The Sharks XV are beefing up their lineup with some familiar muscle for their Currie Cup showdown against the Lions at Ellis Park this Saturday. Making a comeback on the bench is the robust Lee Marvin Mazibuko, who after a French sojourn with Racing 92, returns to add grunt to the Sharks' pack. The 27-year-old prop previously donned the blue-and-white of Western Province and the Stormers from 2018 to 2024, before taking his talents overseas.
The team, led by the sprightly Nick Hatton, is a mix of eager youth and seasoned campaigners. Hatton, who assumed captaincy in 2023, is set to steer a side that's still buzzing from their nail-biting victory against the same opponents in last season's final. "What a challenge for this young group to go up to Joburg, to test ourselves and stay in the fight," remarked head coach JP Pietersen, himself no stranger to high-stakes rugby drama.
"We’re excited for the campaign. We have a young group, but there is experience in Nick Hatton and Bradley Davids, and hopefully they'll just continue to grow and get even better. But with this young group of players, it’s exciting."
Pietersen, a former Sharks and Springbok standout, knows the Lions will be itching to turn the tables. "They’ll want to speed up the game, play fast to put us under pressure, and attack us at set-piece time as well," he explained, highlighting the importance of resilience and tactical nous.
"The main thing from us is to control the controllables and stay in the fight. If we can do that, we have a good opportunity. We have youth, we have hunger, we have power, and if we can stay in the fight until the end, that gives us the opportunity to get a result."
The stakes are high as the Sharks XV look to kick off their campaign on a winning note, with an eye on maintaining composure under the Lions' onslaught. With a balanced squad that blends the vigor of youth with strategic acumen, the Sharks might just have the recipe to outlast their fierce rivals in the highveld heat. The action kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, promising a clash filled with as much strategy as brute force.
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The Sharks XV are beefing up their lineup with some familiar muscle for their Currie Cup showdown against the Lions at Ellis Park this Saturday. Making a comeback on the bench is the robust Lee Marvin Mazibuko, who after a French sojourn with Racing 92, returns to add grunt to the Sharks' pack. The 27-year-old prop previously donned the blue-and-white of Western Province and the Stormers from 2018 to 2024, before taking his talents overseas.
The team, led by the sprightly Nick Hatton, is a mix of eager youth and seasoned campaigners. Hatton, who assumed captaincy in 2023, is set to steer a side that's still buzzing from their nail-biting victory against the same opponents in last season's final. "What a challenge for this young group to go up to Joburg, to test ourselves and stay in the fight," remarked head coach JP Pietersen, himself no stranger to high-stakes rugby drama.
"We’re excited for the campaign. We have a young group, but there is experience in Nick Hatton and Bradley Davids, and hopefully they'll just continue to grow and get even better. But with this young group of players, it’s exciting."
Pietersen, a former Sharks and Springbok standout, knows the Lions will be itching to turn the tables. "They’ll want to speed up the game, play fast to put us under pressure, and attack us at set-piece time as well," he explained, highlighting the importance of resilience and tactical nous.
"The main thing from us is to control the controllables and stay in the fight. If we can do that, we have a good opportunity. We have youth, we have hunger, we have power, and if we can stay in the fight until the end, that gives us the opportunity to get a result."
The stakes are high as the Sharks XV look to kick off their campaign on a winning note, with an eye on maintaining composure under the Lions' onslaught. With a balanced squad that blends the vigor of youth with strategic acumen, the Sharks might just have the recipe to outlast their fierce rivals in the highveld heat. The action kicks off at 3pm on Saturday, promising a clash filled with as much strategy as brute force.