The dust has hardly settled on the victorious Currie Cup campaign and it is already time for the Sharks to shift focus to the United Rugby Championship.
The dust has hardly settled on the victorious Currie Cup campaign and it is already time for the Sharks to shift focus from their title-winning effort onto the United Rugby Championship, which begins for the South African teams this weekend.
The Durban side begin their tournament in Ireland on Saturday when they take on Connacht before heading east to Wales to play the Dragons and then Italy for a clash with Benetton that concludes their early overseas commitments.
Although the Currie Cup is now behind them, there are valuable lessons to have taken out, learnings that stand the team in good stead as they embark on the intercontinental competition.
“I’m just really proud of the boys,” head coach John Plumtree told the Sharks’ website.
“Winning right at the end of the game is one of the moments that gives us confidence. The never-give-up attitude is something we’re trying to instil in the boys so I’m really proud of them for the way they never gave up, even when it looked like the Lions had done enough to win.”
He adds that winning two trophies in short space is good for the group’s confidence.
“To have come to Joburg for the final, lost and then hop on a plan for Ireland wouldn’t have been great, fortunately that’s not the case. So, we will all cherish the memory, everyone who had a hand in getting us to the end.
“We’ve found belief but it’s going to be tough emotionally and physically getting off this high.
“The other job for me now is getting the players back down to earth because we know what a tough game we have in Galway.
“Connacht will be waiting for us, they’ll be excited about playing at home.”
Plumtree has named a 27-man touring squad that departs today (Monday), with 15 forwards and 12 backs selected. The tour squad will be captained by loose-forward Vincent Tshituka for this three-match tour to Europe.
Three-match touring squad
Forwards
Corne’ Rahl, Dylan Richardson, Emmanuel Tshituka, Ethan Bester, Fez Mbatha, Gerbrandt Grobler, Hanro Jacobs, James Venter, Jason Jenkins, Mawande Mdande, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Ruan Dreyer, Tino Mavesere, Trevor Nyakane, Vincent Tshituka (c).
Backs
Andre Esterhuizen, Bradley Davids, Cameron Wright, Eduan Keyter, Ethan Hooker, Francois Venter, Gershwin Wehr, Jordan Hendrikse, Jurenzo Julius, Lionel Cronje, Siya Masuku, Tian Meyer.
Our 27-man VURC touring squad Captained by Vincent Tshituka 🫡
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) September 23, 2024
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