Sharks need baby steps to get their bite back‚ says Du Preez
While there were crumbs of success against New Zealand sides‚ none of whom scored a bonus point win against the Sharks in the regular season‚ it came apart at the seams in the 41-0 quarterfinal hammering against the Hurricanes.
The Sharks could not find a plan B‚ which is something Du Preez wants his charges to have this season even though they have an easier task this year against the Australian sides.
“We do have a vision and how we want to play but that’s something we need to take one game at a time and build on the successes of the previous games‚” Du Preez said.
“We can’t jump too quickly to other things because playing a ball-in-hand game comes with big responsibility.
“I’m looking for a well balanced approach between attack and defence.”
“We want to have a good start to the season and take things one game at a time. When we play the next game‚ we’ll hope there will be improvement and game fitness is also a big thing.
“Over the last two weeks we’ve done a lot of simulated plays but we haven’t done full contact sessions. The ones we’re going to partake in against the Cheetahs will be the first.”
Sharks captain Patrick Lambie finds himself in the enviable position of captaining a transitioning team while also having to worry about his own form.
He had a patchy 2016 season due to injury and the first step will be for him to see out the first part of the Super Rugby season injury-free‚ while also looking over his shoulder.
Bulls flyhalf and captain Handre Pollard is fully fit and will ask questions of Lambie’s ability through his form with the Pretoria franchise.
Fortunately‚ the Sharks will also have Cobus Reinach back from a knee injury that kept him out of action last year.
“I don’t know whether you’d call him my partner in crime but I’m really chuffed for Cobus‚” Lambie said.
“He had a very nasty injury to get through and he’s got through that with flying colours.
“I think he’ll be really happy to get game time tomorrow and I think he's in for a very big year.
“I’m also ready for this year and it feels like a new start again for the Sharks.
“I've hardly played any rugby for them in the last few season. I can't wait to get on the field and enjoy myself.”
- TMG Digital/TMG Sport