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South Africa: Sharks Will Have a Bird's Eye View
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Business Day (Johannesburg)
13 May 2008
Posted to the web 13 May 2008
Zeena Isaacs
Johannesburg
THE exhilarating finish to the league stages of the Super 14 this weekend is expected to favour the Sharks, as they will know exactly what they need to do on Saturday night to earn a semifinal berth.
They will line up against the Chiefs, in Durban, in the final pool game.
The Bulls -- needing a 72-point win margin to earn a home semifinal last season -- destroyed the Reds 92-3 in the final league game and went on to win the competition.
However, this season, the Sharks will have the final say.
Only the Crusaders have cemented their play-off place, meaning six teams will be vying for the three remaining semifinal places.
Yet with the Stormers and Sharks level on 37 points in fourth and fifth position respectively on the log, these teams will be the centre of attention.
Sharks lock and skipper Johann Muller took comfort in the fact that his team would know exactly what had to be done beforehand to book their place in the top four.
"It will definitely count in our favour. We know we have to win and hopefully earn a bonus point to stay in contention. But to know exactly by what margin we have to win will be a bonus," he said.
Muller admitted they would watch the other games closely, as defeats for the Hurricanes and Waratahs could earn the Sharks or Stormers a home semifinal -- provided they win.
"We will keep a close eye on the other results because there could be several possible scenarios depending on that. Anything could happen," Muller said.
With the Sharks showing signs in the previous two games they could be reaching a peak in form, Muller was optimistic.
"Things have come together nicely in the last two games, so hopefully we can hit top form," he said. "We left it a little late. But we were forced to play conservative rugby for most of the season because wet weather followed us around. In the last two games we retained possession and took the ball through phases. So hopefully we can build on that on Saturday."
The Chiefs, however, had serious concerns yesterday, with a few frontline players -- No8 Sione Lauaki (hamstring), wing Sitiveni Sivivatu (ankle) and flyhalf Steve Donald (neck) -- all doubtful for the clash due to injury, while prop Ben May has been suspended for three weeks for stamping an opponent.
Adding to coach Ian Foster's woes, back-up prop Simon Lemalu was one of three players sent home with injuries.
Cooper clearly felt the pressure yesterday and said on the team's website: "We've had a nightmare in the past 24 hours trying to figure it all out. We will assess Lauaki, Sivivatu and Donald -- whose neck is extremely sore and in a brace. So that could require further replacements. But we will probably make that decision in 48 hours ... it is a pretty unique situation, as we could have six or seven players down and out."
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Stormers coach Rassie Erasmus, meanwhile, had good news ahead of the clash against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday. Prop Brok Harris and wing Wylie Human were training yesterday, after suffering minor injuries after last weekend's 13-13 draw against the Waratahs. Former Cheetahs prop Ollie le Roux -- expected to be a back-up if Harris were ruled out -- ran with the squad yesterday.
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