Saturday’s United Rugby Championship MATCH between the Hollywoodbets Sharks and the Vodacom Bulls is a close match for both teams in the race to advance to the group stage and the URC SA Shield trophy.
The Sharks are 10th on the URC log with 24 points from 11 games. The Bulls are in eighth place with 25 points from 10 games.
The team from Durban is in the lead in the competition for the SA Shield, which is a log that includes points from matches where only local teams face each other.
It topped with 16 points in five games, followed by the Lions with 15 points in equal games.
The DHL Stormers, in third place with nine points from four games, and the Bulls with seven from four games, are still in the lead as they still have two home games to play.
Speaking about Saturday’s game which will start at 5 pm at Loftus Versfeld Stadium, Pretoria, Sharks defender, Edwill van der Merwe, said they know they need to improve following the Lions’ defeat in the recent URC.
“We are a team disappointed with the last result and the way we played. We know that it is not our level and we have done everything possible this week to correct the mistakes. We know that we have made unnecessary mistakes and that there are many things that we need to improve on. The preparations went well and we are looking to come back with a different gear at the weekend,” said Van Der Merwe.
“The race to get into the playoffs is intense, so every game is important, especially the home games. We know that the Bulls are an amazing team when they play at home. We expect them to use their energy, so we have to come ready for the game.”
After facing the Bulls, the Sharks will face Munster in Durban, and then play the Last 16 of the EPCR Challenge Cup against Connacht in Ireland.
It will also clash with Welsh Ospreys and Scotland’s Edinburgh on the road.