No Excuses

10/02/2024 04:21 AM

The Hollywoodbets Sharks had a gruelling build-up to their Vodacom United Rugby Championship game against Connacht on Saturday but refuse to lay the blame for their loss on travel and a busy match schedule.

Speaking from Wales where the team is now based ahead of their second tour match, against Dragons on Saturday, Hollywoodbets Sharks captain Vincent Tshituka admitted as much.

His team blew Connacht away in the first half, but a strong fightback from the Irish side saw them finish strongly.

"It was a disappointing second half from our side, there were quite a few factors that went into that, but nothing we tried to pay too much attention to," Tshituka said of the fact that they had played two Carling Currie Cup knock-out games and then undertaking long haul travel to Galway.

"We know what we are expected to deliver in those games. Connacht stepped it up in the second half and we just didn't match that and they got the better of us."

Commenting on the 5G pitch which is no longer alien to the South African sides, but still presents its own set of challenges given that they may only play on those artificial surfaces once or twice a year, again, there were no excuses.

"It does play differently, but fortunately we were able to do some training on similar pitches during the week," he said.

"We don't want to blame it too much on external factors, it's a lot more on us and something we've worked on going into this week's game against the Dragons."

The Welsh side have never beaten the Hollywoodbets Sharks in the URC in the three matches played to date. In the two clashes at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, the Durban side prevailed 51-3 and 69-14, although the last time they met at Rodney Parade, the Dragons lost by just one point.

Taking lessons out of a loss is always an important way to grow and learn as a team and Tshituka admitted that they have identified where things can improve for Saturday's game.

"Reviewing the past weekend, they targeted us quite heavily at the breakdown and going into this weekend, that's a big focus point for us. We also feel we can assert ourselves a bit more with our maul as a pack of forwards, also with our maul defence. That's also been a big work on this week.

"We're raring to go and to take our opportunities."

Head coach John Plumtree recently handed Tshituka the captaincy role and he has grasped the opportunity with both hands.

"It's been really good but challenging as well because I like to believe I'm a leader through actions rather than words. But it's challenging me in the best way, I feel I'm growing every week, I'm learning how to navigate this role with the players and the coaches and how to cater to the team's needs as a leader.

"It's definitely something where I feel I'm growing every weekend and I'm enjoying the journey."

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