Sharks aim to bounce back against Dragons in Friday’s URC clash

The Sharks will be looking to bounce back from their opening-round defeat against Glasgow Warriors when they take on the Dragons in Friday’s United Rugby Championship clash at Rodney Parade in Newport, Wales.

Coach John Plumtree’s side showed plenty of fight in their 35-19 loss to the Warriors in Scotland last weekend but will know the importance of turning effort into points against the Welsh side they have beaten in their past five games.

The visitors, however, needed a last-minute try to pull off a 33-30 win in their last away match against the Dragons.

The Welsh side, who are usually among the URC’s whipping boys, began the season with a 42-21 loss to Ulster in Belfast. They struggled against a physically dominant Ulster pack, particularly in the scrums and rucks.

Line-out defence on the goal line was a concern for Plumtree – who blamed it on new players adapting to the system – but the Sharks’ powerful pack should once again dominate the set pieces, while the ruck battle promises to be tighter. The Dragons showed they are dangerous on the counterattack, and the Sharks will need to guard against conceding unnecessary turnovers.

Should the visitors maintain their composure and discipline – two late yellow cards proved costly in the Scottish capital – and convert their opportunities, they should secure their first win of the season.

Sharks winger Edwill van der Merwe, the Bok strike runner renowned for his one-on-one ability, will hope to test the Dragons’ defence out wide, which was exposed at times against Ulster.

At the weekend, he showed he is back to the form that caught the eye of Springbok coach Rassie Erasmus. The former Lions star scored a try and set up another against the Warriors as the Sharks kept things surprisingly narrow on attack – and were predictable with one-off runners – but he could be a menace to the Dragons’ defence should Plumtree opt for a more expansive game plan.

The coach admitted to early-season teething problems, with nine debutants featuring against the Warriors, but the Durbanites should improve as the tour progresses.

Their final match on the road is against defending champions Leinster, who will be smarting from a chastening defeat to the Stormers, with a daunting visit to the Bulls next up for the Irish giants.