The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and Toyota Free State meet for the first time in this year’s Carling Currie Cup when the two old rivals will do battle in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
After the conclusion of the group stages, the teams now enter the cross-group phase with a tough meeting against Free State first up.
For head coach JP Pietersen, this match offers the perfect opportunity to show greater consistency after the first six rounds.
“It’s a big challenge for us, we’ve built up a bit of momentum in the last three games but the challenge with this group is to have two good games in a row, and this is a great opportunity against a very good team.
“What a test for a young group to go to Bloemfontein and to show their worth in a Hollywoodbets Sharks jersey and representing the brand.”
Free State also come into this game off the back of a good win and no doubt will be looking for the same kind of performance consistency.
“The Cheetahs have played well, last week’s win over DHL Western Province in Cape Town was a good one when they showed their physicality, their pack dominated Province and we know as a young team, that’s what’s going to come and we need to front up.
“Playing in Bloemfontein is always tough and we know as a group it’s going to be a massive challenge.”
Free State are currently third on the overall log with the Hollywoodbets Sharks trailing by six points, so a win would help close the gap.
“The log is quite tight at the moment, particularly for the four teams who want to qualify for the semi-finals: us, the Pumas, Western Province and Griquas.
“As a coach I look at performance, we haven’t put two good games in a row and that’s the challenge for us.”
Having played there himself, the message to his team is to take this challenge with serious focus. The Free State side play the game at a high tempo, looking to tire out their opponents in the altitude which isn’t far off that experienced on the highveld.
“The Cheetahs have a good record at home and we know they will test us by moving the ball, trying to fatigue us to capitalise in the last 15 minutes of the game,” Pietersen explains.
“They’re a bit different this year though, they have a big pack upfront, they want to scrum, to maul and pick-and-go, so their forwards will look to fatigue us physically.
“We understand their strengths, but for us it’s important that we get off to a good start and build ourselves into the game.”
What is the coach’s message to the team this week?
“I want to see physicality with endless effort on Saturday. To see the boys fight for 80 minutes.”
