Hollywoodbets Sharks assistant coach Warren Whiteley is adamant all eyes are on their URC clash with Benetton on Saturday amid the excitement of their historic EPCR Challenge Cup final qualification.
The Durban franchise will become the first South African team to feature in the final of an EPCR (European Professional Club Rugby) competition when they tackle Gloucester at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on 24 May, but they must first negotiate two URC outings at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, starting this weekend.
“It is something to get used to; this format with the URC and with is being in the EPCR [Challenge Cup], reaching this stage of the competition as well. It is new to us,” said Whiteley.
“I think what’s important, this morning we finished off our review on Clermont and we’ve now moved on to Benetton. Benetton is really important for us and that’s where our focus lies at the moment.”
Fresh off the back of their heroic 32-31 semi-final comeback win over Clermont Auvergne, the former Springbok skipper added that the side remains a work in progress.
“There are definitely things in our game that we feel we can work on and get better at, and this weekend, even though it’s a different competition, it gives us an opportunity to be better. We know we will need to be better come that final, and that’s why our focus is solely on Benetton.
“It’s great for us [having had] them playing Gloucester last weekend [in the second Challenge Cup semi-final], so it’s a great test for us to be better than what we were against Clermont and improve on the areas of our game that we want to improve.”
That last four loss in Europe aside, the Italian outfit have enjoyed a stellar season under Marco Bortolami and currently occupy eighth on the URC table, still very much in the hunt for quarter-final qualification.
Whiteley acknowledged their threat but again emphasized that his team continues to make great strides.
“We feel that in the last two months or so we’ve made some great shifts within our game, and of course this [past] weekend against Clermont was a massive test for us. Admittedly, we know we weren’t perfect and there are some areas we want to improve on.
“Benetton is another great test. We’re just looking to get better every single weekend.”
