Sharks more direct in Argentina - Ward
Cell C Sharks have a Vodacom Super Rugby date with the Force in Durban this Saturday.
Listen to the full interview here, or read our story below.
Rasta Rasivhenge will referee the match at Growthpoint Kings Park.
Kickoff is at 15h05.
The Sharks bounced back impressively in Argentina last weekend.
The beat the Jaguares after drawing with the Rebels a week earlier.
Jeremy Ward started at inside centre for the Sharks in Buenos Aires. Ward replaced the suspended Andre Esterhuizen.
Ward has revealed that the Sharks knew they had to change the way they played in order to win in Argentina.
"We had a solid review after the Rebels game. The coaches put a lot of time and effort into finding out what went wrong. We had to shift our game accordingly. I think you will have noticed that we were a bit more direct in Argentina. I think that certainly helped us," Ward said.
The Sharks were held at home by the Rebels and Ward feels that the travel to Argentina may well have been a good thing.
"It allowed us to just escape a little bit. We got away and were able to focus on being a team. We became closer as a team and I think it was what was needed after the draw with the Rebels. Being closer as a team helped quite a lot," Ward added.
Ward is enjoying his spell in the team and also admits that he has big boots to fill.
"I am enjoying the game time. Andre (Esterhuizen) is a big loss. He would be a loss to any Super Rugby team considering the way he was playing and the form he was in. However, being a member of the squad one has to be able to step up and I am looking forward to stepping up every week, should I get the chance to do so," Ward said.
Ward has played both at inside and outside centre and does not have a preference for either position.
"I think the coaches are happy with me at either 12 or 13. I will put in a shift wherever the coaches want me to play," said Ward.
Ward, who is only 21, started his route to the Sharks in Port Elizabeth.
"I grew up in PE and attended Grey High in PE. I then joined the Eastern Province Academy. I didn't have much Super Rugby experience with the Kings. I had two games right at the end. I obviously had time South Africa Under-20 and I captained them. The Sharks then contacted me straight away and I always knew this was a place where I could play some rugby and get some game time. I am certainly happy to be doing it right here," Ward said.
Ward believes he is one of several youngsters learning a lot at the Sharks.
"There a few youngsters and I think with every game we are all getting better and better. We are becoming a bit more confident. The more we play together, the more we get to know one another. We certainly are learning from the guys with more Super Rugby experience than ourselves. So it is good for us youngsters to be in the mix. We are also learning from one another and feeding off one another. We are learning about the type of rugby we have to play," Ward added.
Ward partnered Lukhanyo Am at centre in Buenos Aires and has a good relationship with Am.
"Lukhanyo and I are the best of friends. That is what has the potential to make us work well together. I think we push each other. I think it is healthy competition and there is no bad blood between us. We get along very well off the field and I think that we are able to translate that on the field," Ward said.
The Sharks were impressive in Buenos Aires and far less so in Durban against the Rebels a week earlier. Ward admits that they need to be more consistent and must build against the Force on what was achieved in beating the Jaguares.
"Momentum is everything. Good teams maintain momentum and great teams increase momentum. That is our quote for the week. That is what we will be aiming to achieve against the Force. We need to step up and play better rugby and especially in our home games. We need to give the fans a good peformance this weekend," Ward concluded.
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre
Kickoff is at 15h05.
The Sharks bounced back impressively in Argentina last weekend.
The beat the Jaguares after drawing with the Rebels a week earlier.
Jeremy Ward started at inside centre for the Sharks in Buenos Aires. Ward replaced the suspended Andre Esterhuizen.
Ward has revealed that the Sharks knew they had to change the way they played in order to win in Argentina.
"We had a solid review after the Rebels game. The coaches put a lot of time and effort into finding out what went wrong. We had to shift our game accordingly. I think you will have noticed that we were a bit more direct in Argentina. I think that certainly helped us," Ward said.
The Sharks were held at home by the Rebels and Ward feels that the travel to Argentina may well have been a good thing.
"It allowed us to just escape a little bit. We got away and were able to focus on being a team. We became closer as a team and I think it was what was needed after the draw with the Rebels. Being closer as a team helped quite a lot," Ward added.
Ward is enjoying his spell in the team and also admits that he has big boots to fill.
"I am enjoying the game time. Andre (Esterhuizen) is a big loss. He would be a loss to any Super Rugby team considering the way he was playing and the form he was in. However, being a member of the squad one has to be able to step up and I am looking forward to stepping up every week, should I get the chance to do so," Ward said.
Ward has played both at inside and outside centre and does not have a preference for either position.
"I think the coaches are happy with me at either 12 or 13. I will put in a shift wherever the coaches want me to play," said Ward.
Ward, who is only 21, started his route to the Sharks in Port Elizabeth.
"I grew up in PE and attended Grey High in PE. I then joined the Eastern Province Academy. I didn't have much Super Rugby experience with the Kings. I had two games right at the end. I obviously had time South Africa Under-20 and I captained them. The Sharks then contacted me straight away and I always knew this was a place where I could play some rugby and get some game time. I am certainly happy to be doing it right here," Ward said.
Ward believes he is one of several youngsters learning a lot at the Sharks.
"There a few youngsters and I think with every game we are all getting better and better. We are becoming a bit more confident. The more we play together, the more we get to know one another. We certainly are learning from the guys with more Super Rugby experience than ourselves. So it is good for us youngsters to be in the mix. We are also learning from one another and feeding off one another. We are learning about the type of rugby we have to play," Ward added.
Ward partnered Lukhanyo Am at centre in Buenos Aires and has a good relationship with Am.
"Lukhanyo and I are the best of friends. That is what has the potential to make us work well together. I think we push each other. I think it is healthy competition and there is no bad blood between us. We get along very well off the field and I think that we are able to translate that on the field," Ward said.
The Sharks were impressive in Buenos Aires and far less so in Durban against the Rebels a week earlier. Ward admits that they need to be more consistent and must build against the Force on what was achieved in beating the Jaguares.
"Momentum is everything. Good teams maintain momentum and great teams increase momentum. That is our quote for the week. That is what we will be aiming to achieve against the Force. We need to step up and play better rugby and especially in our home games. We need to give the fans a good peformance this weekend," Ward concluded.
Twitter - @SportswaveAndre