Loose forward Vincent Tshituka has warned the Sharks to expect a fast and furious clash against his former side the Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday.
The Lions and Sharks will cross swords at Ellis Park in round 11 of the Vodacom URC, with the Highvelders in 11th spot on the standings, and the Durbanites rooted to the foot of the table after nine losses from 10 matches.
Sanele Nohamba converted a late Marius Louw try as the Lions overturned a 15-point first-half deficit to beat the Sharks at Kings Park last month, and speaking to the media on Tuesday, Tshituka acknowledged the challenge facing John Plumtree’s men up north.
“With how things have gone for us this season, they’re definitely going to be in a place where they want to keep us down,” Tshituka, who is line to feature this week after a spell on the sidelines, told reporters. “They’re not going to want to give us that breath of fresh air that we’re desperately looking for.
“For them, it’s always been a physical contest against the Sharks, it’s never been a game that’s let anyone down physically.
“That’s a big thing they’ll be emphasising, and also moving the ball; we’re going up to Ellis Park so they’re going to want to move the ball around a lot.
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“They’re going to play a running brand of rugby and tire us out so they can take us on later in the game, I know that’s going to be a big aspect of their plan.”
The 25-year-old was one of the top South African performers during the inaugural URC in 2021-22, winning a series of Man of the Match awards with the Lions, before linking up with the Sharks in Durban.
Emmanuel Tshituka has stepped out of the shadow of older brother Vincent and into the vanguard of a formidable Lions pack, and there will be no love lost between the DRC-born siblings on the pitch this week.
“It’s alway an honour stepping out on the field with my brother; I cherish every moment, whether we’re on the same team or on the opposite side of the field,” Vincent added. “It brings the best out of me, and that extra bit of motivation to be at the top of my game.
“It’s [also] special for me going back to play the Lions at Ellis Park, they’ve played a big part in my career and my life. They’ll always hold a special place for me. But I’m not going there as a friend or teammate, I’m going there to get the job done.”
Photo: Steve Haag Sports/Gallo Images
The post Tshituka: I’m not going there to be friends appeared first on SA Rugby magazine.
Src: sarugbymag.co.za
