DOUBLE TROUBLE

The Hollywoodbets Sharks and Emirates Lions go head-to-head in successive Vodacom United Rugby Championship (VURC) derby matches home and away, starting this Saturday in Johannesburg with the pair back in action next weekend at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.

Following on from the wonderfully compelling victory over the Vodacom Bulls at Loftus Versfeld Stadium a fortnight back, the Hollywoodbets Sharks are in a good mental space and having achieved victory away from home over the South African Shield leaders, will go into this match with confidence.

The Emirates Lions went down to the Vodacom Bulls last Saturday, losing 31-19 and hanging on to 12th place on the overall log, while the Hollywoodbets Sharks, with two away wins in succession (the previously beat Cardiff Rugby in Wales), currently occupy fourth spot with a game in hand.

Despite their win over the Vodacom Bulls two weeks ago, Hollywoodbets Sharks head coach John Plumtree admits that his team has moved on from there as the focus changes.

"We put ourselves under unnecessary pressure in that game, having players yellow carded made life difficult for us," he explains.

But out of adversity came heroism and that is something you can't train or buy.

"Despite the pressure, you can't fault their character, they stayed composed, got ahead on the scoreboard playing the style of rugby we want them to play. It was good.

"But that's all in the past. We know that winning at Emirates Airline Park is never easy, we have a lot of respect for the Emirates Lions and we know how tough this is going to be.

"The reward is that the boys are believing in themselves and believing in our game which is so important."

With a two week block between games, the Hollywoodbets Sharks used this time to both prepare but also to energise the players ahead of this next block of games.

"We had a couple of days training last week, along with a braai, so we had a bit of connection. The boys went away for a few days to really just freshen up for this week. They've come back in excited and ready to go."

While everyone – from coaches, to team-mates, to the fans – are all desperate to see the likes of Eben Etzebeth, Ox Nche, André Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi and a few other big names back in action, Plumtree has confirmed that that the players who have done such a sterling job in the recent past are going to continue to carry the torch for the Black & White cause.

"You can't take anyone lightly in the VURC, we still have players out injured, our squad is nowhere near full strength, but the boys who have been selected have worked hard for one another.

"We've been under a lot of pressure, the medical team has been under enormous pressure too with all the injuries and it's been a tough time for us.

"But Vincent Tshituka is doing a great job of captaining and leading the team well, and guys like Bongi Mbonambi, Jason Jenkins and Lukhanyo Am are showing their experience which helps Vincent a lot.

"So our side is pretty much the same this week, we've been going without months with someone like Eben and will have to make do without him. Right now we have to focus on who is in [not out] and I think that's what we've been doing well."