Loose forward Nick Hatton believes European rugby will bring the best out of the Sharks ahead of their Investec Champions Cup clash with the Sale Sharks.
Hatton says the conditions and environment in Manchester will be vastly different from what the Sharks are used to at Kings Park, but in his mind, that’s exactly what makes the competition so compelling.
“It’s an exciting challenge for us as a group. We’re going to be playing in very different conditions to what we’re used to here in Durban. That’s what makes the Champions Cup so special,” Hatton said.
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Despite travelling north, Hatton is confident the squad selected by interim coach JP Pietersen has the depth and quality to be competitive against a seasoned English outfit.
“We have a huge amount of respect for the Champions Cup and we want to deliver our best this weekend. We know it will be a tough challenge to beat a team like Sale on their home ground.”
The Sharks head into the fixture looking to respond after a gutting Vodacom URC loss in Durban last weekend.
“We learned a lot of lessons from the disappointing defeat against the Lions. It was just one moment in the 80th minute that cost us the game.”
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However, the loose forward insists the mood in camp remains positive.
“We know it won’t be easy against Sale, but we’ve had two good days of preparation and we believe we can achieve something very special there.”
Photo: Steve Haag/Gallo Images
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