Western Force coach Michael Foley believes rumours of in-fighting at the Sharks will galvanise the Durban-based Super Rugby franchise ahead of Friday night’s clash at nib Stadium.
The Sharks were forced to go into damage control this week after a South African newspaper published an article claiming captain Keegan Daniel was unhappy with the number of Afrikaners in the squad.
Daniel strongly denies the claim, saying: “I was shocked to hear about these allegations.
“It is an attack on my integrity, which is very disappointing, and it is most untrue.
“This is a lesson that younger players in our squad can learn – when a team is struggling with form then you become an easy target.”
The Sharks’ finals hopes are in tatters after losing their past five matches.
But Foley believes the off-field drama will probably bring Sharks players closer together.
“The Sharks are very, very hungry,” Foley said on Thursday.
“They’re going to be particularly passionate on the back of being accused of there being a divide.
“That always galvanises a team.
“I think they’d only fracture as a team if that was the case (of there being in-fighting), and I don’t believe that is the case.”
The Force have lost their past five matches against the Sharks, including a 53-11 thumping in Durban last year.
But the Perth-based franchise have displayed greater resolve under new coach Foley this season, and are backing themselves to break the Sharks hoodoo.
“I didn’t even know that,” Foley said of the Force’s recent record against the Sharks.
“Those things don’t matter. People told me that we’d never beaten the Reds in Queensland. They told me that the day of the game (before we beat them). It was nice we were able to do that.”
The Sharks have been bolstered by the return of Springboks duo Jannie du Plessis and Willem Alberts into the starting line-up.
Foley said the Sharks were a dangerous side with multiple strengths.
“They play like a lot of other South African sides around the set piece, but more like a NZ side in open play,” Foley said.