Rugby: Time to turn Sharks ship around, says stubborn du Plessis

Bismarck du Plessis has been passed fit to play. Photo / Gallo Images

He might have been relieved of the captaincy after some disciplinary indiscretions but it will be a boost for Sharks fans to hear the old obstinacy of Bismarck du Plessis is still intact.

The Springbok hooker has been passed fit to play against the Waratahs in Sydney on Saturday, a ground where the Sharks have won just once in 11 attempts over the history of the competition, but du Plessis said the Sharks were fed up with losing ... and history be damned.

"We need to turn the ship around, and whatever has happened here in the past for us is totally irrelevant," the 29-year-old said.

"We have had two losses in our two tour matches so far - that's unacceptable for the Sharks. We're underperforming and we're just going to give it all we can this weekend.

"The tour is so much better when you win, and we're definitely not happy with losing to the Highlanders and Hurricanes in New Zealand."

The Sharks are now at a cosy resort at Coogee Beach in Sydney. It is warmer and sunnier, but they have often based themselves at this same place - with always the same result. The Sharks have beaten the Waratahs in Sydney just once in 20 years.

Du Plessis said that ending the five-match losing streak with a drought-relieving win in Sydney would mean "the world to the players".

"Every single one of us is trying to turn this ship around," du Plessis said. "We will never be happy with any kind of performance that ultimately results in a defeat but we do take confidence from the fact that we are improving on tour ... We certainly took a step up from the Highlanders to Hurricanes games."

Du Plessis said the Sharks traditionally enjoyed touring but two losses in New Zealand meant the players were determined to turn the tour around with two wins in Australia - against the Waratahs this weekend and the Reds in Brisbane next week.

"This is not how the Sharks tour," du Plessis said. "We like to enjoy ourselves and we like to win, and obviously the two go hand-in-hand.

"We're underperforming and we're just going to give it all we can this weekend."

Du Plessis' belligerent attitude is good news for South African rugby fans in general. When he smacked his knee cap against a Hurricanes forward last week and collapsed in agony, many thought the worst in this World Cup year.

But du Plessis has shrugged it off and will start against the Waratahs.

There could be further good news about several of the Sharks players that took heavy knocks in Wellington.

No 8 Renaldo Bothma has been one of the stand-out players of the entire competition and the word from the Sharks camp is that they are optimistic he will pass a concussion test and be fit to play.

The same goes for Lwazi Mvovo, who started at fullback against the Canes before having to be stretchered off, apparently out cold.

Again. The concussion test protocols will be followed and the Sharks are hopeful the Springbok wing can play.

Bismarck's brother, Jannie, is doing his best to get over a calf niggle and front-row partner Beast Mtawarira should be okay after taking a shoulder knock.

Sharks captain Marco Wentzel has been playing all tour with a sensitive rib problem, a bruised rib cartilage, and again the Sharks camp said they were optimistic the lock would play this week.

- Independent News, SA