Etzebeth: Munster’s wounding by Sharks last year ‘doesn’t count anymore’

Sharks captain Eben Etzebeth said his side cannot draw on their significant win over Munster in the United Rugby Championship earlier this season – which resulted in the resignation of their coach three days afterwards – as playing any role when the teams clash in the quarter-finals.

The Sharks crushed Munster 41–24 in Durban in October. It was the Irish side’s third consecutive defeat, and with the team languishing at 12th on the log after six games, Graham Rowntree resigned as head coach.

Munster recovered under interim coach Ian Costello and will face the Sharks again at Kings Park on Saturday (kick-off 6.30pm) in a last-eight clash.

This is the Sharks’ first-ever home quarter-final in the URC, though they have never progressed past this play-off phase. Munster, on the other hand, have won the URC in its current format once and three times in its previous formats.

Munster are strong away from home

Two years ago, they won all three of their knockout games away from home (Glasgow, Leinster and Stormers). Etzebeth drew on this when addressing the media on Tuesday.

“They are used to play-off success and winning away from home in knockout games, which are the most important. Everything you’ve done before now doesn’t really count,” he said.

“[It’s the] first time we are hosting a quarter-final. It’s an advantage. But we know Munster.

“They’ve got a history of playing well in knockout games. We are very aware of that, that they can be their best even away from home. They are a quality side and we definitely won’t look too much into the past and the past result, where we came out on top.

“Just a weekend is a long time and that was more than half a year ago. That won’t count at all.”

Sharks look to home crowd advantage against Munster

The Sharks captain said his side have had “one of our best URCs yet”.

Despite battling an injury dilemma for much of the season, the Sharks pulled off enough tight wins (eight victories were by seven points or fewer) to finish third on the log.

“It’s a good opportunity for us to hopefully push a bit further in this competition. Having the home crowd advantage and doing it in front of our fans is a massive bonus,” said the Springbok lock.

To win on Saturday would be another first for the Sharks after they secured their maiden SA shield earlier in the season.