Nucifora says he's not afraid of Sharks

By MARC HINTON - RugbyHeaven | Monday, 10 March 2008

As the Blues make the long journey back to Auckland no doubt licking their Shark-inflicted wounds, coach David Nucifora has refused to endorse his side's South African bogey team as a legitimate Super 14 title threat.

The Sharks ended the Blues' unbeaten start to the year, and extended their own to four matches, when they burst out of the blocks at Absa Stadium and then hung on to score a meritorious 22-17 victory.

Not only that, but the result continued the Sharks' ownership of these otherwise buoyant Blues, the weekend's success the fourth in a row by the Durban franchise over the Aucklanders.

Last year it was the Sharks who first nudged the Blues caboose off the rails when they defeated them in Auckland to put a serious dent in their campaign, following that up with a semifinal victory over the Kiwis back in the republic.

So when his side again found the pragmatic brand of Sharks rugby a little too hot to handle on a sweaty night at Absa, you would have thought Nucifora would have been clambering to talk up his opponents.

But rather the opposite. The straight-talking Aussie denied the Sharks were a Blues bogey team, though his explanation was none too convincing and had more to do with frustrations over the refereeing of Brett Bowden than acknowledgement that the South Africans know the buttons to push to get under his men's skin.

But when asked by RugbyHeaven if the Sharks had delivered an emphatic message that they, too, are well and truly in the title race, Nucifora was begrudging, at best, in his praise. Prior to the match, much of the buzz had been about how the Blues and Crusaders were in a two-horse duel up the top of the standings.

"They play that style of game you saw really well. They're very good at it," said Nucifora.

"But it will be a challenge for them. They've got one more game over [in South Africa] before they get on the road. Like all teams on the road we'll have to wait and see how they cope with that.

"It will be a different challenge for them from last year with a few less experienced players in their group.

"I'm happy to have bagged 11 points out of it (the three-game South African trip). That's good for us and they've still got that all in front of them."

The Sharks travel to Johannesburg to meet the Lions this wekeend, where they will be favoured to extend their winning streak to five. The bye follows, then a home game against the Queensland Reds before the side leaves for five matches in Australasia.

Those with long memories will recall similar warnings from South African opponents last year about the Blues. And they proved on the money, with the Auckland franchise losing both of their matches in the republic following the home Sharks defeat to fall out of what had looked a certain home semifinal.

Nucifora certainly laboured the perceived breakdown illegalities he felt the Sharks were getting away with when he spoke to New Zealand media before leaving South Africa.

Although admitting his players had contributed to their own downfall with an off-colour first half, he wailed long and hard about the Sharks' tendency to flop bodies over the ball and effectively slow down the Blues' supply-line.

It's a scenario that both coach and captain Troy Flavell conceded lay in the hands of the referee, but one they will have to think long and hard about should they meet the Sharks again at some stage this year.

All told the Blues headed home in fairly good heart, even if they had been handed somewhat of a reality check by the Sharks. Who knows, it may even prove a valuable shakeup at a time of the season when they still have plenty of time to make the necessary adjustments.

In terms of selection this week, Nucifora said it was possible he might have a rethink once the side arrives back and settles into its work for the clash against the Western Force at Albany on Saturday (5.30pm kickoff). It will be a week, he confirmed, very much about quality rather than quantity on the training field.

"Some guys will go around again but we'll also consider looking at some other players who haven't had a lot of match time," said Nucifora.

Whether that includes a now mended Daniel Braid in the No 7 jersey remains to be seen. Now recovered after a shoulder op, Nucifora said it would be "touch and go" whether Braid was judged fit enough to warrant a start against a side as good as the Force.

Backs coach Greg Cooper wasn't pointing any fingers after his men produced their most indifferent effort of the season in Durban. There was too much dropped ball in the first half and first five Nick Evans had his worst match in his new colours.

He said the conditions (high humidity with a slippery sheen on the ball) contributed to some errors though was happier about the adjustments made after halftime.

"We got our composure back after halftime ... but it's not easy playing catch-up rugby as we were. I think we can look back on a few things we could have done better, but it does make it a lot more difficult when you don't get away to a good start."

The Blues will have to be on their mettle at Albany on Saturday. New Zealand teams often come out lethargic after the trip back from the republic and John Mitchell's men would have gained a lot of confidence out of running the Crusaders so close in Perth on Sunday.

Nucifora is not expecting his players to have any trouble getting the enthusiasm levels back up.

"We coped well with the travel over here, and we're all experienced enough to be able to cope well with the travel going home."

Two other factors had the Blues coach optimistic he would have a primed outfit ready for the Force. There were no further injuries at the weekend and the match had not been as physically draining as the one against the Cheetahs had a week earlier.

The Blues arrive back late Monday, will have a day off Tuesday, gather for team meetings Wednesday and will start a short prepatory phase with training on Thursday and Friday.