Having belatedly bagged their first win of the Currie Cup season, Hollywoodbets Sharks captain Nick Hatton believes there is much more to come from his side heading into their round five clash with the Pumas in Mbombela.
The Durban outfit’s 35-22 win over the Golden Lions at Ellis Park was preceded by three straight defeats, and while Hatton isn’t getting carried away with the result, he is quietly confident the team has turned a corner.
“I think we knew we were playing some good rugby [before the Lions game]. We were disappointed not to get over the line in one or two of those games and we knew we needed an 80-minute performance. Going forward we need more of those 80-minute performances and we’ll get a few more wins.
“The team’s in a good place. We understand it’s only one win and we’ve obviously got another big challenge this weekend. The guys are believing. We’re all hungry for more.”
The side that played in Johannesburg was galvanized by the inclusion of seven Currie Cup debutants, including three from the Junior Springbok set-up. They’ve seemingly made an impression in the Sharks’ camp.
“I think all the guys who came on made a big difference and added good value to us as a team,” says Hatton. “They all fitted in really well and they’re all promising talents and great guys to work with. They looked really at home in senior rugby which is exciting for us.”
When the Pumas travelled to Hollywoodbets Kings Park in the reverse fixture just a fortnight ago, they came away with a 31-21 victory. This time around however, the 2018 winners know more about what to expect.
“Looking ahead to what the Pumas will bring, I think defensively we will need to be strong. Obviously, we let them score a few tries at home. Overall [we need to] just keep playing smart rugby. I think we’re looking good on attack, we’re scoring good tries and [must] just make sure we play in the right areas.”
When queried on JP Pietersen’s coaching philosophy, Hatton was overwhelmingly positive.
“Coach JP has been really good for us. He just wants us to have that mindset shift to believe that we belong at this level and that we can really do something special.
“He also gives us that freedom to express ourselves. He wants us to play as a team obviously but let your individuality shine through.”
