Neil Powell has prepared the Sharks for a “muggy” battle with the Vodacom Bulls in humid Durban on Saturday.
Though there’s only a 30% chance of rain and a high of 23°C predicted, the forecast has humidity at 70% in what is expected to be slippery conditions for the 4:45pm kickoff in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship match at Kings Park. The Sharks are hoping to use the conditions to their advantage.
Speaking to media on Friday, Powell explained that the Durbanites will adapt their gameplan as they look to secure a fifth win on the trot in all competitions.
“It is almost better for it to rain and be humid and that ball gets that sweat,” the Sharks boss said. “I realised that when I was on loan to the Sharks in January/February a lot of years ago – I don’t think out of 10 passes the flyhalf got one that was proper!
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“It does get a bit muggy and something we’re use to, also training in those same conditions, and obviously we would like to use it against opposition that will come down to Durban and have to adapt.
“It’s important for us to understand and play towards the conditions, and it’s what we know and are familiar with.
“We did take steps over the last few games in how to manage the game well, like where we play and where we don’t play, and I think it’s going to be crucial this weekend – whether we have a dry ball or if it rains and the ball gets a bit slippery.”
The Bulls will arrive in Durban off a 37-27 defeat to the DHL Stormers in the URC, which followed a 30-point Champions Cup defeat to Exeter Chiefs, yet Powell has warned his charges not to underestimate Jake White’s troops.
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He said: “I think the Bulls will bring a little bit more after that loss [to the Stormers], because saving their players in the Champions Cup to target these two [derby] games and then losing the first of the two will definitely hurt them, and they will want to rectify that against us.
“They will bring a lot of effort and physicality to this game and would like to get one win out of the games they targeted.
“But we’re aware of that and have prepared with that in mind.”
Siya Kolisi will lead a Sharks XV bolstered by several Springboks, including Eben Etzebeth and Ox Nche, although Powell has revealed that Werner Kok has been ruled out for two to three weeks due to a knee injury, with his possible return set for the Champions Cup rematch against Bordeaux in Durban on 14 January.
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“It’s always good to be able to select your best available team against a quality Bulls outfit; they’re coming to our stadium – our house – and it’s going to be a big challenge,” he added.
“We spoke this week about what we need to do, but I’m not going to say too much about it because the opposition will read the media!
“But it’s a good opportunity for us to build more momentum and cohesion, and we would like to be more clinical in the opportunities we want to take because a team like the Bulls will only give you so many.”
Photo: Gerhard Duraan/BackpagePix
