FRANS Steyn, fresh from two weeks of an intensive conditioning programme, is back in the starting lineup for today’s match against the Crusaders at Kings Park where the Sharks will gauge their progress against one of the best teams in the competition.
Beating the Rebels 64-7 two weeks ago was a welcome result, but for coach John Plumtree a clash against the Crusaders will provide the real measure of whether his side are good enough to go on and win the tournament.
The Brumbies hammered the Sharks 29-10 three weeks ago and since then they’ve had a bye and a game against a weak opponent.
The Crusaders will ask the Sharks tough questions, especially as they’re brimming with confidence after beating the Stormers at Newlands for a third successive time.
Steyn is back in the position many feel is his best with Meyer Bosman retaining the inside centre berth after a strong showing against the Rebels.
Will Steyn be trimmer and fitter and will he deliver an 80-minute performance instead of sporadic touches of class during the game? Those are some of the big questions he needs to answer.
Key to victory though probably won’t rest with Steyn but on the set piece, where the Crusaders will target the lineouts as they successfully did against the Stormers.
Sharks hooker Kyle Cooper’s throwing-in will have to be spot on, while locks Franco van der Merwe and Pieter-Steph du Toit can expect to come under pressure from All Black second rowers Luke Romano and Sam Whitelock.
The Crusaders are starting to flex their muscles after three straight wins, but besides the Brumbies debacle, the Sharks are in a good place after four wins and a single defeat this season.
The difference is that the Crusaders have been convincing while the Sharks have been unconvincing in every match besides the Rebels blowout. Tomorrow they have a chance to rectify that.
The Cheetahs could break new ground by winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive match if they beat the Stormers in Bloemfontein tomorrow, while the Cape side are trying to keep their season from slipping into crisis mode after three losses in five outings.
The Cheetahs’ four wins have all come against overseas opponents but they traditionally struggle against South African opposition.
Against the Stormers, they’ve won only twice in nine meetings and are on a seven-match losing streak against the Capetonians.
An interesting battle at halfback looks set to develop where Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has chosen the more cerebral Piet van Zyl over the instinctive Sarel Pretorius, while the Stormers have done the opposite by picking the feisty Nic Groom over the calculating Dewaldt Duvenage.
After the Stormers lineout struggled against the Crusaders, this will be targeted by the Cheetahs, and Van Zyl’s accurate kicking game is a big part of that plan.
The Southern Kings face traditionally the hardest game on tour, in week three, when they meet the Brumbies in Canberra.
The Australians are top of the overall standings , but the Kings continue to show a praiseworthy combative spirit and if nothing else, won’t go down without a fight.
Crusaders a stern test for Sharks
Beating the Rebels 64-7 two weeks ago was a welcome result, but for coach John Plumtree a clash against the Crusaders will provide the real measure of whether his side are good enough to go on and win the tournament.
The Brumbies hammered the Sharks 29-10 three weeks ago and since then they’ve had a bye and a game against a weak opponent.
The Crusaders will ask the Sharks tough questions, especially as they’re brimming with confidence after beating the Stormers at Newlands for a third successive time.
Steyn is back in the position many feel is his best with Meyer Bosman retaining the inside centre berth after a strong showing against the Rebels.
Will Steyn be trimmer and fitter and will he deliver an 80-minute performance instead of sporadic touches of class during the game? Those are some of the big questions he needs to answer.
Key to victory though probably won’t rest with Steyn but on the set piece, where the Crusaders will target the lineouts as they successfully did against the Stormers.
Sharks hooker Kyle Cooper’s throwing-in will have to be spot on, while locks Franco van der Merwe and Pieter-Steph du Toit can expect to come under pressure from All Black second rowers Luke Romano and Sam Whitelock.
The Crusaders are starting to flex their muscles after three straight wins, but besides the Brumbies debacle, the Sharks are in a good place after four wins and a single defeat this season.
The difference is that the Crusaders have been convincing while the Sharks have been unconvincing in every match besides the Rebels blowout. Tomorrow they have a chance to rectify that.
The Cheetahs could break new ground by winning an unprecedented fifth consecutive match if they beat the Stormers in Bloemfontein tomorrow, while the Cape side are trying to keep their season from slipping into crisis mode after three losses in five outings.
The Cheetahs’ four wins have all come against overseas opponents but they traditionally struggle against South African opposition.
Against the Stormers, they’ve won only twice in nine meetings and are on a seven-match losing streak against the Capetonians.
An interesting battle at halfback looks set to develop where Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has chosen the more cerebral Piet van Zyl over the instinctive Sarel Pretorius, while the Stormers have done the opposite by picking the feisty Nic Groom over the calculating Dewaldt Duvenage.
After the Stormers lineout struggled against the Crusaders, this will be targeted by the Cheetahs, and Van Zyl’s accurate kicking game is a big part of that plan.
The Southern Kings face traditionally the hardest game on tour, in week three, when they meet the Brumbies in Canberra.
The Australians are top of the overall standings , but the Kings continue to show a praiseworthy combative spirit and if nothing else, won’t go down without a fight.
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