Coach John Plumtree says that a rock solid team environment is responsible for the Sharks climbing to fourth place on the United Rugby Championship log.
In the Sharks’ last outing, they defeated the Bulls 29-19 at Loftus Versfeld despite being overpowered upfront and reduced to 12 players at one point.
“I am pleased about where the team is at right now,” Plumtree said yesterday ahead of Saturday’s trip to the Lions (2.30pm kick-off). “The boys want to do well for each other, and we know that in any team environment... that is the key ingredient.
“When you have players that are willing to go hard for each other, you are going to do well.
“We have done a lot of work around our team connections – stuff around having fun with each other and building friendships. When you are playing with your mates, you are going to go that extra mile because you care about them.”
Plumtree added that talent can only get a team so far.
“It is not just about having skills. The players must want to dig in for each other, and if we don’t have that, we are never going to be the side that we want to be.
“When I came back to the Sharks, I recognised that they did not have that connection, and we worked on it – and now they have it.”
Plumtree said that an example of this was Jordan Hendrikse’s willingness to hand over the kicking duties to Siya Masuku at Loftus.
“Jordan was unhappy after he missed two kicks at goal and gave the ball Siya, who then slotted one from the touchline. They worked that out for themselves, and it goes down how we are as a team and how the players relate to each other.
“That is what you want. I didn’t have to send out a message. I backed Jordan to get his kicking right, but credit to them for resolving it.”
Plumtree said an attribute allied to team culture is sound preparation.
“People are saying we must have taken a lot of confidence out of winning our last three games, but confidence comes from preparing well and performing the game-plan. If you get the win, then it is ‘job done’, and you go back to Durban to work on the next job.
“Confidence is not necessarily about the result – confidence can float in and out if you don’t prepare well and get yourself ready for every single game.
“After a few days off last week, we have had to work hard this week to be confident to go up to the Lions and do a job because we were far from perfect against the Bulls,” Plumtree added.
“We will have to be better to beat this team. They are under pressure for a result and will come at us.”
The rugby season keeps getting better for the Sharks with the news that three World Cup Springboks have returned to the squad for their match against the Lions, including Bok skipper Siya Kolisi.
Kolisi and Vincent Koch will play off the bench at Ellis Park, while Jaden Hendrikse slots into the starting lineup for Grant Williams, who is on the bench.
Further encouraging news is coach Plumtree’s ability to pick a relatively unchanged match-23 compared to the rest of the season where there were a handful of injuries after every match.
The two changes made yesterday from the side that beat the Bulls are in the tight five, where injured Trevor Nyakane is replaced by another former Bok in Ruan Dreyer, while Deon Slabbert comes in for Corne Rahl at lock, with Vincent Tshituka continuing as captain.
Sharks Team
15 Jordan Hendrikse 14 Yaw Penxe 13 Jurenzo Julius 12 Lukhanyo Am 11 Ethan Hooker 10 Siya Masuku 9 Jaden Hendrikse 8 Phespi Buthelezi 7 Vincent Tshituka (captain) 6 Tino Mavesere 5 Jason Jenkins 4 Deon Slabbert 3 Ruan Dreyer 2 Bongi Mbonambi 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu.
Bench: 16 Ethan Bester 17 Dian Bleuler 18 Vincent Koch 19 Lappies Labuschagne 20 Siya Kolisi 21 Grant Williams 22 Francois Venter 23 Eduan Keyter.