Sharks delighted with the match the Lions gave them

Sharks coach Joey Mongalo was thrilled with his team’s response to being tested by the Lions at Kings Park.

Semi-final dress rehearsal thrills Sharks coach

The Sharks will be back at home for their semi-final against an opponent yet to be determined, and Mongalo felt the 29-21 win over the Lions served as a great dry run.

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“It was the best possible practice we could’ve asked for. It was highly stressful, but they gave us the perfect preparation for the play-offs.

“I don’t think it can be tougher than 14-0 down and playing against a very desperate team that was playing to stay alive in the competition,” the Sharks coach said.

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Mongalo reserved special praise for Sharks skipper Reniel Hugo who kept the team on track and made the right calls.

“[Hugo] is probably one of the best leaders I’ve ever met. When things get tough on the field, I know that he and I think alike and he has a way – with his quiet leadership – to get the team going.

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“Luckily we have a few guys who help him lead the team,” Mongalo said.

Fighting in the tank

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The Sharks are prepared to scrap for their points and as a team that can hurt you from anywhere on the park they are starting to find the balance with a composed intensity.

“We didn’t play much rugby in the first half and we still managed to get the score to 14-14,” said the coach.

“At halftime, I gave the players the challenge to decide how they wanted their season to go.

“So it was in their hands to decide the right thing.”

The Sharks next travel to Cape Town for a clash with a Western Province team desperately clinging to the last vestages of playoff hopes.

Top spot will be the focus for the men from Durban but both teams will have an eye on the earlier clash between the Bulls and Cheetahs which will have ramifications across the top four.

If the Bulls beat the Cheetahs and deny them double bonus points, the Sharks will be assured of top spot and Western Province will be eliminated from contention for the semi-finals.

Western Province need a Cheetahs win and for the Bulls to be denied one or both losing bonus points.

Either way, by kick-off, the picture will be clearer for both teams.

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