seen in the past when teams have stifled us there we’ve struggled,’ Bashford said.

‘We know they’ll come hard at us at ruck time and if they manage to slow our ball, breaking down their defensive line becomes doubly hard. So our ball-carriers will have to dominate the collisions and our cleaners have to be physically dominant.’

In keeping with their policy, the Sharks are likely to rotate their front row, but outside of that should field an unchanged XV. Winger JP Pietersen was expected to be fit but his ankle is healing slower than predicted. Luzuko Vulindlu, who was impressive in his first run-on start against the Hurricanes, will get another crack on the wing.

The Sharks are still awaiting the return of key players like Ruan Pienaar, Jean Deysel and Waylon Murray. Bashford said their rehabilitation was going well, but stressed that they would not rush them back into action.

‘We’re happy with how Ruan and Jean are coming on, but Waylon has worried us,’ he said.

‘He underwent surgery on his knee earlier in the year and was supposed to be back three weeks ago. But everytime he’s tried to run on it it’s puffed up quite badly. So the medical team are treating him conservatively.

‘Our feeling is that we should be getting most of the injured boys back in the next fortnight or so. We’ll probably have something resembling a full strength squad for our game against the Highlanders (2 May), which is a huge boost so close to the end of the tournament.’

By Ryan Vrede


291 Comments

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  • 251.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:28 pm

    #239 Ed_the_Lion:
    Te koud daar, en daar is ook nie rugby nie.
    Kom kuier jy maar liwer by my, dan ry ons na Khaki toe.

  • 252.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:28 pm

    #248 sharks_lover:
    Yip, plus mine.

  • 253.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:30 pm

    #249 Pietman: Ek gaan miskien nog voor jou in SA wees. hehehe. Met die ekonomie hier doen die maatskappy nie baie goed nie. Ons gaan sommer vir so maand na Khaki toe. Ek kan dink julle sal baie stories kan vertel. Veral van die Suid Wes dae.

  • 254.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:32 pm

    show us the response piet if you can bro

  • 255.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:32 pm

    #251 Ed_the_Lion:
    Sal lekker wees.
    Kan ons Piet Karsten oornooi.
    Ek, hy en Khaki het saam gespeel.
    Dis sy plaas daai.

  • 256.4man: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:36 pm

    #247 Pietman: If Sharks-lover is Sandy, then yes, that s Malcolm Swanbys ex wife. For the uninformed Malcolm had 88 games as fullback for Natal. He was in the Bok squad in 1976 to France? and was injured. Through his own honesty he told them he was injured and nver ran on, thus never getting his Bok colours.

  • 257.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:37 pm

    #252 sharks_lover:
    Checking mail box, it is somewhere amongst some 370 mails I have received since this morning!

  • 258.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:37 pm

    #254 4man: huh ?????????? i aint sandy lmao

  • 259.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:39 pm

    #254 4man:
    Thought so.
    #254 4man:
    You copy?
    Remember, I told you about Malcom’s wife, just couldn’t remember her name.

    I think if 4man mails her, it will add a lot of weight to your request, he knows the Swanbys.
    Brief him quickly please.

  • 260.4man: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:39 pm

    #256 sharks_lover: ha ha…ok then. In any case Sandy Swanby works at the Sharks HQ at Kings Park…she is an institution there, been tere about 25 years I think. Pietman was asking the question. What did the Sharks say by the way, are they going to do a cup to commemorate Shawn from the Brumbies?

  • 261.4man: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:41 pm

    #257 Pietman: Pieta…send him my e-mail, I’ll chase things up, I’ll even chase up John Allan and a few others if neccessary.

  • 262.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:42 pm

    #259 4man:
    Don’t have his.
    You will find it on the Makay thread though.

  • 263.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:43 pm

    #253 Pietman: Ons sal so maak. Lekker Piet Karsten se wyn op drink. :)

  • 264.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:43 pm

    #258 4man: lol ok

    the email is being presented to the sharks management i was informed

    we await their answer

  • 265.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:45 pm

    #260 Pietman:
    Mackay thread, sorry.

  • 266.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:47 pm

    piet ? could you email it to me please i got to go buy bait :lol:
    going fishing early in the morning

    email is sharks_lover@yahoo.co.uk

    i’ll be back in a few

  • 267.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:47 pm

    #261 Ed_the_Lion:
    Nie lank terug nie sam met Piet en Bettie op n vlug gesit.
    Daai ou het ook n interessante lewensverhaal, het regtig met niks begin nie.
    Absa wou hom nie help nie, vandag is hy een van hulle direkteure.
    Sien Madiba het onlangs daar by hom gekuier op Kanoneiland…

  • 268.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:48 pm

    #264 sharks_lover:
    I will check, hope I haven’t deleted it.
    Hang on there.

  • 269.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:53 pm

    #265 Pietman: Hy is ook ‘n baie goeie werksverskaffer. Hy het baie mense wat vir hom werk, en toe ek destyds op die plaas was, het hy vir hulle een m03rse party gegooi.

  • 270.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:55 pm

    Cheers. Chat later weer.

  • 271.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:58 pm

    #264 sharks_lover:
    Done.
    Check mail.
    #268 Ed_the_Lion:
    Cheers Ed, ons het baie om oor te gesels, later.

  • 272.4man: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 16:59 pm

    OK folks…time to drift. Enjoy the evening (and the morning to our American expats).

    a bien tot.

  • 273.Pietman: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 17:02 pm

    #270 4man:
    Maak so, cheers.
    Ek waai ook.

  • 274.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 17:30 pm

    #270 4man: Cheers 4Man.

  • 275.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 17:30 pm

    #269 Pietman: Ons gaan nog lekker gesels.

  • 276.Ed_the_Lion: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 17:31 pm

    #269 Pietman: As jy Khaki se nommer soek, skreeu net.

  • 277.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 17:40 pm

    Goeie mirrag werkloses !

  • 278.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:02 pm

    #275 grootblousmile: Praat jy miskien met my!! hehe

  • 279.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:05 pm

    #276 SA Barbarians: Hellooooooo… jy werkloos…. nooooooooit !

    Hahaha

  • 280.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:08 pm

    #277 grootblousmile: hehe ek hard gewerk vanmiddag.. aan my kuk gholf swing. Dit het sommer ‘n paar lewenslesse ook geleer…. miskien bietjie te na aan die been vir hier hehe

  • 281.Zulusharkess: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:08 pm

    Have just posted this on Mackay thread. Anyone interested go to YouTube and type “Tribute to Shawn Mackay” in the Search box. Heart rending stuff.

  • 282.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:09 pm

    #276 SA Barbarians: Ek sien daar was weer ‘n geweldige geween en ‘n gekners van die tanne vadag hier oppie blog….

    Klomp ou vroue met nat broeke soos hulle aangaan en moan…

  • 283.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:10 pm

    #279 Zulusharkess: I’m feeling a bit too up-beat to go and read there… suffice to say it is very sad…

  • 284.SA Barbarians: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:12 pm

    Ek het dit gesien en was dit nie pateties nie!! Maar wat kan mens verwag van ‘n laaitie wat sit as hy piepie? Was seker maar baie geboelie op skool, foeitog….

  • 285.Zulusharkess: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:15 pm

    #281 grootblousmile: I understand, and you have posted your condolences on here already I am sure GBS. It has some footage of when he was captain of the Aussie 7′s squad and it made me more aware of exactly who he was, as a Brumbies player he was more obscure. Enjoy your evening!

  • 286.grootblousmile: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:24 pm

    #283 Zulusharkess: I posted my condolences on the initial thread announcing his death…

  • 287.Zulusharkess: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:28 pm

    #284 grootblousmile: like I said, I am sure you have done so already………;-)

  • 288.AB Bullsbok: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 18:42 pm

    Bulle gaan die naweek gat-skop!!

  • 289.SpringbokSarah: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 19:14 pm

    #286 AB Bullsbok: hope so, they’re really messing with my superbru

  • 290.Biscuit: Reply to this comment
    7 Apr 2009, 19:41 pm

    #254 4man:

    We played France in 1974 in France (straight after the Lions thumped us out of sight.)
    In 1975 France came to SA

    1976 – We only played the ABs

    I remember Malcolm well. From th stands he always looked like he was about 45 years old.

  • 291.Dunx: Reply to this comment
    9 Apr 2009, 10:37 am

    Well they always say that form is out the window if the Cheetahs win it brings out the question why they can’t do it on other occassions instead of when they play the sharks.
    Go Sharks you can get the bonus here don’t live on your laurels

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