Stern test for Straeuli's philosophy
There's a man who works in a hardware store in Durban North and is a fanatical Rudolf Straeuli fan. If the burly former Springbok continues to produce the goods with the consistency with which he started in the province, this throng of Straeuli supporters is bound to grow.
"I rate him," said the hardware man. "He's great. We'll murder them." The Sharks fan was referring to Saturday's Super 12 assignment against the slick ACT Brumbies at the Absa Stadium.
About that forecast one needs to be a mite wary, but this confrontation against last year's losing finalists is likely to produce an intriguing clash of widely differing styles.
The Sharks play what one would term direct rugby. It is built on the pillars of a tough pack, with the emphasis on driving upfield and rapid recycling of the ball for use either in turning their opponents around and pinning them deep in the corners of their territory, or using the backline conventionally with surprise variations.
The Sharks' defence is well organised and fierce. They may well - through the pack and skills of the likes of skipper Mark Andrews, Albert van den Berg, Ollie le Roux, John Smit, and the speed of their loose-trio - dominate possession.
In Warren Britz, captain of the national Sevens team, who comes in for the injured Warren Brosnihan, they may have unearthed a fetcher in the mould of one of the true greats - the mid-1970s Springbok Boland Coetzee. It's a great opportunity for Britz to show off his skills.
Deon Kayser has shown how elusive and full of running he is in midfield, and in conjunction with Butch James and Trevor Halstead, should provide a spearhead the Brumbies will be hard-pressed to counter.
The confrontation between James and Brumbies' flyhalf Stephen Larkham is certain to be a combustible clash of the more direct style of the rugged Durban lad and the rapier probing of the Wallaby.
The Brumbies pack, with Jim Williams, Owen Finegan, Jeremy Paul and company, need no introduction. They need to stand back for no one.
In addition the backline is peppered with players of distinction such as Larkham, Joe Roff, Stirling Mortlock and fullback Andrew Walker. But if the Brumbies have a match-winner, it has to be George Gregan. Few scrumhalves can match the expertise of this bullet-headed tactician.
How the Sharks cope with this calibre of opposition could go a long way towards indicating their overall destiny in the competition.
Teams:
SHARKS: Ricardo Loubscher; Gus Theron, Deon Kayser, Trevor Halstead, Stephen Brink; Butch James, Craig Davidson; Aj Venter, Warren Britz, Charl van Rensburg, Mark Andrews (capt), Albert van den Berg, Etienne Fynn, John Smit, Ollie le Roux.
Substitutes: Gaffie du Toit, Andre Snyman, Brad MacLeod-Henderson, Deon Carstens, Philip Smit, Lukas van Biljon.
BRUMBIES: Andrew Walker; James Holbeck, Stirling Mortlock, Rod Kafer, Joe Roff; Stephen Larkham, George Gregan (capt); Jim Williams, George Smith, Owen Finegan, David Pusey, Justin Harrison, Ben Darwin, Jeremy Paul, Bill Young.
Substitutes: (Pick up from Sapa).
Referee: Steve Walsh jun.
Kick-off: 5.10pm. TV: M-Net SuperSport, 4.50pm.
- Just one victory on the Bulls' four-match journey through Australasia would make the people back home "believe" again, says scrumhalf and captain Joost van der Westhuizen, reports Sapa-NZPA.
The once-famous rugby area around Pretoria has had a horror three years, and the franchise have won just four of their last 50 Super 12 matches. They play the Hurricanes in Wellington on Saturday.
Van der Westhuizen said it had been frustrating to spend so much time sidelined with injuries while his team struggled over the past few seasons.
The Bulls captain said he hoped for two wins on the four-match trip; but "let's be realistic, I will be happy with one".