Sharks vow to ‘turn the ship around’ after Toulouse defeat

THERE have been serious discussions in Durban among the Sharks' senior players about turning their season around with a strong display against Saracens in the second round of the Champions Cup on Saturday.

- LEIGHTON KOOPMAN

After being on the receiving end of a heavy defeat against Toulouse in France this past weekend, the Sharks are making a concerted effort to revive their European campaign at Kings Park against the English Premiership club.

The return of key Springboks for this clash, including utility player André Esterhuizen and Siya Kolisi, should provide a much-needed boost. However, the squad is aware that momentum will only come with a first victory.

Esterhuizen, who will be playing his 100th match for the coastal side, said on Tuesday that players have spoken about “turning the ship around” after another difficult outing. This will also be interim head coach JP Pietersen’s first match in charge, following John Plumtree’s early departure from the role.