Siya Kolisi on URC knockouts: When you worry about the scoreboard, that is when you lose the plot

The Sharks know when they click as a side that they are good enough to go all the way in the United Rugby Championship (URC) this season, but when that happens remains to be seen as they head into a crucial matchup in Pretoria on Saturday evening.

They’ll probably stand before their biggest test yet when they take on the Bulls in the semi-finals at Loftus Versfeld (6.15pm kick-off). Having players who have been exposed to the tightest of battles in Rugby World Cup knockout matches aided the Durban side in their quest for glory so far and they will look to bank on that again.

While the challenge will be a different kettle of fish than playing at home against an overseas team, Sharks No 8 Siya Kolisi believes the previous experience in do-or-die situations, especially of the World Cup-winning Boks on their side, will be worth a lot.

“That experience does help, to be honest,” Kolisi said this week.

“You know at the back of your mind that you’ve been there and it helps you to talk to the guys next to you. Panic will not help you there. It is all about calm heads and guys like Eben (Etzebeth), Bongi (Mbonambi) and André (Esterhuizen) take charge of the team and they calm the players down.

“All that matters is the next job and you have to play what is in front of you and not worry about what must still come.”

Staying present in the moment will be crucial for the Sharks as they look to bag a third win of the season over the Bulls. In their previous two round-robin URC clashes, the Durbanites came out on top, and at Loftus, where their hosts were the favourites, they achieved a morale-boosting victory.

That belief will be needed again on Saturday, especially with the side having never played in a semi-final or experienced what it is to bag a finals spot in the URC. In contrast, the Bulls have been involved in two finals, and this will be their third semi-final.

“If you are going to worry about the scoreboard and what will come next and you don’t focus on what is happening right now, that is when you lose the plot. Guys who have played can tell the others to focus on the next job and what matters.

“Everything will then look after itself.

“The calmness is there because you have been in that situation before, but you must think of the guy next to you who has never experienced it. You just need to tell him to calm down and to focus.”

Kolisi added that they had nothing to celebrate after the Munster victory because they had a game this weekend to get through. And after the drama against the Irishmen, where things went to a place-kick competition after a 24-all draw, Kolisi says it doesn’t matter how this weekend’s duel plays out as long as they come away with the victory.

“It might happen that it’s a dramatic end or not. The win counts.

"It doesn’t matter how it comes. We know we want to play better; there are many things we would like to improve on the field. The most important thing is finding a way to win when things are not going well for you as a team.

“I have been in a team where you play amazing rugby, and you still lose the game.

"So, would you rather have that or what we are going through?

"We know we can be better as individuals and as a team.”