Pumas to pounce on vulnerable Sharks
Thu, 09 Sep 2010 22:55
Ready to pounce: Pumas flyhalf Elgar Watts. (c) Gallo
The Pumas, adamant that a top-six Currie Cup finish is still within their grasp, hope to inflict a second consecutive defeat on the table-topping Sharks.
With home ground advantage and a renewed vigour, the newcomers to the Premier Division are excited about their showdown with the tournament leaders in Witbank on Friday.
Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse described it as a "big game" for his team, a challenge they are looking forward to.
"We are well aware of how tough it will be, there is a good reason why they are on top of the standings," Stonehouse told rugby365.com.
"However, our goal remains a top six finish and despite the disappointing loss to the Lions recently, we believe in our ability to compete at this level.
"We aim to score four or five tries in every game and remain competitive, because that means we add value to South African rugby," said the Pumas mentor, who added that he is proud of what his underrated players have already achieved this season.
Stonehouse said his team had gained confidence from their performances in the first half of the season - which included victories over the Leopards and the Blue Bulls.
"The players trust each other and believe in their ability to compete with the big guns. They have done themselves proud and we have some top class players in this team," he added.
The Sharks are well aware of the threat posed by the ever-improving Pumas and are determined to bounce back from last week's disappointing loss to the Blue Bulls.
Backline coach Hugh Reece-Edwards spoke of the need for "accuracy" against the Pumas, following the error-riddled showing in Pretoria.
Even again a team like the Pumas there is no margin for error.
"If one person runs out of line slightly, or turns over ball at the breakdown, little knock passes, just little mistakes that accumulate, this puts more pressure on the guys as individuals and as a team," Reece-Edwards said on the Sharks' website.
"A lot of sides - actually most sides - are capitalising on opposition mistakes and if you look at how many tries are scored from set pieces, it's not high.
"So certainly, the more mistakes a team makes, the more opportunities they give to the opposition."
Reece-Edwards said the Sharks remained resolute in their desire to make amends for last week's mistakes.
"Having lost against the Bulls, the players certainly want to [make amends]," he said.
"We are going there to get our game back on track and get ourselves back to where we want to be."
Recent results:
2006: Sharks won 34-16, Durban
2006: Sharks won 82-14, Witbank
2010: Sharks won 27-17, Durban
rugby365.com Prediction: The Pumas have a habit of allowing the opposition to build up a lead and then fight back. If they are to realise their
dream of knocking the Sharks over, they will have to stay in touch, or even lead, in the first half. They have showed glimpses of being a real threat. Now they need an 80-minute performance. That said, the harks remain a quality outfit and the smart money must be on them getting the win. It will be a hard day at the office, but the Sharks should win by about 10 points.
The teams:
Pumas: 15 Johan Jackson, 14 Braam Pretorius, 13 Tiaan Marx/Shaun Venter, 12 Ashwin Scott, 11 Allister Kettledas, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Andries Kruger, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Hannes Franklin (captain), 1 Ronnie Uys.
Replacements: 16 De-Jay Terblanche, 17 Dawie Steyn, 18 Willem Serfontein, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Ricardo Croy, 21 Siviwe Magaba, 22 Sphiwe Sithole.
The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa
Ndungane, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Patric Cilliers.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Skholiwe Ndlovu, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Andre Pretorius, 22 Louis Ludik/Luzuko Vulindlu.
Date: Friday, September 10
Venue: Puma Stadium, Witbank
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
By Jan de Koning
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