Head coach Joey Mongalo and captain Vincent Tshituka have reportedly said the Sharks XV are preparing to be a “different animal” against the Vodacom Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday. Devin Hermanus.
Speaking at the Sharks conference on Tuesday, Mongallo and Chituka reflected on last week’s 24-18 comeback win over the Bulls in Durban and prepared for a fierce rematch with Loftus Versfeld in the Currie Cup semi-final.
“It was our first game together as a URC group so winning gives us confidence… but we have reviewed well that there is a lot of room for improvement going forward,” Mongalo told reporters.
“The Bulls at Loftus are a different animal. They have a great track record of winning playoff games there and are probably the favorites going into the game.”
Chituka echoed his coach’s sentiments, saying he understood it would be difficult to beat Loftus but was relishing the challenge. “We know what the Bulls are like at Loftus. It’s going to be a bloody game between two strong teams,” said the powerful loose forward.
“As Coach Joey said, we’re not the favorites, but I’ve always loved being the underdog. It just puts a different kind of fire in my stomach.”
The Sharks are closely monitoring injuries to veteran prop Luan Dreyer (calf) and junior Springbok star Jurenzo Julius (head knock), both of whom were forced off the field in last week’s win over the Bulls. “We’re waiting on the report on Luan Dreyer… Jurenzo has had a concussion so there are protocols he has to go through,” Mongallo said.
Additional information: Bulls ready for semifinals
Mongalo praised U21 coach JP Pietersen for laying a solid foundation for the senior team. “I would like to thank JP and his coaching staff… I know September 28 is a big day for us, as it is our first URC game and another opportunity to improve.
“We practiced as a group that came out for the first time (last week), but what’s encouraging is that we won such a tough game. We want to put up the same kind of fight and put on a performance that we can look back on and say we never backed down, regardless of the result, because we showed up for 80 minutes and we never backed down.”
As for a potential clash with his former club Lions in next week’s finals, Chituka kept his focus squarely on Saturday. “To be honest, I haven’t thought that far ahead yet. It’s one step at a time, and my focus is definitely on the Bulls,” he added.
“As Coach Joey said, the players who have played in the Currie Cup so far have done very well and it is up to the players from the URC squad to take responsibility for completing the good work started.”
Having previously worked under Bulls rugby boss Jake White, Mongallo knows how difficult it can be to face his former boss, but remains optimistic. “I love Pretoria! It’s always good to take on a challenge…
“The last time we were there at URC they had a pretty comprehensive win over us and I think some of the players will remember that. It was a humbling reminder that if you don’t go there and give it your all it can be a day you won’t forget.
“So I hope we can make this a memorable day.”
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