Assistant coach Barend Pieterse has cautioned the Lions against underestimating the Sharks when the South African teams clash in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The Lions host John Plumtree’s charges in round 11 of the Vodacom URC at Ellis Park. The Joburgers are in 11th spot on the table with 24 points, and the Sharks still occupy last place after nine losses from 10 matches.
A 70th-minute penalty from Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu gave the Stormers the buffer they needed to edge the Sharks at Kings Park, after the hosts threatened an incredible comeback thanks to the impact of their bench.
Speaking in a Lions conference on Tuesday, Pieterse acknowledged the Sharks’ Springbok stars while highlighting the improvements that the Durbanites have made at the backend of the URC.
“Watching their game against the Stormers the previous weekend, I think they have already gotten better. It’s not a lot of teams that can come back against the Stormers like that,” he told reporters.
“I think they have already started with an upward curve. It’s going to be a very tough game. You look at who they can pick that is available.
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“I think we all know, with the quality players they have and with the quality coaching staff they have, they actually should be in a better position at the moment.
“So I think it will always be a close game against them, it doesn’t matter if it’s in Johannesburg or in Durban. And it will come down to whoever does the small things better. We hope we are that team on the day.”
Neither the Lions, on seven points, nor the Sharks (three) feature in the contest for the SA Shield, yet Pieterse has warned against complacency this week, despite The Pride’s last-gasp win at The Shark Tank last month.
He added: “Had we won our two previous games against the Bulls, I probably would have said yes, one can be a little complacent. But where we are in the season, we definitely cannot be complacent.
“We took a long hard look at our two losses, what we did wrong and also what we did right, because I mean there was some good stuff as well. So no, I don’t believe the coaches or the players are worried about any complacency, because we just aren’t in a position to be.
“It is a very important game and we want to go out and win and perform well for the people at home after that wonderful support we got in our last game.”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/INPHO/Shutterstock
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Src: sarugbymag.co.za
