Etzebeth: Sharks can't be the laughing stock

18/04/2024 07:34

Eben Etzebeth doesn't mince his words as members of the Sharks team reflect on a rollercoaster season for the coastal franchise.

The Durban outfit have an historic opportunity in less than three weeks' time to cap off their season with some silverware in the Challenge Cup.

John Plumtree's charges became the first South African team to qualify for an EPCR semi-final when they beat Edinburgh last week, and will lock horns with French Top 14 club Clermont Auvergne at London's Twickenham Stoop on Saturday, 4 May.

They are on a four-match winning streak, and winning the second-tier Challenge Cup will secure safe passage back to the Champions Cup next season for Plumtree's men, who are out of the race for a playoff spot in the Vodacom URC.

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This, after the Durbanites were for most of the 2023-24 campaign languishing at the foot of the standings after 10 defeats from their first 11 games in the competition. They tackle the Glasgow Warriors in Scotland on Friday, before a trip to Welsh outfit Scarlets.

Test centurion Etzebeth is one of eight World Cup-winning Springboks in a star-studded Sharks squad, and speaking in a video posted on social media, the SA Rugby Player of the Year pulls no punches.

"Ja, it's been an extremely disappointing season. After the Lions loss at home [on 6 January] it was quite a big thing for us," he said.

"Realising that we can't go on this way, that we can't be the laughing stock of South Africa. We need to change.

"We're working hard, the last few games have been good results and we would love to take that into next season and would obviously love to finish on a high with the Challenge Cup."

Soldiering on🫡#RoadToRedemption#ChallengeCup#SHAvASMpic.twitter.com/381MIO6nnK

— The Sharks (@SharksRugby) April 17, 2024

Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images

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