Double Rugby World Cup-winning Springbok hopes to inspire Sharks revival
Springboks centre and Sharks skipper Lukhanyo Am is looking for his side to build confidence from their good form in the Challenge Cup and take that into the United Rugby Championship.
It has been a horror season in the URC with the Sharks at the foot of the table managing just one win from nine which is a poor return considering the firepower in the squad. There are some positives with the Durbanites topping their pool in the Challenge Cup.
Now after a short break from the action the URC returns with the Origin Round loaded with derbies including the Sharks hosting the Stormers in the South African Coastal Derby.
Hope is there
Am is desperate to use the form of the Challenge Cup to pick up results in the URC and believes there is still a lot to come from his side.
“Unfortunately, it has been a slow start for us in the league, but I am really happy with where we are at the moment,” said Am. “I think the Challenge Cup can definitely kick-start our season. Our confidence is growing.
“We haven’t been doing really well in the URC, but we could almost zoom in towards the Challenge Cup. It was a new competition and a fresh focus.
“Our energy towards it has been massive. We are targeting it and we want to go all the way. We will take a lot of confidence out of how we have performed in that competition.
“There is definitely hope for the future. There is massive improvement. Even in the league games that were not going our way, we were displaying good performances. It’s just we didn’t get the results.
“Now it is starting to stick, we are starting to convert, we are starting to grow as a team. It’s really looking good for us. Hopefully we will build and get more wins under the belt.”
Sharks Fest
The Durban side has gone all in for the Stormers game with their ‘Sharks Fest’ that includes a concert amongst other things around the rugby. Am is expecting a classic derby at home.
“Hosting the Stormers at home will be very big for us. We are looking forward to it,” said Am. “There should be a big crowd for that one. All derby games in South Africa are quite massive.”
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