Sharks co-captain Nick Hatton believes JP Pietersen’s side have made significant strides this season but insists there is plenty of room for improvement as they prepare for a demanding run of South African derbies in December.
The Durban outfit have won five of their six matches across competitions, including three successive victories in Europe, where they have beaten Lyon, Cardiff and Munster away from home.
Their 15-3 triumph over Munster in Limerick was particularly significant, representing the Sharks’ first victory at the Irish province’s home ground and further evidence of their progress under Pietersen, who is in his first full season in charge.
The Sharks also produced a dramatic 40-33 victory against Lyon, scoring after the final hooter to secure the result after the French side had drawn level late in the game. The victory came a day after the death of former Sharks forward Hyron Andrews, who spent a decade at the club.
However, Hatton is reluctant to read too much into the recent success, with the Sharks fourth in the United Rugby Championship standings, four points behind leaders Glasgow Warriors.
“We’ve had three good wins, but we haven’t won anything yet,” he said.
The Sharks return from the November international break with a challenging visit to the Stormers on 5 December. They lost 39-22 in Cape Town earlier this season, their only defeat so far.
A Challenge Cup encounter against Scarlets follows before home URC derbies against the Bulls and Lions.
“Looking forward, there are some tough games around the corner,” Hatton said. “But the beautiful thing is that we’re back at home in front of our fans, which we are really excited for.”
Despite their impressive defensive display and lineout against Munster, Hatton identified several areas requiring attention, including soft tries conceded, goal-kicking and their inability to convert opportunities inside the opposition 22.
“There’s a lot that we need to get better at in December. It’s a demanding competition that demands the best from you. We certainly need to be at our best.”
The Sharks claimed their first URC South African Shield two seasons ago but missed out last year. Hatton knows another strong finish will be required if they are to challenge again.
