Sharks must cure European travel sickness if they are to progress in Champions Cup

If the Sharks can find a cure for their recent European travel sickness in Manchester on Saturday, they can strengthen their chances of advancing to the Investec Champions Cup playoffs.

JP Pietersen’s charges take on the Sale Sharks at CorpAcq Stadium on Saturday (7.30pm kick-off) in round three of Europe’s premier competition, having started with an away defeat against Toulouse and a home win against Saracens, with one more round of pool matches to go before the round of 16.

If the Sharks can pull off a rare European win on Saturday, they can climb above Sale and into the fourth and final playoff spot, and even above Toulouse should the French giants succumb to Saracens away. 

Yet the Durban side’s woeful early season form on tour across competitions does not inspire confidence that they can get the job done away from the comfort of the Shark Tank.

Their best away result against northern hemisphere teams so far was a draw with the Dragons in Wales in round two of the United Rugby Championship (URC), with both of their victories in the second-tier competition coming at home. The Sharks have fallen short against Glasgow Warriors, Leinster and Connacht away in the URC.

The Champions Cup thrashing against Toulouse in France also signalled the end of John Plumtree’s reign as head coach.

It’s not all doom and gloom for the Durbanites in the Champions Cup, however, with their final pool match at home to Clermont next weekend, and they can banish the narrative that they struggle away from home by winning the weekend’s battle of the Sharks.

One potential sign of their intent to turn their poor European form around could be in the decision to leave for the UK on Tuesday, allowing them more time to acclimatise to the harsh northern winter.

Pietersen was seconds away from securing a third win in a row as Sharks head coach in an expansive, up-and-down battle against the Lions at home on Saturday. They will surely have to tighten their defence under pressure, be smarter in their game management when the heat is on, and reduce the tendency to give away penalties in key positions if they are to beat Sale.

They will also need to show mental resilience to cope with the hostile crowd, cold conditions, and refereeing interpretations.

Coach and leadership buy-in will also be crucial. Whether they prioritise rotating their squad to bring fresher legs on tours, or recalibrate tactical plans specifically for European conditions, it is clear that away form can’t be an afterthought.

As the Sharks head to Sale this weekend, the broader European story hangs in the balance. A strong showing could recalibrate their campaign and give supporters genuine optimism about their chances of qualification. A loss – especially without bonus points – could reinforce existing doubts about their ability to break free from the narrative that plagues South African sides in continental rugby.