Ex Supersport
They used to be known as the Coastal Sharks, but the Sharks will be looking to play the role of coastal spoilers when the Vodacom Bulls ride into town on Saturday for a crucial Vodacom Super Rugby derby.
Indeed, it seems to be the case that it’s the coastal spoilers against teams looking for higher honours in all the games on South African territory on Saturday, with the Southern Kings also primed to put a dent in the strong challenge the Cheetahs are currently mounting for a place in the play-offs (This is not likely!!).
With the two inland teams due to play off against each other in Bloemfontein the following week, neither of them can afford to slip up now (Bulle will be very worried about both these games). The Bulls have a slight advantage at the moment, but it will disappear into the balmy Durban air if they lose on Saturday and the Cheetahs win. Likewise, if the Cheetahs slip up in Port Elizabeth and the Bulls win, then the Bulls might as well ask if their names can be inscribed on the conference trophy.
The Sharks of course may argue that they do still have a mathematical chance of getting into the play-offs, and they have done the almost impossible before. But right now it’s such a long shot that they really do go into these final weeks as spoilers and not contenders.
The plum fixture this weekend is probably the first one, with the Chiefs hosting the Crusaders on Friday in a game that will decide the New Zealand conference if the Chiefs win. The Crusaders have been showing their old knack for winning under pressure just recently so they shouldn’t be written off, but they have been hurt in the build-up week by the late withdrawal of tighthead Owen Franks.
The Crusaders scrum played a big part in the win over the Blues last week and with Corey Flynn also out, the Franks injury might just tip the balance in the Chiefs’ favour. But it’s really a lottery, with the only certainty being that it will be a high-quality game, which is not something we can be assured of in some of the later fixtures.
Yep must watch this and try and see if nz have any talent.
