Sharks assistant coach David Williams says the team is focused on finishing off their chances against the Lions in Johannesburg on Friday.
The Duran-based side suffered a disappointing 19-16 loss to the Bulls at Kings Park last weekend, which came through a late penalty. They will now be desperate to bounce back against the Lions at Ellis Park, where their last Super Rugby win came in 2014.
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Williams, who took over from Dick Muir as the Sharks’ attack coach this year, emphasised that they need to improve their execution to beat the Lions.
‘We’re always chasing performances with the aim of winning the next game, regardless of what has gone on before. The performances have been there, it’s just the execution, that final moment to get over the chalk.
‘The possession statistics – off-loads, line breaks, tackles – we’re getting those, it’s just the finishing. We credit the defences we’ve played, the two South African teams we’ve met [the Vodacom Bulls and Stormers], who tend to load pressure on you, which has challenged our game model. But we have to be better at what we do.
‘The bravery with the ball that they play with is something we’re chasing, but we have to manage it within our mindset to win the derby games where the physical attrition is greater. The positive is in the opportunities we are creating. In the performance review of Saturday’s game, it is clear we are getting the things we’re looking for, it’s just those final moments not going right for us.
‘The Lions have a very solid game model, they’re a team that chases possession. Whoever comes out and is positive about possession and achieves positive outcomes, will come out on top.’
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