VENUE & TIME:Sydney Football Stadium, Sydney, Saturday March 6, 9.40pm (NZDT)
HEAD TO HEAD: Played 15 – Waratahs 9, Sharks 5, Draw 1
LAST TIME: May 9, 2009 (Durban) – Waratahs 16-12 Sharks (round 13)
LAST TIME AT VENUE: May 24, 2008 (Sydney) – Waratahs 28-13 Sharks (semi-final)
Match Odds:
TAB NZ: Waratahs: $1.27, Sharks: $3.50
WALKING WOUNDED: Dean Mumm has been rushed back into the side at starting lock, with Dave Dennis moving into the No.6 jumper at the expense of the unlucky Ben Mowen who reverts to the bench. Tatafu Polota-Nau is expected to play despite missing the second half against the Bulls with a hamstring problem. Prop Benn Robinson will also take his place in the starting line-up after aggravating a shoulder injury in Pretoria. New Zealand born lock Cam Jowitt (ankle) is on target for a return next week, while veteran hooker Adam Freier is still at least a month away following off-season back surgery.
The Sharks have made several changes to the line-up that lost to the Crusaders last start, but none of them are the result of injury. Ruan Pienaar shifts from flyhalf to scrumhalf allowing Englishman Andy Goode to wear the No.10 jumper, while Rory Kockott has been dropped to the bench. Inside-centre Riaan Swanepoel returns to the starting line-up after an injury plagued start to the campaign in the other change to the backline. Keegan Daniel will start at flanker ahead Jacques Botes as part of a rotational policy, while Deon Carstens, captain John Smit and Jannie du Plessis complete a new-look front row.
FORM:
Waratahs Past Five:
Week 3: Loss , 48-38 v Bulls, Pretoria
Week2: Loss, 27-6 v Stormers, Cape Town
Week 1: Win, 30-28 v Reds, Brisbane
Week 14: Win, 38-33 v Lions, Johannesburg
Week 13: Win, 16-12 v Sharks, Durban
FORM:
Sharks Past Five:
Week 3: Loss , 35-6 v Crusaders, Christchurch
Week2: Loss, 25-20 v Cheetahs, Durban
Week 1: Loss, 19-18 v Chiefs, Durban
Week 14: Loss, 27-26 v Bulls, Durban
Week 13: Loss, 16-12 v Waratahs, Durban
The 11th-placed Waratahs produced an impressive display against the Bulls and probably deserved more than the four-try bonus point they received for their efforts. In what was a brutal yet entertaining clash against the defending champs, Chris Hickey's men more than held their own up front while the star-studded backline appeared to turn the corner after a stuttering start to the season against the Reds and Stormers.
Stephen Donald's kick after the siren in Round 1 which snatched victory from under the Sharks' noses, appears to have triggered a major unravelling for John Plumtree's men who are now languishing in 12th place. Having dropped their first two games to the Chiefs and Cheetahs at home, the Sharks kept pace with the Crusaders for the opening 69 minutes in Christchurch before conceding three late tries to spark rumours of serious discontent within the camp.
WHO'S HOT: Much-maligned scrumhalf Luke Burgess answered his critics with an impressive display against the Bulls. The 26-year-old, who relinquished his Wallabies jumper to Reds No.9 Will Genia last season, produced several sniping runs and vastly-improved service for his outside men to claim man-of-the-match honours in a losing side.
The Sharks have no fewer than 14 Springboks on their books, but none of them are playing