The coastal facet have left no room for complacency going into their spherical of 16 recreation.
The Sharks will go into their Challenge Cup final 16 conflict with Italian facet Zebre on Sunday at Durban’s Kings Park (4pm) excessive on confidence due to the momentum they’ve constructed.
The John Plumtree-coached facet are having fun with their greatest run of form this season, having gained back-to-back matches within the United Rugby Championship in opposition to Ulster and Edinburgh. The video games additionally served the aim of getting the workforce prepared for his or her spherical of 16 conflict with their fellow URC residents.
The Sharks have had their eye on the match in opposition to Zebre for some time, and now that it has arrived, they’re a assured group forward of the sport.
“The squad is very confident after the two fixtures we played against Ulster and Edinburgh,” Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi mentioned this week.
Targeting the trophy
The fundamental cause the encounter with Zebre is necessary is as a result of the Sharks are concentrating on the Challenge Cup, which they’ve each intention of profitable.
Lifting that trophy would see them return to the Champions Cup subsequent season, a contest by which they reached the final eight final time period, the place they misplaced to French giants Toulouse.
With the workforce goal set and the competitors being on the knockout levels that means there isn’t any margin for error, the Sharks have left no room for complacency going into their spherical of 16 recreation.
“Coming into a different competition like this, we know the stakes (are high). Obviously it’s a knockout game,” Fassi mentioned.
“Zebre are an Italian team and they are going to come here with a lot of passion.”
Previous encounter
The Sharks and Zebre met earlier this season within the URC. The Durban facet have been shocked by Zebre as they misplaced 12-10.
That defeat was a low for the Sharks, however they’ve since discovered their footing and regained their chunk.
Knowing what Zebre might be bringing to the desk, the hosts have a plan for controlling the sport. Fassi says they may use their highly effective pack to put a basis for the backs to strike.
“They are going to come here with a lot of physicality,” mentioned the 26-year-old.
“So, I think for us it’s just being able to manage that and putting our forwards in the right places, and once we get those opportunities, knocking off those opportunities will be very crucial for the team.”
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