- Sharks loose-forward Henco Venter said they didn't feel good after being thrashed by the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
- The Sharks, who host the Stormers on Saturday, were comprehensively overpowered by the Bulls, especially in the second half.
- Venter said they still held out hope of winning the Rainbow Cup SA despite the defeat at Loftus Versfeld.
Sharks loose-forward Henco Venter said they've done the necessary reflecting after their 43-9 thrashing at the hands of the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last Saturday.
The Sharks went into the game unbeaten, but they were given an unforgettable rugby lesson in the second half.
The Sharks pack bore the brunt of the Bulls onslaught, but Venter said one result didn't define the hard work they have put into the Rainbow Cup SA.
"The score speaks for itself. You don't have to ask how we're feeling because it is not good," Venter said.
"We had a bit of reflecting to do, we had some talks, and we're ready for the weekend because one defeat doesn't define our team.
"Rugby is a weekend game. The previous week against the Lions, we stopped 14 mauls and beat them with six forwards against eight, so one slip up doesn't define us."
The Sharks host the Stormers in a rather unusual 13:00 kick-off slot on Saturday, but with the Bulls again showing the chasm between them and everyone else, Venter said they couldn't afford to play nice with the Cape Town franchise.
"This is our home. This is our place. This is where we live and get our food from. So we're definitely not going to lie on our backs and let the Stormers think they are who they really are," Venter said.
"Beating them won't be easy. They came back from one hell of a fight, but we need to clinical in every step."
While the Bulls may have given the Sharks the necessary rude awakening, Venter felt they're still in with a shout of winning the Rainbow Cup.
"We play to be the best, to win and to be in the final. Winning is definitely within our aim. We've played two away games," Venter said.
"We now have a home game, and I think we've had our bad part, and it is still in our hands. If we win all of our games, we win the competition, and we must just win it overseas."