Steven Kitshoff: Sharks ‘result the best’ we saw as Stormers learn ‘hard lesson’
Sharks' Hakeem Kunene (INPHO/Paul Currie) and an inset of Stormers' Imad Khan and Damian Willemse (INPHO/Cat Goryn/EPCR Rugby)
Springboks great Steven Kitshoff has weighed in on a ‘tough’ weekend for South African teams in the Investec Champions Cup.
The former prop, who captained the Stormers to United Rugby Championship glory, says that his former team’s defeat to Harlequins was a ‘tough pill to swallow’ while the Sharks produced the ‘best result’ of the weekend.
All three of the South African clubs were beaten, and quite convincingly, in round three of the Champions Cup, which has led to suggestions that they are disrespecting the tournament.
The Bulls fielded 10 Springboks for their home game against Bristol Bears but were completely outplayed by Pat Lam’s charges and handed a 49-61 defeat at Loftus Versfeld.
Sharks were the best of the weekend
Meanwhile, the Stormers and Sharks sent weakened teams to the United Kingdom and were duly beaten by Harlequins and Sale, respectively.
While the Sharks fell to a 26-10 defeat to Sale, Kitshoff hailed the team’s efforts and believes it was the best performance by a South African side over the weekend.
“All three of our main teams in the Investec Champions Cup took big losses, but one team that actually did better than we all thought was the Sharks,” he said on the GameTime podcast.
“I think that was probably the best result we could have seen from a South African team, even though they lost the game.”
The ex-front rower also reserved compliments for his former Bok teammate Vincent Koch and interim head coach JP Pietersen.
“Vincent Koch, who is back from a shoulder injury, really put up a good performance. Lee-Marvin [Mazibuko] in the scrums really showed some character. The team only scored one try, but there were great performances on defence from both teams,” he continued.
“Unfortunately, the Hollywoodbet Sharks did lose, and [Marco] Masotti had to eat his words, some humble pie, because of comments made earlier in the week.
“But it almost seems that JP is turning this team’s character around a bit; they’re not playing the most beautiful, brilliant rugby, but as a team, they’re actually performing better week in and week out. You can see that with the results that they have been getting over the last couple of weekends.”
Stormers learn a lesson
Turning his attentions to his former employers, he continued: “The most difficult pill to swallow was the Stormers’ result against the Harlequins at the Stoop.
“The Stormers refused to send a full-strength team because of the games coming up in the rest of the season. We’ve got Leicester Tigers coming over this weekend, but going down against a team that’s been struggling over the last couple of weeks and losing 61-10, which is quite tough.
“I think Dobbo [John Dobson] had to make a very tough decision in selecting a second-string team, sending a team that’s a bit undercooked, and that has not really played together that much. They showed moments of brilliance, but overall I felt Harlequins’ loose trio and them as a team just performed exceptionally well.
“They kept the Stormers under pressure, they took their opportunities when they came and scored some brilliant tries throughout the game. But it’s a hard lesson to learn.”
Kitshoff adds that clubs have to field full-strength teams every week if they are to be successful in the Champions Cup and the URC, but admits that it’s not possible.
“With competitions this tough, as tough as the Investec Champions Cup is, as tough as the URC is, you always have to put your best foot forward,” he said.
“You have to pick your best available 23. It is important to rotate and rest players, but you can see with these types of results that as soon as you knock off a little bit, you start to lose big games.”
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