Sharks coach John Plumtree is not getting carried away by the fact that his side is topping the Super 14 log.
After their latest victory over the Brumbies, the Sharks have 26 points. That is 3 more than the Waratahs, while the Chiefs and Bulls are both on 22.
“There is still plenty of rugby to be played. You can’t take if for granted that you will win on your home ground. We’re in a good position and expect the players to lift their energy next week. The players would have been able to prepare for an entire week by then,” said Plumtree.
Liam del Carme writes in Beeld that Plumtree was upset that his team had to defend so much on tour, but he felt there was an improvement against the Brumbies.
“We just about got the balance right. Sometimes we are still taking the wrong options,” said Plumtree.
“We’re working at that in training. We’d like to create more opportunities when we have possession. We are one of the most dangerous teams when it comes to turnover possession.”
The Sharks don’t score many tries by creating attacking opportunities.
Brumbies coach Andy Friend described the approach after his side’s defeat.
“They (the Sharks) just make tackle after tackle and wait for an opportunity to take the ball off you. Then they give it to one of their speedsters and he scores.”
Brumbies captain George Smith also said the approach was tough to handle.
“If you can’t stop their counter-attacks immediately, you are in trouble,” he said.
The Sharks may have to take on the Hurricanes on Saturday without Springbok wing JP Pietersen
Pietersen injured his achilles heel against the Brumbies and went for a scan on Sunday.
“Hopefully it’s not serious,” said Plumtree.
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I hope the injury to JPP is not that serious, he has looked fantastic this year, nearly back to his best. 😯
@knock on (Comment 1) :
Hi Knock On. Welcome to Sharksworld.
Hopefully no news is good news. JPP is joint leading try scorer thusfar this season, and losing him for even one game will be a tragedy.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : We have another speedster on the bench
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) :
Little Fish is REALLY impressive..I think I might adopt him seeing that his “Dad” is so scarce!! 😆
@Charlie (Comment 3) :
Yeah but that Speedster isn’t Captain of my Fantasy League Starting XV. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : I rather opt for the Reality League Starting XV 😉
Luzuko Vulindlu to start at wing! What a sight that will be
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Agree, give him a fair oppertunity to prove his class
@robdylan (Comment 7) :
He is quite an exciting player!
@knock on (Comment 1) : @KSA Shark © (Comment 5) : Welcome Kock on.
JPP also my captain. I hope he recovers soon
@Pokkel (Comment 10) :
You see..if I understood these blooming rules better…I might eventually get somewhere…I thought your Captain has to be “a’ captian… 🙁 😆
Pokkel – its suprising how one little letter can make a uge diffs… 😆 😉
Welcome Knock On.. 😀
@Pokkel (Comment 10) : so you can pick as captain for your team a player who is not a captain in reality
and it took me only 7 rounds to realise and I’m not at the bottom of the log in this competition – seems the less I know the better I do
hello ladies and gents.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 11) : just seen your post – have you also “read” the rules ❓ 😉
@rekinek (Comment 13) :
i quickly ‘scanned’ them…obviously I must try harder to actually read them..I am not doing TO shabby for someone that is actually clueless! 😆
BTW – I am not a “manual reader”…so anything over 4 lines I hate reading…I need short and sweet summaries!! 😉
@Prof. Ice (Comment 14) : was thinking – since you are a prof. u could argue that your interpretation shall prevail
I hope that nothing serious with JP – he could be very useful against hurricanes.
Have you seen how stocky weepe i (i am quite confident I misspelled his name)
@rekinek (Comment 15) :
Wont work…the people around here that rules the roost think they are KINGS!! 😈 😆
@ ksa shark, comment 2 and @pokkel, comment 12; thanks for the welcome, i have read the many articles you guys have written with interest. Robdylan has a point that Luziko on the wing is an exciting player, give him a run, I am sure he won’t dissappoint.
Hi Rekinek.
Sorry to hear about your soccer teams bad result against Northern Ireland. Chances of making 2010 now getting very slim.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 14) :
Rules are made to be BROKEN, not to be READ. 🙄
@knock on (Comment 18) :
I agree, he has been a solid performer in every game that he has been used, but I would prefer driving a porsche Turbo rather than just driving a porsche boxter, if I was given a choice.
If JPP needs to be rested then they MUST do that though. I am not an advocate of rushing players back into action.
@knock on (Comment 18) : he did look exciting whenever he came on but Canes are serious contenders – I am afraid that the experience may be the key in this game.
oooops and welcome from me tooo 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 20) :
I typed something to that effect…and then decided to delete is..cannot blow my cover!! 😆
@Salmonoid (Comment 19) : thanx man.
not really surprised but kinda hoped (very deep down inside) that they could make it so 🙁 🙁 .
It seems that now they have no chances whatsoever to make 2010. Family called yesterday that I mustn’t bother about getting tickets 😕
@knock on (Comment 18) : that robdylan chap just makes stuff up. Careful what you believe 🙂 No, seriously, welcome to the site. How did you find us, if I may ask?
@rekinek (Comment 24) :
I see they (the travelling thugs) managed to win the street battle – 11 Northern Irish policemen injured.
@rekinek (Comment 24) :
Do the names, Boniek, Lato, Szarmach, Tomasewski mean anything to you or are they before your time?
@Salmonoid (Comment 26) : ya – THOSE ONES always come on top, eish. I read that the police making appeals not to take it out on immigrants. sad
@Salmonoid (Comment 27) : “the man who stopped England” 😆
Those are legends. but we do need to dig deep to glory days 😕
Bit before my time, though Boniek still played when I was very small.
@rekinek (Comment 28) :
I saw a BBC documentary on gangs and the Polish skinheads in the disguise of football fans were featured – there were some scary individuals there. I think our Police would take one look at them and run, which the Irish police should probably also have done.
@rekinek (Comment 29) :
I remember seeing Boniek score the winning goal for Juventus aginst Liverpool from the penalty spot at the Heysel Stadium in the 1985 UEFA Cup final. That was that game where 39 fans were crushed to death before the game. 🙁
@Salmonoid (Comment 30) : haven’t seen the programme, but heard about it.
Since I remember there were issues about violence at the football games. These skinheads are just such a small but visible percentage of people going for games (or nearby) and make bad names for ordinary supporter. This upsets me
@rekinek (Comment 32) :
They are terrible and have nothing to do with sport. They seem mostly European and football related.
@Prof. Ice (Comment 11) : I only figured that out after round 3. 😳
@Pokkel (Comment 34) :
i only figured it out…TODAY!!!
Pokkel – its suprising how one little letter can make a uge diffs…
Welcome Knock On..
i was refering to your welcoming of Knock On… 😉
@Prof. Ice (Comment 36) : Oops 😳
@Prof. Ice (Comment 36) : What a welcome though 😯
@Salmonoid (Comment 33) : yip.
Seems like JP is out for Staurday… 😥
😳 SATURDAY 😳 Damn keyboard 👿