News

Sharks ready to push their limits

Thursday 22nd May 2008

All hands on deck: Dick Muir says his team need to raise their game

Sharks coach Dick Muir says his players will have no lack of motivation to overcome the physical and mental exhaustion at the end of a long Super 14 campaign when they face the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday in the tournament's second semi-final.

Muir says he will not be accepting any excuses since the mere opportunity to be playing in a semi-final should be sufficient to push the players to the limit.

"Players may need motivation for a league match but they don't have to be motivated for a semi-final or a final," Muir told Supersport from Sydney on Wednesday.

Motivated or not, the Sharks face an uphill battle in Sydney when they face the only team to have dominated them this season. The Durban-based side will be out to set the record straight after going down 25-10 in their last visit to Sydney Football Stadium.

"They are the only team that beat us convincingly. We will have to raise our levels to keep up with them," Muir said.

"We started slowly but we have improved. One has to peak at the right moment."

Like assistant coach Grant Bashford, Muir believes that a more pragmatic approach might have to replace the attacking tactics the Sharks adopted in their last two outings.

"We'll handle the situation on merit. If there are opportunities, we'll try to make use of them," commented Muir.

"A lack of experience may have counted against us earlier, and we still don't have the experience one would like to have.

"But the players worked hard and it is a joy to see the work bearing fruit. We now have a team that can vary its pattern to suit different circumstances. These are exciting times for us."

Muir's men will be hoping for a repeat of the 1999 semi-finals, when the Crusaders and the Highlanders beat the Reds and the Stormers in the only year when both away sides won their matches.

If the Sharks do manage to get the better of their hosts and the Hurricanes upset the table-topping Crusaders, the Final will be in Durban.

"It would be nice to have a home final, but it will be difficult," said Muir.

"The Hurricanes may not be as settled as the Crusaders are but they're a good team. They have superstars who can change things when it's needed."