This weekend presents the perfect opportunity for the Cell C Sharks to show why they were the form South African team in the Vodacom Super Rugby competition when they take on the Vodacom Bulls in their second match of the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked competition.
Cell C Sharks prop Thomas du Toit admits that while things didn’t go quite to plan the last time the two teams met in a friendly at Loftus Versfeld last month, Saturday’s clash offers the opportunity to show their class and ability.
“That’s the great thing about rugby, you always get second chances and that’s how we’re looking at it mentally this week: that we have a second chance. It’s an opportunity to correct the mistakes we made three weeks ago.
“We’re very excited to play there again. It’s a massive opportunity but so too, a massive challenge and one we’ve taken on board.
In that clash, the Bulls were able to build up a fairly sizable lead in the first half, and while there was a brave fightback from the Cell C Sharks in the second half, ultimately the damage had already been done.
For du Toit, it’s all about a good start this time.
“We’ve trained hard this week around having a fast start and we’ve been working on rectifying the mistakes we made in the past. It’s an area we’ve identified and we’ve worked really hard on it.”
Although the Cell C Sharks played just one game in the tournament before enjoying a bye last weekend, he admits that it wasn’t a big negative. In a seven team competition, at least one side must sit out each week anyway.
“Honestly, it wasn’t a bad thing. Pre-season wasn’t easy and we haven’t had a lot of time off, so it came as a welcome break. We only had a few days off, not a full week, but we took it – any rugby player will after a hard pre-season.”
As one of just six players in the front line of what is going to be an immense physical battle upfront, he acknowledges the contest that lies ahead against a powerful Bulls pack.
“Every team is different as far as the set-piece goes and you have to prepare in different ways, the tactics change from one week to the next, but there are certain things that stay the same and we have a massive focus on our set-piece, the scrums, lineouts and mauls. This is an area we have worked very hard on, we accept that it’s a strength of theirs and we’re excited for the challenge.”
Given that there was six months between the last Vodacom Super Rugby match and the next game, a friendly, it’s impossible to slip seamlessly back to the same form that had them top of the log. Although the Cell C Sharks were the form team when Super Rugby was prematurely called to a halt, a break like the one we have had can’t help but affect momentum.
Du Toit explains that regaining it is key.
“I think we’re quite close to hitting that stride again. We haven’t changed much as far as the plan goes, it seems like we’ve let ourselves down a bit in the way we’ve played lately, but I think we will find our stride again soon.”
The post Regaining the Momentum appeared first on The Sharks.
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Quick Durban KwaZulu-Natal Fact: Rugby – The Sharks, who compete in the Super 14 with four other South African teams, four teams from Australia, and five from New Zealand. Natal Sharks (closely connected to, but not to be confused with the Super 14 team), who compete in South Africa’s domestic competition, the Currie Cup.
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