Lambie looking to add value
Springbok Patrick Lambie only has 12 minutes of action to his credit since returning from injury, but he feels he could add value in the semifinal.
Lambie, who has been sidelined since he damaged his bicep muscle against the Bulls back in March, showed no signs of rustiness as he stepped into the flyhalf position.
Although it still has to be confirmed, it is expected Lambie will start at flyhalf in the Super Rugby semifinal against the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday.
He is confident that his cameo in the 31-27 win over the Highlanders last week will stand him in good stead.
"Fortunately I got some time on the field," Lambie said in an interview on the Sharks website.
"I was very excited to get back on the field again, a bit nervous even.
"But the way the team handled the pressure was commendable."
Regardless of whether he plays off the bench or starts this week, he just wants to be involved, in any way his coach wants.
"I'm just looking to add value as much as I can; I'm happy to fulfil any role in which I am needed," he said from the team's base in Christchurch.
Lambie said the Sharks believe they can add another historic chapter to their catch-as-catch-can season – becoming the first team to beat the Crusaders twice in one season in Christchurch.
The Sharks' 30-25 win over the Crusaders just before the June break was significant for two reasons – it was the first time the men from Durban won in Christchurch and they did so despite being reduced to 13 men at a crucial stage late in the game.
"The team can definitely take confidence from that victory, it was something no other Sharks team had achieved before – which means that it is not impossible to win here,"the Bok utility back said.
"I was screaming so loud sitting at home watching that game from my couch that I think the neighbours must have thought someone was dying in my house!
"It was a very proud moment for all Sharks fans, and in particular, the group representing the Sharks that day."
The odds are again stacked heavily against the Sharks for this game, but in 2012 they proved that it was possible to travel halfway around the world and win. They beat the Reds (30-12) in Brisbane in the preliminary play-off and then returned halfway around the world back to South Africa to beat the Stormers (26-19) at Newlands.
"What has happened in the past is in the past, but certainly we can take confidence out of the fact that this current group has players that were involved two years ago that did all the travelling and reached the Final,"Lambie said.
"The majority of this group also came to Christchurch earlier this year and won, and we have won away from home in South Africa as well this year, so we will take as much confidence as possible out of all those positives."
The Crusaders are not the tournament's most successful side of all time for nothing, and this year are no different in the challenge they present.
"They have a strong pack of forwards and they have players with game-breaking ability in the backline. They will be clinical and very disciplined and we will need to be at our very best, execute well and get the basics right, if we want to get the result."
