Forwards coach Dewald Senekal is arming Connacht for Saturday’s battle against the Sharks’ all-Springbok front row in Durban, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.

SA-born Senekal, who joined the Irish outfit in 2021, has looked to marry a physically dominant pack with quick, exciting backs while still placing a premium on scrums and mauls.

Now, the 41-year-old must ready Andy Friend’s men to face the Boks’ Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi and Thomas du Toit, ably supported by skipper Siya Kolisi, who have propelled the Sharks to fourth spot in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship with two games until the playoffs.

He will be familiar with conditions on the East Coast, and at Kings Park, the ex-No 8 having played for the Cheetahs and Lions before representing Bayonne, Agen and Toulon in France.

Connacht lock Gavin Thornbury, sidelined for Saturday’s victory over the Lions, has praised Senekal for prepping him to face the Sharks: “Dewald has helped me think about things in a different way after being out of the game, as well as looking at rugby through the coaches’ lens rather than the players’.

“It’s going to be a lot more set-piece based against the Sharks, with their quality lineouts, mauls, and superb backs.

“It’s a massive challenge but two wins in SA is what we’re after, so we can’t shy away from it and have to run into it pretty much head first.”

ALSO READ: Thomas the Tank lauds SA teams for sticking to their guns