PREVIEW: CELL C SHARKS VS FORCE

May 5 • General News, Super Rugby • 1846 Views • Comments Off on PREVIEW: CELL C SHARKS VS FORCE

The Cell C Sharks entertain the Western Force in Saturday’s Vodacom Super Rugby clash at Growthpoint KINGS PARK, looking to maintain their unbeaten ways of recent times.

Unbeaten seven times in the last eight matches, and following on from last week’s outstanding effort against the Jaguares, this week is all about maintaining focus, continuity and progress as they look to build on the achievement against the Argentines.

Saturday’s clash rounds off the Cell C Sharks’ fixtures against Australian opposition and they will be looking to make it four times out of five this season that they have not lost.

Head coach Robert du Preez is looking for his charges to continue the good form they showed in last weekend’s defeat of the Jaguares. Given the fact that it was an intra-conference match, the win allowed us to grow the distance between the two sides on the log. It was also a massive step up from the previous week’s performance against the Rebels.

Regular improvement is what the team are looking for each week and no doubt that performance against the Jaguares delivered on the coach’s desire to show weekly progress.

“That game was a momentum changer for us, a very important win and helped us with our log standing,” he explained of the Jaguares match. “We’re very pleased with the win and especially pleased with the way the boys played.”

Given the Rebels match, the thinking in the camp is to give every side their full attention.

“What we’ve learned, the hard way, is that there are no easy games in this competition, although we always knew that, so we’ll take one game at a time and the Force is a massive focus for us. We owe our fans a big one this weekend and we’re planning on delivering.”

The big news this week is the return of Pat Lambie who has been named on the bench. Not only is it wonderful to have him back, but it came at just the right time.

“It’s great news, we’re very pleased to have Pat back, he’s in good spirits and looking great,” said du Preez.

“With Curwin Bosch probably playing his last match for us this weekend before he takes up with the SA Under 20 squad, it’s great to have Pat back. We were concerned about the timing that Pat wouldn’t be ready, but it’s worked out perfectly.”

Looking at the Western Force, the Cell C Sharks coach admits that they’re performing at a competitive and consistent level this season.

“There’s no doubt that we’re in for quite a fight,” he said.

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