The Cell C Sharks will have everything to play for when they take the field in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-finals against Stade Toulousain on Saturday at 16:00 in Toulouse, France in their inaugural season.
Stade Toulousain will be hunting their sixth win in a row when they host the Cell C Sharks at Stade Ernest Wallon, but they will be wary of the fact that Durbanites have only suffered one defeat in the competition this season and that they are fresh off a 50-point score against Munster in their round of 16 clash.
They will also be mindful of the fact that the Cell C Sharks boast a better attacking track record this season having scored 169 points to 143 by Toulouse, however, the French outfit has conceded half the number of points than the KwaZulu-Natalians, which is expected to spice up the clash.
Stade Toulousain, however, will draw inspiration from their passionate home crowd and the fact that the Durban side had to travel this week. But with a semi-final spot at stake, neither team is expected to give an inch.
Cell C Sharks' Director of Rugby Neil Powell’s team selection for this match shows only enforced changes, with Hyron Andrews replacing Eben Etzebeth at lock, Grant Williams in for Jaden Hendrikse at scrumhalf and loose-forward Jeandre Labuschagne taking over from Emile van Heerden on the bench.
Cell C Sharks centre Lukhanyo Am admitted that the team are all set after the huge Munster clash, and he expects nothing different this weekend against the French giants.
“The bodies were a bit sore after the Munster game, that was a really physical game, close to test match demands,” he said and that the Cell C Sharks are focused on putting another strong attacking performance together for a second week in a row.
“One or two wins get your momentum going and right now we’re in a good space. We’re going to France to go play rugby.”
His expectations of Toulouse are that “The French sides have a similar style of play to us, with a focus on the set-piece and forward-dominance with a backline that’s not afraid to move the ball around. It’s almost like-for-like and going to Toulouse, they’re a big side in France with home-ground advantage which is going to be a challenge for us, but it’s something we’ve prepared for.
“As South African teams, we like the physical and confrontational side of things and if you bring that against a side like Toulouse’s big pack, it will give us confidence in the game. We just need to minimise the penalties and make sure our discipline is good so we don’t give them opportunities to get into our 22, I think that will give us a fair chance.”
Teams:
Stade Toulousain: 15. Thomas Ramos, 14. Juan Cruz Mallia, 13. Pierre-Louis Barassi, 12. Pita Ahki, 11. Matthis Lebel, 10. Romain Ntamack, 9. Antoine Dupont (c), 8. Francois Cros, 7. Thibaud Flament, 6. Jack Willis, 5. Emmanuel Meafou, 4. Richie Arnold, 3. Dorian Aldegheri, 2. Peato Mauvaka, 1. Cyril Baille. Replacements: 16. Julien Marchand, 17. Rodrigue Neti, 18. David Ainu’u, 19. Alexandre Roumat, 20. Joshua Brennan, 21. Alban Placines, 22. Arthur Retiere, 23. Dimitri Delibes.
Cell C Sharks: 15. Henry Chamberlain, 14. Werner Kok, 13. Lukhanyo Am, 12. Rohan Janse van Rensburg, 11. Makazole Mapimpi, 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Grant Williams, 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7. Vincent Tshituka, 6. Siyamthanda Kolisi (c), 5. Gerbrandt Grobler, 4. Hyron Andrews, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1. Retshegofaditswe Nché. Replacements: 16. Kerron van Vuuren, 17. Ntuthuko Mchunu, 18. Carlü Sadie, 19. Jeandre Labuschagne, 20. Phendulani Buthelezi, 21. Cameron Wright, 22. Ben Tapuai, 23. Thaakir Abrahams.