In a season of change‚ Sharks prop Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira has found himself positioned as one of the old and wise heads in a relatively young group.
The Sharks will need his considerable skill and experience against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday as the Sharks try to keep their Super Rugby campaign afloat.
Having seen Lions tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys operate from a team-mate perspective in the past two weeks‚ Mtawarira will be up against the accountant who seems to be equally good at balancing out the scrumming ledger.
The Sharks will need their tight five to front up in a way they did not on April 9. During the Lions' rather effortless 24-9 win at King's Park‚ then captain Mtawarira and Coenie Oosthuizen were put through the thresher by Redelinghuys and Dylan Smith.
It was from that powerful forward platform that the Lions were able to keep Gary Gold's side tryless without breaking much of a sweat.
“We have to say‚ it's going to be a tough one against the Lions. But we're also excited about the challenge. It's one of the main reasons why you play rugby; to go up against the best and prove you're good against the best. The Lions have been there and thereabouts this season and they're on top of the log‚” Mtawarira said.
“It's going to be a massive challenge for us and we really have to step up in a lot of areas. It's fair to say we've got the underdog tag‚ so we really have to fight hard and win the inches off the field.”
Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold has often spoken about the importance of not looking at the log‚ but the season is at a stage where everyone within reach of a play-off spot has to look over their shoulder.
With the Bulls (32) having a late South African night outing with their trip to Buenos Aires to face the Jaguares‚ the Sharks (35) will be under pressure to open a sizeable gap.
The Stormers (36) have an early morning shift against the Rebels at AAMI Park on Saturday morning‚ where they can set the agenda for second place.
Mtawarira is fully aware of the log pressure that can either make or break them. The Sharks also have to navigate Johannesburg without the injured Pat Lambie and Willie le Roux‚ with the latter also serving a week's suspension.
“A win will set us up for a good run for the quarter-finals but we're not underestimating the big challenge that lies ahead on Saturday.
" We're not focussing on the scoreboard. We're all about the processes. Minute-by-minute and play by play is what's going to count‚ along with the physicality we are planning to bring‚” Mtawarira said.
“Beast” Mtawarira positioned as one of the old and wise heads in a relatively young Sharks group
In a season of change‚ Sharks prop Tendai "Beast" Mtawarira has found himself positioned as one of the old and wise heads in a relatively young group.
The Sharks will need his considerable skill and experience against the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday as the Sharks try to keep their Super Rugby campaign afloat.
Having seen Lions tighthead prop Julian Redelinghuys operate from a team-mate perspective in the past two weeks‚ Mtawarira will be up against the accountant who seems to be equally good at balancing out the scrumming ledger.
The Sharks will need their tight five to front up in a way they did not on April 9. During the Lions' rather effortless 24-9 win at King's Park‚ then captain Mtawarira and Coenie Oosthuizen were put through the thresher by Redelinghuys and Dylan Smith.
It was from that powerful forward platform that the Lions were able to keep Gary Gold's side tryless without breaking much of a sweat.
“We have to say‚ it's going to be a tough one against the Lions. But we're also excited about the challenge. It's one of the main reasons why you play rugby; to go up against the best and prove you're good against the best. The Lions have been there and thereabouts this season and they're on top of the log‚” Mtawarira said.
“It's going to be a massive challenge for us and we really have to step up in a lot of areas. It's fair to say we've got the underdog tag‚ so we really have to fight hard and win the inches off the field.”
Sharks director of rugby Gary Gold has often spoken about the importance of not looking at the log‚ but the season is at a stage where everyone within reach of a play-off spot has to look over their shoulder.
With the Bulls (32) having a late South African night outing with their trip to Buenos Aires to face the Jaguares‚ the Sharks (35) will be under pressure to open a sizeable gap.
The Stormers (36) have an early morning shift against the Rebels at AAMI Park on Saturday morning‚ where they can set the agenda for second place.
Mtawarira is fully aware of the log pressure that can either make or break them. The Sharks also have to navigate Johannesburg without the injured Pat Lambie and Willie le Roux‚ with the latter also serving a week's suspension.
“A win will set us up for a good run for the quarter-finals but we're not underestimating the big challenge that lies ahead on Saturday.
" We're not focussing on the scoreboard. We're all about the processes. Minute-by-minute and play by play is what's going to count‚ along with the physicality we are planning to bring‚” Mtawarira said.
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