Sharks aiming for Lion taming

John Plumtree says that the Sharks are gearing up for a tough challenge at Ellis Park this Saturday afternoon and assured supporters there was no complacency in the squad ahead of their Super 14 derby against the Lions.

The Johannesburg-based side have slid to three consecutive losses after winning their opening game in the tournament against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

They are the underdogs this weekend and this is something that will make them a dangerous prospect.

"I guess they are in a situation like we were in last week against the Blues," said Plumtree.

"Everyone was talking about the Blues and not much about us. It's nice for a change for people to be talking about our team and I think it shows how we have improved every week, even though I still think we are nowhere near our peak."

The Sharks assistant coach said that the Sharks would have to show the necessary maturity to ensure they didn't let the hype get to them.

"This competition is so tough and any team can cause an upset at anytime," he said.

"This year there haven't been many, but a team like the Lions, just like the Cheetahs or Reds, can pull off a surprise at any time, you just hope it's not your team.

"I guess it's up to the maturity of the guys to make sure their focus is there on Saturday, because the Lions are an opportunist team and just when you think they are out of it, they strike," the Kiwi said.

Plumtree said the Sharks Currie Cup semifinal loss to the Lions was something the team were aware of, even though the Durban-based side had lost more than a dozen of their frontline stars to the Springbok World Cup winning squad.

Fitness

This week scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar (shoulder) and flank AJ Venter (infected calf) are back in the selection mix, however, both men need to prove their fitness as they have not completed a practice session this week.

Meanwhile, back home on the shores of New Zealand it didn't take Blues coach David Nucifora long to start whining about his franchise's loss to the Sharks.

Nucifora's charges have set the pace in the Super 14, but at the weekend they were felled 22-17 by a fired up Sharks outfit, who took the game to the mighty Kiwis.

The Blues had been gracious in defeat but as soon as they landed back in Auckland the whinging session started from Nucifora about the Sharks illegal infringements at the breakdown points.

He even questioned the Sharks credentials as contenders for the title and when he told the Rugby Heaven website: "I'm happy to have bagged 11 points out of it (the South African trip). That's good for us and they've still got that all in front of them," he said.

"Like all teams on the road we'll have to wait and see how they cope with that," Nucifora added.

On hearing the claptrap coming from the antipodes Plumtree laughed off Nucifora's jibes saying, "We're used to his whining these days, he had something to say about our over vigorous play last year when we beat the Blues and this isn't anything new."

"It's disappointing really and I guess he's just another whining Aussie."

"They obviously don't rate us much and can't stomach losing to us. The truth is the way you beat the Blues is no different to the way we played or what we used to do when I coached Wellington in New Zealand. You have to shut their space down and have a good kick and chase game, and take your opportunities from there."

Kick-Off: 5pm; TV: SS1/M-Net