Assistant coach Warren Whiteley and captain Vincent Tshituka have set their sights on intensity as the Sharks prepare for a pivotal match against the Dragons in Newport this Saturday. The Sharks enter round 3 of the 2024-25 Vodacom URC following a disappointing 36-30 defeat to Connacht last week, where they squandered a 20-point lead.
During a press conference in Cardiff on Tuesday, Whiteley stressed the importance of maintaining focus throughout the full 80 minutes, particularly regarding maul defense and breakdown accuracy. “We were pleased with the intensity in the first half,” he remarked. “Connacht started strong, and we struggled to exit in the opening 15 to 20 minutes, but once we found our rhythm, we applied pressure and scored some impressive tries.”
However, the second half proved challenging as Connacht scored four unanswered tries. “We couldn’t match their intensity in that period. They targeted our breakdown effectively, which paid off for them,” Whiteley added. “Improving our maul defense is crucial, but we’ve taken lessons from this game and are looking ahead.”
Echoing his coach’s sentiments, Tshituka reflected on the team’s second-half performance, noting, “It was disappointing. We know what we need to deliver, and Connacht stepped it up while we didn’t match their effort.”
The Sharks face a Dragons side that suffered a heavy defeat to league leaders Leinster, who scored six tries in Dublin. However, the Sharks remain confident after a dominant bonus-point win over the Welsh team in Durban last year. “We hold ourselves to high standards, regardless of our opponents,” Whiteley said. “We were disappointed with our second-half display, and we’re focused on improving.”
Tshituka is eager to make amends this week, stating, “As Coach Warren mentioned, Connacht targeted our breakdown. This weekend, that’s a major focus for us. Our forwards need to assert themselves more. We’re ready to set things straight.”
As the Sharks prepare for this critical encounter, all eyes will be on their performance against the Dragons in what promises to be an intense showdown.
