It’s not only a group thing but also an individual need to be a positive impact for your team, and Stephan Lewies is a player who has known the depths of despair as well as the jubilation of participating.
Not only is the continuity from Super Rugby a positive influence on the Cell C Sharks form in the early stages of the Currie Cup, but on a personal level his contributions – after a lengthy absence through injury last tear – have been hugely valuable.
“Things are really feeling awesome in the forward pack and our motto now is ‘Super Rugby standards for the Currie Cup’ and it helps that we have a lot of the same personnel from Super Rugby,” he explains.
“We’d like to build on our Super Rugby performances and I think it’s shown in our scrums and lineouts, both are functioning quite well.”
Not only has this pack been together almost in current composition all year, but Lewies is one of a handful of players who have played together for a few years now, starting at age group level and making their way through the ranks.
This gelling over competitions and through seasons can only be of benefit to the Cell C Sharks.
“Definitely! Some of us have been together since Under 19 and I played against Etienne Oosthuizen before patterning him since 2014, so we know each other very well. It’s like the Lions’ side spending so much time together; they’ve been together for three years and I think if we can do that here at the Cell C Sharks, to have the same personnel together for a long period of time, that will make a huge difference.
“There are a lot of young players here and that’s exciting.”
And with the youth and inexperience, particularly in the backline, that places a responsibility on the backs of the forward pack to lead the way, to provide the foundation and to bring calm in times of excitement.
“Yes, there is more pressure on the forwards, but so far so good for us, I think we enjoy a little bit more extra pressure and responsibility,” he explains. “We are older so we know how to handle the pressure and we’re enjoying playing with the younger guys and it’s exciting playing more ball in hand rugby.”
Talking attacking rugby, it’s often the backs that are given the credit for the style of rugby, but it’s important to acknowledge the foundation set by the forwards that affords the backs to score great tries.
“We have to set the platform through scrumming and lineouts because that makes it a lot easier for the backs to do their job, but in the loose play, there are 15 rugby players in our team and everyone of us needs to be able to catch and pass, offload and run, which means working on individual skills so we can all offer something to the team.”
It’s still early days in the competition with six more matches of the pool stages to come, and Lewies warns that despite the exciting rugby they’ve been playing, they are still a work in progress.
“It’s a process, it’s not something that’s going to be a success overnight, but Robert du Preez urges us to improve every practice and every game and as long as there is constant improvement, he’s happy. And the players like that.”
Having spent most of last year on the sidelines following major injury, he’s had an uninterrupted season of rugby action.
“It’s great to be on the ark for a long time, that’s how you improve and I’ve enjoyed myself. After the injury last year, I thought I may have to call it a day, so every time I get onto the field, it’s a true blessing.”
The post Stepping Up appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
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