Sharks team will change but performance can't slip

The need to have a fresh team playing the EPCR Challenge Cup semifinal in just over a fortnight will see changes made to the Hollywoodbets Sharks team for their game in Glasgow on Friday night but the objective will remain the same that it has been during the past few weeks.

Two wins in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship followed by another two in the first two play-off games in the Challenge Cup has given the Sharks four successive wins and a semblance of the momentum that was craved for during the earlier parts of a troubled season. There is a need to rest players, but the Sharks don't want to do that at the expense of momentum.

Attack coach Dave Williams acknowledges that the recent success has been built around having the top players available and the continuity that has brought in selection, but if the Sharks are going to be on point in their Challenge Cup playoff game against Clermont-Auvergne in London on 4 May, there is a need to manage the workload of several frontline players.

And with the Sharks effectively out of the race for a top eight place in the URC, Friday night’s clash with Glasgow Warriors, which would be tough even with the full strength Sharks team as the hosts are unbeaten in this competition at home this season, presents a chance for the Durbanites to freshen up.

SCHEDULING WORKS FOR DURBANITES

Indeed, considering the tournament condition that all semifinals in both the Investec Champions Cup and the Challenge Cup have to be played in Europe, the Sharks feel they’ve profited from a bit of luck when it comes to the buildup to their big day at the start of May.

“It is actually amazing how the fixture roster or scheduling has worked out for us,” said Williams from Glasgow.

“Ideally home ground advantage in Durban would have been great, but we can’t have that, so to be able to go into the semifinal at the Stoop off the platform of being on tour for weeks is a real advantage for us. It means we can build some camaraderie and some connections among the guys. Being able to then build up for a week in the place we are going to play the game is great for us.

“We have brought over 26 guys for this game and there has been a big workload recently with back to back games and there are more back to back games before the semifinal so there will be changes to the team. But while this is an opportunity to freshen up the squad we will still be demanding the same performance and going out to win the game so we can retain momentum.”

TREATING THE STOOP AS A HOME VENUE

The Sharks’ winning momentum since the turnaround started in a match against Ulster before Easter has all come at home at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, but Williams reminded the audience on a zoom press conference that the Sharks did score a good away win over the Dragons, and it was on an inclement night too, during the group stages of the Challenge Cup.

“We had an away win against the Dragons in this competition, and that was our first away win of the season, and obviously winning away is good for our confidence. Obviously playing away in the URC is a big challenge and on Friday night we are playing against a Glasgow team that is unbeaten this season on their home ground.

“We see it as a massive challenge to be embraced as we look for a performance that will build further confidence. We see the Challenge Cup semifinal as a sort of home game. As I said, we will have been away for two weeks, so we are building a base over here, it’s not just a case of us arriving and then playing the game (as is often the case in the URC and EPCR competitions).”

WINNING HAS CHANGED THE MINDSET

Williams said that the successive wins have brought about a dramatic change of mindset within the squad.

“I think it is all about consistency, we have had consistency in selection during this period due to the availability roster,” said the Sharks attack coach. “We’ve had time spent together, and continual belief in what we are doing has resulted in some good performances.

“That has bred confidence and confidence does a lot for a team in terms of the spirit the players bring in on a Monday at the start of a new week. We’ve been on a good run for a few weeks but even prior to this period of winning we had four games where we lost by very narrow margins. But winning creates great belief within the team.”

Williams added that the 16 tries scored against just six conceded over the last four games is an indication that the players “are getting comfortable with both attack and defence”.

The Sharks team for Friday night’s game at the Scotstoun (kick-off 20.35 SA time) will be announced on Thursday.