Don't let the Sharks' recent mauling by the Lions mislead you, warns Vodacom Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo. Despite the Sharks’ youthful side tanking 46-5 last week, Nomlomo is bracing for a rebound when they meet at Loftus Versfeld this coming Saturday.
Nomlomo isn’t taking any chances, predicting a resurgence from the coastal squad. "The Sharks will definitely be stronger this week," he asserted. With key players likely returning to the fray, the Sharks are expected to show their true colors. "They had a few guys unavailable against the Lions, but some of the older players like [lock] Corne Rahl, [loose forward] Tino Mavesere and [prop] Dian Bleuler could get a start. I think we could see a restructuring of their team this week."
"Everyone will be 10% better after a hit-out, so we’re expecting a tough game. That Lions result wasn’t a true reflection of the Sharks. They’re a well-coached team – they won the Currie Cup last year after initially selecting youngsters. Don’t be fooled by last week; they’re still a damn good side."
On the Bulls' front, the team kicked off their campaign with a robust 48-23 victory over Western Province. However, Nomlomo highlighted some areas needing tweaks: "Kick receipts was an area we highlighted after the game. For obvious reasons, it’s something we have to sort out this week to make sure we’re as prepared as possible for the Sharks," he noted, also lamenting the concession of two "soft" tries.
The Bulls' backline received some praise for their performance, "When we got going, we really got going well. It starts with your 9 and 10, and I thought both [Zack Burger and Boeta Chamberlain] were outstanding." It appears the team dynamics are solid, but Nomlomo admits, "There’s a lot of confidence in the side and in each other, and that cohesion is coming along. We’re not where we’d like to be yet, but we’ll keep chipping away."
"Brave Boeta was class"
With the Currie Cup’s compressed schedule this year, Nomlomo also stressed strategic squad management. "You’ve got to be spot-on with your planning," he explained. The expectation is to rotate players, introducing more debutants to keep the team fresh for the latter stages of the competition, particularly given a slightly smaller squad size than in previous seasons.
As the bulls prepare to lock horns with a rejuvenated Sharks squad, the scene is set for an epic showdown that could defy the expectations set by recent performances. Get ready for a clash that’s bound to be anything but predictable.