Sharks must be patient on attack – Van der Walt

Week nine of Super Rugby kicks off with the Sharks taking on defending champions the Highlanders in Dunedin. The result of the clash is significant for both teams in terms of their respective logs, but the Sharks need the win far more than the New Zealanders.

The Sharks have three wins from seven games and have reached a climactic part of their season. They need a top three finish in the South African group to reach the playoffs and to do that they need to break a three match losing streak.

The Sharks looked a much improved side against the Blues last weekend. They shifted the ball around the park impressively in the first half, ticking a box that has eluded them all season. But their second half showing was the complete opposite, as they failed to use good attacking opportunities which saw the Blues seal victory.

Sharks eighthman Philip van der Walt was one of the standouts on the evening. Having earned a starting spot in the team, he produced an industrious performance and made an impressive 17 tackles on the night.

Reflecting on the narrow loss, Van der Walt insisted that the Sharks were looking to build on their defensive structures.

“We assessed the game and we are happy with our defence once again – I think it’s good to build on our strengths. There are always things we can improve on. The opportunities we did have on attack, most of them we made errors that took away the opportunities to continue attacking – I think we’ve grown a little impatient. We’re definitely working on that,” Van der Walt said.

“We’ve worked hard at building on that defensive base and then getting a proper attack going like we had at the beginning of the year.

“We focused on our scrums and lineouts this week. It’s important for us to have the set piece good and clean, especially against teams that are good at running the ball. We want to put pressure on them at the set piece.”

Conversely, the Highlanders are searching for a win to climb up the hotly contested New Zealand group. Fresh off a bye, the Highlanders will be looking to avenge their loss to the Reds the previous weekend.

The Sharks are not taking the reigning champions lightly but there seems to be an air of confidence in the visitors’ camp.

“We know they are a good team, a team that played really well last year and we expect that same form from them but we do believe that they are beatable, like the Reds proved last weekend,” Van der Walt said.

“It should be a good game for us. We respect them as a team but at the same time we back ourselves knowing that if we play well it will definitely be a game we can win.”

The Highlanders have All Blacks star Ben Smith back in to captain the side. As always, the hosts will look to run the ball around the park. However Sharks fullback Willie le Roux believes the Highlanders will use the boot to good effect as well.

“The Highlanders have kicked the most in the competition so far. Everyone thinks New Zealand teams just attack, but they really play clever rugby. They don’t play much inside their own half; they kick for position and wait for you to make mistakes,” Le Roux said.

“For us it’s about keeping the ball, kicking at the right time and running when there is an opportunity to take a chance.”

The Sharks take on the Highlanders at 09h35 on Friday.

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