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THE FINAL COUNTDOWN
Three weeks remain before the knockout stages of the Vodacom URC kick off on Friday, May 30. The Hollywoodbets Sharks are back home following a highly industrious overseas leg of their campaign, in Scotland and Ireland, and fizzing to secure a home quarter-final and even push for the second spot on the table…
Former All Black Rugby World Cup-winning flyhalf Stephen Donald caused quite a stir recently when he remarked on Sky Sport’s The Breakdown that the Vodacom United Rugby Championship “is probably a low, a very, very low level compared to Super Rugby,” and that the Northern Hemisphere competition does not “harden” players up enough for the demands of international rugby.
Ironically enough, it was precisely with “test” match-type rugby that the Hollywoodbets Sharks managed two extremely valuable away wins on their recent visit to Edinburgh and Belfast. With those back-to-back victories John Plumtree’s warriors not only significantly enhanced their chances of hosting a quarter-final at home come the end of the month, but they are also breathing down the neck of the defending champions, the Glasgow Warriors, who are clinging to second place on the standings.
half that enabled them to pull through with flying colours and become the first South African team to win at Kingspan.
Plumtree and the rest of his coaching staff were naturally pleased with the resolute commitment and never-say-die instinct with which the side passed the acid tests in Scotland and Ireland, yet at the same time harbour no illusions about the hard work ahead if the Hollywoodbets Sharks want to add the splendid URC trophy to last year’s EPCR Challenge Cup and Carling Currie Cup spoils.
And, the grind starts with tonight’s encounter with the Ospreys, the first of two consecutive home games against Welsh opposition. Next Saturday, Plumtree’s men host the Scarlets.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks certainly indicated that they have become adept at winning away from home at hostile venues, like the Hive and Kingspan Stadium, as well as in adverse weather conditions, which may well be the Durban-based outfit’s destiny should they advance through to the semifinals and final of the URC.
Against both Edinburgh (18-17) and Ulster (22-19), the Hollywoodbets Sharks were required to grind out the victories.
In Belfast, a fortnight ago, they faced a seemingly insurmountable deficit of 0-19 after half an hour, however, when the final whistle blew 50 minutes later the visitors emerged with an invaluable three-point win. With Springbok powerhouses like Siya Kolisi, André Esterhuizen and Makazole Mapimpi in their midst, the Hollywoodbets Sharks rediscovered the turbo boost in the second
"WITH THOSE BACKTO-BACK VICTORIES JOHN PLUMTREE’S WARRIORS NOT ONLY SIGNIFICANTLY ENHANCED..."
The Ospreys, currently placed 11th on the table, are still in with a sniff of finishing in the top eight and thereby qualifying for the quarter-finals, following last week’s 57-24 romp against the Dragons at home in Swansea. The Ospreys ran in nine tries and bagged a crucial bonus point to keep their hopes alive, but have to win their last two games, preferably with bonus points, and will therefore be fizzing to try and put one over the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
The hosts, however, are equally aware of the need to win their last two outings, with an eye to possibly sneak in at number two on the standings, and thus will leave no stone unturned in their quest to get the job done tonight. Winning is non-negotiable.
WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP
ULTIMATE WARRIOR
Bongi Mbonambi joined “The Warrior Nation” four years ago and today celebrates his 50th cap for the Hollywoodbets Sharks. It is yet another major milestone for the double World Cup-winning warrior…
Bongi Mbonambi has conquered the rugby world over the past decade.
The 34-year-old Springbok hooker not only boasts back-to-back Rugby World Cup winners’ medals but the 77-test veteran has also won the Castle Lager Rugby Championship and beaten the British & Irish Lions with South Africa. It is quite the résumé.
And, yet, Mbonambi couldn’t be more excited about the prospect of taking to the field tonight to earn his 50th cap for the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
“This is such an awesome accomplishment in my rugby career and a massive honour and privilege,” Mbonambi says.
“I would like to thank my teammates, coaches and the entire Sharks management for backing me week in, week out.
“It has worked out perfectly, to run out on my home ground and in front of our beloved fans. I am looking forward to tonight’s game, with a special group of players, taking it all in and making the most of it.
“Of course, it won’t be easy against a top team like Ospreys, but we have put in the hard yards and want to make our fans proud.”
With 73 caps for the Stormers also under his belt, Mbonambi decided in 2021 to move up the coast to Durban and join the Hollywoodbets Sharks.
He was intent on making the most of his time in the Shark Tank.
“I just make the most of every opportunity I get,” he said at the time.
“Disappointments come and go, but I don’t dwell on them too much. I just make sure that I have no regrets at the end of the day.
“Making the most of every day is what’s important.
“I saw coming to the Hollywoodbets Sharks as an opportunity to grow my game, and to work with world-class players.”
To be sure, Bongi “Iron” Mbonambi has been sensational as a “warrior” in black over the past four years.
This is what a couple of his cronies in the tight five have to say about their sidekick, Bongi:
Eben Etzebeth:
Bongi is one of the toughest guys that I’ve played with. He is a true warrior on the field.
He will never take a step backwards for anyone or anything. It’s always nice to have someone like that alongside.
Bongi doesn’t wait to become “angry” on the field; he arrives “angry” in the first place…
Ox Nché:
It’s a massive honour to play with someone like Bongi. We have a lot of good memories on and off the field and always have each other’s back.
Just his work ethic and attitude towards the game, as well as the people that he cares about off the field and on the field, in the team environment, are amazing.
HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES
BORN: 02/12/1995 HEIGHT: 2.03 m
JADEN HENDRIKSE BORN: 22/06/1996 HEIGHT: 1.74m BORN: 23/03/2000 HEIGHT: 1.81m
77KG WEIGHT: 92KG
SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES
BORN: 19/04/1991 HEIGHT: 1.85m WEIGHT: 93KG
OSPREYS PLAYER PROFILES
BORN: 02/11/1993 HEIGHT: 1.88 m WEIGHT: 116KG
BORN: 30/05/1992 HEIGHT: 2.00 m WEIGHT: 116KG
21/01/2000
BORN: 16/05/1999 HEIGHT: 1.85m
BORN: 30/11/1995 HEIGHT: 1.86m WEIGHT: 89KG
OSPREYS PLAYER PROFILES
BORN: 06/10/1998 HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 92KG
BORN: 17/12/1991 HEIGHT: 1.86m
BORN: 09/05/1995 HEIGHT: 1.85 m WEIGHT: 92KG
BORN: 22/04/1997 HEIGHT: 1.85m
BORN: 11/01/2000 HEIGHT: 1.82m
BORN: 02/04/2000 HEIGHT: 1.85m
BORN: 23/01/2022 HEIGHT: 1.82m
BORN: 25/12/1998 HEIGHT: 1.93m WEIGHT: 96KG WEIGHT: 106KG
BORN: 27/02/1992 HEIGHT: 1.85m
BORN: 03/02/1998 HEIGHT: 1.82m
WEIGHT: 85KG
BORN: 04/04/2002 HEIGHT: 1.75m
JAMES
BOTHA
ADAM BEARD
KIERAN HARDY
GARETH THOMAS
JAC MORGAN (C)
HARRI DEAVES
DANIEL KASENDE
EVARDI BOSHOFF
JACK WALSH
STEFF THOMAS
SAM PARRY
BEN WARREN
OWEN WILLIAMS IESTYN HOPKINS
MAJOR MATCHUP MASUKU VS EDWARDS
Siya Masuku came on in the 60th minute to play a starring role in the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ heart-stopping 18-17 away win against Edinburgh three weeks ago.
With less than a minute left, Masuku punched the ball out on the corner flag from a penalty halfway out, and from the subsequent lineout play flung an overhead pass to Makazole Mapimpi to score the winning try.
Earlier this year he also called the shots to near perfection at pivot in the thrilling 29-19 victory over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld, with his kicking game in particular carrying the stamp of class.
The 28-year-old has rediscovered his championship form from last year when the Hollywoodbets Sharks clinched the EPCR Challenge Cup.
Dan Edwards bagged 20 points in Ospreys’ handsome 57-24 win against the Dragons a fortnight ago with a brace of tries and five conversions and is currently third on the URC points-scorers table with a tally of 107.
The recently turned 21-year-old came through the Ospreys age-group ranks and starred for Wales U20 two years ago, before making his senior Wales debut in two Six Nations tests earlier this year.
Edwards, who celebrated his URC debut against Scarlets last November with a stunning try, is as cool as a cucumber under pressure, has an instinctive knack for controlling the game and is earmarked as a regular at 10 for Wales on the way forward.
FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA
AIR SUPERIORITY
Kicks retained and lineout steals have become increasingly crucial in the modern game. According to the latest Vodacom URC stats, the Hol-lywoodbets Sharks have excelled in both departments…
Did you know:
* The Hollywoodbets Sharks are tops in terms of kicks retained (67), while they are fourth-best in both the tries from kicks (3) and lineout steals (21) department.
* Utility forward Vincent Tshituka has claimed the most lineout steals (10) in the competition.
* Other Hollywoodbets Sharks featuring in the top 5 stats currently include Jordan Hen-drikse (second-most points, 118), Siya Kolisi (third-most tries, 7), André Esterhuizen (fourth-most defenders beaten, 46) and Ethan Hooker (fourth-most clean breaks, 19).
* The Hollywoodbets Sharks also boast the third-most offloads (171) and fifthmost metres gained (6144).
* Ox Nché remains first on the URC Top 100, with an overall score of 95.2, while fellow Hol-lywoodbets Sharks André Esterhuizen (8th), Vincent Koch (14th) and Siya Kolisi (19th) al-so feature in the top 20.
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