News

Old foes face off in Durban

Friday 05th September 2008

Rough stuff: The battle at the breakdown will be intense

There will be no need for extra motivation to lift the players ahead of this weekend's top-of-the-table clash between the Blue Bulls and the Sharks in Durban is the latest episode in of a fierce rivalry.

The niggle first started back in 1990 when an underrated, much ridiculed Natal team (as they were then known) shocked the Loftus faithful to their socks to beat Northern Transvaal in the Currie Cup Final.

Revenge was sweet in 2007 when the Bulls snatched the Super 14 crown from under the Sharks noses in Durban in the dying moments of another captivating final.

This weekend the possibility of a home semi-final is on the line as the light blue shirts defy their seaside hosts once again, and Sharks Assistant Coach Grant Bashford says his squad, complete with their returning Springboks, for pumped up with excitement.

"There is always a different feeling in the camp when we are about to play the Blue Bulls," Bashford told the Sharks website.

"The guys are excited and everyone is up for it. The hype is there but it won't be coming from us - we want to treat it as another game, approaching it no different to any other. We will prepare as we always do - we are consistent in our approach to all games."

"The Bulls have played some of the best rugby, (this season),"Bashford added.

"They've been consistent throughout but changed how they play, to the ball. Their defence is really good, there is more passing, a change that started in the Super 14 but which they have been getting better at in the Currie Cup.

"They also didn't lose as many Boks, so they have managed to keep their continuity and key areas remained unaffected. The Sharks and Western Province were the most affected."

The departure of Derrick "Liefling" Hougaard to England, has seen fly-half Morn� Steyn come into his own, and the Sharks have highlight him as a dangerman.

"He's a running threat," admits Bashford.

"He's not playing in the pocket, instead he plays in your face which is a huge change for the Bulls. He's changed the way they play, very different from the Bulls of old."

The Sharks may have lost to the Bulls in their first round fixture at Loftus, but Bashford points out that the Sharks team has matured and will be an entirely different prospect.

"We're a different side to what we were then if look at our make-up, we have our Boks back as well as players returning from injury," he explained.

"They also got a lot of momentum on us in that game and hopefully we can stop that early."

Fred Michalak's duel with Steyn will be only one of a number of face-offs that have rugby fans rubbing their hands in anticipation. Victor Matfield's battle in the line-outs with Johan Muller will be crucial while Springboks scrum-halves Fourie du Preez and Ruan Pienaar will both have a point to prove.

As is often the case in South African rugby, the battle of the loose forwards will be a highlight. Pierre Spies, Wikus van Heerden and Deon Stegmann face off with Keegan Daniel Jean Deysel and Jacques Botes in what promised to be an titanic struggle of strength versus speed.

With everything to play for, Sharks tank will be a buzz of excitement of Saturday.