In a no-holds-barred reflection, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has laid bare the shortcomings of the Sharks' season, conceding that missing the Vodacom URC playoffs has been a painful letdown. The Durban squad, studded with international stars, dramatically fell short of expectations by not securing a spot in the top eight.
"It's been a tough week for us, not making the top 8," Kolisi admitted, clearly stung by the underachievement.
"We're very disappointed especially with the group that we have, we definitely should've qualified for that. We have no excuses, it hurt, but we want to make sure we finish the season strong."
He also expressed regret over not being able to meet the high expectations of their ardent supporters. "The fans have been supporting us so much, and we couldn't deliver for them and for the club itself. We should be doing better."
With the season winding down, Kolisi is now pivoting to end on a high, beginning with a formidable matchup against Benetton this Saturday. "We've got a big challenge against Benetton, also a great team who've beaten some big teams this season. We want to finish the year strong and hopefully the guys can build on these last two games going forward."
The season's climax is particularly poignant for Kolisi, who is set to depart Durban and return to Cape Town, rejoining the Stormers next season. "It's going to be hard to say goodbye to the boys. Durban has been a special place. The people of KZN have welcomed me and my family, and we'll definitely come back as much as we can," he shared, reflecting on his time with the Sharks. He also expressed gratitude towards the Sharks for their support, "I'm grateful to the Sharks for everything they've done for me, for understanding how important family is and helping me get closer to my kids. I'm looking forward to seeing the supporters for the last two weeks and to say a proper goodbye to everyone."
This season has indeed been a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges for Kolisi and the Sharks. As they approach the final games, the focus is clear: salvage pride and finish strong, setting a foundation for future redemption.
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In a no-holds-barred reflection, Springbok captain Siya Kolisi has laid bare the shortcomings of the Sharks' season, conceding that missing the Vodacom URC playoffs has been a painful letdown. The Durban squad, studded with international stars, dramatically fell short of expectations by not securing a spot in the top eight.
"It's been a tough week for us, not making the top 8," Kolisi admitted, clearly stung by the underachievement.
"We're very disappointed especially with the group that we have, we definitely should've qualified for that. We have no excuses, it hurt, but we want to make sure we finish the season strong."
He also expressed regret over not being able to meet the high expectations of their ardent supporters. "The fans have been supporting us so much, and we couldn't deliver for them and for the club itself. We should be doing better."With the season winding down, Kolisi is now pivoting to end on a high, beginning with a formidable matchup against Benetton this Saturday. "We've got a big challenge against Benetton, also a great team who've beaten some big teams this season. We want to finish the year strong and hopefully the guys can build on these last two games going forward."
The season's climax is particularly poignant for Kolisi, who is set to depart Durban and return to Cape Town, rejoining the Stormers next season. "It's going to be hard to say goodbye to the boys. Durban has been a special place. The people of KZN have welcomed me and my family, and we'll definitely come back as much as we can," he shared, reflecting on his time with the Sharks. He also expressed gratitude towards the Sharks for their support, "I'm grateful to the Sharks for everything they've done for me, for understanding how important family is and helping me get closer to my kids. I'm looking forward to seeing the supporters for the last two weeks and to say a proper goodbye to everyone."
This season has indeed been a rollercoaster of emotions and challenges for Kolisi and the Sharks. As they approach the final games, the focus is clear: salvage pride and finish strong, setting a foundation for future redemption.