Edinburgh and Sharks teams to participate in the fourth round of the United Rugby Championship in Edinburgh and Cardiff

Sharks veteran forward Stefan Lewis stated that the team is on a wave of confidence following a hard-fought victory over Lyon, and they are now preparing for the United Rugby Championship match against Cardiff this Friday.

Speaking to the press ahead of Friday's clash, Lewis shared his impressions of the young Sharks team's character during last week's game in France. The team secured a memorable win by scoring after the final whistle, despite being composed of young players.

Lewis noted: 'To travel to France, into a hostile environment, far from home, and achieve a victory is something special.' He added that sometimes young players do not realize what they have achieved, but for many of them, this will likely be the case. 'But what makes us happy is how we continued to fight despite the score, we led and trailed, and to play a full match in 80 or 82 minutes to score and win with such a young group, I think we can be proud of that and build on it in the future.'

The experienced defensive player emphasized that overcoming difficulties in intense games builds invaluable resilience within the squad: 'When it gets a little tougher, you can remember those victories when you were relentless and fought until the end... and you gain the confidence that you can do it again.'

Summarizing the upcoming game at Cardiff Arms Park on Friday evening, assistant coach Warren Whiteley confirmed that the returning Springboks players have fully integrated into the squad since their arrival on Sunday during the tour.

Addressing the tactical challenges posed by the Welsh team under former Cheetahs defender Cornéel van Zyl, Whiteley highlighted the set-piece battle as a key moment. Whiteley observed: 'This is a quality, strong team, and we know that Cornéel has extensive experience regarding the set-piece, especially in out-of-side play. He is a very insightful out-side coach and very smart. It will be a huge battle, and it will be one of the most important areas of the game.'

The team will also have to cope with Cardiff's 4G artificial turf, a characteristic Lewis admitted players rarely like. Lewis said with a smile: 'I prefer grass. I think there are small nuances regarding the ball bounce being slightly higher... so when there is contact, you need to be more vigilant about placing the ball on the turf, it stays there a bit longer. But ultimately, it is rugby between four lines. You cannot change that; both teams play on the same surface.'

With momentum, growing belief among the young squad, and backing from the national team, Sharks intend to maintain their fast, physical, and tireless style of play under the floodlights in the Welsh capital on Friday evening.

Sharks coach, JP Pietersen, dedicated his team's dramatic victory in the Cup of Challenges over the Lions with a score of 40:33 to the memory of Hayron Andrews. He noted that the performance demonstrated the character and identity he desires from his players during the tour.

Sharks secured the win at Stade de Gerland on Saturday when winger Latilele Bester scored a touchdown in the 82nd minute. This goal came shortly after Lion midfielder Baptiste Kuyyo's converted touchdown tied the home team's score at 33:33.

Pietersen stated: 'Today is a special day. Not only because of rugby, but also because Hayron passed away yesterday. It is quite emotional. We will definitely dedicate this victory to Hayron.'

Andrews, who suddenly died in France on Friday, spent most of his career with the Sharks, making over 100 matches for the Durban-based team before moving to the Lions after his time at Sale Sharks.

Pietersen was pleased with how his team fought until the final whistle to ensure a winning start to their European tour, which will continue with URC matches against Cardiff and Munster over the next two weeks.

He emphasized: 'Looking at the game, we deserved this victory. We have very special players in our group, and it was a team effort. There was a fight for 80 minutes, and finishing it like this was truly special.'

For Pietersen, this victory meant more than just the result; it was an opportunity for the Sharks to strengthen their bonds during the tour and demonstrate the qualities they should be known for. The coach added: 'We want to build connections during the tour, we want to show character, and we want to demonstrate our identity abroad. And obviously, today showed that there was a fight for 80 minutes. As head coach, this is what you can only wish for the guys: to fight for the badge, to fight for identity, and to fight for every teammate.'

The Stormers team is determined to earn a star for their badge by participating in the Champions Cup. Utility back Damian Willemse admitted that achieving this top goal would be of great significance for the Cape team ahead of their opening match against Bristol Bears at the DHL stadium on Saturday (starting at 16:15).

However, the Springbok international player realizes that they face a serious challenge from the English team, which possesses significant attacking potential in its backline, and he fears the threat posed by the visitors.

Following a brilliant victory over Sharks in the United Rugby Championship (URC), the Cape team aims to maintain this winning momentum. Nevertheless, the challenge presented by the Bears could serve as an early test of their European ambitions.

Willemse stated: 'For us as a club, it would be a huge achievement to add a star to our badge.' He added: 'We take this tournament very seriously. We reached the quarter-finals and played in the Round of 16, so we know what it's like to feel the pressure when traveling to Europe and playing against big clubs like Bordeaux, Toulon, and Leinster.'

He continued: 'We really want to add a star to our badge, but obviously, it's too early. We have a very tough match against Bristol this weekend. I rate them very highly as a team. They have an incredible coaching staff, and what they have achieved with their program is visible on the field. We are looking forward to our first game.'

Willemse does not idealize the difficulty presented by Bristol, as the English club can damage opponents in several ways thanks to its exciting backline. Stormers intend to build on last Saturday's results but are also preparing for a completely different challenge.

The determination of Stormers to start the campaign with a win is reflected in minor changes made by rugby director John Dobson. Willemse and the rest of the backline remain unchanged, while two changes in the forwards complete the squad.

John Dobson noted: 'There is a lot of attacking potential in this backline. There are Louis Rees-Zammit, Gabriel Ibitoye, and Tom Jordan—they are powerful players, as well as Benhard (Janse van Rensburg). They have a full set of qualities, and they are an outstanding team. As I said, they can carry the ball, pass, and run, so Saturday will be a great confrontation.'

He also added: 'I am very happy about the start of the Champions Cup. We had a very good week, and we look forward to returning home for another weekend. We are obviously playing against a very strong team in Bristol. Their performances in the Premiership have been outstanding, and it is their style of play that makes them truly dangerous.'