John Plumtree said Saturday’s clash against Edinburgh is the ideal opportunity for a full-strength Sharks side to click as a unit before tackling Zebre Parma in the Challenge Cup.
The head coach has made five changes to the Sharks starting XV for round 12 of the Vodacom URC, with key personnel seelctions up front while a rejig of the backline.
Plumtree’s charges clinched their second URC win of the season by registering a 22-12 result over Ulster at Kings Park last week to climb out of the basement, but are unlikely to finish in the top eight with six rounds remaining.
The Durbanites will host fellow URC opponents Zebre in the last 16 of the EPCR next Saturday, and speaking in a Sharks conference on Thursday, Plumtree emphasised the importance of progressing in the competition which secures safe passage back to the Champions Cup next season.
“I’ve always said that these next two games were about us getting cohesion and creating some competition and then picking a side against Zebre that we think can do a job,” he told reporters.
“We know how tough this weekend’s game is going to be, there’s a lot of Scottish internationals coming back in – a lot of x-factor players who are household names.
“It’s going to be a real test for us building up to the Zebre game but that’s exactly what we want.
TEAM: Bok champs to front Scots for Sharks
“We know who we’re playing this week and have prepared well and are excited about playing Edinburgh … but we’re possibly out of the URC and are still alive in the Challenge Cup.
“We’ve set some goals for the rest of the season and we’re excited because we’ve got the team back that we want – it’s the first time I’ve been able to pick a full-strength side.
“I really want to do well in the Challenge Cup and this game this weekend will help me prepare the team for that. Now I have some selection headaches for me if players take their opportunity this weekend and that’s how we create an edge in our team.”
Ox Nche and Vincent Koch will start with Bongi Mbonambi in a World Cup-winning Springbok front row while Werner Kok and Francois Venter slot in at right wing and inside centre, respectively.
“We were always going to bring Vincent and Ox on off the bench last week, first game back for a while [for Koch] and it’s a good thing to give a good start this week. Bongi has been working pretty hard for us up front so he’ll start again,” Plumtree added.
“Eduan Keyter has a bit of an ankle injury and we’re hoping it’s not too serious, but we’ve got Werner Kok coming back in. Nothing really changes with Werner coming in, he’s our real energy man.
“And bringing Swys Venter back into the midfield… we’re really impressed with what Ethan Hooker did last week with a Man of the Match performance.
“I’m looking to see him cover 13 as well in case we have issues with Lukhanyo [Am].”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The post Sharks to sharpen Euro ‘edge’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
