Former Free State Cheetahs lock Corniel van Zyl schemes Durban team’s downfall

The Sharks have travelled from the southeast of France to the southwest of the UK eager to ensure the momentum from their sensational weekend Challenge Cup win over Olympique Lyon flows into their United Rugby Championship clash against Cardiff on Friday night.

The Sharks scored after the final hooter for a delicious 40-33 victory over a determined Lyon who just kept coming back and had equalised at 33-33 with a minute remaining. The Durban team’s dangerous backline produced one final moment of magic as fullback Zekhethelo Siyaya freed ruthless winger Litelihle Bester for the match-winning try with a daring offload.

That sort of win, especially on French soil against a team who were the early pacesetters in last season’s Top 14, can do wonders for the confidence of a team. Veteran lock Stephan Lewies, who played his first game back at the Sharks having spent seven years at Harlequins, highlighted the magnitude of the triumph.

“It was a special victory. It always is when you win in Europe, and awesome to do it at a place like Lyon,” he said.

“It was especially pleasing how we stuck in the fight, it was a full 82-minute performance. It showed what the coaches are trying to build, to believe that we are never out of the contest.

“We had to pull close together and when times are tough in the future we can look back on that game when we were relentless and say we’ve been in that situation before.

“When you have that momentum, you want to build on it and it’s important we back that performance up against Cardiff.

“We need to stick to those systems, learn from our mistakes and get better every week. We need to take that performance one [level] up,” the 34-year-old Lewies exhorted.

A well-travelled lock who dominates lineouts and played one Test for the Springboks, at Cardiff Arms Park Lewies will go up against a set piece that had a rare off day against Northampton Saints in their 28-12 Champions Cup defeat at Franklin’s Gardens last weekend.

It’s going to be a big challenge playing Cardiff at home, they know the weather conditions and how the 3G pitch plays.

—  Sharks lock Stephan Lewies

But Cardiff are coached by Corniel van Zyl, a former Free State Cheetahs lock who played for Italy, and Sharks forwards coach Warren Whiteley warned Lewies and his fellow jumpers will be given a proper test given their hosts will be out to fix what went wrong at Northampton.

“Cardiff are a quality team and Corniel has a lot of experience and is very astute when it comes to the set pieces, especially the lineout,” he cautioned.

Lewies added: “It’s going to be a big challenge playing Cardiff at home, they know the weather conditions and how the 3G pitch plays.

“They have a very good set piece, strong kicking game and the weather plays a part. But it’s a big opportunity for us to get closer as a team, to grow and get better.”

URC fixtures

Friday:

• Cardiff Rugby vs Sharks, Cardiff Arms Park (8.45pm);
• Connacht vs Zebre, The Sportsground (8.45pm);
• Edinburgh vs Lions, The DAM Health Stadium (8.45pm).

Saturday:

• Bulls vs Ulster, Loftus Versfeld (1.45pm);
• Stormers vs Llanelli Scarlets, Cape Town Stadium (4pm);
• Benetton Rugby vs Glasgow Warriors, Stadio Comunale di Monigo (4pm);
• Leinster vs Munster, Lansdowne Road (7pm);
• Ospreys vs Dragons, St Helen’s (8pm).

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