Today’s Carling Currie Cup clash with the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at Princess Magogo Stadium in kwaMashu offers the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV the ideal opportunity to tick off a few boxes.
Amongst them, taking the game back to the community and thanking them for their loyal and passionate support by playing an exciting brand of rugby that both thrills the crowd and delivers a winning performance.
For head coach Mike Vowles, acknowledging the state of play is important at this juncture as it gives him, his coaching staff and the squad an opportunity to build from here.
“We’ve obviously had a tough start to the competition with three away games,” he points out. “However, I feel that we have really been massively competitive in all three of those outings having created lots of opportunities and as a result, the squad has really grown in confidence.
“There’s a real connection and cohesion that’s starting to be built, so we’re taking a lot of positives out of our start and we remain very optimistic around the rest of the Carling Currie Cup competition.
“Our focus now shifts to our first home game where we’re wanting to put in a really strong performance.”
For the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, this match has a two-fold purpose, delivering for the fans and delivering on their potential as a rugby team.
“The fact that we’re playing in KwaMashu is really exciting for the group to take rugby back to their community and to feel their love and support of the Hollywoodbets Sharks will be massive for us.
“We’re hoping to put in a great performance for them.
“It’s also an opportunity for us to turn our season around; we’re under no illusions as to the importance of the game, both from our Carling Currie Cup campaign, but also giving our fans something to be really proud about.”
In terms of selection, Vowles did point out the rationale behind this, explaining that, “There have been some changes, Cam Dawson and Tom Dyer are both out with injuries which has made us reshuffle our pack, and Rambo Kubheka gets a start at loosehead and Willem van den Hever comes in at 6 with Tino Masevere who was on national duty with Zimbabwe coming in at eight. He’s a very exciting player and one we’re really happy to have back in our group.”
In the backs, there are some positional changes with Khuthi Rasivhaga getting a start and Lyle Matthews moving to 13.
“We feel confident that these changes will allow us to impose our brand and DNA on the opposition.”
Talking of the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, Vowles warns that the visitors, currently in the top four, offer formidable opposition to his side.
“They’re a very settled team, a mature team and one that has played a lot of rugby together. They pride themselves on momentum and physicality, so we need to be able to match that.
“But more importantly, we need to be brave, we need to stick to our DNA and play the type of rugby that excites, that’s physical, that’s relentless.
“We’ll show a lot of fight now that we’re back home. It’s a challenge that we’re really looking forward to.”
