The Cell C Sharks’ Round of 16 knock-out against Munster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park offers the Durban team a shot at redemption as the Springbok-laden side looks to deliver the kind of performance they know they are capable of.
The team came together after a lengthy break for the international players and some rustiness was evident in last week’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash against the Scarlets, but Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby Neil Powell said he is confident that his squad has had enough time together now to produce a commanding performance.
“I am confident that it will go a lot better than last Saturday,” Powell admitted in the lead-up to this game.
“That was the first game having our Boks back and you could see that the cohesion just wasn’t there, but we’ve had a good week of preparation and I am confident that the team will have a better performance on Saturday.
“The guys have closed the door on the performance last weekend, they know they let themselves down and they’re now looking forward to this game. They know it’s an opportunity to go out there and show what we’re capable of as a Sharks team, to take ownership and make the step up.
Motivating players for a knock-out game is almost unnecessary for a coach as the occasion is motivation enough and playing in front of a home crowd always lifts the team and players and provides enormous energy.
“This game is a must-win, it’s the knock-out stages and if you don’t win, you go home and you’re out of the competition. It’s important for us to go out there and perform the way we want to.
“It’s also great that we can host this Round of 16 game here at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, and we must use home ground advantage. We’re excited and take motivation from playing in front of our home fans and hopefully we can make it a successful weekend for Sharks rugby.”
Munster come to Durban n their first-ever visit to the coastal city, and not only with they have this novel experience to contend with, but so too the heat with the mercury expected to top 30°C.
“Munster is a really good team,” Powell admitted. “After a slow start to the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, they turned a corner. They’re a well-coached team that knows what they want to do and they put a lot more emphasis on the Heineken Cup tournament that most of the other teams.
“We’re expecting a huge onslaught from them, they will bring a lot of physicality and to do everything in their power to upset us.
“We are under no illusion that they’ll come here, bring the physical side and play a good brand of rugby.”
Saturday’s match kicks off at 1.30pm.
The post Preview appeared first on The Sharks.
The Cell C Sharks travel to Joburg this weekend to take on the Fidelity ADT Lions in a round four Currie Cup clash against the 2015 champions.
Having highlighted continuity and cohesion as a vital cog in his team’s progress in the Currie Cup this year, and following their outstanding victory over DHL Western Province last weekend, Cell C Sharks Currie Cup head coach Joey Mongalo has kept faith in the players that delivered the goods, making just two personnel changes to this week’s side.
In the only change to the pack, Jeandre Labuschagne comes into the matchday XV, with Thembelani Bholi shifting to eighthman in place of Henco Venter, while Alwayno Visagie, who played off the bench last week, gets a start this week, replacing the injured Marnus Potgieter on the wing in the only other change.
“It was a good win for us, to help us build that cohesion,” Mongalo reflected on his side’s 20-7 victory over DHL Western Province last weekend.
“It was a big win for us and if you take it in the context of where Western province and Stormers rugby is at the moment, for us to win was massive for our confidence and having faith in our individual ability as well as faith as a group and what we’re trying to build and the memories we’re trying to create together.
“So it was good affirmation for us as a group but now our focus shifts to the Lions who are well-coached, we have a lot of respect for them as a team. They’ve done well, they showed a lot of character to fight back against the Griffons in their last game.
“The Lions play with a lot of pride at home and we have no illusions about the challenge that lies ahead for us.
“For us, it’s another opportunity to build the ideals we have for this team and where we think it can go and we’re hoping to see more cohesion for longer periods of time, that remains the theme. To just keep getting better.”
Saturday’s clash at Emirates Airline Park kicks off at 3.30pm.
Cell C Sharks
- Khwezi Mona
- Fez Mbatha
- Khutha Mchunu
- Corne Rahl
- Reniel Hugo
- James Venter
- Jeandre Labuschagne
- Thembelani Bholi
- Bradley Davids
- Fred Zeilinga
- Alwayno Visagie
- Francois Venter
- Murray Koster (c)
- Phikolomzi Sobahle
- Yaw Penxe
Replacements
- Masikane Mazwi
- Dian Bleuler
- Devon Martinus
- Hyron Andrews
- Damon Royle
- Tiaan Fourie
- Lionel Cronje
- Luyanda Mkhize
The post A Journey of Improvement appeared first on The Sharks.
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: The KwaZulu-Natal Legislative Assembly and the Legislative Council buildings, both national monuments, formed a colonial Parliament of two houses: a Council of 11 nominated members and an Assembly of 37 elected members. The Natal Parliament was disbanded in 1910 when the Union of South Africa was formed, and the Assembly became the meeting place of the Natal Provincial Council. The Council was disbanded in 1986.
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