Sharks next on the agenda for Steval Pumas

Apr 5 • General News, Super Rugby • 2034 Views • Comments Off on Sharks next on the agenda for Steval Pumas

With the SuperSport Challenge kicking off in two weeks’ time, the Steval Pumas will look to improve their ability to grab points scoring opportunities in their final warm-up match against the Cell C Sharks in Durban on Friday.

Coach Brent Janse van Rensburg was disappointed that his side wasn’t able to convert sustained pressure into points in the 40-19 loss to Western Province at Newlands this past Saturday. The Steval Pumas are ready to make amends during the warm-up clash in Durban while continuing to bolster the improvements already shown since the opening pre-season match against the Lions.

“The Sharks are a Super Rugby union with a lot of depth and I have great respect for the coach Paul Anthony, so there’s no shadow of a doubt that they will pose a challenge. There were four or five very good scoring opportunities last week where we coughed up possession so we have to hold onto the ball,” said Janse van Rensburg.

Injury struggles continue to plague the squad. Locks Jannie Stander and Wiehan Hay are both out of the playing squad, along with flank Reuben Johannes and backs Hennie Skorbinski and Bernado Botha. Ruwellyn Isbell, Dylan Pieterse, Brian Shabangu and Ryan Nel will all take their spots on the bench this week as they return from injury.

“None of the returning players will get a lot of game time, though, as their inclusion has been necessitated by the list of injuries being so long and severe,” said Janse van Rensburg.

Janse van Rensburg added that it was important to focus on their own game plan rather than on the opposition.

“We’re aren’t too sure what side the Sharks are going to bring but for the warm-up matches, it’s more important to focus on our own game than anything else. Once the competition starts against the Bulls we’ll start focusing more intensely on the opposition,” he commented.

The match gets underway at 15h00. Keep an eye on the Steval Pumas Facebook and Twitter pages for score updates.

Sharks is volgende op die agenda vir Steval Pumas

Met die SuperSport Uitdaging wat oor twee weke afskop, beplan die Steval Pumas om hul vermoë te verbeter deur geleenthede te benut om punte aan te teken tydens hul finale opwarmingswedstryd teen die Cell C Sharks wat op Vrydag in Durban sal plaasvind.

Hul afrigter, Brent Janse van Rensburg, was teleurgesteld dat sy span nie in staat was om die volgehoue druk in punte te omskep tydens die 40-19 nederlaag teen die Westelike Provinsie wat Saterdag op Nuweland plaasgevind het nie. Die Steval Pumas is gereed om hiervoor te vergoed gedurende die opwarmings-botsing in Durban, terwyl hulle voortgaan om die verbeterings te versterk, wat reeds wys sedert die opening van die voorseisoense wedstryd teen die Leeus.

“Die Sharks is ‘n Super Rugby-unie met baie diepte en ek het groot respek vir die afrigter Paul Anthony, so daar is geen twyfel dat hulle ‘n uitdaging gaan wees nie. Verlede week was daar vier of vyf baie goeie geleenthede om punte aan te teken, waartydens ons die bal laat gaan het, dus is balbesit nou baie belangrik,” het Janse van Rensburg gesê.

Die span word egter steeds geteister deur besering. Die slotte Jannie Stander en Wiehan Hay is albei uit die speel-span, saam met flank Ruben Johannes en agterspelers Hennie Skorbinski en Bernado Botha. Ruwellyn Isbell, Dylan Pieterse, Brian Shabangu en Ryan Nel sal almal hul plekke op die bank inneem wanneer hulle vandeesweek terugkeer na die besering.

“Nie een van die terugkerende spelers sal baie speelkans kry nie, aangesien hulle insluiting genoodsaak was deur die lys van lang en ernstige beserings,” het Janse van Rensburg gesê.

Janse van Rensburg het bygevoeg dat dit belangrik is om te fokus op hul eie wedstrydplan eerder as op die opposisie.

“Ons is nie so seker watter kant die Sharks gaan bring, maar vir die opwarmingswedstryde is dit belangriker om te fokus op ons eie spel as enigiets anders. Sodra die kompetisie teen die Bulls begin sal ons meer intens begin fokus op die opposisie,” het hy gesê.

Die wedstryd begin om 15h00. Hou ‘n oog op die Steval Pumas se Facebook en Twitter bladsye vir telling opdaterings.

The team:

Forwards

De Jay Terblanche, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Marne Coetzee, Stephan Greeff, Hugo Kloppers, Carel Grundlingh, Willie Engelbrecht, Jacques Kotze, Simon Westraadt, Frank Herne, Louis Albertse, Tazz Fuzani, Jeremy Jordaan, Brian Shabangu, Dylan Peterson.

Backs

Reynier van Rooyen, Sias Ebersohn, JP Lewis, Marlou van Niekerk, Deon Helberg, Tyler Fisher, Devon Williams, Emile Temperman, Kobus Marais, Ruwellyn Isbell, Leighton van Wyk, Ryan Nell.