Gloucester Braces for Springbok-Fueled Challenge Cup Final Showdown
Gloucester director of rugby George Skivington is under no illusion about the daunting task that lies ahead for his side as they prepare to face the Sharks in the Challenge Cup final at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Friday.
The Cherry and Whites, who have struggled in the Premiership with nine successive defeats, are now eyeing a third Challenge Cup title after previous victories in 2006 and 2015. However, the Sharks, currently 13th in the United Rugby Championship, possess a loaded roster of Springbok stars, including Makazole Mapimpi, Lukhanyo Am, Ox Nche, Vincent Koch, and Eben Etzebeth.
“They have got a lot of high-profile players, a lot of guys who can do things out of nowhere, which goes from back-line players to Etzebeth in the second-row and World Cup-winning front-rowers,” Skivington acknowledged. “They have got a lot of guys who can change a game in a moment, and we have to be ready for that.”
The Gloucester boss is bracing his side for a physically demanding encounter, recognizing the Sharks’ renowned set-piece prowess as a “South African trait.” He emphasized the need for his team to be ready for the “physicality battle” against the powerful Springbok-laden lineup.
“There is no getting away from the physicality with the Sharks. Guys like Etzebeth are very big, powerful men, and if you are not ready for that physicality battle, it is going to be a long day,” Skivington warned.
While both teams have struggled in their respective domestic competitions, the Challenge Cup final presents an opportunity for the Cherry and Whites to secure Champions Cup qualification and end the season with two trophies, having already won the Premiership Rugby Cup.
“The objective is to bring more silverware to Gloucester,” Skivington stated. “You get to a final, and then you have just got to throw everything at it.”
As the Gloucester faithful eagerly await the crunch encounter, the director of rugby is confident that his squad, which has contributed collectively to the team’s Challenge Cup run, will be ready to take on the Springbok-powered Sharks.
đź”— Source
