Preview: The Cell C Sharks vs Kings – Featured Durban Blog

The Cell C Sharks are finally back home for good after a rigorous traveling schedule and will look to to finish this block of matches on a high as they host the Kings at Growthpoint KINGS PARK on Saturday.

Director of Rugby Gary Gold called the recent past “unchartered waters” as they negotiated three tough games over three continents in three weeks.

And now, after further intercontinental travel, they welcome the Kings to Durban in the return leg clash with the PE side. Growthpoint KINGS PARK will provide a much more receptive welcome to the “volatile crowd and volatile environment” they encountered against the Jaguares, as their fans come out in support for the last time until they return from the June international break.

With one final push before the long break, the team will be looking to give everything in this match, not only as far as a win is concerned, but a performance reflective of their goals.

“We want to put ourselves under a lot more pressure  this weekend to achieve a balanced approach to our style of play, but in saying that, we feel good, a lot more confident that our defence has been pretty solid and we want to ask questions with ball in hand,” Gold explained.

“It’s prudent of us to take the Kings seriously. With some good performances behind them during the season, they’ll feel confident. There’s no doubt they’ll come out firing.”

Assessing the Kings’ threat, given their progression during the course of the season, he admits that the expectation is that: “They will be physical – any team led by Steven Sykes will be physical – and they’re pretty uncompromising from that point of view.

“They will feel pretty aggrieved in that in a couple of games they would have felt that they could or should have earned a better result. They’re an all-round team and they were always going to get better the more time they spent together.

“First and foremost though, we need to concentrate on our own structures and make sure that we don’t get caught up in an arm wrestle with them.”

Gold said his team will take confidence from areas they have been successful at in recent past, but will need to limit lapses.

“When we’ve done certain things well, we’ve done them very well, but when we’ve gone off the boil then we’ve let ourselves down. It’s about being harsh on ourselves. On going out and doing what works well for us and stay away from the things that let us down.”

With the fight for top honours in their conference as the tournament heads for the business end, Gold admitted that the prudent apprach for the Cell C Sharks is not to even contemplate the log, but rather to focus on the job at hand.

“I would rather put a strong emphasis on a good performance this weekend than worry what happens on the log. There are so many permutations and what will be will be. We want to improve, so that our performances get batter and I’m very weary of looking at teams’ positions on the logs. And therefore it’s absolutely critical that we show the Kings the respect they deserve; any team can beat any other on the day.

“And we’ve come through all the travel pretty well and that way we don’t have to look for excuses, we planned well.  So, what’s important for us, especially from a confidence point of view, would be to back up the recent wins with another strong performance this weekend.”

Chiliboy Ralepelle, gaining his first start for the Cell C Sharks after a couple of appearances off the bench, is understandably thrilled to get extended game time this weekend.

“It’s such a wonderful opportunity for me to run out, representing the Cell C Sharks and an opportunity that has come after a long wait. I’ve worked hard to get this point and I can’t want to play alongside my team-mates.”

Being a relative newcomer into the side, having played for an extended period for the Bulls then overseas, he admits that it is different in Durban.

“Compared to the places I’ve played around the world, there is such a relaxed , calm environment here; it’s a great place to play,” he explained.

“A fantastic stadium, a wonderful team and great players!”