After eight gruelling but incredibly successful weeks of Super 14 rugby for the Sharks, their bye-in round 11 undoubtedly cannot come quick enough, but they can ill afford to rest up now.
Craig Lewis writes for IOL.
The Sharks blew the Hurricanes away on Saturday to soar to the top of the table, but coach John Plumtree said they knew how important it was to maintain their momentum over the next couple of weeks.
This Saturday they will face the Cheetahs at Vodacom Park, and then the Crusaders in Durban, before being able to embrace their break.
“The Cheetahs have been a real bogey team for the Sharks over the years and we know they’ll be looking forward to us visiting there this weekend,” Plumtree said.
“Then obviously we have the Crusaders after that, which will be a massive challenge, and only then can we enjoy the bye.”
Indeed, although the Cheetahs have been absolutely hapless this season, losing seven straight games and accumulating only two points, they will remember that Sharks’ victories in Bloemfontein have been few and far between. The importance of a win for the Sharks, though, is accentuated by the fact their much-anticipated bye is now within sight.
“We’re really holding out for the bye at the moment,” Plumtree admitted.
“It will be great for us especially with so many of our players being injured, and hopefully after the bye we can get some of them back and have some re-enforcements”
Winger JP Pietersen, is one of those players who Plumtree said was only likely to make a return in week 12 after scans revealed that his calf injury sustained against the Brumbies was quite serious.
Flyhalf Ruan Pienaar will also only be back after they bye while Plumtree said they were holding thumbs that flanker Jean Deysel might be ready for the Crusaders game.
Centre Waylon Murray is also working his way back to full fitness and so the Sharks will certainly be desperate to hold down their spot at the top with such quality players nearly ready to return.
However, 21-year-old Luzuko Vulindlu, who was a late replacement for the injured Pietersen on Saturday, proved that the Sharks certainly have no shortage of talented players waiting in the wings as he produced a man-of-the-match performance.
Plumtree said he was certainly pleased with the talent pool that he had at his disposal.
“Luzuko has really impressed us all year. Before the game he was very relaxed and he understood that it was his time… He’s certainly one for the future and he’s going to be really good in the Currie Cup.
“It was also good to see a guy like Chris Jordaan looking good as well, he’s been plucked from the club scene and it just shows the talent we’ve got in this province and the importance of nurturing it well.
“There’s also definitely some good young talent coming through in the Sharks XV team and that’s great to see as well, the whole system seems to be working nicely.”
Kick-off this Saturday is at 3pm.
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GO SHARKS….hold out to your well deserved break and no more injuries,please…Black & White nothing else matters
i’m getting nervous 😕
what the hell is up with Waylon? We went through our entire tour a man short because we thought he was going to join us halfway through…
@robdylan (Comment 3) : read somewhere that whenever he starts running the knee (i think knee it is) starts swelling again.
😕
@rekinek (Comment 4) : figured out – charlie posted it on other thread
@rekinek (Comment 5) : ah yes… knew that looked familiar
waylon still needs to get match fit aswell, rather have him in VC first
@robdylan (Comment 3) : i start doubting that we see Waylon at all during this year S14
@rekinek (Comment 8) : yeah – agree. Then if the rumours are to be believed, he’s off to Wasps…
@robdylan (Comment 9) : 😯
@rekinek (Comment 10) : whoops… did I say that out loud?
@robdylan (Comment 11) : aha
@rekinek (Comment 12) : shit. Move along. Nothing to see here 😳
@robdylan (Comment 13) :
🙁
@robdylan (Comment 9) :
If true it would indicate a serious lack of self belief for someone so young. Self belief that your days as a Bok are over, sad I figured him as a level headed go getter.
@Salmonoid (Comment 15) : it’s just a wild rumour at this stage
@Salmonoid (Comment 15) : btw – still waiting for you to email me about your offer yesterday 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 16) :
Well I hope its just that, also hope he can regain that 2007 form.
@robdylan (Comment 17) :
That was very much tongue in cheek, would be safe to change a date here and there but I fear, I would have to moderate myself out of existence. 😈
Speaking of which, I have noticed lately that Keo seems to be free of any form of moderation and has regressed, yes even more, into a free for all that would probably get a few people hauled before the courts were it not for anonymity. They just let it ride there these days. What they need is MM XV1 of the Sharks site to sort them out.
@Salmonoid (Comment 19) : I don’t think they care anymore 🙂
We are looking for somebody to help us out, though