Fear the fin, or fear the freeze?
INTERVIEW: The Springbok-laden Sharks team arrived in Bordeaux this week with a feared reputation – mainly for the quality of the individuals in the line-up.
International stars Thomas du Toit, Mbongeni Mbonambi, Eben Etzebeth, Siyamthanda Kolisi, Jaden Hendrikse and Makazole Mapimpi headline the team that will front up to Bordeaux-Bègles in a European Cup Round Two match at Stade Chaban-Delmas on Friday.
Throw in Wallaby Ben Tapuai and other Boks like Sikhumbuzo Notshe and Rohan Janse van Rensburg then you have a team that can truly turn up the heat and live up to their slogan of ‘Fear the fin’.
However, Bordeaux, the team from the city that is the hub of the famed wine-growing region, has a very different auxiliary.
The port city on the Garonne River in southwestern France is in the grip of an icy winter, conditions very foreign to most Durban-based players.
Playing in December, when their compatriots are kicking back and starting to soak up the Christmas celebrations, the tourists have to acclimatise to sub-zero temperatures.
“There’s a big difference,” the Sharks hooker, Mbonambi, told an online media briefing from France.
“We’ve just come from over 30°C summer in Durban and it is 2°C in the morning.
“They say we’ll be playing in 0°C on Friday.
“It is a different season and a different kind of cold.”
The 31-year-old, 56-times capped Bok said they are embracing the challenge.
“We will make memories on the training field and enjoy ourselves as much as we can,” he added.
The teams also come into the game with contrasting fortunes.
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Bordeaux come off a first round loss to Gloucester in England, while the Sharks edge a hard-charging Harlequins at Kings Park.
Mbonambi expects the French side to be a completely different prospect at their home ground.
“Any French team would be hurting after losing their first game, because for them it [the European Cup] is big and they’ve been in the competition for many years.
“It is our first year.
“We’ve had a review, looking at them and their games – including the Top 14 – and I must say, they really have a good squad.
“Last week [a 17-22 loss to the English Premiership outfit] was just a slip-up for them.
“They can’t be judged on that game and we know this match is going to be really tough.
“They have a good pack, a good backline. They have a good flyhalf [Matthieu Jalibert] and a good scrumhalf [Maxime Lucu] – two quality French internationals.
“We [the Springboks] played against their flyhalf and scrumhalf in that Test match against France [in November], we know they’re going to be up for it, playing in front of their home crowd.
“It’s always tough playing in France so we have to be as well-prepared as we can.”
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