A LONG TIME COMING

Following a delay of four months, the Cell C Sharks at long last get to host Ulster at Hollywoodbets Kings Park today. It is a massive game for the home side, as they enter the business end of the VURC, and a victory over the Irish outfit this after-noon will provide a considerable boost for their playoff chances…

Today’s crunch encounter between the Cell C Sharks and Ulster, of course, had to be re-scheduled from October last year, following a gastro outbreak in the Ulster camp based.

A lot has happened on the Vodacom United Rugby Championship front over the past four months, of course, and as things stand currently Ulster are placed third on the standings, with 44 championship points.

The Cell C Sharks are six points adrift of Ulster, in seventh spot, although both teams have won eight of their 13 games to date.

The importance of today’s match, therefore, goes without saying.

Neil Powell’s charges will be looking to follow up their impressive away win over the Lions in Johannesburg last weekend, in an endeavour to consolidate their standing in the top seven of the table, secure a playoff berth and, ultimately, qualify for the next edition of Heineken Champions Cup warfare.

Phepsi Buthelezi and co indeed exhibited meritorious character last Saturday, in challenging conditions, to surge ahead of the Lions in the second half, secure an invaluable bonus-point win away from home and redeem themselves following the disappointing loss at the hands of the Stormer at home three weeks ago.

“That was exactly the type of fighting spirit that we need to display in every single game,” Powell observed.

“There is still a lot of room for improvement, and we need to be even more clinical, especially against a side like Ulster.

“We needed guys coming off the bench in Jo’burg who could clinch the deal for us in the fi-nal quarter, and that was exactly what the likes of Vincent Tshituka and Dylan Richardson, both returning from injury, as well as Sikhumbuzo Notshe and young frontrowers like Dian Bleuler and Fez Mbatha did. “Of course, Curwin Bosch was just fantastic in the way that he called the shots from flyhalf, especially after the break.

“We are naturally delighted about the bonus point. We have missed out on a few this season, especially at home.”

The boys will leave no stone unturned in their quest to maximise their opportunities against Ulster today at home.

More so considering that they have two extremely difficult away assignments left, against the Stormers next week and Scarlets on March 25, before concluding their URC campaign at home against Benetton and Munster in April.

Mental toughness will need to be a vital ingredient for the Cell C Sharks going forward, and they need to maintain and build on the magnificent rhythm established during the second spell against the Lions.

Although the Cell C Sharks will still be without their Springboks until March - Ulster are also missing a number of internationals on Six Nations duty - the boys won’t let that deter them.

There are more than enough quality players in the mix, and the more they develop and

It’s all about each and every individual taking responsibility for every single minute that he is out on the park.