Thomas du Toit believes the Sharks are ready for the test that awaits them at Thomond Park, where they face Munster in a Munster vs Sharks clash that should measure just how far the South Africans have come this season.
The 31-year-old prop said on Tuesday that the Sharks understand what makes Munster such a difficult opponent, pointing to the pride of the city, the club’s history and the continuity within the squad. Du Toit, who had a brief stint in Limerick in 2016-17, said he knows exactly what the challenge looks like from the inside.
“It’s a very proud city and a proud rugby club with an unbelievable history,” he said. “I’ve played here at Munster, so I understand what it’s all about; they live and breathe Munster, and that uplifts the players.”
Sharks arrive in good form
The Sharks go into the match with momentum after back-to-back wins over Lyon and Cardiff. Last Friday night, they beat Cardiff 36-21 at the Arms Park, a result that followed their current week of preparation for the trip to Limerick.
That run has helped steady a team that had lost only once before the Munster match. Their only defeat so far was a 39-22 loss to the Stormers three weeks ago, a game that exposed some of the set-piece issues the Sharks are still trying to clean up.
The scrum remains a work in progress
Du Toit, who joined the Sharks from Bath this season, said the scrum is still a developing area for the team. He explained that scrumming effectively is about more than just training time and that combinations need repetition before they fully click.
“The interesting thing about scrumming is it always starts from zero at the start of the season,” he said. “Although I’ve played with Ox, I haven’t played with any of the hookers really that we have here at the moment. That new combination takes time, unfortunately.”
He added that there are “so many different aspects” to the scrum and that it takes time to get used to one another. “It doesn’t matter how many training sessions you do and how many building blocks that you do in the scrums. Time in the saddle is what’s needed,” he said.
Even with that work still ongoing, Du Toit sounded confident about the challenge ahead. Munster, he said, are a side built on long-standing continuity and a strong brotherhood, which makes them a difficult opponent at home. Still, he said the Sharks are embracing the occasion.
“We understand the challenges that lie ahead and we are excited for it,” he said.
