Skipper wants to leave his mark
Sharks hooker Skipper Badenhorst is relishing the opportunity of keeping his teammate, Springbok Bismarck du Plessis, on his toes in his bid to make an impact in the Super 14.
Sharks hooker Skipper Badenhorst is relishing the opportunity of keeping his teammate, Springbok Bismarck du Plessis, on his toes in his bid to make an impact in the Super 14.
Badenhorst told rugby365.com that the healthy competition for places throughout the Sharks team will bring out the best in each individual, and that Du Plessis is raring go.
“Bismarck is itching to get on the park, as he didin't get to play much on the [Springboks] end-of-year tour last year.
“I'm sure he wants to show the new Bok coach what he's made off,” the hooker said.
Badenhorst will more than likely be the understudy to Du Plessis this season, but was keen to emphasise the value of being a team player in the Durban franchise.
“Each player in the squad wants to make a contribution, whether that be on the field of play, or if it.
“The team comes before the individual, so I'm keen to contribute in some way to the Sharks' success this year,” he said.
The Sharks face the daunting prospect of having to cross the Tasman Sea twice during their five-match away leg, but Badenhorst says his team are taking it one game at a time.
“We have broken the draw up,” he says of the Sharks' tough fixture list.
“We are taking it one game at a time, the Western Force [the Sharks first game of the Super 14] is our sole priority at this stage,” he said of the encounter in Durban on Friday.
“They [the Force] have come a long way over the last two years, and there are no easy games in the Super 14,” he said.
A victory on Friday would “set the trend for things to come”.
Badenhorst was full of praise for fellow front row forwards, Deon Carstens and BJ Botha.
“Deon and BJ are worth their weight in gold. They do the basics well and their general play is also excellent,” he said of the two Springboks.
Carstens is currently injured and is unlikely to feature until the beginning of March.
Coach Dick Muir faces a tough decision with regards to the make-up of the front row.
Muir has at his disposal tighthead's Jannie du Plessis, who has joined the Sharks from the Cheetahs, BJ Botha as well has Robbie Harris.
On the loosehead side, it will be interesting to see whether he opts for Namibian captain Kees Lensing or local cult hero Tendai 'Beast' Mtawarira.
The Super 14 Final loss to the Bulls last year will still be fresh in the minds of many Sharks fans, so Dick Muir's team will be keen to get their campaign off to a winning start.