Sharks farewell to get 'emotional'

 

The Durban side have endured something of a horror season with just six wins from their 15 matches, which means that they will finish in fourth place in the South African conference some way off the top six overall regardless of what happens against the Stormers who are the only South African team in the play-offs this year.

 

However, with stalwarts like Willem Alberts and Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis now confirmed to be heading abroad after the World Cup, the match will serve as something of a farewell as their last game in the black and white jersey.

 

Although things have not gone to plan this season, Mtawarira said that there will be extra motivation for the team to pay tribute to the senior players that will be leaving the franchise.

 

"It has been a tough season, but what doesn't kill you makes you stronger. We have learned a lot of lessons and hopefully this builds character in the team.

 

"For us right now what we are focusing on is finishing this season on a high and making sure we make our supporters proud.

 

"We have got one more game and I think it is also going to be quite an emotional game with a few players that are leaving so we are possibly playing our last game with a couple of guys and it will be important for us to finish the season on a high," he told rugby365.

 

With their chances of securing a home semifinal out of their hands and the fact that the Stormers have already sewn up the South African conference, the visitors are expected to take the opportunity to rest some key players and send something of a second-string side to Kings Park.

 

This may well rob the public of a showdown between the incumbent Springbok front row and a Stormers unit which has been the most dominant in the competition at scrum-time this year.

 

However, whether Mtawarira has to scrum against Frans Malherbe or Vincent Koch he will be in for a testing afternoon either way, and he says that the competition from the next generarion can only be a good thing.

 

"I think it is very important to always have competition, it brings out the best in everyone, so it is good to have guys that have stepped up to the plate and have really played well.

 

"It is good to see youngsters coming up and making a name for themselves, we are happy for them that they are doing well and for us it is important to raise our game and make sure we do the business when we get on the field.

 

"Nobody is irreplaceable so I think it is good to have so much depth in the front row and so many youngsters coming in," he explained.

 

If the Stormers were at full-strength there would be a lot more hype about this match being something of a Springbok front row trial, but regardless of who takes the pitch it will be an opportunity for a few players to make a statement at scrum-time.

 

"For most of us it is about getting into good form and making sure we are ready for what is coming after that," added Mtawarira.