Refreshed Sharks target Lions scalp

THE Sharks head into this weekend’s United Rugby Championship derby against the Lions with a renewed sense of purpose and refreshed minds following a timely two-week break.

- JOHN GOLIATH

VETERAN Sharks prop Vincent Koch welcomed the couple of weeks off to refresh their bodies and minds ahead of their United Rugby Championship clash against the Lions.

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After a gruelling block of fixtures that culminated in two magnificent back-to-back victories over the Stormers, the Durban-based franchise is now eyeing a climb up the log to secure a crucial playoff spot.

Springbok prop Vincent Koch believes the hiatus came at the perfect time for a squad that had been mentally and physically drained by the two brutal South African derbies against the Stormers, which saw them finally break their hoodoo against their coastal rivals.

“After the Stormers game, we had a two-week break in which we got a few days off,” Koch noted. “Mentally, I think the players definitely needed a break. Those two games were physically demanding and mentally draining, so the rest and the break time with family was very important to refocus.”