Lock Gerbrandt Grobler believes the Sharks have “nothing to lose” against Leinster in Saturday’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship quarter-final at Aviva Stadium.
Despite bookmakers predicting a convincing win for the Irish giants, Grobler is confident the Sharks can pull off an upset in Dublin.
Leinster finished the URC regular season in first place, going unbeaten in 17 of 18 games, while the Sharks finished eighth, missing out on a place in the Champions Cup next season.
Grobler is undaunted by the challenge facing the SA teams this and speaking in a teleconference from Dublin on Thursday, he told reporters: “To be honest, nobody gives us a chance but even a 1% chance can win you a game.
“In a playoff game, you only need that one opportunity, that one bounce of the ball to go your way, the rub of the green here and there… It is our job to win rugby games and if you do not believe it, it won’t happen. So we are going for it, we have nothing to lose.”
MORE: Bok duo charge Sharks to shock Leinster
Going down to Leinster in a high-scoring 54-34 defeat in round 4 of the URC, Grobler claims that the Sharks have learned from their mistakes and are better prepared for the challenge.
“People who make those kinds of predictions often know nothing about rugby,” he added. “The Leinster guys will say the same. When we played them last in Dublin, it was 27-26 after 60 minutes.
“Anything can happen on the day. We are going to have fun, we are going to play like we have nothing to lose and see what happens. That is what you can do when nobody gives you a chance.”
Furthermore, the South Africans can draw local inspiration from the Vodacom Bulls’ URC record against Leinster, after stunning the Irish giants in a Dublin semi-final in the inaugural competition.
The Sharks have a Springbok-laden squad, and with the unveiling of next season’s new head coach John Plumtree, the men from Durban are well-motivated to give their all on Saturday.
Unfortunately, the Durbanites will have to play without their skipper Siya Kolisi, who is out due to knee surgery, and flyhalf Curwin Bosch, who is doubtful with a rib problem.
The Sharks will suffer a drubbing in Dublin when they face Leinster in the @Vodacom #URC quarter-final on Saturday, according to @mark_keohane and Zels. pic.twitter.com/INsw8eWb3f
— SA Rugby magazine (@SARugbymag) May 5, 2023
Photo: Muzi Ntombela/BackpagePix