The Hollywoodbets Sharks welcome French Top 14 side Clermont to Hollywoodbets Kings Park this afternoon for their final pool match of the 2025/26 Investec Champions Cup tournament.
It’s an important game for the Durban side who have a place in the knock-out rounds to fight for – and achieve – should they take the spoils and have other results go their way.
Reflecting on some of the changes to his side this week, head coach JP Pietersen explained that, “Francois Venter picked up a concussion and he’s out, PK has an opportunity after training well and we’re excited to see what he brings to the game.”
A number of Springboks who did not make the trip to Manchester for last week’s game against Sale might have been expected to feature this week, but Pietersen confirmed there was a bigger picture at play.
“They have Springbok rest protocols of eight weeks, and this makes up two of those weeks. They also have mental fatigue after a long season and then to come back into tough games against the Saracens, Lions and Vodacom Bulls, we felt this was the perfect opportunity to freshen them up.
“That doesn’t mean we’re taking the competition lightly, this was just the right time for them to have a break. And then after the Stormers game is a six-week break for them.”
What of the team’s ambitions this week?
“We want to put out a good performance, one that we can take confidence from,” Pietersen admitted that, “We want to show that we are a complete team, that’s one of our goals.
“We’re creating opportunities to score tries, we did last week through very good defence that put Sale under pressure. Game management is also important so that we can execute on our game plan.
“And to show fight and character, and they’re showing effort, I’m extremely proud of that.”
And what of their Top 14 mid-table opponents?
“With Clermont, you don’t always know what you’re going to get with a mixed team, they’re a big club and we obviously respect them.
“But the focus really is on us and how we can compete and deliver a complete performance.”
A complete performance is likely to earn a win, but whether they advance to the knock-outs is very much open to the permutations within the group and the outcome of other matches.
“Going through the round of 16 is partially out of our hands, so we are focused on ourselves. If we get a good win and maximum points, if someone else does us a favour then we qualify for the next round.
“But for now, it’s about how we prepped and then to give the fans a good display in a good Hollywoodbets Sharks performance.”