The Sharks head to Edinburgh looking to shake off their travel blues and keep their slim play-off hopes alive. While Zekhethelo Siyaya’s breakout form is a major boost, injury concerns and scrum battles await in the Scottish capital. Photo: Backpagepix
Image: Backpagepix
The Sharks will not have long to dwell on the disappointment of Saturday’s United Rugby Championship defeat to the Ospreys, a result that all but ended their slim play-off hopes, with a rapid turnaround before Friday night’s clash against Edinburgh Rugby at Murrayfield Stadium (8.45pm kick-off).
Missed opportunities in Bridgend have left JP Pietersen’s charges playing largely for pride in their last three fixtures of the regular season – though they are mathematically not out of the race for the Top 8, perched in 11th spot with 34 points.
They have only lost one of their past five clashes against the Scottish side, who are in 12th place on 28 points, and out of the running, but a number of those have been close contests. The Sharks also boasted a similarly impressive record against the Ospreys, but that counted for little as the Durban side’s struggles on the road in Europe continued.
There is little in the weekend’s performance to suggest that they will break the cycle in Edinburgh, before returning the comfort of the Tank where they will round off the regular season with matches against Italian sides Benetton and Zebre.
There was at least one major positive to emerge from the defeat in Wales. The breakthrough performance of teenage fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya offered a glimpse of real attacking spark – 14 carries, three offloads, 91m gained and 10 defenders beaten – but it was tempered by another injury setback for Springbok wing and centre Ethan Hooker, adding to an increasingly stretched backline.
The introduction of Springbok props Vincent Koch and Ox Nche in the second half swung momentum in the Sharks’ favour as their scrum began to dominate (with accusations of gamesmanship from the Ospreys still swirling around after the move to uncontested scrums). It will be interesting to see if Pietersen opts to start with the experienced duo, after the front row of Phatu Ganyane, Fez Mbatha and Hanro Jacobs were given a torrid time in the set piece in the first half.
Springbok skipper Siya Kolisi was also rested as he continues his recovery from injury, but Pietersen had hinted at the flank’s possible return to the line-up for Friday's match, that could be his last away match in Sharks colours.
Edinburgh, who will be buoyed by the weekend’s one-point home victory over Zebre, will round off their season with matches away against the Dragons and at home to Connacht.