Phepsi Buthelezi: Sharks ready to match fire with fire against Leinster

The Durban franchise launched their 2026-27 campaign with a bonus-point 41-24 win over the Ospreys at Kings Park last weekend, to get the season off to a near-perfect start.

While Buthelezi was delighted to hit the ground running in the URC, he stressed the Sharks still have room for improvement.

"We've worked hard during our pre-season, and to get off the mark in the way that we did was really rewarding for the group," he told reporters.

"We had a good look at our performance, and we felt we could have done better in certain moments of the game. But overall, it was a really positive start and everyone is happy."

Attention has now turned firmly to the visit of Leinster, who arrive in Durban after a narrow defeat to the Lions and will be eager to get their first win of the season.

For Buthelezi and his teammates, the fixture represents more than just another match.

"This week is a very important one for us as a group. It's more important because it shows us how far we've come as a group," the back-rower said.

The 27-year-old is particularly eager to test himself against Leinster's highly rated pack.

"As a player, you obviously want to be up against the best. We want to play against the best loosies Leinster have to offer, and we've got to match fire with fire," he said.

"We really feel we've been well prepared. We've got good coaches around us who have given us all the information we need to go out there and perform."

The Sharks' back row made a strong contribution in the win over Ospreys, with captain Nick Hatton and flanker Manu Tshituka among the try-scorers.

"As a loose forward, it's always nice to get involved with the ball and score some amazing tries," he added.

"I thought that was positive, and something we're going to keep working on."