Sharks must break away or fade away

With their Currie Cup "mini-league" done and dusted after their 30-30 draw with the Cheetahs on Saturday, the Sharks' title defence credentials will be put to the test over the next four weekends.

Having barely negotiated the Pumas, Griquas and Cheetahs, the Sharks are now at the business end of the Currie Cup. Three of their last four matches pose serious questions about their ability and aptitude, willingness and inexperience notwithstanding.

Rugby trips this year do not come tougher than to the Blue Bulls, who have shown incremental improvement after an indifferent start to their campaign.

For all their Super 15 and Currie Cup travel struggles, they have been equally difficult to tame at their Loftus Versfeld stronghold.

The Sharks have been inconsistent Currie Cup travellers, with a win, draw and a loss away . They have a better travel record than the Bulls, who lost to the Lions and Western Province before adjusting that column after Friday's 28-13 win against the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth.

They would be judged as soft touches, but having beaten the Lions at home two weeks ago, the Bulls have slowly shown the mettle needed to mix with the bigger teams. The Bulls at home is the kind of challenge the young Sharks team need despite their cohesion problems - their superb forward pack has not been accurately complemented by the backs.

The Sharks' only supposedly "easy" fixture is next weekend's home game against the Kings, and grabbing four points is a priority for the defending champions.

The Bulls are just two points behind the Sharks and are equal with the Cheetahs. A win for them, coupled with a Cheetahs victory against the Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday evening, will give the Sharks the unwanted reality check of being out of the top four.

The Sharks could look at the Kings game as a walking five-pointer but could regret the points they dropped against the Pumas and Griquas. And the Sharks have only one four-try bonus point.