CONSISTENCY IS KEY

WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP

With the Currie Cup competition having passed the halfway mark, and the Cell C Sharks coming off an inspirational away win against the Cheetahs, head coach Joey Mongalo is imploring his charges to be more consistent in the run-up to the business end of the tournament. That consistency needs to take shape against Griquas at home today…

With seven rounds of the 2023 edition of the Currie Cup still left to play, before they conclude their regular campaign against Western Province in Cape Town on June 10 this year, the Cell C Sharks (19) are wellpoised in third spot on the standings - 10 championship points adrift of the tabletopping Pumas (29) and only seven shy of the second-placed Cheetahs (26).

This favourable state of affairs is courtesy of Joey Mongalo’s team having weathered a fierce Cheetahs comeback in Bloemfontein last Friday, to emerge with a hard-earned yet well-deserved 24-17 win in the Free State capital.

Even though the Cheetahs started the contest as overwhelming favourites, the Cell C Sharks, with captain and tearaway flanker James Venter leading the charge, were swiftly out of the blocks to open up a handy 17-0 lead at the break.

“Tactically, James, as well as our halfback pair of Lionel Cronje and Bradley Davids, needs to be complimented,” Mongalo observed.

“Tactically, they were incredible during the first half. We took our eyes off the ball between the 40th and 60th minute, which seems to be a thing this team likes doing.

“Thankfully, they’ve learnt and grown, and they were able, during the last quarter, to do something different to what we’ve done previously, whenever we were under pressure.

“They stuck to the system.

“Everybody knows that the Cheetahs always bring an attacking threat during the last 20 minutes, and structurally we defended really well. Moreover, it felt like the guys were prepared to put their bodies on the line.

‘The thing is, one can have the best systems in the world, but if you don’t have guys making the tackles it goes for nothing.”

Mongalo is of the opinion that if the Cell C Sharks can now start winning more regularly it should significantly improve their chances of making the Currie Cup final this year, and, perhaps, go all the way for the first time in five years.

“If we can somehow string together a series of wins, it will make a massive difference,” Mongalo said.