It is Sharks vs Sharks in a frenzy of rugby on Saturday in Manchester. The Sharks from Durban’s owner Marco Masotti believes there is only one species of Sharks, the Durban species.
On X, Masotti upped the stakes for the match “I hope the Sale fans turn up to see the Real Sharks. There can be only one” the owner said.
It has long been an issue for Masotti that the team from Manchester shares a name with the Durban based outfit.
Even when an expansion team in the Major League Rugby in the USA named itself the Miami Sharks Masotti had his say in the choice by the Americans.
The protection of the brand from the owner brings even more spice to an already spicy match up. It is a must-win for both Sharks teams to keep their Champions Cup dreams alive. The Sharks are one point behind Sale in Pool 1 of the Champions Cup. The top two teams will progress to the knock out rounds.
“We will lean into that,” Sale director of rugby, Sanderson told the English media. “Do they respect us as an organisation? Questionable, certainly from the top. I will have that in the back pocket, those lads who are on social media might want bragging rights. You’ve got to find something every week that pushes buttons. There’s enough there for us this week.”
The Durbanites were thrashed by Toulouse in their Champions cup opener. They redeemed themselves with a win over Saracens and then beat the Bulls in the URC. The Lions pipped the Sharks in a squeaker over the weekend, leaving JP Pietersen’s men anxious to get their season back on track.
Although South African teams have a reputation of sending under strength sides to Europe, the Sharks will most likely take a full strength side to Manchester, Springbok stars such as Siya Kolisi, Ox Nche, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi and Grant Williams should all be in the line up. The collective noun for sharks is a shiver. There will be a shiver of sharks which will turn into a feeding frenzy.
