Although the Force have made six changes to their starting team from last week, importantly, they have not changed the bulk of the XV who were on the field for last weeks stirring comeback against the ‘Saders.
The Force backline this week looks a better balanced unit with James O’Connor going to full back, Drewpy Mitchell going to wing to cover for the injured Shep and Spanner Staniforth coming onto the other wing in place of the also injured Peter Frampton look-a-like, Nick Cummins. Junior Pelesasa joins the run-on team coming into the inside centre spot vacated by O’Connor.
The changes to the forwards are largely cosmetic with bench players replacing starters from the week before.
The Sharks have also re-jigged their team with the enforced change of Frankie Steyn moving to no.10 after Ruan Pineaar injury and a reshuffle of the front-row after last weeks pop-gun effort against the Reds.
Indeed, looking at both teams last performances, a decent case can be made as to why both teams will lose this one. The Sharks sucked last week while the Force has sucked for all but 30 minutes of their last two games.
Sharks Coach John Plumtree, while clearly pissed-off his team had blown an opportunity to go top of the table was quite philosophical after last week’s loss saying.
“We’ve been on tour now for three weeks and it is hard to keep getting ‘up’ for matches” which suggests to me there will be a far more motivated and focused Sharks team running out at Subi rather than the rabble of last week.
The last 30 minutes against the Saders featured some far more direct running from the Force backs and the combined work of Pocock and Hodgson, meant the Force were finally playing with quick ruck ball. This quick ball allowed them to go wide where Mitchell and O’Connor caused problems and also opened up a few holes around the breakdown that Gits was able to tap dance through.
The plan will similar this week, hold the ball and test the Sharks defence which looked pretty shaky at different times last week, particularly Jacobs who isn’t a strong defender.
Speaking of defence, well it’s not the Forces’ strong suit either. They were woeful against the Chiefs two weeks ago and little better against the Saders. If these lapses are repeated and Force have their usual slow start, then a Sharks back-line filled with Springboks could well rattle up a fair score at put the game beyond reach of any miraculous comeback.
This is the last stop for the Sharks before they head home to South Africa and a string of home games, if they win this game they are well and truly looking down the barrel of a finals spot. Conversely, if the Force are unable to win this weekend, then it puts real pressure on the rest of their season.
Cote says – Force by 6
<span class="dsq-postid" data-dsqidentifier="1865 https://www.greenandgoldrugby.com/?p=1865">5 Comments
Yeah, I think the Force are lucky to be hitting the Sharks after a long tour. The Saffas spat the dummy vs the Reds last week and hard to see them picking up too much this week with Pienaar out.
I think it sums the Force up that your preview reads like you are going to tilt slightly pro-Sharks but then you went the other way.
I wish I dared tip the draw, but two in two weeks doesn’t seem possible!
All the Aussie tipsters are going for the Sharks, but the saffa fans aren’t so keen.
The Force can’t seem to consistently win at home. The Sharks by 12.
By the way JC….why is it these so-called professional journo’s in the national broadsheet and other newspapers can’t get players names right? Over the past week I’ve read about ‘Ryan’ (Ruan) Pineaar, Brendan ‘McGibbon’ (McKibbin) – isn’t that a monkey? and ‘Phil’ (Rodney) Davies. I think that next time you’re in the press box at Suncorp Stadium with these hacks you need to bring this issue up ……ATD!
Sharks to take it. end of tour, need a win, will have hmm, some suport form the crowd. And not to bag out Pienaar, but Steyn mgiht bring a more direct approach to the backlines movements than the Stick Insect Pienaar.
i like the look of the sharks coming home at the back end of the season…and with i think it was 6/7 remining games at home…thats a big opportunity to stack on W’s.
O connor at FB i think is dangerous in this game…his positioning in defence and with a savvy kicker at first receiver might mean that not only do the sharks win the territry battle, but they also win the mistake battle by forcing the ball into corners with their wingers and Terbo-lanche making the chase count…
the forward battle will be brutal…Lineouts will be the test, whoever cna claim ascendency will prevail…after all no use playing territory if you can have at least a 10% tunrover rate from set piece (esp lineouts).
Sharks by 10