Sharks work on getting balance right as Dyanti set for comeback 

Hollywoodbets Sharks defence coach Joey Mongalo says he was personally hurt by the five tries that Munster scored in the opening Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash of the season but has come to terms with the fact that it comes with the territory given the overall Sharks plan.

The Sharks went down 34-21 at Thomond Park in Limerick to the new URC champions in a game that the Durbanites might have won had it not been for a few silly errors that led to Munster tries, particularly the one where a bouncing ball wasn’t picked up on their own line, plus a second half yellow card to scrumhalf Cameron Wright.

However, while head coach John Plumtree and the rest of the team were disappointed with the result, there was general encouragement over the strides that appear to have been made as the Sharks look to evolve their attacking game. Forming an identity around attack is Plumtree’s goal but it can’t be at the expense of good defence so it was unsurprising to hear Mongalo say that the squad is working hard at getting a balance between the two ahead of Saturday’s clash with Leinster.

“The five tries against us hurt me personally as defence coach, and we have had discussions about that, but the coach is very clear and sincere that he wants the Sharks team to be an attack focused and attack minded ambitious team, and that comes with the other side as well,” said Mongalo.

“So it’s about us finding a balance. In summary, there have definitely been glimpses of where we want to go. And we are working hard on getting the necessary balance. Leinster are a province with a lot of pride, a lot of history, a lot of winning on this side of the world.

“We are quite aware that we have a challenge ahead of us, but we are a team that wants a challenge and wants to represent our people back home in a manner that they can be proud of, irrespective of the result.”

DYANTI RETURNS

Mongalo added that former Bok and Emirates Lions wing Aphiwe Dyanti, who is making his comeback to rugby for the Sharks after an absence from rugby of four years, may make his return to the playing field in the Leinster game.

However, lock Reniel Hugo has been forced to fly home with a shoulder injury sustained in the match against Munster. With Gerbrandt Grobler already out for a considerable amount of time after breaking an arm in a pre-season game, the Sharks appear to have second row problems heading into the new season.

Of course, those problems will be sorted quickly should Bok enforcer Eben Etzebeth be ready to play when he returns from the World Cup, although that is debatable as it does appear the lock is being managed on a game to game basis by the Bok management and may require an extended rest when the World Cup is over.

Hugo has been replaced in the tour group by Hyron Andrews, who certainly doesn’t lack experience at this level. Corne Rahl, a highly promising youngster, is also expected to be fit again soon after being ruled out of the Munster game with injury, which was why Vincent Tshituka, normally a flank, covered lock against Munster.

The Sharks team for the Leinster game at the RDS Arena in Dublin will be announced on Friday.