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Sharks admit they are struggling with dual focus

rugby03 April 2025 14:54| © SuperSport
By:Gavin Rich
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Joey Mongalo © Gallo Images

Hollywoodbets Sharks defence coach Joey Mongalo won’t hide from the fact that the Vodacom United Rugby Championship is his team’s main focus right now, but he says the Durban team will do their best to show respect to the EPCR Challenge Cup competition they won last year.

At this stage of the 2023/2024 season, the Sharks had reached the point where because they were out of the running in the URC they were throwing everything into one basket.

Winning the Challenge Cup was the only way for them to qualify for the prestigious Investec Champions Cup, a goal they achieved, but they sacrificed a few URC games along the way.

This year it is the other way around, with the Sharks’ position in the top four of the URC inspiring them to go all out to win that trophy, something they will have a chance of doing if they finish in their current position or higher and get to host a quarterfinal.

It isn’t a secret that the Sharks will be decidedly underpowered for Sunday’s EPCR round of 16 clash in Lyon, with much of the Sharks’ focus being on a crucial two match URC tour that kicks off in just over two weeks.

The Sharks reached their goal of making the Champions Cup by winning the Challenge Cup last May, but Mongalo admits that the dual focus caught them out a bit and that is why the Sharks are back in the secondary Challenge Cup and not playing for the main prize.

“I think it is something that (South African) teams are still trying to figure out,” said Mongalo of the challenge of playing in two competitions and the obstacles created by the logistical demands.

“We’ve got to think of Edinburgh and Ulster in two weeks' time, but at the same time we’ve got to honour a good quality competition that we mustn’t forget we are the defending champions of. Even though you are playing in two competitions, you are still one squad. So a quality performance in Lyon will give us confidence for our next fixture, be that against the Ospreys or Scarlets (in a Challenge Cup quarterfinal) or against Edinburgh in the URC.”

The Sharks are due in Edinburgh less than two weeks after Sunday’s game, hence the Sharks’ decision to go under-strength to Lyon, with Mongalo understood to be guiding the team that plays on Sunday while head coach John Plumtree puts most of his focus on the last phase of the league phase of the URC.

The Sharks are coming off the disappointment of a game they dropped at their home ground of Hollywoodbets Kings Park, with the visiting Leinster team emerging as 10-7 winners in a tight URC game.

NO MICKEY MOUSE TEAM

However, Mongalo believes that while the loss was disappointing it wasn't a reason to press any panic buttons.

“We’re a group that puts things in context. That team we played against, irrespective of them missing their Ireland internationals, was a top quality team. You saw that at Loftus the week before when the Vodacom Bulls had to kick a last-minute penalty to beat them,” said Mongalo.

“There were quite a few positive points we took from that game. Our kicking game and game management were nine out of 10. On attack we created a whole lot of opportunities, we just didn’t execute enough of them. So it’s probably more about our finishing than our actual attack.

“And defensively I thought the boys put in some good sets. There was a three-minute defensive set on our tryline, which says a lot about this group. How the players are growing and how they care for each other.”

Lyon lost to Bayonne in the Top 14 last week but the game was played away from home.

On their home field Mongalo knows they will be a very different proposition.

“Everyone knows that in the Top 14 it is the home teams that tend to win, even those who are struggling,” he said.

“They place a massive emphasis on winning home games and take huge pride in it. We know we can expect a hostile crowd and a fired up Lyon team that will be passionate. We know what is coming and will make sure we are mentally ready for it.”

Lyon are certainly no Mickey Mouse team even though this year they find themselves languishing in the Challenge Cup rather than competing for the main European prize in the Champions Cup like they did the previous two seasons.

“Like a typical French team, Lyon have plenty of flair, and have X-factor players, particularly in the backs. Their forwards are also large units, which will help them in the set-pieces. They are a strong scrummaging team and also maul quite well.”

The Sharks team will be announced as per EPRC guidelines on Friday afternoon but it is expected most of the frontline players will be sitting this game out to prepare for the URC tour later in the month.

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