Sharks enjoy well-earned break before clashes with wounded Lions and in-form Bulls

The Sharks enter a break after securing three back-to-back wins for the first time this season. Picture: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images A resurgent Sharks side say they will use the break to recover physically after two bruising local derbies against the Stormers, before returning in three weeks to face the Lions and then the Bulls. The proud Durban union are on a three-game winning streak for the first time this season, thrashing Clermont before theirback-to-back victoriesover the Stormers.

They climbed into the top eight of the United Rugby Championship, also for the first time, before other results meant they dropped down to ninth before the rest period. Sharks players have clearly bought into interim coach JP Pietersen’s approach and new captain André Esterhuizen’s leadership. The results have followed, with five wins from seven since John Plumtree’s departure, and the board now appearing set tomake Pietersen’s role permanent.

Pietersen credited his coaching staff andnew captainfor their buy-in, while Esterhuizen attributed a change in training intensity andshift in mindset, for the revival. Whatever it is, it is working. But the Sharks are staying grounded.

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He said the Sharks “definitely need some time off”. When they return to training, the Sharks will be working on their starts, after the Stormers scored a try against themafter just 23 secondsof the kick-off last weekend. Pietersen referred to how the Stormers edged 24-14 ahead early in the second half at Kings Park.

The Sharks fought back with three tries while they kept the Stormers scoreless until the end of the game. “The fighting spirit is there. What we need to work on is starting better.

Credit to the Stormers for putting us under pressure, they caught us off-guard. “When I took over we were not great. I reminded players… we just want to see some fighting spirit and we want to see that we are not just about talking but doing, making the badge proud.” The Lions head into the break after a57-12 thrashing by the Bulls, while the Bulls also now have their first three straight wins this season.

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