The Hollywoodbets Sharks welcome Munster Rugby to Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Saturday afternoon for a clash between two sides with plenty to prove in the competition.
Both teams have won two of their matches to date, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks have a game in hand over their Irish counterparts and they will target this big game as a must-win to help their elevation up the table.
After warning of rustiness ahead of last week’s game against Glasgow, given that the Springbok players who returned to URC action hadn’t played in some time, the Hollywoodbets Sharks are a much more settled team this week, and in a better place, according to head coach John Plumtree.
“We’ve had a good week together, the boys have spent time together off the field and connected nicely and we’re expecting a good performance,” he said in the lead-up to the game.
“We put pressure on ourselves to deliver a good performance, we want to play well at home in front of our own fans and hope a big crowd comes to support us.
“We know the challenge is significant and that excites us.”
There weren’t too many changes to the team, but the coach commented on his selections, with Jordan Hendrikse remaining at flyhalf this week, having played most of his games at fullback since moving to the Hollywoodbets Sharks. Last week he was selected at 10 and remains there, offering the brains trust another excellent option in this crucial position.
“I’m really happy with the way Jordan played last week,” said Plumtree. “I thought parts of his game, especially in contact, were really good. He cleaned rucks, he kicked well and I thought he controlled our game quite nicely for his first game at 10. It was definitely a pass mark.”
Siya Kolisi has been shifted from flank to eighthman for this match, which the coach explained is all around building a devastating loose-forward trio. He also admitted that it wasn’t a gamble, rather and opportunity for the Springbok captain to cut loose on the parts of his game that he really enjoys.
“I want to see how James Venter, Vincent Tshituka and Siya go together, I like that combination. All three are very physical loose forwards and Siya at 8 frees up his running and offloading game, he’s a really skilful player and he’s also really good on the ball in terms of his poaching.
“Often number 8s can get more opportunities to poach than the six flank because they’re the second arrival.
“I just want to see how that works; it’s a combination I’m really interested in. I’m really happy with the way Manu [Emmanuel Tshituka] and Phepsi [Buthelezi] played last week, so there’s some nice pressure and competition for places in that loose forward trio which is really what I want.”
Casting his attention to their opponents, he warns that Munster will be dangerous after their 34-19 defeat to the DHL Stormers in Cape Town last weekend.
“They’re a very proud club who has come on tour and lost their first game, so they’ll be looking for a response.
“Looking at them, they’re tough, physical upfront and a team that plays a lot of rugby.
“But we’re looking forward to the challenge of playing a champion club, after playing another champion last week.
“It’s going to be another really big test for us.”
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: The interior of Kwa-Zulu consists largely of rolling hills from the Valley of a Thousand Hills to the Midlands. These have been the subject of much literature. Alan Paton, in the novel Cry, The Beloved Country, said:”There is a lovely road that runs from Ixopo into the hills. These hills are grass-covered and rolling, and they are lovely beyond any singing of it. The road climbs seven miles into them, to Carisbrooke; and from there, if there is no mist, you look down on one of the fairest valleys of Africa. About you there is grass and bracken and you may hear the forlorn crying of the titihoya one of the birds of the veld. Below you is the valley of the Umzimkulu, on its journey from the Drakensberg, to the sea; and beyond and behind the river, great hill after great hill; and beyond and behind them, the mountains of Ingeli and East Griqualand.”
