WeeklySA_AdminKNOCKOUT QUALIFICATION: Loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi predicts Hollywoodbets Sharks against Bordeaux Begles match in France on Sunday
By Sports Reporter
The Hollywoodbets Sharks are settled in the town of Bordeaux ahead of their final pool clash of the Investec Champions Cup tournament, looking forward to finishing the pool stages on a high against Bordeaux Bègles on Sunday.
Hollywoodbets Sharks loose forward Phepsi Buthelezi, speaking from France where conditions are very different to what the Durbanites are accustomed to, admits that despite the disappointing loss last week against Toulouse, his team has put that behind them, learned some valuable lessons, and are in a good mental space ahead of their clash with Bordeaux.
“It’s a bit chilly this side, when we arrived it was -2C which is a bit of a change for us coming from Durban where it’s hot and humid,” he explains.
“We are all in a really good space, our goal for this week is pretty simple and straight-forward: we want to qualify for the round of 16, but we know we have our work cut out for us.”
Bordeaux, like Toulouse, will bring their French flair, cosmopolitan influences and sturdy defence to this game, and Buthelezi acknowledges the challenge that his team face.
“They’re a quality side, they’re going well in the French Top 14 as well as the Champions Cup. They came up short last year and will look to rectify that this year.
“They’re also team that scores a lot of tries, they haven’t scored less than about 35 points per game in their last five or six games, so we know we’re going to have to roll up our sleeves defensively.
“But the mood in the camp is really good. We were really gutted after the loss at home against Toulouse last week, we really don’t like losing at home. We don’t like losing in a Hollywoodbets Sharks jersey, but we felt that we had enough opportunities last week to put that game away.
“We’ve turned over a new page, we’re getting stuck into preparing for the game, with Captain’s Run on Saturday before ripping into it on Sunday.”
As the final weekend beckons ahead of the four knock-out stage rounds, many of the 24 elite clubs [including the Hollywoodbets Sharks] – eight each from the Gallagher Premiership, URC and TOP 14 – in four pools of six will all be fighting for the knock-outs with the four highest-ranked clubs in each pool qualifying for the Round of 16 to take place in early April.
“We’re looking forward to making all our supporters proud, making ourselves proud and making sure we get that knock-out qualification,” he added.
“It’s a very important week for the club and the province of KZN and we’re all geared towards that goal and achieving what we’ve set out for this week.”The Hollywoodbets Sharks have experienced a mix of highs and lows over the last few weeks. Various injuries have created a bit of chaos for the team, but Head Coach John Plumtree seems positive for the next few weeks.
A major positive for the Hollywoodbets Sharks has been the strong fan engagement in the last quarter of 2024 and beginning of 2025, with large crowds filling the stadium. Plumtree noted, “A pleasant fact for all of us is that we’ve been able to generate some big crowds at the stadium. There’s some real nice interest that’s come back into rugby and the Sharks.”
This heightened support has been a boost for the team, who have faced tough challenges on the field. Their win over Exeter was another exciting highlight for the team.
However, one of the biggest hurdles this season has been injuries, with the team suffering from a string of setbacks. “We’ve picked up thirteen, fourteen injuries in the space of three or four weeks, and long-term injuries as well,” said Plumtree. These injuries have disrupted team selection, and came at a particularly challenging time with fixtures against Leicester, Exeter, and the Bulls.
Despite these setbacks, the Hollywoodbets Sharks have shown resilience. A notable highlight was their clash against a full-strength Toulouse side in Durban, which Plumtree described as an exciting opportunity for both the team and the crowd to experience the flair of French rugby on home soil. While the team was disappointed not to secure a win, Plumtree acknowledged the challenge of facing a champion side.
The key for the Hollywoodbets Sharks going forward, according to Plumtree, is continuity in selection. With frequent disruptions due to injuries and Springbok rest periods, the team has struggled to field the same lineup consistently. Plumtree emphasized the importance of stability, saying, “We just need some continuity in selection… we’re just looking forward to getting the team back together and back where we were in the build-up to the Challenge Cup last year.”
Despite the challenges, Plumtree expressed his pride in the team’s fighting spirit. “I’m really delighted with the fight that the team is showing. The games we’ve lost this year have been by close margins. We’ve won a couple of tight affairs as well, all the way back to the Currie Cup semi and final.”
As the season progresses, the Hollywoodbets Sharks will look to build on their resilience and gain some much-needed stability, with the aim of continuing to challenge for top honours in both domestic and European rugby.
