Thanks to our boss man Rob, I had the opportunity to attend a press conference at Kings Park this morning, the final one before our boys leave to the land of the long white cloud. Here are a few of the thoughts and ideas from our coach:
Nelson: Nelson is a beautiful sea-side town, perfect for a holiday, much like Umhlanga Rocks. The Sharks will only be staying there one night and in Wellington the rest of the week.
Weather: The last time the Sharks were in New Zealand, it was the perfect time of year to travel there as the weather is great, but this time around the weather will most likely be wet. The forecast for the weekend also indicates rain.
Mental Battle: The Sharks have never beaten the Crusaders in New Zealand, and this could come down to more of a mental battle than anything else. The Sharks will have to take the confidence from beating the Bulls at Loftus and play that way for the full 80 minutes. The travel factor is the most important factor to overcome.
Twickenham: The players will be watching the Twickenham game today and the key areas from that match will be addressed. We will have to match them defensively and take them up in the scrums.
Scrums: The scrums against the Bulls started off poor and increased later in the game. To be able to beat the Crusaders, the Sharks will have to scrum better than any scrum that happened at Loftus.
Loftus: A question was raised as to what went right at Loftus. Plum laughed at this, and then went on to say that it was more than likely the situation they were in, being in a do-or-die situation and having no ‘next weekend’ to put things right. Travelling to Rustenburg on the Wednesday also helped the players to get out of the limelight.
Biggest Challenge: The greatest challenge this weekend will be to continue from where the guys left it at Loftus. Both teams have played a lot of Finals rugby lately, with the Sharks playing both Super Rugby and more recently Currie Cup semi-finals and finals in the last two or three years, and the players get excited and lift their game for the occasion.
Jetlag: The Sharks will be remaining on South African time during their stay, going to bed at 2am and waking up at 11am, in an attempt to be at their best for the match. At this stage in the competition, one has to take things at a week at a time, and although the decision will mean that the Sharks will battle in their second week overseas (should this be necessary), the decision was made to have the best chance in the game against the Crusaders.
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interesting re the Jetlag part!
“Weather: The last time the Sharks were in New Zealand, it was the perfect time of year to travel there as the weather is great, but this time around the weather will most likely be wet. The forecast for the weekend also indicates rain.”
Didn’t it belt down with rain when we played the Chiefs?
Do they normally go to bed at 4 in the afternoon & get up at 1 am when in Durbs?
2am in Auckland is 4pm in Durbs, or am I missing something?
The weather is going to be a big factor unfortunately. It’s not going to be as entertaining a match as at Loftus.
This weekend’s 2 NZ matches were bore fests of note.
@McLovin (Comment 3) : You’re missing something!
@Pokkel (Comment 5) : Other way around? 😕
If they go to bed 2am SA time that’s 12pm in NZ & then wake up at 11am SA time, which is 9pm in NZ.
Won’t they miss the match if they do that?
@McLovin: 😀
@McLovin (Comment 7) :
Just messing with you. 😉
@McLovin:well,from reports I read re: last time sharks played saders it def sound as if they missed the first half and only pitched for the 2nd
@McLovin (Comment 7) : Perhaps that’s the aim!
Going to be a huge ask..need to be on top of our game..
Nelson just like umhlanga rocks? Nice warm indian ocean ?golden beaches?nz has some incredible scenery..but don’t know if they have an umhlanga rocks there.
One game that the sharks can remind themselves that going in with the same mindset as before is the 2008 game against the waratahs..we lost the group game n came back for the final after hammering the chiefs the week before..the tahs kept it simple n we hot hammered..I think this is where the class of 2011 need to watch out..we beat the bulls but it means nothing…we have to go in n play to our strengths..keep the ball n make the first time tackles…allow the backline to move n hit hard..
@shaniboi (Comment 14) : I think we’ll be ok this time around… we don’t have Epi Taione 🙂
The saders line-out is also very formidable..they had the stormers line-out totally “deurmekaar”.wonder how many of that was because of some under-handed tactics,though?either way,they will test the sharks at the scrums and line-outs.must step-up.would love to see the sharks get a good rolling maul going.
@robdylan (Comment 15) : The Epi(c) Mistake.
I forgot about that guy. All I remember is Phil Kearns pleading for Dick Muir to get him off the field! 😳
@robdylan (Comment 15) : Was thinking the exact same thing when I read Shanoboi’s comment
@robdylan (Comment 15) : instead we have THE Frenchie 😛
Interesting indeed. I’ll be working so I’ll have to endure the 50/50 commentating we get every now and again 😉
@Jarson (AddicteD) (Comment 20) : and considering that everybody will be glued to tv in suspense 🙄 🙄
am I the only one wondering about the ash cloud and the fact that flights to sydney are being cancelled?
@robdylan: what now??where to?
..And megatron reckons the sharks are favourites..
@bergshark (Comment 24) : I think Megatron was being ironic…
Play the game in London.
That was my suggestiion when the Sharks agreed to play the earlier game there – do it on condition that if we were to meet the Saders in the knockouts or finals then it should be in London or Durban. Payback time.
@Salmonoid (Comment 26) : I like it… I’m all for a London semi 🙂
according to Eugene van Staden… the flight has been delayed by 2 hours, but not (yet) cancelled.
@Salmonoid (Comment 26) : Great idea
@robdylan (Comment 27) : Seems like a fair option to me.
@robdylan (Comment 28) :
This is going to be one dramatic movie of note when its made.
@robdylan (Comment 28) : are they stuck at OR Tambo? Maybe I should quickly drive there and ambush them – would be even more dramatic 😆
@bergshark (Comment 24) : bergie , uhm he is being sarcastic , transie aka mega is a big Saders fan as is his GF Rossoneri
take it with a pinch of salt 😉 😆
now as for this weekend?? eish maarrraaaaaaaa eish , one very steep hill for the sharks to climb 🙄
Supersport recons if the flight reaches aus n sydney is still closed they fly to brisbane..but hell how do they get to nz..I tink the crusaders should of just come to durbs..much easier..haha
@shaniboi (Comment 35) : maybe crusaders will send welcoming boat 😆 but on a serious note : eishhh 😐
@Salmonoid (Comment 26) : Great plan that…