AUDIO: Sharks' sights firmly set on Round of 16
AUDIO: According to Sharks loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi, they are determined to achieve knockout qualification when they take on Bordeaux Begles at the Stade Chaban Delmas in Round Four of the Champions Cup on Sunday.
The Durban side arrived in a chilly Bordeaux on Tuesday as they look to qualify for the Round of 16.
John Plumtrees’ side is placed fourth in Pool One on five points.
Ulster (fifth) and Exeter Chiefs (sixth) are yet to pick up any log points this season, and with their points difference tallies so much lower than the Sharks’, it would be a major surprise if the South African franchise doesn’t appear in the knockouts.
Bordeaux currently leads the way in both Pool One and the Top 14 and is fresh off a 69-17 demolition of 2020 champions Exeter Chiefs at Sandy Park.
“It’s a bit chilly this side – when we arrived, the weather was about -2 degrees, so it’s a bit different for us coming from hot and humid Durban.
“But we’re all in a good space. Our goal for this week is pretty simple: We want to qualify for the round of 16. We know that we’ve got our work cut out for us, Bordeaux is a quality side,” Buthelezi remarked.
“They’re going really well in the Top 14 and the Champions Cup. Last season they came up short in the Champions Cup, so they will want to rectify that.
“They’re a team that scores a lot of tries. We know that defensively we’re going to have to roll up our sleeves.”
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The men in black and white triumphed 32-3 in Durban the last time the teams met in 2023, with current Bordeaux coach Yannick Bru still involved with the Sharks then as a breakdown consultant.
Earlier that same season at the Stade Chaban Delmas, the Sharks were 19-16 winners, though it’s clear Bru has helped the club improve by a big margin since then.
The Sharks head into the clash following their disappointing 8-20 home defeat by reigning French and European champions Toulouse, but Buthelezi says they have turned the page.
“We were gutted after last week at home. We don’t like losing at home, we don’t like losing in a Sharks jersey, but we felt like we had enough opportunities last week for us to be able to put that game away.
“But we’ve turned over a new page now, we’re looking forward to getting stuck into training this week.”
The team will have three training sessions and enjoy a day off on Friday before the captain’s run on Saturday.
