Sharks forwards coach Philip Lemmer is gearing up for a colossal clash this Saturday at Cape Town Stadium, where two formidable forward packs will collide in a URC coastal derby. Likening the scrum battles to sibling rivalry, Lemmer anticipates a fierce contest rooted in deep national rugby history.
Lemmer explained the unique intensity expected in the game, pointing out the familial-like battles among players. "It’s going to be a battle," he remarked during a press conference. "I said to the forwards this week that it’s almost like two brothers taking each other on at scrum time."
“These players know each other very well and played against each other for many years at the Boks as well. It’s always a contest and a battle so I think this weekend will be a massive point for both teams to see who can dominate the set-piece.”
The Sharks have kicked off their season with robust scrum performances against European teams like the Ospreys and Leinster, bolstered by rigorous standards during their pre-season. Lemmer credits these high standards to the competitive environment during training sessions. "Pre-season will always play a role, but I think the standards with which the guys are challenging each other at practice sessions, is gold to us," he noted.
Despite their strong start, Lemmer remained cautious of the Stormers’ capabilities, particularly their expertise in driving mauls and lineouts. After a challenging game in Edinburgh, the Stormers are looking to leverage their renowned physicality and technical prowess this weekend. Lemmer acknowledged, "They’re extremely physical and the same way they feel about scrums, they feel about mauling. They do get a lot of advantage, a lot of metres from mauling. It’s physical and it’s one thing their forwards do well."
With both teams priding themselves on their set-piece strength, Saturday’s match promises to be a critical showdown for dominance in the trenches of forward play.
