Sharks supporters who were concerned at how little rugby their team played in their opening Vodacom Super Rugby match can be consoled with the knowledge that coach Robert du Preez was as dumbfounded as they were.
There has been a lot of talk since the former Springbok, Natal and Northern Transvaal scrumhalf took over as coach of a new more expansive game. We did see it in the pre-season win over the Cheetahs in Umlazi, but it was well hidden in the slippery humidity of Suncorp Stadium, where it appeared the Sharks were just too scared to try anything and, apart from the good try that came from aggressive defence in the early minutes, they lacked zip and precision.
The Sharks over the past few seasons, dating back to Jake White’s year in charge in 2014, have been criticised for being too conservative, and if the Brisbane match was viewed on its own, you’d think that remains the case. However, while the Sharks did create little in the way of meaningful attack, it is also true that they just didn’t get the ball into their hands enough.
And that is why coach Du Preez should be easy to understand when he says that what we saw against the Reds wasn’t the rugby the Sharks intend playing in 2017.
“That was not the way we intend playing. We could not get phases going and battled to get out of our half,” said Du Preez.
“There were too many individual errors and that gave the balls back to the Reds. And our discipline was unacceptable. This was disappointing as we spoke so much about discipline in the pre-season and yet in the first game we gave away 11 penalties. That was too many and now we have a player suspended (lock Etienne Oosthuizen has been found guilty of foul play).”
Although they led for most of the match and there was what looked suspiciously like a forward pass in the movement that led to the Reds’ winning try, he did not concur with any theory that the Durbanites were unlucky.(Not unlucky just crooked out of a win by bent down under refs. A common tale!)
“I just don’t think we played well at all,” Du Preez said.
The coach knows it isn’t going to get any easier either, with the Brumbies lying in wait in Canberra on Saturday in the Sharks’ last tour match.
“They could have beaten Crusaders in Christchurh last week, and we know not many overseas teams do well at that venue,” said Du Preez.
While the Sharks have boasted a great record in Brisbane down the years, it is different in Canberra, where they have struggled.
“It is a tough place to play. Our record reflects that.”
The Sharks have based themselves in the Sydney suburb of Coogee in the build-up to the Canberra fixture. It is a place that feels like home for them as they stay on the beachfront and there is a holiday atmosphere, but judging from Du Preez’s words, the Sharks’ minds will be a long way from holiday mode as they knuckle down to hard work in preparation for the Brumbies challenge.
