“Exciting challenge awaits”: Mathie prepares Edinburgh for star-studded Sharks

Following a hard-fought European quarter-final victory over the Vodacom Bulls, Mathie is keen to see his team build on that momentum against another South African opponent.

When asked about his messaging ahead of the weekend, Mathie as emphasised the need for unwavering focus. “In the URC, there is a small margin for error. I think for us it’s just about sticking to what we’ve been doing. We’re focusing on ourselves, making sure that we’re just leaving no stone unturned.”

He believes this meticulous approach has been key to their recent success, adding, “I think that’s stood us in good stead, focusing on each game as it comes. That’s really built the energy and excitement in the group and helped us really put out some good performances.”

Looking ahead to the clash against the Sharks – currently sitting in fourth place in the Championship – Mathie painted a clear picture of the Durban side’s strengths.

“Having a look at their squad, they’re probably going to put out 13 Springboks in their starting team and probably about 18 or 19 in the 23. We expect exactly what they are, a very accomplished, if not Springbok-laden team that’s coming here. It’s a massive challenge, but an exciting one.”

The Edinburgh attack has shown noticeable improvements in recent weeks, and Mathie credits the players’ buy-in to the coaching plan. Shooting out of the blocks in last weekend’s European win over Vodacom Bulls, Edinburgh scored four first-half tries, showcasing a fiery intent from the get-go.

“Yes, it’s good. I think just trusting in the plan,” continued Mathie. “I think when you first come in, we put things in place and the boys have really bought in. Things take time. I think the guys are genuinely enjoying how we go about our game. We’re definitely getting some reward for it.”

The victory over the Bulls last weekend provided a significant confidence boost, and Mathie acknowledged the positive impact of that result. When reflecting on captain Grant Gilchrist’s description of the first half as “world class,” Mathie agreed, stating, “It was really exciting. You go against the Bulls outfit, who again boast a lot of talented individuals. I think just to come out here and show what we can do with ball in hand. Defensively, I thought we were really stoic. Turned a lot of ball over, which gives us a lot of broken play opportunities too. I think on both sides of the ball, it was a really fast start. It was exactly what you want at home.”

The influence of James Lang in the Edinburgh backline has been evident, and Mathie highlighted the experience and communication the centre brings. A constant menace to the Bulls’ defense, Lang crossed for two tries and was the catalyst for numerous Edinburgh attacks.

“I think he’s got a lot of experience. He’s a really good player who drives a lot of comms on the field.” He also pointed to the healthy competition Lang provides, particularly in relation to Mosese Tuipulotu. “I think what I like most about it is that we’re just creating so much competition in every place. It’s Langie and Mo competing for that spot. Then you’ve got the 10s competing and there’s competition in our loosies. That just drives a really competitive culture at the club.”

Despite the impressive win against the Bulls, Mathie insists the pursuit of improvement never stops. When asked if that knockout performance was enough, he replied, “You’re always chasing the perfect performance. I think for any negative you might look at it, you’ve got to look at the positive too. I think in the past, we might have let that game slip. There’s some stoicism there and there’s some fight and some purpose being shown from the boys. That came to the fore at the back end of that game. To withstand that Bulls onslaught and to come out of it, I think the boys took a lot of confidence from that.”

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