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Emirates Western Force skipper Nathan Sharpe said Friday night’s match at Absa Stadium in Durban will be more about themselves than what the Sharks will throw at them.
While an in-form Sharks side and the challenge of winning at the only South African venue where they’ve yet to taste success confronts the Force, they’re confident of achieving a positive result to finish the 2010 season.
“They’re very strong up front, it is going to be a physical night, they’re a big forward pack and that’s the way they’ll play it,” Sharpe said.
“They also have the knowledge and smarts to play wide if they have to as well so we’re going to have to be right on our game.
“The Sharks knocked off the Stormers last week and are going to be riding high but at the same time we are coming into this game with plenty to prove to ourselves.”
Sharpe believes there have been significant positives this season despite the results not always going the club’s way and points to emerging talent and their exposure to Super Rugby as key elements in the club’s successful future plans.
“Rugby for us is about performing well as a team, of course we’d love to be challenging for finals but there are still good things that have come out of a tough campaign. We want to capitalise on the way we’ve gone forward this year with the guys that have had their first bit of experience at Super 14 level.
“Take Ben McCalman for example, he has been going really well for us in his first season and is someone I think has a huge future in Australian rugby, as do a lot of other young guys in our team.
“If you look at the last six games, four of them we played very well in. The two games during that stretch where we didn’t front up like we hoped is where we need to improve and we’re working through that.”
Eliminating the basic skill errors which cost the West Aussies the game against the Cheetahs last weekend has been a focus and preparations on the African east coast has been spot on.
“Everyone is very keen to make amends for last week,” said Sharpe.
“It is exciting to play against a very strong Sharks side who are finishing well, and to get a result on Friday night would certainly be terrific.
“This week we looked at parts of our game that weren’t up to scratch against the Cheetahs but also parts of our game we think can help us against the Sharks.
“Only our best will get the job done and that’s what we’re determined to deliver.”