After last week’s Carling Currie Cup victory over the Fidelity ADT Lions, the Hollywoodbets Sharks are in week five action against the Airlink Pumas in their return leg match, taking place in Mbombela on Saturday (3pm).
The team took great confidence from their bonus point victory, even more merit worthy. In that it came away from home, which will provide added motivation this weekend.
Captain Nick Hatton explained in the lead-up to this match that, “The win restored confidence, we knew we were playing good rugby (up to that point) and were disappointed not to get over the line in two of the games and we needed an 80-minute performance; going forward we need to continue with those 80-minute performances.”
Hatton felt it important though to temper the good news with a reality check, that getting the win was encouraging, they need to keep getting the results.
“The team is in a good space, but we have to understand that it’s just one win and we have another big challenge this weekend. We’re well-aware of what’s ahead, but we are in a good place and the guys believe.
“It’s only one win, but we’re hungry for more.”
Proving hungry were the debutants who wore the senior Black & White jersey for the first time and Hatton admitted that their presence fuelled the team.
“The guys who came in added good value and the junior Springbok players are match ready; they all fitted in really well, they’re really talented players and great guys to work with.”
The Sharks went into Saturday’s Carling Currie Cup fourth round game under pressure to earn a result, the young team working hard each week but denied by small margins.
But it all came together and showed how good they can be.
Reflecting on his team’s performance against the Lions on Saturday, a proud and very happy head coach JP Pietersen paid tribute to his team’s effort.
“We’re very proud as a group and from a coaching point, I’m exceptionally proud of the way they played. That was close to our best performance of the campaign so far; we’ve been knocking on the door and finally it opened up for us,” he explained.
“We took our opportunities which was really special,” he added of the four try bonus point the team took out of the game.
“We have some unbelievable youngbloods in the team and the SA Under 20 players brought something special, where I think we had been lacking.
“To see how they all played and fought for the jersey is really special.
“They defended with their hearts.”
Although the tournament is still in the early stages, the Lions had come into this match off the back of three consecutive victories, full of momentum and confidence at having a 100% success rate. What this meant was that they threatened to open up a sizable lead on the log table which had to be curtailed.
“It’s a massive achievement for us as a group to win at Emirates Airline Park, to get five points and make sure they got none out of the game, and that shows how hard we’ve been working,” said Pietersen.
“We know we’re on the right path and finally all the talk and hard work showed with this result.
“As their coach, I’m unbelievably proud of what they achieved.”
Pietersen has welcomed back two of his internationals for the clash with the Pumas, Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane replaces Mawande Mdanda and Tino Mavesere, back from Zimbabwe’s Rugby Africa Cup campaign, comes in at flank in the two changes to the pack, with Eduan Keyter replacing Yaw Penxe on the wing.
After bringing through numerous youngsters over the past month, Pietersen has named just one debutant, Chris Horak, the former Hilton College and Sharks Craven Week flyhalf as cover off the bench.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV starting VX: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Lili Bester, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Jaco Williams; 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids; 8 Nicholas Hatton (capt), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere; 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Batho Hlekani; 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Daniel Jooste, 1 Abraham Reynecke. Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Hennie Sieberhagen, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Scott Nel.
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