Never Give Up – Featured Durban Blog

In the Cell C Sharks’ Vodacom Super Rugby clash against the Highlanders on the weekend, it was their never-say-die attitude that kept them in the game and finally delivered the victory they so wanted and needed.

That kind of fortitude speaks volumes about a team’s character, and there was no faulting the fact that they were never going to capitulate, but instead fight to the very death.

In 2015, the Cell C Sharks lost 48-15 to the Highlanders in Dunedin, conceding four tries in the final quarter, and it was that capitulation that irked so much, something that Director of Rugby Gary Gold was pleased was not the case again.

“What I’m most proud of is that a year ago, the Sharks team that came here didn’t only play particularly poorly, but we felt that they gave up towards the latter part of the game and that was disappointing,” he admitted after the match, won 15-14 by the Cell C Sharks on Friday.

“I’m quite relieved to have come away with a victory in a very hard-fought game,” he said.

“We knew it was always going to be very difficult down in Dunedin, playing against the current champions. There was added pressure with the fact that they were coming off a loss to the Reds a couple of weeks before, and ahead of their five week run of games, they definitely identified us as a team they should get an easy victory against.”

Ultimately, it was outstanding defence against a team that operate in this year’s space with an enormous amount of confidence, having won the tournament last year. And in players like fullback Ben Smith [who impressed once again and did torment the defence], the Highlanders have an attacking ability few can match.

Even at the end, when the Highlanders had a couple of opportunities to win the match, even a penalty for them would have been enough, the Cell C Sharks held stern in the face of adversity.

“The character shown by the guys was huge,” said a proud Gold. “We showed incredible fight to hold out for what is a memorable victory over here, a difficult place to come to, especially when they’re reigning champions.”

While Garth April, starting his first game for the Cell C Sharks, kicked his team to victory with unerring accuracy, Gold did lament the fact that his players did not score any tries on the night.

“We’re disappointed not to have scored tries, it’s something we are going to be putting a lot of time and attention towards

“We had a couple of try-scoring opportunities and a few momentum build-ups that we didn’t finish, but the Highlanders are a good defensive team as well and against a quality team like them, playing at home,  keeping them out aside from that one try – which was well taken – was a creditable performance.

“Although we didn’t score any tries, there was a lot of intent shown and some fantastic phases we put together. Our confidence is getting there.”

In conclusion, he felt that it was an important outcome and a statement of intent.

“All in all, coming to New Zealand and putting up a good performance and getting a positive result is what it’s all about. We choose to take a lot of positives out but we’ll be particularly hard on ourselves for understanding that there are a lot of opportunities for us to improve.”