Scrum value can’t be underestimated
The set-piece battle between the Lions and Sharks on Saturday sent out another stark reminder about the match-defining perils of a malfunctioning scrum, writes CRAIG LEWIS.
Du Toit to stay at tighthead
Sharks coach Robert du Preez says he is willing to give Thomas du Toit time to settle at tighthead prop. The 22-year-old has been moved from loosehead to tighthead at the request of SA Rugby director of rugby Rassie Erasmus. He was given a torrid time at the scrum by Lions loosehead Jacques van Rooyen at Ellis Park on Saturday, with… Read more →
SA Team of the Week (Round 1)
JON CARDINELLI picks a South African XV based on performances in round one of Super Rugby. Three South African teams were in action this past weekend. The Stormers hung on for a 28-20 win against the Jaguares at Newlands. The Lions were too strong for the Sharks in Johannesburg, winning 26-19. The Lions forwards hammered the Sharks at the scrums… Read more →
Super Rugby preview (Round 1)
JON CARDINELLI looks ahead to the Super Rugby clashes at Newlands and Ellis Park in round one. The Super Rugby tournament has undergone significant changes since last season. Fifteen teams will compete across three conferences in 2018, rather than the 18 sides that featured across four conferences in 2017. Two sides, namely the Cheetahs and Kings, have been cut from… Read more →
SA has reason for optimism
South Africa’s Super Rugby franchises should be more competitive this year, writes CRAIG LEWIS. The decision to cut two South African teams from Super Rugby is likely to be vindicated during the 2018 season. When it was made, SA Rugby CEO Jurie Roux openly acknowledged that the dilution of talent and resources across six franchises had simply become unsustainable. In… Read more →
Super Rugby preview: Sharks
The Sharks have bolstered a squad that should compete at the business end of the competition, writes CRAIG LEWIS. When the Sharks progressed to a home final in the 2017 Currie Cup, coach Robert du Preez made no secret of the fact their game plan revolved around playing to the strengths of a powerful pack. It was a largely effective… Read more →
‘Curwin is a little misunderstood’
Sharks backline coach Dick Muir says he is astounded by the potential of talented youngster Curwin Bosch, writes CRAIG LEWIS. Bosch has enjoyed a meteoric rise to prominence on the South African rugby scene over the past 18 months. The 20-year-old quickly established himself as a key member of the Sharks’ squad and he received his first Bok call-up last… Read more →
Strong Sharks to face Racing
The Sharks have named a powerful side for Saturday’s friendly against Racing 92 in Hong Kong.
Sharks call up Williams
The Sharks have called up 21-year-old scrumhalf Grant Williams as a replacement for the injured Louis Schreuder. Williams joins Cameron Wright as the scrumhalves in the Sharks squad to face Racing 92 in Hong Kong on Saturday. He is a Paarl Gim graduate and previously played for the Sharks U21 and U19 sides, as well as for College Rovers. Schreuder… Read more →
Sharks double-up to outmuscle Bulls
Wing Makazole Mapimpi scored a brace as the Sharks beat the Bulls 31-14 in their pre-season warm-up in Polokwane on Saturday. While the Bulls split their squad into two groups for this game and the clash against the Lions earlier in the day, the Sharks utilised their entire playing squad in this encounter. Coach Robert du Preez fielded a strong XV… Read more →
