Sharks interim coach JP Pietersen said his experience in the Champions Cup this year had highlighted the importance of winning away and having a full squad of skilled players when balancing two tournaments.
The Sharks won their final pool game 50-12 against Clermont at Kings Park on Saturday to finish the stage with two wins and two losses. Though they were fourth in the pool for a few hours, Toulouses emphatic 77-7 victory over Sale in France meant they dropped to fifth place.
Instead of proceeding to the Champions Cup play-offs, the Sharks will now drop into the second-tier Challenge Cup round of 16, to be played in April.
