The Sharks team intensified its preparations for the United Rugby Championship after a convincing 66-0 victory over South Western Districts in George last Friday. Coach JP Pietersen expressed satisfaction with the growing cohesion of the team.
INTERNAL RUGBY
This friendly match was held three weeks before the Sharks' debut URC match against Ospreys, which is scheduled for September 26th at Kings Park stadium. Pietersen used the game to provide valuable playing experience to several players who impressed during the Currie Cup.
Despite the impressive scoreline, the Sharks coach was more interested in the physical test provided by the SWD team under the guidance of former Springbok and Bulls mentor, Heinke Meyer. Pietersen noted positive aspects of the game:
WHAT THE COACH SAID
'The connection between the forwards and backlines, how they played off each other, was pleasing to see,' stated Pietersen. He added that SWD provided a good test due to their powerful forward pack. 'Physically, they demanded a lot from us—in rucks, mauls, and ball retention. So it was a good test of fitness that we passed.'
The SWD team demonstrated significant progress during the Currie Cup, making them a useful opponent for the Sharks as they concluded weeks of preseason physical conditioning. Pietersen was also pleased with the opportunity to give chances to several reserve players so they could make themselves known before the URC begins.
The coach emphasized the importance of maintaining team health: 'The most important thing is that the Sharks went through this match without serious injuries; player reliability looks good,' he reported. He also noted that the team's level of physical readiness is high.
Before fully focusing on the URC, the Sharks will play another friendly match against the Lions in Johannesburg this Friday. Pietersen believes that the elements of the team are starting to come together: 'The connection, as I mentioned, between the backlines and forwards, is approaching some cohesion. It's great to see that we are building. It's good to see the guys showing themselves and playing as a team.'