Sharks vow to ‘turn the ship around’ after Toulouse humbling as Saracens visit Durban

There have been serious discussions in Durban among the Sharks’ senior players about turning their season around with a strong display against Saracens in the second round of the Champions Cup on Saturday.

After being on the receiving end of a heavy defeat against Toulouse in France this past weekend, the Sharks are making a concerted effort to revive their European campaign at Kings Park against the English Premiership club.

The return of key Springboks for this clash, including utility player André Esterhuizen and Siya Kolisi, should provide a much-needed boost. However, the squad is aware that momentum will only come with a first victory.

Esterhuizen, who will be playing his 100th match for the coastal side, said on Tuesday that players have spoken about “turning the ship around” after another difficult outing. This will also be interim head coach JP Pietersen’s first match in charge, following John Plumtree’s early departure from the role.

“A lot has happened while we were away,” Esterhuizen said. “But everyone is focused on the same task — getting us back to where we should be. This weekend’s game is a big one and that’s all we’re looking at. Whatever happens, we know we need to play rugby to the best of our ability.

“Saracens are a great side, and they showed their form against Clermont. I’ve played them a few times in the past, and they are always tough to beat. They have a strong set-piece, their attack has evolved, and they are very structured. It will be a challenge.”

Esterhuizen is looking forward to the milestone of 100 matches for the Sharks, an achievement reached despite spending time abroad in England. Since returning, he has quickly re-established his command in the midfield on both attack and defence.

The Sharks know another loss could make it extremely difficult to reach the playoffs of the tournament. However, Esterhuizen does not believe the team is under do-or-die pressure. With crucial matches in the United Rugby Championship (URC) ahead as well, they are keenly aware that building momentum with a win will be vital.

South African URC derbies against the Bulls and Lions await after this clash, before more Champions Cup matches arrive in the new year. They close out January with back-to-back URC duels with the Stormers.

“We’ve all been in situations where our backs are against the wall, but we’re not looking at it that way,” he said.

“We see it as our next game. We’ve experienced pressure before, and that could help us heading into this match against Saracens. We’ve had two good days of training. It has been very hot in Durban, but the boys have worked hard. This is a tough Champions Cup fixture, and we want to deliver a team performance like we have in the past. We haven’t been up to scratch this season.

“This is an opportunity to see our game evolve and improve. Each week we are motivated to play well and we want the fans to come back and watch us. That is the goal of any rugby team.”