Mbonambi wary of Bordeaux-Begles as Sharks continue Champions Cup adventure

The Durban-based outfit started their campaign with a bonus-point victory at home against Harlequins last weekend while Bordeaux suffered a narrow defeat against Gloucester.

Mbonambi expects a difficult challenge from the Top 14 outfit on their home turf.

"Any French team would be hurting after losing their first game because they've been in the competition for so long," the Springbok told the Sharks' official website. "We've had a review, looking at them and their games and I must say, they really have a good squad.

"Last week's [22-17] loss was just a slip-up for them, they can't be judged on that game and we know this match is going to be really tough.

"They have a good pack, a good backline, and we [the Springboks] played against their fly-half and scrum-half in that Test match against the French, we know they're going to be up for it, playing in front of their home crowd.

"It's always tough playing in France so we have to be as well-prepared as we can."

Mbonambi expressed his delight with his side's start to their Champions Cup campaign courtesy of that 39-31 triumph over Harlequins.

"Last week's game against Harlequins met our Heineken Champions Cup expectations, it was a good start from us but we know there's a lot we can improve on," he admitted from the team's base in Bordeaux.

"But yeah, the whole hype was met and as a team, we enjoyed ourselves out there and just looking forward to the rest of the competition."

With it being summer in South Africa, playing rugby in December is a novelty for teams from that country and the Sharks had to adapt quickly to contrasting weather conditions between the southern and northern hemispheres.

"There's a big difference," Mbonambi admitted with a smile. "We've just come from over 30° summer in Durban and they say we'll be playing in 0° on Friday evening which is a different kind of cold. But we'll embrace it and enjoy the challenge.

"We have also had talks about the way we want to control the ball particularly in contact, in these cold conditions. You don't want to lose possession in contact because that puts you under pressure and certainly not against Bordeaux who have a good attacking structure.

"So we want to control the ball, respect it more and put the opposition under pressure."

Another challenge the Sharks players have owned up to is discipline, and while Mbonambi's yellow and Ox Nche's red cards did not cost them the game against Quins in Durban, it's an advantage they don't want to give Bordeaux on Friday.

"We've had a leadership meeting where we had a tough talk about discipline, and I put my hand up and apologised for it.

"It's not my style of play or the way I want to play for the Sharks and I take 100% responsibility for that and will make sure it doesn't happen again," added Mbonambi.

"What we also learned from that game was even if you're a few points ahead, you can never relax, the teams in this competition are very good and they've been here for a lot longer than we have so we have a lot to learn.

"It will be the same this weekend, we'll have to keep piling on the pressure if we're ahead to make sure we come away with the points."