Sharks will be ‘much better’ against Munster, says captain Kolisi

Captain Siya Kolisi hopes the Sharks will deliver an improved performance this weekend when they host Munster in their last 16 Champions Cup match in Durban.

After going down 32-20 against Scarlets in their United Rugby Championship clash in Wales last week, the skipper was confident his side would be able to bounce back in this Saturday’s knockout fixture at home.

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“We weren’t good in our last game, but we’ve worked hard to rectify that,” Kolisi said after the Sharks team was named on Friday.

“This is a playoff match and everything in the past no longer matters, but I think we will be much better.

“We don’t want a loss to define us, and Munster’s loss last week also doesn’t define them.”

Munster won two of their four pool games in the Champions Cup, going down twice to Toulouse, but they earned enough points to finish in sixth place on the Pool B log, while the Sharks, with their three wins, finished Pool A in third spot which afforded them the honour of a home fixture in the knockouts.

Sharks team

Boeta Chamberlain, Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi (captain), Gerbrandt Grobler, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche

Bench: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Carlu Sadie, Emile van Heerden, Phepsi Buthelezi, Grant Williams, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams