CURRIE CUP

News | History | Table | Fixtures & Results

Sharks `limping` along

Tuesday 15th July 2008

New fish in the Shark Tank: Riaan Swanepoel and Skholiwe Ndlovu

While the Sharks take stock of their Currie Cup campaign after four rounds, there is a mixture of disappointment as well as satisfaction at the way they have gone about getting the business done.

After three victories that have taken the Sharks a point clear on the top of the standings, certainly there is a feeling that they must be doing something right, but at this early stage, they are also aware that a small improvement week after week will do their chances a world of good.

"I think we are limping along," Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford told the Sharks website after the team's 28-10 defeat of the Valke last Friday.

"We got home with five points in a similar fashion to two weeks ago against Boland, but the important thing is that we are getting there.

"Four games down the track, we're top of log so it's difficult to be unhappy, but we are disappointed with the way we played, we know we can play better.

"Injuries have affected us, but the guys that have come in have done really well. We're top of the log and the guys deserve a lot of credit for getting there and grinding it out."

Bashford felt that the team let themselves down a bit on defence in the first half against the Valke, pointed out these are to be expected with a new team in a new season.

"We have a pretty new team and there are a few areas to work on," he said.

"Structurally, we are not doing the things we want to, but we have three new players and they need an understanding of the systems.

"In saying that, I don't think the two club players [Wesley Bodmer and Chris Jordaan] let the province down."

He admitted that it was fantastic to have Frederic Michalak back in action - the Frenchman getting just under 20 minutes of game time and coming through unscathed after a two month recovery period.

"Fred made a huge impact and it was great to see him back on the field," said Bashford.

"He's a wonderful player and character and it was good to see him having fun out there, he really enjoyed himself.

"We wanted to give him 20 minutes this week and he came through really well.

"We will see how the knee has responded to taking hits, making tackles and we would love to get him going as soon as possible. He could start against Free State this week potentially."

Brad Barritt came off the field and with the right treatment will hopefully recover in time for Saturday's match against the defending champions who lost to the Blue Bulls on Saturday.

Bashford confirmed that prop BJ Botha, who pulled out late in the week had two bulging discs in his back.

"He came off in the Blue Bulls game (two weeks ago) with a bit of pain, trained on Monday and Tuesday but it was painful and he saw a specialist about it.

"He's potentially out for 14 days."

The good news is that the Sharks expect to have a number of players returning from injury in the next few weeks.

Prop Pat Cilliers is about two weeks away from making a full recovery as is loose forward Jean Deysel and the Sharks are holding thumbs that lock Steven Sykes and scrum-half Rory Kockott will be ready for this weekend's match.