'Game-breakers' the key for Sharks
Thu, 09 Oct 2008 17:24
Up for a challenge: Sharks captain Johann Muller
The Lions are, without doubt, one of the most unpredictable and dangerous teams in the Currie Cup. However, in the Sharks they face a team with a host of individuals who can turn any game on its head in an instant.
The Sharks host the Lions in the first of the Currie Cup semifinals on Saturday and, according to Sharks captain Johann Muller, his team's many game breakers hold the key to success as they aim to en a 12-year Cup drought.
Muller, who missed last year's semifinal when the Lions upstaged the Sharks in Durban, is confident the Durban-based outfit now have the right combination to end their run of play-off defeats.
As a member of the Springbok World Cup squad Muller did not play in last year's Currie Cup tournament and his last appearance in a semifinal was a 14-30 hiding at the hands of the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Needless to say he is determined to make this year a winning run.
"It is just fantastic to be back [in the Currie Cup play-offs]," he told rugby365.com.
"It is really great to be part of a team like this and to play in a semifinal. It is a season that has really gone well for us and we've played some great rugby in the second half of the Currie Cup competition. We are really excited and can't wait for Saturday."
The Sharks, who have now won nine games on the trot since their July 19 defeat against the Cheetahs, have build up some impressive momentum - a run that includes victories over all the big guns: Western Province, Lions, Blue Bulls and revenge against the Cheetahs.
This, Muller says, is a very important factor in Saturday's showdown.
"It is related to confidence and momentum comes with that belief in your own game," he said, adding: "We have build up some real momentum and you can see that the confidence is right up there, the players believe in their ability to pull it off.
"But we also know that on the day, in play-offs, it is 50-50 and you still have to go out there on the day and ensure you play the better rugby."
Muller has no doubt that the Sharks have the manpower to keep that momentum going.
"We do have a really good set of forwards that dominates in most matches and we haven't played second fiddle in too many games.
"But what really makes us dangerous is that we have individuals who are incredible game-breakers.
"You can go through the team - Frans Steyn, Adi Jacobs, JP Pietersen, Ruan Pienaar, Ryan Kankowski, Jean Deysel ... and the list continues. There are individuals who can turn the game in an instant and spark the team."
Muller is aware that semifinals are not won by individuals alone.
"It will take an absolute team effort to pull it off, but we do have the right balance - some good experienced players and a number of quality youngsters, it is a combination of all these things that make us such a good team."
That doesn't mean he is writing the Lions off, far from it.
Like any good captain he is backing his own team, but Muller is well aware of the dangers posed by the opposition.
"The Lions have showed that, when they are on song, they can be unstoppable on the day," Muller said about Saturday's opponents.
"They have that something in the team - it is not something can pinpoint and say: 'That is why they play well'.
"But they are a well-coached team, a team that plays for each other and with that you can go a long way."
He made reference to the Sharks' 34-20 win over the Lions in Johannesburg a fortnight ago and pointed out just how hard his team hard to work for the win, despite the scoreline suggesting that it was an easy win.
"That game in Johannesburg was really tough, it was physical up front.
"They have a physical set of forwards and they also have a couple of game-breakers - guys like Earl Rose and Jaque Fourie, while Trompie [Nontshinga] is playing really good rugby as well.
"The Lions also have a good balanced team.
"They have a solid scrum, with guys like Heinke van der Merwe and Willie Wepener, who have plenty of experience even though they are still young.
"They don't have many superstars in their team, but as a team they play really good rugby."
By Jan de Koning
