Mbonambi wary of Stormers early momentum in Cape Town

The Cape side arrive with strong momentum this season, maintaining an unbeaten run through their opening block of fixtures, while the Sharks are still trying to climb the table after a stop-start campaign that has yielded only a handful of victories so far.

Mbonambi, who spent six seasons with the Stormers between 2015 and 2021, says their growth under director of rugby John Dobson is clear to see. 

However, he adds that personal relationships are put aside on matchday.

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"For me, I'm expecting The Stormers to come charging out of the gates. We know they are a good side, we know they want a fast start, and they have some quality young players coming through, along with plenty of experience.

"I do have some good mates there, but what happens between the four lines is a different story, and what happens between the four lines usually stays there. Outside of rugby, I have some good memories at The Stormers and still have some good mates there, but I think the focus for us is going to be to down to Cape Town to perform well and make sure that we get a good result as The Sharks"

The Durban-based outfit have shown signs of improvement since JP Pietersen stepped in as interim head coach, collecting several wins from their recent matches following the mid-season coaching change. 

Pietersen has largely kept the existing squad rotation and selection approach in place, opting for continuity rather than wholesale changes.

Mbonambi says the Sharks are gradually settling into Pietersen’s methods and rediscovering confidence, but he admits the performances have not yet reached the standard the group is aiming for.

Looking ahead to the derby, Mbonambi confirmed that several senior players who were rested during the recent Investec Champions Cup fixtures against Sale Sharks and Clermont Auvergne are set to rejoin the squad at the start of the week. 

The short break was aimed at managing player load during a demanding stretch of the season.

The home side, meanwhile, are also expected to be boosted by the possible return of a few key players sidelined since the early-January derby against the Bulls.

"Coach J.P. is trying to build squad depth. Obviously, all the unions are trying to do that while playing two competitions. The season has been so long, and not all the players can play every game. Credit to him, he is obviously trying to get the youngsters to perform in big games by rotating the squad and making sure that everyone gets some game time under their belt.

"Having the option to choose between two teams does give you some advantage, and its up to coach J.P. which side he wants to pick. It's up to us players to back that plan and to make sure we work together."

History suggests another tight contest, although the Stormers have enjoyed the upper hand in Cape Town, winning all of their coastal derbies at DHL Stadium to date. 

They also hold a slight overall edge in matches played in Durban. 

The double World Cup-winning hooker explains what elevates this South African derby above a regular league fixture.