E-mail Article Print-Friendly Version Contact Us

News

Muller focused on winning

Thursday 27th March 2008

Winning skipper: Losing not an option for Muller

Sharks' captain Johann Muller says winning is the most important thing for his team at this stage of the Super 14 tournament as last year's finalists prepare to take on the Reds in Durban on Saturday.

Having enjoyed a bye last week, the players were granted a long weekend, but come the new week, everything was forgotten as the Sharks await the challenge ahead against the Reds.

"The break came at a really good time for us," captain Johann Muller told the Sharks website.

"You could see in training this week that the intensity is there, the guys are hungry and keen to get going again.

"We aren't speaking about the tour, we have the Reds this weekend and that's the most important thing for us.

"We will start the tour on Sunday, so Saturday is the big one for us. We know the Reds are going to be tough, so that's all we're focused on and preparing for."

About this time a year ago the Brumbies had just lost to the Cheetahs fairly convincingly (38-20), and with the Sharks unbeaten at the time through six matches, the Brumbies game was supposed to be a mere formality ahead of the overseas trip.

The Sharks lost 21-10 in a game everyone expected them to win, so the result of the Reds match this Saturday has huge implications for the way forward.

The Sharks and coaching staff have also emphasised time and again this season that no games should be taken for granted.

While the upsets this season haven't been numerous, they have certainly occurred, and the Bulls losing to the Reds two weeks ago is certainly something for Sharks' fans to be wary of.

The Reds have played their way out of the bottom of the log with fine performances in the past two weeks, and are going to prove formidable opposition.

"They are a really good side," said Muller.

"They beat the current Super 14 champs by 40 points two weeks ago and it is going to be tough.

"They play in Brisbane where the weather is very similar to Durban's where it is hot, humid and muggy.

"But it isn't about them, it's about us, our preparation has been great and we just need to keep it up for Saturday."

With the weatherman predicting a maximum 27 degrees celsius, it should be a lot cooler in Durban than the past month - this bodes well for the kind of rugby the crowd would like to see.

"Hopefully the weather on Saturday is cool; if it is we'll try to have a bit more of a go than we have but it all depends on how the game turns out," said Muller.

"But you know, if we win 13 out of 13 games and don't get a single bonus point, we'll still be in a home semi and probably home final.

"For us, at this stage, we'd like to play the kind of rugby we know we can play, and what people want to see, but winning is the priority and we have to make sure the game is won before we start throwing the ball around."

Currently second in the table with a game in hand and with this year's draw tougher than last year, the fact that the Sharks are on a par with their accomplishments at this stage a year ago puts into perspective their achievements.

"We are doing really well, we're doing enough to win every game, and that's the most important thing," said Muller.

"The time will come - and I said that at the beginning of the season - when we are going to play an expansive game, when we throw the ball around and it's going to be exciting to watch, and exciting for us to play, but for us, the first phase of our campaign is now over and we achieved what we wanted to.

"But the second phase is going to be really important for us - it starts this weekend against the Reds and then we have a five-week tour.

"Winning is the most important thing for us at this stage."