Sharks' indiscipline 'no problem'

07 April 2015 - 02:00 By Khanyiso Tshwaku

Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold has defended his team's worsening disciplinary record. He said the problems could be nipped in the bud as they were not endemic. Flanker Jean Deysel received his marching orders for kneeing Matt Todd in the head in the Durban side's 52-10 mauling by the Crusaders last Saturday.This was just a fortnight after Bismarck du Plessis and Frans Steyn were sent off for foul play against the Chiefs.Deysel's dismissal is his second in consecutive fixtures against the men from Christchurch.His marching orders dented whatever chances the Sharks had of coming back into the match.This is regardless of the fact that the visitors had three men in the sin-bin when he saw red.But Gold said: "We certainly don't coach nor condone foul play and I have never encouraged players to participate in foul play."These are isolated incidents and, by and large, our discipline is quite good. We have been on the wrong end of some pretty severe offences and they are not acceptable."I thought we had got rid of them but one seemed to rear its ugly head," Gold said."If there was any life left in us, it was in the opportunity to score before halftime. It could have been 28-10 and we're a good rugby team and we could have got the momentum back."The minute I saw the replay, I had no doubt what the decision was going to be and that decision was a kick in the stomach."Keeping the judicial officers busy has become a pastime for the Sharks.It is something that irritates Gold as he has had to fit his schedule for the last two games (against the Force and the Crusaders) around an assortment of hearings and appeals.Gold could offer no excuses for his team's no-show and is fully aware of how dangerous the Lions will be after registering an important win over the Bulls in Johannesburg."It is going to be a hell of a job and we need to send a message that we can still get back into the tournament. "I believe we can ... I still have a lot of confidence in these guys. Things aren't going well at the moment but I think we can fix them."..

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