With a very powerful side for Saturday evening’s Carling Currie Cup showdown with the Vodacom Bulls at Jonsson Kings Park, the Cell C Sharks will be looking to put on a strong performance against the log leaders.
Commenting on the side he has been able to pick, Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt admitted that he was relieved to be able to assemble a team capable of testing the visitors in Durban.
“That week off [the bye] gave us the opportunity to get some players back, and that is close to the best team that we can pick,” he said in the lead-up to the game. “We’re excited to get back into action, we have a few games ahead of us in what has been a bit of a stop-start season for us so it’s great to get some continuity.”
The importance of this game cannot be stressed more, although a result against the Bulls will take a huge effort from the Cell C Sharks. However, this is a team that has grown through the tough times and while recent history might suggest that the Bulls are favourites, Everitt believes that this united Sharks’ side has great potential.
“We were convincingly beaten at Loftus in that first round game of Super Rugby Unlocked, but I believe we’re certainly a lot better at the moment,” he said. “We’ve learned a lot from that outing and we’ve been winning week in and week out since then. We’ve found a way with some of the adversity we’ve been through from Covid and injuries and that’s just made our squad stronger.”
From a coaching and playing perspective, this team is performance driven, but Everitt concedes that they are still aiming to achieve higher standards, particularly for longer periods.
“Our performances haven’t been consistent but we’ve performed well in certain stages of games, although we haven’t put an 80 minute performance together yet,” the coach pointed out. “That’s something we’re striving towards, something we’ve discussed as a group and we all know what is required to win the Currie Cup. It’s not playing well for 20 or 30 minutes, it’s going to take an 80 minute effort.
“We’re looking to grow and put in a better performance this weekend.”
The Bulls have put together a convincing run of form and while certain elements of their game mirror what the Bulls have always been renowned for, they’ve become a more all-round side.
“They have a really good set-piece, they’ve recruited a formidable pack that has been performing, but it’s not only there that they are good, they’ve combined forwards and backs well.
“They’ve been exciting, they’re certainly the form team and playing a good 15 man brand of rugby.”
Looking back at the last meeting between the two sides, Everitt felt that too much has changed since then to read anything into how this week’s clash may be influenced by the previous result.
“We’ve struiggled in our set-piece at times, you could say it’s been a bit inconsistent, but we’ve worked hard at that and having Thomas back, together with Ox in the front row, certainly adds to our strength and depth. We’re also getting experience back with Henco Venter and Sikhumbuzo Notshe. So our pack is slightly different although the guys who played in their absence performed admirably. With the experience we get back this weekend, I think you can expect a big improvement.”
Everitt also expected much from a midfield battle that is likely to bring fireworks to the game. Marius Louw has been in outstanding form while the undoubted class of Lukhanyo Am most certainly underlines the strengths of this centre pairing.
“Having Lukhanyo back as our captain inspires the team and motivates them to do well,” Everitt admitted. “He’s a good leader and the players have a lot of respect for him. And Marius has been playing really well.
“The Bulls centre pairing has also performed well so it’s going to be an interesting battle on Saturday night. If the conditions allow the players to move the ball, I think it will be an exciting game of rugby.”