The Test-match calibre players the Sharks will be up against in Italy greatly excites the Durban side as they look to end off their United Rugby Championship (URC) tour with a consecutive win.
After sneaking the winning try in at the death against the Dragons this past weekend, the attention shifts to the dangerous Benetton in Italy, who are currently winless after three matches.
About Saturday🤩@vodacom #URC #DRAvSHA pic.twitter.com/wgFUgPk58E
— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) October 7, 2024
The coastal side has already done better than last season's opening tour by winning one match – they lost all four previously – and after defeating the Dragons 33-30, they are looking to improve on that performance ahead of Saturday's match.
David Williams, Sharks assistant coach, said those late comebacks are something the team prides itself on at the moment, but they are wary of the threats Benetton poses.
“It's a strength, showing we are staying in the fight and we can live in those pressure moments,” the Sharks' attack mentor said yesterday.
“We've looked at how they use those personnel in their game and where the points of pressure are that we can exert on them.”
“But we want to keep working on our game so that we can maybe pull away from the contest, but the calibre of our opponents this weekend and their Test experience, it's going to be a great challenge for us. We've looked at how they use those personnel in their game and where the points of pressure are that we can exert on them.
“All over the park (there will be challenges). The forwards will be a great contest, around the backs too. It's about finding those moments and converting them into points.”
The Sharks are hopeful the weather conditions in Italy will be as good as it was in the first two tour matches. They were able to play their gameplan in both those matches and did not have to adapt to any rainy and wet conditions just yet.
“We've been blessed with two games in magnificent conditions that suits our game and where we want to take it.”
"We've been blessed with two games in magnificent conditions that suits our game and where we want to take it. (Saturday) looks like another great day in Italy and we are looking forward to it."
How their team for Benetton could look is also being kept under wraps with the Sharks to provide an injury update only later this week. There was also no clear answer on their plans with some of their available Springboks and if they were flown to Italy to join the rest of the squad or if they were being kept fresh at home.
“We have a plan for those returning Sharks players from the national team, so that will be slowly delivered over the next few weeks.”