Sharks high on confidence as they get their bite back

The Sharks will go into their Challenge Cup last-16 clash against Italian side Zebre at Durban’s Kings Park tomorrow (kick-off 4pm) high on confidence thanks to a clear momentum shift.

The John Plumtree-coached side is enjoying their best run of form this season – they have won back-to-back matches in the United Rugby Championship against Ulster and Edinburgh.

The games also served the purpose of getting the team ready for their round-of-16 clash with their fellow URC residents.

The Sharks have had their eye on the clash with Zebre for a while, and now that it has arrived, they are a pumped up group ahead of the game.

“The squad is very confident after the two fixtures we played against Ulster and Edinburgh,” Sharks fullback Aphelele Fassi (right) told the media this week regarding the team’s mood ahead of their meeting with Zebre.

The main reason the encounter with Zebre is important is because the Sharks are targeting the Challenge Cup. They have every intention of winning the competition.

Winning the Challenge Cup would see the Sharks return to the Champions Cup next season, a competition they reached the last-eight in last term, where they lost to French giants Toulouse.

With the team objective set and the competition at the knockout stages, it means there is no margin for error.

The Sharks have left no room for complacency going into their last-16 game with Zebre.

“Coming into a different competition like this, we know the stakes (are high), obviously it’s a knockout game. Zebre are an Italian team, they are going to come here with a lot of passion,” Fassi said.

The Sharks and Zebre met earlier in the campaign in the URC. The Durban side were shocked by Zebre, losing 12-10.

That defeat was a low for the Sharks, however, they have since got their bite back.

Knowing what Zebre will be bringing to the table, the Sharks have a plan for controlling the game. Fassi says they will use their powerful pack to lay a foundation for the backs to strike.

“They are going to come here with a lot of physicality. So, I think for us it’s just being able to manage that and putting our forwards in the right places.”