The Cell C Sharks are in Pretoria for their round five Carling Currie Cup clash when they take on the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld this evening in what should be a physically confrontational derby.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls have loaded their side with players who featured in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship over weekend, indicating the great importance they have placed on the outcome of this game.
For Cell C Sharks head coach Etienne Fynn, this is a positive sign of how highly their opposition rate them.
“The Bulls have clearly gone out and picked the strongest available team; they’re targeting this game. That’s what it’s all about – competing – and our players would want to measure themselves against the best the Bulls have to offer. Yes, they have some great players, but so do we.”
His expectations of what the hosts will bring to the game are clear.
“The Bulls are the Bulls, at Loftus, and we don’t expect them to stray from their DNA,” he explains. “They have evolved their game though, that’s clear, and in terms of preparation, we have been as complete as we can. Ultimately it’s about going there and performing against them on their home field.
“For our youngsters, this is an opportunity to stand up and be counted against some experienced players. You have to bring it, whether you’ve played 100 senior games or a young player in your second or third game. You bring it and you get counted.”
Winning four games in a row and maintaining an unbeaten record means his squad is doing something right and tonight’s match offers further opportunity to entrench their style on the competition.
“Any team has a core identity, this team has definitely grown one, and we have some really talented players. They’re all mentally prepared and everyone is really looking forward to this game which is all you expect as a coach. You want your team to arrive there in the right mental space and perform. If they’ve given maximum effort and energy, that’s all you ask for.”
Of the fact that they haven’t lost, Fynn points out that this is not a record they are focusing on.
“If you don’t take it game by game, you are going to slip on a banana peel somewhere. Our focus right now is on performing and growth comes with that.
“We aren’t focused on the fact that we haven’t lost, we haven’t spoken about that once. “For us, it’s all about performing.”