Coach Vowles have rotated / rested a number of players for the game against the current Currie Cup champions. Great to see all the youngsters but I still can’t follow why at least not some second tier URC players are not included in this group.
(more…)Coach JPP has selected new signing All Black legend Ma’a Nonu to play from the bench against the All Blacks on Tuesday night. Vusi Moyo will run the show from 10 next to Murray Koster (back from Japan). I was under the impression Jaco Williams was released in order to play in this match but still great for Litelihle Bester to get this opportunity.
(more…)Coach Vowles has made a number of changes to the team that lost to the Stormers last weekend. Rambo Kubheka replaces Cameron Dawson. Tino Mavesere comes back into the team at 8 with Ross Braude taking over as captain. Lyle Matthews moves to 13 with Khuthi Rashivanga starting at 11.
(more…)Rassie has kept 12 players back in SA to train with Tony Brown. He is using the test in Argentina to give players returning from injury a game before the All Black games start. Both Lood de Jager and Eben Etzebeth have copped long bans plus injury layoffs – so expect at least one to play no more than 50 minutes. Andre Esterhuizen, Ethan Hooker, Morne van den Berg, Sacha FM and Siya Kolisi all return from injury either having little game time or no Bok games this season.
(more…)Coach Vowles has selected a number of Junior Boks for the clash in Cape Town (3rd away game in a row). Luan Giliomee is still available for the Sharks although he is moving to Pretoria before the URC starts. Liam van Wyk, Rambo Kubheka and Khuthi Rasivhaga have all been selected on the bench.
(more…)Another tough away game awaits the Sharks on Friday night. Coach Vowles have gone for continuity with only two changes – Danio Botha replaces the injured Jannes Potgieter and Bryce Calvert comes in at hooker replacing Jacques Marais.
Faf de Klerk has added another dimension to the Cheetahs team. The Sharks will want to continue the form they showed in the first half against the Pumas.
(more…)New Currie Cup coach Mike Vowles has selected world traveler Tim Swiel at 10 next to Ross Braude. Marnus Potgieter is the other old hand on the back line. Kerron van Vuuren also makes a return to Durban to anchor the front row. Thomas Dyer will captain the team for 8.
(more…)Rassie has picked Shark youngsters Vusi Moyo and Jaco Williams for the game against Wales. Ruben van Heerden and Carlu Sadie also made their debuts in the pack. PSDT is captaining the team from 7 but Ruan Nortje gets a welcome rest. Herschel Jantjies having played last in 2023 for the Boks gets another chance off the bench.
(more…)Rassie has made wholesale changes from the team that klapped England last week. He is very cleverly using the Nations Championship as a way to expand his squad and test different combinations.
Damian Willemse (who had a stellar game at fullback) is shifted to inside centre. Had he not suffered a concussion against England, Andre Esterhuizen would probably have started at inside centre in this match. Bulls duo Handre Pollard and Embrose Papier will run the game at half back. It is rumoured that Canan Moodie is now also out injured and Ethan Hooker may make an early return to the team at 11.
(more…)Jaco Williams and Zekhethelo Siyaya will feature on the wing for the A Team against Zimbabwe. Old head Lukhanyo Am will feature in the back line next to all the youngsters. Phepsi Buthelezi and Emmanuel Tshituka joins Bathobele Hlekani in the back row, while Vincent Tshituka will captain the team from the lock position. Hanro Jacobs and Jurenzo Julius should feature later in the game.
I have no idea what the quality of the Zimbabwean team is like although they have qualified for the 2027 World Cup. Given that most of these A team players (even 18 year old Markus Muller and Zekhethelo Siyaya) have experience in the URC / Champions Cup one should expect the SA A team to dominate this game.
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