John Plumtree admits that Sharks will exercise caution with Pumas side – Rugby news
South African Rugby Union’s (SARU) provincial state side Natal Sharks' head coach, John Plumtree, has admitted that he is cautious of the Pumas side in their upcoming encounter. Defending champions, Natal Sharks, will take on the Pumas in their second 2011
Currie Cup encounter at Nelspruit on Friday, July 22.
Pumas are coming from their impressive performance against the Super Rugby side, Golden Lions. Pumas marginally lost their match to Lions 31 – 27 at Ellis Park, Friday, July 15. However, they remained in contention to win the match throughout the length
of the game.
Sharks on other hand are coming from their huge bonus point victory over the Blue Bulls at Durban, on Saturday, July 16, and will be high in confidence. Sharks currently are without the services of several of their key senior players, who are playing in
the Springboks team.
Commenting on the Pumas side, Plumtree said, “They have a lot of continuity from playing in the Vodacom Cup, they've been together for a while now and they have the same coach, so they'll be determined and it will be tough, there's no doubt.”
Sharks assistant coach and Plumtree’s deputy Grant Bashford has praised the Pumas performance in their Friday clash against the Lions. He said, “That Lions team hasn't lost many of the players they had in their Super Rugby campaign, for much of the game
the result could have gone either way and it took an intercept try for the Lions to get home.”
Plumtree has announced Sharks unchanged side for their weekend’s encounter against the Pumas. However, Pumas will be without the services of their star fly half Ricardo Croy. Reports are that the Croy has come down with a heavy flu, which has eliminated
his chances for taking part in Friday’s game.
Sharks defeated Pumas 30 – 14 in their last Currie Cup encounter. Plumtree has expressed hope that his side will repeat the same performance to build momentum in the starting phases of the tournament.
The Sharks squad announced for their Fridays’ match includes-
Starting XV: 15. Stefan Terblanche , 14. Mark Richards , 13. Marius Joubert , 12. Meyer Bosman , 11. Louis Ludik , 10. Frederic Michalak , 9. Ross Cronje , 8. Keegan Daniel (Captain) , 7. Marcell Coetzee , 6. Jacques Botes , 5. Ross Skeate
, 4. Anton Bresler , 3. Wiehahn Herbst , 2. Craig Burden , 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper , 17. Julian Redelinghuys / Eugene van Staden , 18. Jan Andre Marais , 19. Francois Kleinhans , 20. Jacobus Reinach , 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter , 22. Sibusiso Sithole.
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