Steve Haag Gallo Images
Captain Keegan Daniel, left, and coach John Plumtree during the Sharks final preparations for their crucial Currie Cup clash against the Blue Bulls at Kings Park tonight.
He might be deemed surplus to Springbok requirements, but Sharks captain Keegan Daniel remains determined to prove himself through stellar performances for the Sharks, letting actions speak louder than words.
Daniel has been in fine form for the Sharks since being dropped from the Springbok team following the match against the Pumas in Mendoza and, in particular, stood out against the Lions in a losing effort in Joburg last week.
“I can’t select myself. There is nothing I can do if I don’t meet the criteria of the [national] selectors – I can only concentrate on my performances for my home union and pay my province back for making me a Springbok in the first place,” he said.
And starting tonight against the Bulls, Daniel has called on himself and his charges to get back on the winning trail after they lost against the Lions after fluffing a number of opportunities.
“With three games left now, and then two games in the knock-out stage, it is all about consistency,” said Daniel. “That is what is vital. There are five weeks left of the Currie Cup, and the team that is most consistent is likely to win it.”
Regarding the Bulls, who are second from bottom, Daniel pointed out that anything could still happen on the log.
“The Bulls are just one of many teams, including the Sharks, that have been up and down, and they have not given up hope of the semi-finals. We can expect a typical Bulls game from them – they will come to win the physical challenge and dominate territory with their kicking.
“As far as we are concerned, we let ourselves down against the Lions. We can only blame ourselves for the loss, and at home we are determined to turn that around tonight. While it is good that in the Currie Cup you can blood players with an eye on Super Rugby, it has to be done with a view to being consistently good.”
To that end, the Sharks have kept their pack intact for the match, but have reshuffled their backline. Meyer Bosman takes over from Riaan Viljoen at flyhalf, with the latter moving to fullback, and Louis Ludik moves to the wing.
In the midfield, the Super Rugby first-choice combination of Tim Whitehead at 12 and Paul Jordaan has been restored, with Jordaan having been promoted from the bench from last week’s game.
At scrumhalf, youngster Cobus Reinach continues to be preferred to Charl McLeod.
Regarding the change at flyhalf, Daniel said: “Meyer has been in consistently good form, and we want him to get his hands on the ball as much as possible, while moving Riaan to fullback gives us good long-range kicking options.
“And with Tim and Paul back as the centre combination, we have something exciting for the future, and the combination that was so promising during Super Rugby.”
Meanwhile, a win against Western Province in Cape Town tomorrow would just about secure the Lions a place in the last four, writes Jacques van der Westhuyzen.
The defending champions are without their key playmaker in Elton Jantjies, while influential back Jaco Taute is also missing, both set to make their Springbok debuts later tomorrow.
Johan Ackermann’s Lions have been impressive in the Currie Cup, both at home and away, and did brilliantly to come from behind to beat the Sharks last weekend, but playing at Newlands is always a tough prospect.
“It’s a difficult place to go and get a result. But the guys are confident and the mood in the camp is good,” said Ackermann this week.
With Jantjies out, all eyes will again be on Butch James and whether he’ll be able to run the show as well as Jantjies has up to now, and, crucially, whether he’ll have the keys to unlock the very sound Western Province defence.
In the other game tomorrow, the out-of-sorts Cheetahs, with just two wins from their seven games, host Griquas in what should be a crackerjack affair.
Naka Drotske’s team simply have to win to still stand a chance of finishing inside the top four.
