Scots 'licking their lips' for Sharks duel

10/04/2024 13:49

Head coach Sean Everitt said a fully loaded Edinburgh lineup can't wait for a "second bite" at the Sharks in a crunch playoff at Kings Park on Saturday.

The teams will renew hostilities in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals, after the Sharks edged Edinburgh in Durban a fortnight ago as part of a three-match winning streak in all competitions for John Plumtree’s troops.

Everitt, who joined the Scottish club this season from the Vodacom Bulls, was sacked as Sharks head coach in 2022 after 15 years with the union and speaking to the media this week, he was quoted: "The fact that we were there two weeks ago does help us.

"The guys have got a second bite at the Sharks and that is always good and that is the beauty of sport. You get another opportunity to rectify the past and I know the guys are licking their lips.

"We know what we are up against, but then you have to look at our squad and I back our squad against the Sharks. They are on a high at the moment, they won three in a row."

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"We have been there as well and we are lucky that we have experienced internationals in our group that have played in pressure situations and against tough opposition and they also came out on top," Everitt added.

"So yes, it is going to be a great challenge, but at the same time we are backing ourselves in this one."

Six SA-born players were included in Edinburgh's tour squad to the Republic two weeks ago, and the tourists have received a boost with the news that Pierre Schoeman should be available again for Saturday's clash.

The Scotland loosehead prop missed Edinburgh's round of 16 win against Bayonne due to concussion.

"Pierre [Schoeman] will be back, and we'll have Ewan Ashman, Dave Cherry and Boan Venter is back from injury as well as WP [Nel] sticking up his hand again in the tighthead position," Everitt added.

"It will make for a good contest, especially when you look at our second row where we've got Sam Skinner, Jamie Hodgson, Marshall Sykes and Grant Gilchrist to choose from."

Photo: Ashley Vlotman/Gallo Images

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