Jaden Hendrikse Scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse will hope to spark the Sharks attack against Ulster. Photo: BackpagePix
Image: BackpagePix
Sharks coach John Plumtree has used horse-racing parlance to describe how he wants his team to progress from getting across the line by a short head in games to winning at a canter.
Plumtree was alluding to his team’s one-point United Rugby Championship victory over Edinburgh last week, and he wants the performances to get incrementally better over the last three URC league games – starting on Saturday night against Ulster in Belfast (8.35pm kick-off) – and going into the playoffs.
“If you compare us to a Hollywoodbets horse, we won by a nose. But we know we are in a Kentucky Derby over the next four or five weeks,” Plumtree said.
“We want to get that horse better, train it hard, and have it win by four or five lengths and not by a nose.”
One of the major blows to the Sharks is the absence of Springbok scrumhalf Grant Williams with a neck injury, which sees another Bok in Jaden Hendrikse continuing in the No 9 jersey.
Hendrikse will hope to spark the Sharks into action alongside brother Jordan at flyhalf, while James Venter comes in at openside flank.
Plumtree said his team had learned plenty from the 18-17 defeat of the Scots, and identified where to get better against Ulster.
“That game in Edinburgh was a real s**t-fight, if you will pardon the expression,” the coach said.
“There was a lot of off-the-ball stuff... they got under our skins. There was a lot of holding back players around rucks. It was a niggly game of rugby.
“We were proud to come out on top of it because it was a game not going our way, but we stayed close enough on the scoreboard to get the job done.”
Plumtree added that Edinburgh is a tough place to visit, and that is borne out by the fact that the previous best result for a South African team at the Hive Stadium was a Stormers draw in the first year of the URC.
“It was pretty tribal out there,” the coach said.
“We are playing teams overseas that are also stacked with internationals. It is difficult to win URC games over there.
“The media and our supporters have got their opinions, and we want that. People need to be patient with us, though,” Plumtree continued.
“It has been a difficult season in terms of injuries and challenges around continuity in selection (because of Springbok resting).
“But we have players coming back at the right time, and we always look to improve whether we win by one or by 20.”
Plumtree expects another dogfight in Belfast.
“Ulster must win to stay in the fight for the top eight. They have several players leaving their club, and it is their last home game of the season.
“There will be a full house, and part of that is due to the traction this Sharks team brings to any game because of the profiles of some of our players.
“We are expecting a heck of a battle, a similar scrap to Edinburgh.
“There was rust last week, not just as a team, but also from individuals. We hope that scrap has stood us in good stead for Saturday night.”
Sharks Team
15 Aphelele Fassi 14 Ethan Hooker 13 Lukhanyo Am 12 é Esterhuizen 11 Makazole Mapimpi 10 Jordan Hendrikse 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Siya Kolisi 7 Vincent Tshituka 6 James Venter 5 Jason Jenkins 4 Eben Etzebeth (captain) 3 Vincent Koch 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ox Nche.
Bench: 16 Fez Mbatha 17 Ntuthuko Mchunu 18 Hanro Jacobs 19 Manu Tshituka 20 Phepsi Buthelezi 21 Bradley Davids 22 Siya Masuku 23 Jurenzo Julius.
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