Despite facing the possibility of missing out on the URC playoffs altogether this season, Sharks director of rugby Neil Powell insists that his side has what it takes to go all the way and win the tournament.
The Durban side’s record is far from flattering, having won just eight of their 16 matches to occupy eighth with 41-points. For context, in their debut season last year, they finished fifth on 57-points.
Powell’s belief in his squad is admirable, especially given the men in black and white have lost the services of key figures Eben Etzebeth and Jaden Hendrikse for the remainder of their campaign.
Last week, they were beaten 54-20 in Toulouse in their Champions Cup quarterfinal. Powell remains optimistic though.
1️⃣2️⃣ mins left, 6️⃣ points in it... step up @StadeToulousain to score 4️⃣ tries & secure the semi🔥
— Heineken Champions Cup (@ChampionsCup) April 13, 2023
Watch that incredible #HeinekenChampionsCup QF ending in full ➡️ https://t.co/hYh7RsvAXg#ItJustHitsDifferent #ThrowbackThursday pic.twitter.com/NpatLubFZR
“I do believe we are getting a bit of momentum,” he said. “If you think about it, this is only the third game this team is playing together with the Boks coming back from that compulsory rest camp that they had.
“So we do believe that we haven’t seen the best of this team yet and that they are building some momentum and flow, especially over the last three games.
“I think there were a lot of positives from that Toulouse game.”
The Blitzboks legend has worked as head coach of the team since Sean Everitt’s departure in November, despite having no previous experience coaching a fifteens team at a professional level.
Still, he reckons his men have what it takes.
“We do want to go all the way in the URC, we have the squad to do it and understand that if we get ourselves into the quarterfinal and go all the way, we will play all our games away because of where we are sitting on the log.
“[But] we really can still do well in the URC and can give ourselves the opportunity to play for the cup and get ourselves in the final.”
