Sharks captain Hatton says best is yet to come before derbies

Sharks co-captain Nick Hatton says the Durban team has plenty of room to grow, despite a strong opening stretch of the campaign, according to The Citizen.

The Sharks have won five matches and lost one so far. They arrive at the November international break on a three-match winning run, all of it away from home in Europe.

A big turnaround in Europe

The wins came against Lyon in the Challenge Cup, and against Cardiff and Munster in the United Rugby Championship (URC). The results mark a clear change from last season, when the Sharks did not win a single match in Europe. JP Pietersen is now in his first full season as head coach.

The 15-3 victory over Munster was the first time the Sharks had ever won in Limerick. The 40-33 win over Lyon came courtesy of a try scored after the final hooter, once the French side had levelled the scores late on. That match was played a day after news of the death of Hyron Andrews, who spent a decade with the Sharks before leaving in 2024.

The Sharks sit fourth on the URC log, four points off leaders Glasgow Warriors.

Derbies on the horizon

The Sharks return to action on 5 December against the Stormers, who inflicted their only loss of the season, 39-22 in Cape Town. A home Challenge Cup match against Scarlets follows, and then home URC derbies against the Bulls and the Lions.

The Sharks won the South African URC shield two seasons ago, and the Lions took it for the first time last year. The Citizen noted that after the Stormers loss, the Sharks will have to be strong in their home derbies to stay in the shield race.

Hatton said the team was looking forward to playing in front of its own supporters again. He accepted that the fixtures ahead are demanding, and said the team needs to be at its best in December.

Areas to fix

The Sharks were strong in the lineouts, in the contest for high balls and in defence against Munster. However, they have given away some soft tries in recent matches. Goal-kicking and finishing when in the opposition 22 also need work, after several chances were wasted at Thomond Park.

Hatton was careful not to get carried away. "We haven’t won anything yet," he said, adding that the team has not secured a play-off place. He saw no reason for complacency.

What this means for fans

• The Sharks return to action on 5 December against the Stormers.
• Their next three home matches are against Scarlets (Challenge Cup), and the Bulls and Lions (URC).

This story is based on reporting by The Citizen.