Sharks brace for physical Lions test as momentum builds under Pietersen

The Sharks are bracing for a physical battle against the Lions in Saturday’s United Rugby Championship clash at Kings Park (3.30pm kick-off), with coach JP Pietersen admitting that back-to-back wins had brought renewed energy to the former strugglers.

The Sharks are well rested after they accounted for the Bulls in their last URC  match, which was preceded by a Champions Cup home win over Saracens that kicked off Pietersen’s tenure in fine style.

Yet the former Sharks and Bok stalwart is all too aware of the need to build on those strong foundations if the Sharks are to rescue a season that was in danger of imploding after a woeful start to the campaign under former coach John Plumtree.  

“The training week has been going good. The Boys feel refreshed after a week off, and are fully focused this week on the Lions,” Pietersen said on Wednesday, after announcing his team for Saturday’s encounter. 

“Two wins does help, it does bring energy, and as a group you become tighter but we will also identify work-ons, which is important for us to grow. Two wins means nothing if you don’t back it up, so we want to keep it going, work hard and make the team better.”

The Sharks have been boosted by the welcome return to the starting line-up of Springbok stalwarts Ox Nche and Aphelele Fassi for Saturday’s clash that is shaping up to be another thriller at a packed Shark Tank. Corne Rahl and Siya Masuku also make return to the matchday 23, with both  players named on a bench featuring Boks Phepsi Buthelezi and Jaden Hendrikse.

Pietersen has made just the three changes to the starting XV, with Nche taking the place of Phatu Ganyane at loosehead prop, Manu Tshituka replacing Buthelezi at No 8, and Fassi starting at fullback for Hakeem Kunene. 

The union revealed that they were expecting a crowd of between 18 000 and 20 000 at the Sharks Fest where the entertainment on the field is often matched by the fireworks off it, with celebrated house trio Mi Casa the headline act providing the post-match entertainment this time.

A sold-out crowd helped roar the home team to victory over the Bulls, and they will be hoping to do the same against the Lions. Pietersen is under no illusions about the task that awaits them, however, or the unpredictable nature of derby clashes.  

“With the Lions being seventh or eighth on the log, it shows the way they play and how good they are,” he said (the Sharks are 13th). “They’ve got a good coaching group that have been together for a long time now, so they’ve got a good understanding of what they want to do. 

“As you can see, they beat the Bulls at Loftus convincingly and they almost beat the Stormers in Cape Town so their hopes will be high that they can come down to Kings Park and win. 

“It’s going to be a great challenge because South African derbies are unpredictable and physical as physical can be, so we’ll prep ourselves for a physical battle. 

“Obviously the Lions will move the ball, which we also want to do more – play a a bit of rugby –  so hopefully we can give the fans a good game of rugby. A nice, entertaining game will be awesome, especially going into the new year, so we’re looking forward to the challenge against the Lions on Saturday.”

Ivan van Rooyen’s Lions will be hoping to arrest a run of three losses in a row, but will be buoyed by their performance against the log-leading Stormers in Cape Town in their last URC match, and hoping to play the role of party poopers on Saturday.