THE Sharks need no reminding that their 24-18 Currie Cup pool game win last weekend in Durban amounts to nothing but a puff of dust ahead of the rematch in Pretoria this week.
This time it is a Currie Cup semi-final, and everyone knows that last week’s match was about making up the numbers as the end of the Currie Cup round-robin phase drew to a close.
The teams re-engage at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (5pm kick-off), and the stakes have ratcheted up astronomically: A place in the Currie Cup final is at stake.
“Last week it was our first game together as a United Rugby Championship (URC) group, so the win gave us confidence,” Sharks defence coach Joey Mongalo reflected this week.
“But we’ve had a good review of the amount of room for improvement going forward, as we move to a completely different game.
“The Bulls are a different animal up at Loftus. They’ve got a great record of winning play-off games up there, and they’re probably favourites heading into this game.”
Grit in every frame 🦾 pic.twitter.com/VdqHw63N8E
Alongside Mongalo at the press conference was loose forward Vincent Tshituka, and he agreed with Mongalo that it would be a different game.
“We know what the Bulls are like at Loftus. It’s going to be a bloody tough game. It will be two big forces meeting,” Tshituka said.
Mongalo said the Sharks have some injury concerns going into the game.
“On (former Lions prop) Ruan Dreyer, we’re waiting on reports, while (centre) Jurenzo Julius is busy going through a concussion protocol,” he explained.
Mongalo has taken over as Currie Cup coach from Under-21 mentor JP Pietersen, who took the Sharks through most of the competition.
“I must compliment JP and his coaching staff… We know the 28th of September is a big day for us, because it’s our first URC game (against Connacht in Galway), and this is another opportunity for us to get better.
“We do have work-ons, but the encouraging thing was to win a game that was such a wrestle.
“We hope to bring the same kind of fight, and make sure that for 80 minutes we put on a performance that we can look back on and say that irrespective of the result, we’re proud of ourselves because we never went away.”
Saturday we go again 🦾
🆚 Vodacom Bulls
⏰ 17H15 (CAT)
🏟 Loftus Versfeld
🏆 Carling Currie Cup#CarlingCurrieCup #BULvSHA pic.twitter.com/vQyRbF4zXi
Mongalo used to work for the Bulls, and he said he is looking forward to going back.
“I enjoy Pretoria! It’s always nice to go up for the challenge. The last time we went there in the URC, they had quite a comprehensive victory over us, and I think some of the boys will remember that as a humbling reminder that going up there, if you don’t put your best foot forward, it can be a day to forget.
“Hopefully we can create for ourselves a day to remember.”