Everitt sure his team can shock Sharks
EDINBURGH head coach Sean Everitt is confident his side can handle the pressures of travelling to South Africa to face the Sharks in the European Challenge Cup.
Edinburgh will this week head back to Durban just two weeks after his side were well beaten in a URC match after Everitt’s former side beat Zebre in the Challenge Cup last 16 yesterday.
Going back to South Africa at such short notice throws up logistical problems, but tournament organisers EPCR provide clubs with assistance and plans were already put in place before Saturday’s match.
It means Edinburgh will leave Scotland tomorrow night and fly directly to South Africa, a shorter journey than their last trip when they flew via Doha, Qatar.
This also allows Everitt’s team to train as normal at home on Monday and Tuesday before they head to Durban.
The majority of the players who will travel will already be used to the South African climate having spent two weeks there recently.
Everitt said: “We’ll be staying in the same hotel, training on the same training field so there will be familiarity with how the week looks. By leaving on Tuesday night we would be able to prepare on Monday and Tuesday like we normally do.
“Wednesday would be a rest day, as it would be at home, and then we would be into our final training session on Thursday, so nothing really changes from that point of view, we’ve just got to toughen up on the flight to Durban.”
Some key players who did not make the previous trip are available for this game. Grant Gilchrist missed out for personal reasons, Ali Price stayed at home with his partner giving birth to a baby girl and Luke Crosbie was continuing his return from injury.
Despite the convincing nature of Sharks’ win over the capital club, and their comfortable victory over Zebre, Everitt is confident his side can cause an upset.
He added: “Like we said at the start of the season, the guys want to win some silverware and I’m sure they’ll be happy to give their all to beat the Sharks next week.”