Neil Powell has tasked the Sharks under interim head coach Joey Mongalo with beating Connacht on Saturday, in the grander scheme of the Durbanites’ 2022-23 season.
He takes charge for the Vodacom United Rugby Championship clash in Galway while Powell, as director of rugby, has remained in Durban ahead of next week’s European Champions Cup rematch against Bordeaux.
Mongalo, who joined the Sharks in June 2022 from the Vodacom Bulls, will call the shots at the Galway Sportsgrounds on the back of a November tour as part of the SA A backroom staff.
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Addressing his role overseeing a radically overhauled Sharks 23, Powell told reporters in a media conference on Friday: “It’s an all-round great opportunity to develop what is in mind for the future of the Sharks, and for Joey to show what he is capable of.
“He’s a really good coach and person, he’s coached at that level already with the Bulls in terms of defence. He’s full of energy and will definitely motivate the guys to get them fired up for this game against Connacht.
“We’ve sent them with a mission to bring us points back, so hopefully they can achieve that goal for us.”
The players, and Springboks like Siya Kolisi and Eben Etzebeth, who have contributed heavily over the past month have been left at home. The lineup this weekend shows the re-introduction of youngsters like flyhalf Nevaldo Fleurs, with Ockie Barnard, Corne Rahl and Ethan Hooker in line to make their URC debut.
Powell added: “It’s important for us to manage our squad well and part of our rotational policy. I think if you look at our travelling schedule over the next few weeks – playing the Bulls at home, now Connacht away, then Bordeaux back here in Durban, and then Harlequins away – I can’t imagine one team travelling and being able to play all those games.
“We’re in an 11-game block where we’ve only played six and got another five left and I think to get the team and the coaching staff with a lot of energy in games 10 and 11, we needed to rotate and manage the squad a little bit.
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“We identified this trip to Europe, and Connacht [especially], this week where we could use the rotational policy and by doing so, create a bit of squad depth and also coaching experience.
“It’s in line with our goals and what we want to achieve this season. It’s still a tough few games to go … we [also] play Edinburgh, which is a really strong team, and the Stormers who have proved they’re a really good side as well.
“It’s not about who we’re playing against but about what is best for our system, and this is the perfect break for us.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
