The DHL Stormers XXIII are bracing themselves for a massive defensive test this weekend as they look to rectify the flaws exposed in their recent outing. Defence coach Pine Pienaar has warned that nothing short of an airtight performance will suffice when they host a dangerous Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in Round 3 of the Carling Currie Cup at 15:00 SAST on Saturday, 1 August 2026, at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV arrive in the Mother City having split their opening two away matches of the campaign. They secured a gritty win over the Airlink Pumas in Nelspruit before fading late in a tough loss to the Toyota Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
Despite that late slip in the Free State, Pienaar believes the Sharks' demanding early travel schedule makes them a battle-hardened and highly unpredictable threat.
"To play two weeks in a row away from home and come away with one win is actually a fantastic start for them," Pienaar said. "They’ve shown they can compete away from home, so the pressure will be on us .”
Both teams have used the Carling Currie Cup to blend seasoned campaigners with emerging provincial talent, creating an explosive dynamic on the pitch.
"They’ve got a similar mix to us of experienced players and youngsters coming through," Pienaar said. "The score against the Cheetahs maybe reflected something different, but they were in that game, and it only got away from them in the last 20 minutes.”
Following tactical review sessions this week, the Stormers XXIII coaching staff have emphasised sharper execution without the ball. Pienaar highlighted the multifaceted danger posed by the Durban-based outfit, saying that the home side must dominate the gainline and set-pieces to nullify the visitors' attacking threats,
"They’ve shown what they can do," Pienaar said. "They’ve got a fantastic set-piece, quality carriers, an exciting back three, and a quality nine and ten. It’s going to be a massive challenge and a massive battle for us."
