The Sharks, having just completed their second unbeaten New Zealand tour, remain on course to record their best-ever Super Rugby Australasian run when they face the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday.

And Sharks coach John Plumtree is confident his team now has the savvy to make it a first-ever three-from-three on the road for the Sharks.

Having produced several back-to-back wins in Australasia, the Sharks will look to add the scalps of the Reds to those of the Kiwi outfits — the Blues and Chiefs — which they collected in the past fortnight.

Plumtree said after the Blues match that his side has a desire to succeed.

"We do know how to win," he said after his team's strong second half performance in Auckland.

"We won 12 games in a row in the Currie Cup and now four in Super 14, so I would say one of the qualities of this team is finding ways to win."

The Kiwis seem to agree about the Sharks' winning pedigree, with the New Zealand media installing the Durban-based franchise as outright favourites to take the title.

The Sharks were written up in the New Zealand Herald as: '...devouring the hosts like hot toast'.

“It was a joy to watch — but frustrating to play against,” wrote Gregor Paul.

“It was clever. It was effective and it might just save a whole lot of time, trouble and expense if the Super 14 trophy is handed to The Sharks now.”

While the Sharks must still negotiate another nine pool matches before the knock-out stages of the tournament, it is very clear that the men from Durban have a great pedigree.

Blues coach Pat Lam expressed similar sentiments after his team's narrow defeat at the weekend.

"The Sharks are a good side. They are the favourites in the tournament and rightly so," Lam said.

The Sharks will be sweating over the fitness of lock Alistair Hargreaves, who went over on his ankle in a tackle and he will be assessed in the next day or two.

365

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