The Cell C Sharks arrived in Parma, Italy on Monday for their opening fixture of the new season’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship, with Zebre on their radar as they kick off their season.
For a Cell C Sharks team that finished in fifth-place on the log at the end of the pool stages, getting their season off to a cracking start will be the primary aim of this match.
With the South African teams starting their respective campaigns a little slower than they would have liked last year, but finishing well, much has been learned. The Cell C Sharks would have taken plenty of early lessons on board and will certainly look to produce a commanding performance from the get go.
Speaking from the team’s Italian base, Cell C Sharks head coach Sean Everitt believes that his team is in the right physical and mental space to get their campaign off to a good start.
“We’re happy to make amends from our start last year, all the South African teams struggled but we’re coming in with a bit more experience, we know what’s coming our way as far as the opposition is concerned. It’s not like last year when we were going into the unknown.”
Everitt has warned that despite Zebre registering just one W in last season’s URC campaign, that is all in the history books.
“Zebre will be a tough nut to crack at home,” he admits. “They put on a good performance against Leinster last weekend [going down 33-29] and I don’t think anyone would have believed the game would be so close; they were unfortunate not to get the result.
“We’re under no illusions as to what we’re facing on Friday night and we know this competition is unforgiving as some of the teams found out in the first weekend’s action.”
The Cell C Sharks are led by captain Thomas du Toit, with Boeta Chamberlain named at flyhalf and an old face returning to the team, Fred Zeilinga providing cover off the bench. Rohan Janse van Rensburg makes his first official start, partnering with Ben Tapuai in the midfield.
“Preparations have gone well, apart from the injuries picked up by Curwin Bosch and Lionel Cronje, but Boeta showed enough in those pre-season friendlies against the Lions and Stormers that he’s ready to take over the number 10 jersey.”
Everitt concludes that there is no shortage of excitement or motivation as the Cell C Sharks prepare for this opening fixture.
“We as a group are really excited about the challenge ahead and can’t wait for Friday night’s game.”
The match kicks off at 6.30pm.
Cell C Sharks
1.Ntuthuko Mchunu
2. Kerron van Vurren
3. Thomas du Toit (c)
4. Gerbrandt Grobler
5. Reniel Hugo
6. James Venter
7. Dylan Richardson
8. Phepsi Buthelezi
9. Grant Williams
10. Boeta Chamberlain
11. Thaakir Abrahams
12. Ben Tapuai
13. Rohan Janse van Rensburg*
14. Werner Kok
15. Aphelele Fassi
REPLACEMENTS
16. Dan Jooste
17. Dian Bleuler
18. Carlu Sadie*
19. Justin Basson*
20. Sikhumbuzo Notshe
21. Cameron Wright
22. Fred Zeilinga
23. Marnus Potgieter
*Denotes VURC debut for the Cell C Sharks