Building Belief and Confidence:
When the Cell C Sharks host the Vodacom Bulls at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday afternoon, it will be a great opportunity to further grow and develop a cohesive unit.
Last week’s defeat of the Airlink Pumas was a huge statement of intent and the Cell C Sharks will be hoping to produce another performance that brings back-to-back victories.
“We’re very proud of the group for the composure, character and fight they showed against the Pumas, especially when we were down to 13 men,” Currie Cup head coach Joey Mongalo said in the build-up to the big derby.
“That’s a good sign of a group that’s growing the cohesion and connection we’ve spoken about.”
After suffering successive losses in the opening stages of their campaign, the Bulls struck back last week, defeating Griquas in their first victory of the tournament and they will bring the confidence they gained down to Durban on Friday.
“The Currie Cup doesn’t get any easier, the Bulls come off a very good win, no-one is going to do you any favours, it’s not going to be easy and we’re expecting a tough encounter.
“In the same breath, we’ve done really well at home and we want to keep performing in a way that the fans who come out to support us will be proud of us and see a Sharks brand where guys are willing to fight for the jersey; that’s a really, really big thing for us and something we pride ourselves in.
“We want our fans to see a team that’s desperate to fight, desperate to represent this proud union.
“What we’re looking for is a repeat performance and to build some momentum so we can get a couple of wins in a row which will be massive for the belief and confidence in this group.
“There’s no greater opportunity than facing the Bulls at home and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Mongalo has shown his faith in Reniel Hugo who continues to lead the team for this clash with Murray Koster named as his deputy.
This match takes place at Hollywoodbets Kings Park at 3.30pm on Friday afternoon.
Cell C Sharks
1. Dian Bleuler
2. Dan Jooste
3. Hanro Jacobs
4. Corne Rahl
5. Reniel Hugo (c)
6. Tinotenda Mavesere
7. Ockie Barnard
8. James Venter
9. Bradley Davids
10. Fred Zeilinga
11. Yaw Penxe
12. Murray Koster
13. Josh Jonas
14. Phikolomzi Sobahle
15. Nevaldo Fleurs
Replacements
16. Fez Mbatha
17. Khwezi Mona
18. Khutha Mchunu
19. Athi Khethani
20. Mpilo Gumede
21. Tiaan Fourie
22. Lionel Cronje
23. Zee Mkhabela
The post Building Belief and Confidence appeared first on The Sharks.
The Cell C Sharks team to take on Benetton in this pivotal Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday is virtually unchanged from last week’s side.
Sadly Rohan Janse van Rensburg had to be stretchered off in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final showdown with Toulouse last weekend and has not been cleared to play on Friday.
In his place comes Australian international Ben Tapuai, with Marnus Potgieter coming onto the bench in the only change to the matchday 23 team list.
This match is important for a number of reasons, most obvious the need to simply win. Currently in eighth position, the Cell C Sharks must fight off a late challenge from the Italians who are one place lower on the overall log and a point behind.
With two rounds remaining – the Cell C Sharks host Munster next weekend, the team they defeated in the Heineken Champions Cup round of 16 a fortnight ago – the race for final places in the top eight has reached fever pitch and the pressure is on everyone to finish as high up as possible, or indeed, make the top eight and entry into the knock-outs.
Benetton have had a mixed bag of results, losing to the Emirates Lions in their last match, but have beaten Ulster as well, losing the other three of their previous five games this year. They will come to Durban intent on causing an upset.
The big clash kicks off at 6.30pm, with the Currie Cup side in action earlier in the day when they host the Vodacom Bulls in the curtain-raiser.
Cell C Sharks
1. Ox Nche
2. Bongi Mbonambi
3. Thomas du Toit
4. Hyron Andrews
5. Gerbrandt Grobler
6. Siya Kolisi (C)
7. Vincent Tshituka
8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
9. Grant Williams
10. Curwin Bosch
11. Makazole Mapimpi
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Lukhanyo Am
14. Werner Kok
15. Boeta Chamberlain
Replacements
16. Kerron van Vuurren
17. Ntuthuko Mchunu
18. Carlu Sadie
19. Jeandre Labuschagne
20. Phepsi Buthelezi
21. Cameron Wright
22. Marnus Potgieter
23. Thaakir Abrahams
The post Continuity for Benetton appeared first on The Sharks.
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: Durban has a fascination with sharks; the local rugby team is even named for these magnificent creatures of the deep. The infamous Black December, which actually lasted from December 1957 to April 1958, marked five deadly shark attacks off Durban beaches in just 107 days. These weren’t the first deadly attacks – between 1943 and 1951, the city experienced 21 shark attacks, seven of which were deadly. The resulting hysteria amongst beach-goers after Black December prompted the authorities to take action, and a navy frigate was called in to bomb sharks with depth charges. In 1962, the Natal Sharks Board was created to explore the installation of shark nets at Durban’s swimming beaches, an exercise which had been attempted, with little success, as early as 1907. Nowadays, while most Durban beaches are protected by shark nets, sharks are a tourist attraction, with people coming from all over the world to have close encounters via shark cage diving.
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