Siya Kolisi, captain of the Sharks and Springbok talisman, has called for South African teams to embrace criticism and improve their performances in the Investec Champions Cup. His remarks came after the Sharks suffered a devastating 66-12 loss to Bordeaux Begles, marking the end of their Champions Cup campaign.
A Tough Loss in Bordeaux
The Sharks’ hopes of advancing in the prestigious competition were dashed as France’s Damian Penaud scored an extraordinary six tries, leading Bordeaux to a dominant victory. The loss relegates the Sharks to the EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs, where they will compete as defending champions.
Kolisi acknowledged the challenges faced by SA teams in adapting to European competitions but emphasized the need to rise to the occasion:
We need to play well, we need to play better. There’s no excuses… We’ll definitely get better.
Learning from the French Teams
Kolisi pointed to French teams’ squad depth and adaptability as key lessons for South African sides.
What I admire about the French teams is their squad depth. They can back young players in one competition and bring their strongest teams to another. We need to develop that kind of depth.”
The Sharks started strong, with tries from Hakeem Kunene and Siya Masuku giving them an early lead. However, Bordeaux’s relentless attack, led by Penaud and Matthieu Jalibert, proved too much to handle, with the French side scoring 47 unanswered points in the second half.
Taking Responsibility
Kolisi addressed criticism of SA teams’ inclusion in European competitions, admitting that their performances need to justify their place:
If we don’t play well, of course we’re going to be criticized, and we deserve it. Our job is based on results, and if we don’t deliver, we’ll face criticism. We know we’re not proud of that performance.
What’s Next?
The Sharks now turn their attention to the Challenge Cup playoffs, while SA rugby as a whole reflects on how to build competitiveness in Europe. Kolisi remains optimistic, stating, “The more we play, the better we’ll understand how to fit into both competitions.”