Although there is a strong inter-team rivalry, an even stronger one between the South African sides, it’s the healthy competition for places in the Cell C Sharks team that drives a lot of the players’ motivation.
Fullback Aphelele Fassi is one such player.
He might be just 21 years of age but this young, exciting talent who possesses blistering pace, is embracing the Vodacom Super Rugby competition after a break-out season with the Cell C Sharks in last year’s victorious campaign.
“Vodacom Super Rugby is a huge challenge, but I have senior players around me, guiding me and showing me the way,” he explains. “It’s a step-up from Currie Cup rugby, although not necessarily in physicality and the pace of the game, but definitely against the New Zealand and Australian teams.”
Although he missed the first-round clash against the Vodacom Bulls after taking a knock to the head against the DHL Stormers the previous week, but he has no illusions as to how intense this weekend’s game is going to be.
“South African derbies tend to be more physical, there’s a strong rivalry and we expect the Vodacom Bulls to come at us on Saturday, and they can have the same expectation of us.”
Having watched the previous game against the Pretoria side from the side-lines, he is well-placed to comment on where things went awry, and what to fix.
“We just didn’t generate momentum at certain stages of the game and didn’t capitalise on our opportunities,” he points out. “But if we can fix that this weekend, we can turn it around.”
Although he missed two weeks because of the concussion, he praises the medical team for their role in his recovery. “The medical staff plays a huge role and I was well rested before playing for 51 minutes against the Rebels. As a player, for me, safety is a priority and I’m very cautious with something like concussion, I take it extremely seriously.”
With rivalry for positions in a healthy state at the Cell C Sharks, he is well aware of the likes of Rhyno Smith, Lwazi Mvovo and Curwin Bosch biting at his ankles and pushing for a start in the number 15 jersey.
“There’s good competition but we help each other and I’ve learned a lot from the likes of Curwin, Lwazi, Sbu… So for me, it’s a blessing and a privilege to play at fullback.”
With a young but exciting back three of Sbu Nkosi, Makazole Mapimpi and himself, the Cell C Sharks are blessed with talent.
He admits that: “We intend on learning a lot from each other because the skillset is really good,”
They may still have a lot of growing to do, but it seems they already have the makings of a world class trio.
Catch the action as the Cell C Sharks take on the Vodacom Bulls at JONSSON KINGS PARK on Saturday at 3pm.
The post Healthy Rivalry appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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