SA title-winner relishing return to Shark Tank

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Stephan Lewies is well aware what lies in store for his Harlequins team as they prepare to enter the Shark Tank this weekend.

The second row from Pretoria spent eight years with the Cell C Sharks before joining ‘Quins in 2019, going on to share in their 2021 English Premiership title triumph.

Now, as fate would have it, the Sharks’ Champions Cup debut sees them hosting Lewies’ team at Durban’s Kings Park on Saturday.

They have been through something of a turbulent time in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, where they lie down in 10th spot, with a 35-0 home defeat to Cardiff having seen coach Sean Everitt step down.

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But, speaking from personal experience, Lewies expects ‘Quins to face a stern challenge this weekend at a venue he knows so well.

“I think half the Springboks team is playing for the Sharks. They are a proud team. They would have been hurting after losing like that to Cardiff and I can promise you a wounded animal is dangerous,” said the 30-year-old.

“I was there for eight or nine years and it will be amazing to go back to the Shark Tank. It’s not something I thought would be possible. For me and Andre [Esterhuizen] to get the chance to play against some of our old mates is incredible.

“The good thing for me is, since I left, the team has changed completely, so they probably won’t remember me! For Andre, it might be a bit different as he left a few years after me. I definitely think they will try and get stuck into him a bit more.

“Getting used to the tropical weather and humidity of 90 per cent will be a big challenge for our team, but hopefully we can overcome that and put out a good performance.”

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Outlining what sides who haven’t played in the Republic before are in for, Lewies said: “You can expect it to be tough and really physical out there. The South African game is based on physicality.

“We are in the summer over there now, so going from winter to summer will be tough. I feel sorry for the boys going out to play up in the High Veldt against the Bulls and Lions at altitude.

“You have to try and hang in there in the first 20 minutes. You are tasting blood in your mouth. It’s tough. You can’t prepare for it, honestly. You can talk about it and you think you know how hard it is, but until you actually do it you won’t know. You just have to try and get through the 80 minutes. It will be a good challenge, a good experience for everyone.”

On the South African teams coming on board for Europe, he said: “I love them playing in the Champions Cup. It’s amazing what it’s going to do for my country. It will grow the fan base and rugby as a whole, so I am a big fan of it.

“I think it will take the sides a season or two to adapt. We saw at the beginning, when they first came into the United Rugby Championship, it wasn’t always easy. But they have some incredible players and I do think we will see the best out of them on the big stage.

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“If we look at how much they’ve added to the URC, hopefully they can do the same in this competition.”

Lewies added: “I think it’s the biggest club competition in the world. You get to measure yourself against the best, which is obviously what you want to do as a player. The contrast of styles and different cultures just adds to the occasion.

“It will be tough for us playing the Sharks and Racing 92, but our goal is to get to a quarter or a semi. Then it’s just on the day and anything is possible.”

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Devin Hermanus