'This season is our best yet': Eben upbeat as Sharks enter uncharted territory
SPOTLIGHT: The Sharks will play their first home quarterfinal when they host Munster in the United Rugby Championship clash.
The side faces a stern test in the form of the Irish giants, who not only have experience in quarterfinal matches but also claimed the trophy in 2023 when they beat the heavily favoured Stormers at Cape Town Stadium.
On the flip side of the coin, the Durban-based side has secured the European Challenge Cup, but has not had much success when it comes to the URC.
At the same stage, in the inaugural 2021/22 season, they lost 27-30 to the Bulls at Loftus and then 5-35 to Leinster in Dublin the following season.
Last season, they concluded the campaign in 14th spot on the table.
However, Springbok star and Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth believes that this season is very different and that it’s the perfect opportunity to show their true pedigree.
“It is the first time that we are hosting a quarterfinal, and it is an advantage,” Etzebeth told reporters.
“Munster are a good team. Two seasons ago, they played a quarterfinal, semifinal, and final away from home [and won the tournament].
“They are used to play-off success and winning away from home in knockout games, which is important because everything you’ve done before doesn’t count.
“So it’s a good opportunity for us to push a bit further in this competition, and having the home-ground advantage and doing it in front of our fans is a massive bonus.”
While the Sharks have managed to secure their first home play-off spot, some of their performances have been below par.
The Springbok-laden team managed a narrow one-point win over Zebre in Round 13, and in their last round-robin clash, they squeezed out a 12-3 win over Scarlets thanks to four penalties.
“If you look at the results throughout the season, there are a few results that we’re not happy about.
“But this season is our best yet.
“We ended third, with the Bulls and Leinster above us, so it was sort of successful.
“We have a home quarterfinal, and if we win that, we stay in South Africa for the semifinal – whether that is against the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld or Edinburgh at the Shark Tank [Kings Park].
“I understand if you look at the season, fans will be left frustrated. We, as players and coaches, are sometimes frustrated with ourselves.
“But whatever happened before doesn’t count anymore.”
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The 33-year-old did find the benefit of those narrow wins as the team heads into the play-offs.
“The play-offs are usually tight affairs, and we are used to it by now.
“I think last season we ended up 14th on the log and lost the tight matches, but we managed to turn it around and win them.
“So we’re used to playing those games, and hopefully we don’t have to make it that tight this time around.
“[Munster] are a quality side and it’s probably going to come down to discipline on the day, or who’s got the better goal-kicker.”
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