Sharks expect furious start

THE Sharks have played the Blue Bulls often enough over the past few seasons in important matches to know what to expect from Saturday’s ABSA Currie Cup final – and they reckon the first five minutes could be ugly.

Skipper Johann Muller and coach John Plumtree made no secret of the fact that they expect the domestic decider to be a highly physical encounter in the best bruising traditions of the last 18 years of Bulls versus Sharks rugby. “It’s like that every time you play against the Bulls, you know what you are in for,” said Muller.”It is always very tough and physical, and the opening five minutes on Saturday could be ugly.We don’t expect anything less.If there are no fireworks, it would be disappointing.”Muller said that the three day break over the weekend had done wonders or the freshness of his teammates, but said he knew it would be the same for the Bulls, who were off from last Tuesday before regrouping at the start of this week.The Akona Ndungane groin injury that will prevent him from playing for the Bulls remains the only injury niggle from either camp.”We got back together on Monday and you could immediately see and feel the acceleration in excitement and hunger.Saturday must come now,” said Muller.The Sharks coach said he expected the final to be a typical Sharks/Bulls clash, with the teams taking it in turns to produce good patches of rugby and both sides giving it a full go over 80 minutes.”It could well come down to who best handles the pressure.Individuals can crumble under pressure in big games like this,” said Plumtree.”In 2007 we got it wrong in the last few minutes and that was enough to cost us the trophy.”Plumtree may not have said so, but his team are a more mature and experienced side than the one that lost last year’s Super 14 final.Apart from most of the players in this coming Saturday’s game having played in that match, several of the Sharks were also part of Jake White’s World Cup winning squad.Superrugby”It’s like that every time you play against the Bulls, you know what you are in for,” said Muller.”It is always very tough and physical, and the opening five minutes on Saturday could be ugly.We don’t expect anything less.If there are no fireworks, it would be disappointing.”Muller said that the three day break over the weekend had done wonders or the freshness of his teammates, but said he knew it would be the same for the Bulls, who were off from last Tuesday before regrouping at the start of this week.The Akona Ndungane groin injury that will prevent him from playing for the Bulls remains the only injury niggle from either camp.”We got back together on Monday and you could immediately see and feel the acceleration in excitement and hunger.Saturday must come now,” said Muller.The Sharks coach said he expected the final to be a typical Sharks/Bulls clash, with the teams taking it in turns to produce good patches of rugby and both sides giving it a full go over 80 minutes.”It could well come down to who best handles the pressure.Individuals can crumble under pressure in big games like this,” said Plumtree.”In 2007 we got it wrong in the last few minutes and that was enough to cost us the trophy.”Plumtree may not have said so, but his team are a more mature and experienced side than the one that lost last year’s Super 14 final.Apart from most of the players in this coming Saturday’s game having played in that match, several of the Sharks were also part of Jake White’s World Cup winning squad.Superrugby