After the blip that was the big away defeat to Leicester Tigers in the Investec Champions Cup the Hollywoodbets Sharks go back onto derby footing this week when they host the Vodacom Bulls and the visitors can expect their opponents to do everything to defend their fortress.
Speaking ahead of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship derby, the Sharks’ influential centre Andre Esterhuizen noted that Hollywoodbets Kings Park is already nearly sold out for the festive season game, with the interest even exceeding that for the recent home derby against the DHL Stormers.
World-class rugby? Say less. 🏆
— vodacomrugby (@VodacomRugga) December 17, 2024
Hollywoodbets @SharksRugby vs Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby is where the heavyweights collide. Ready for the showdown? 🔥#VUpYourSummer | @Vodacom #URC | #SHAvBUL pic.twitter.com/x4VCFLpObE
According to Esterhuizen, that is an indication the team is doing something right, and will add to the team’s determination to continue with their development of a winning habit on their home field.
“You want to win all your home games as it makes everything so much easier,” said the Springbok centre.
“With all the travel and stuff, winning away is difficult. But if you win your home games it makes it much easier, and everything else becomes a bonus. We know Durban is a tough place for an opposing tea to come. Apart from the outside factors, such as the humidity, we as a team want to make it tough. We want to make it a tough game, both very physical and very fast.”
Esterhuizen elaborated on that last point by saying that extra fans does give the players a lift, and often when it is most needed.
“From a player’s perspective, it shouldn’t effect you but it does. Whether there are two people or 20 000 people in the stadium, as a professional you are paid to produce. But the bigger crowd supporting you does give you extra energy.
It comes in particularly during those tough parts of a game, where maybe your opponents have just scored two tries and you might feel a bit out of it.
“It is at those times that a big crowd cheer can get your mind back into it and get you back into the game. Travelling to play away in front of away crowds is always tough. But at the same time you can draw on that for energy when you feel the crowd is against you, it can make you more determined.”
All in 🦈@Vodacom #URC #SHAvBUL pic.twitter.com/KuEfZMuwAK
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) December 18, 2024
HAVE MOMENTUM AT HOME
The Sharks have picked up an impressive head of steam at home this season, with wins in the URC over the past three champions in the competition in consecutive matches plus the win over Exeter Chiefs in the Champions Cup, but the derby phase is often the most testing, as the game against the Stormers showed.
Although the Cape team went to Durban with a very understrength side because of injuries and were in a charitable mood in terms of the mistakes they made in the game, the Sharks had to hang on for a win with the Stormers being denied what would have been a freaky come from behind win off the last move of the game by a TMO decision.
Eben Etzebeth was missing from that game, however, and he makes a huge difference to the Sharks when he is present. The most capped Springbok was concussed the following week against Exeter, and Sharks fans will be holding thumbs that he has completed the HIA protocols in the interim.
EXPECTING PHYSICAL CHALLENGE
The Sharks team will be announced on Thursday afternoon and coach John Plumtree is sure to go for the strongest available team as he looks to do what Esterhuizen spoke about by building up a buffer by winning the home games.
The Sharks’ URC season has been a vast improvement on the previous one, with four wins from six games and they currently lie sixth on the log, but the two festive season derbies against the Bulls and the Stormers away will confirm whether they are realistic challengers for a top four spot. If they win both, they will also be far more comfortable in terms of the top eight position they need to make the URC playoffs and stay in the Champions Cup.
Esterhuizen spent some time away playing for English club Harlequins but he knows how tough South African derbies can be and is expecting a “harsh” evening out against the Bulls.
“Historically the Bulls are always tough. They bring a lot of physicality and it is a big physical challenge. We know them well and they know us well. It all depends on what the weather throws us, that will dictate what the game looks like. But it is always harsh against the Bulls,” said Esterhuizen.
“Being at home is a massive boost, it is near a sold out crowd and the supporters showing up in numbers is great for us as it shows we are on the right track. The more we win the more they will come and the more enjoyable it will be for us.”