Can the Sharks shake off their recent poor form and emulate the Waratahs in beating the Stormers in Cape Town on Saturday?
According to Sharks prop Jannie du Plessis, it is possible, but only if there is marked improvement from their disappointing performance against the Cheetahs.
The Sharks squandered a golden opportunity to book a home semifinal when they went down 27- 20 to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Saturday. A losing bonus point kept them in touch with the second-placed Crusaders but it was their second consecutive loss after returning from Australia and New Zealand, where they won three out of four matches. A season-defining encounter against the Stormers looms and it will be a fixture that will either highlight the Sharks' regression or their willingness to fight for a home semifinal.
Du Plessis said fatigue had not been much of an issue for them, adding that the 21-19 loss to the Stormers at home on May 31 was not the point where they started to surrender their season's gains.
"There was an international break of four weeks. So, regardless of whether we won or lost, the guys did not see each other for four weeks," Du Plessis said. "I can't see a correlation from that game and momentum lost on the weekend."
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