Muller raises the bar
Sharks captain Johann Muller has raised the bar for his team, saying it should strive to win all seven of its away matches in the Super 14.
Sharks captain Johann Muller has raised the bar for his team, saying it should strive to win all seven of its away matches in the Super 14.
“If you want to win this competition, it doesn't matter whom you play and where you play. You have to beat them if you want to win the Super 14,” Muller told rugby365.com.
“If not, then you simply aren't good enough to win this competition,” added Muller.
Muller made particular reference to the Sharks defeat by the Bulls in last year's Super 14 Final at the Absa Stadium in Durban. Readers will also recall that the Sharks beat the Bulls in front of a sea of blue at Loftus Versfeld – never easy!
The big Sharks second row forward, who will take over the leadership reins from John Smit this season, said that while it would certainly be tough, the team had enough quality to achieve what is certainly a formidable task.
The Sharks will play against the Hurricanes, Highlanders, Brumbies, Waratahs and the Crusaders in consecutive weeks while 'down under', with their other two other away fixtures being against the Bulls and Lions.
In years gone by South African teams have generally set themselves a mediocre target of winning one or two matches on the tour to Australasia, which would be seen as a success, but Muller feels that mentality needs to change.
“You have to go out there and try to win every single one. If you think back two years, we had a far less experienced squad than we have now and in many of the matches [In Australasia] we lost, we came so close, losing by one or two points.
The Sharks have generally been good travellers in the past and Muller will take heart from that.
“It is going to be tough, but with the players we have it's do-able,” added Muller.
The Sharks will play against two South African teams – the Stormers and the Cheetahs – in Durban, but Muller is not for one moment writing any of them off.
“I think all the South African derbies are going to be tough, as they always are. The Stormers might be the team to watch this year.
“They have always had a great side on paper. They just need to put it together and I think with Rassie [Erasmus] there, they will be a real tough side to beat,” added Muller.
However, it is the Crusaders match on week twelve – saving the best for last as it were – that Muller is truly looking forward to.
“I am looking forward to the Crusaders purely because they have been the best side in the competition over the past 12 years. It is a great challenge, playing against the best,” added Muller.
By Gareth Green and Siyabonga Mchunu