Tonight’s Carling Currie Cup clash between the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and Fidelity ADT Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park is shaping up to be a fiercely contested derby match as both sides look to get their campaigns off to a winning start.
As always, the Durban side invests in depth during South Africa’s premier rugby tournament, looking to promote from within and develop younger players into future senior stars.
“There’s a lot of young talent in our team, exciting young talent coming through from the junior system, as well as some experienced heads like Renier Hugo, Lionel Cronje, Kwezi Mona, Yaw Penxe and Murray Koster in the mix,” explains head coach JP Pietersen as he casts his eye over the composition of his side.
“The Currie Cup is an opportunity for us to blood some youngsters, to assess whether they are capable of playing in the URC and to give those players who didn’t get to play in the URC, some game time. They also get the chance to show that they can play at URC level.
“So we have a good mix of experience and some young blood coming through.”
Not only will the wise heads lend their considerable experience to the youngsters, but developing leadership is also part of the overall plan and this is where young eighthman Nick Hatton comes in.
“This is a great opportunity to give Nick the captaincy, those players can guide him. He has lots of potential and will be a great captain one day, so to have this good group of leaders around him is important to his development.”
As he turns his attention to the opposition, he warns that this clash will be tough.
“We expect a physical game, that’s the way they play. The set-piece will be heavily contested, the set-piece is in their DNA, they compete at that area of the game so we’ll need to be at our best.
“For both sides, this is an opportunity to give players a chance to showcase their value and worth, although they’ve had a group of players together for three or more years; they have a good set-up going.
“It will be great contest, we’re excited and looking forward to it.”
Tonight’s match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park is scheduled for a 5.15pm kick-off.