Aphelele Fassi has lifted the lid on how harsh words from Eben Etzebeth and the Springboks helped the Sharks turn their struggling campaign into a historic European final.
The Sharks are set to face Gloucester in the final of the EPCR Challenge Cup in London on 24 May, after coming from behind to beat Clermont in the semi-finals at Twickenham Stoop.
It is an incredible shift in a campaign that started with five losses in a row and just four wins in all competitions until late March.
The Sharks have now won six of their last seven games in all competitions and are on a four-game unbeaten streak at home as they prepare to host Benetton at Kings Park on Saturday.
Speaking in an exclusive interview with Sport24, fullback Fassi revealed the influential role played by Etzebeth and the Sharks’ contingent of Boks in turning the season around after the loss to the Lions at home in January.
“We had a two-week break… Eben said we don’t want to have this kind of feeling again and that we don’t want to be the laughing stock of SA rugby again,” Fassi told Sport24.
“From there, the mindset shifted and that put the Sharks’ brand in a better place, and being in a competitive team sport, you don’t want to be last all the time.
“That’s the Challenge Cup and having the Springboks have lifted the standards, they demand high standards of each other and the team and converting opportunities,” Fassi added.
“After we had our hard conversations with ourselves, as a team, we could see the work we’ve put in.
“It’s now starting to come to life.”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The post Eben didn’t want Sharks to be SA’s ‘laughing stock’ appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
