HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS VS ULSTER MARCH 23 2024

THE SUIT THAT WORKS HARDER

11H30 PARKING GATES OPEN 11H45

TURNSTILES OPEN

12H00

CURTAIN RAISER

Durban High School vs Rondebosch Boys High School

15H00

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS VS ULSTER RUGBY

MATCH PREVIEW

EBEN ETZEBETH INTERVIEW

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS VS ULSTER RUGBY

KICK OFF 15H00

ULSTER RUGBY PLAYER PROFILES

MBONAMBI VS STEWART

MAJOR MATCHUP FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA

FIXTURES & RESULTS

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

SPONSORS

THE SHARKS

MATCH PREVIEW

IT’S A LEGACY…

WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP

Creating a legacy does not happen overnight. The same goes for maintaining that legacy. It requires shrewd strategising and heaps of hard work. That’s exactly what is transpiring at the Hollywoodbets Sharks, and, although it has, in the words of John Plumtree, been a struggle, “the light at the end of The Sharks’ tunnel” is drawing closer…

Plumtree’s charges are resuming their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign against Ulster this afternoon and will be fizzing to turn the tables on their Irish counterparts.

The previous occasion on which these two sides clashed at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, just over a year ago, turned out to be a titanic tussle, with Ulster holding on in the end for a hard-fought 31-24 bonus-point win.

The Ravenhill-based outfit is, of course, one of the traditional giants of Ireland rugby. Ulster became the first Irish outfit, in the professional era, to clinch the Heineken Cup, seeing off French-based US Colomiers 21-6 in the 1999 final at Lansdowne Road, Dublin.

Ulster are currently well poised in fifth spot on the Vodacom URC table, 10 championship points adrift of Irish compatriots, Leinster, in top spot.

Defensively, Ulster are amongst the top teams in the competition. They have made the most tackles (1887),

“In the second half, we started struggling in the scrums, allowing them into our 22, and then their forwards got on top of us with their drive.

“So, yeah, poor start and poor finish.”

It was a rather similar situation against the Stormers at home the previous fortnight, and even more exasperating as the Hollywoodbets Sharks came agonisingly close to seeing off the former champions. The final score was 2521 in favour of the visitors from the Cape.

“We had no ball for the first 20 minutes; they got some territory from kickoff and suffocated us with the amount of possession they had,” Plumtree reflected.

“We kept them out with a few good lineout stops; they’re pretty strong in that area and we did well in that space. We did get undone by a couple of kicks, like a crosskick and kick over the top, though; we probably got narrowed down defensively.

“When we did get going in the 12 minutes before halftime, we played some pretty good rugby, scored a good try and got back in the contest.

while their tackle success rate of 90% is the second-best. Even so, they have already conceded 35 tries, one more than the tally of the Hollywoodbets Sharks (34).

With an expected injection of Springbok stalwarts, notably RWC winners, Eben Etzebeth and Vincent Koch, the Durban favourites are intent on turning their fortunes around today, following disappointment in their previous two local derbies.

Their most recent outing, against the Lions in Johannesburg three weeks ago, was particularly frustrating, resulting in a 10-40 defeat that was not a true reflection of the effort the boys put in.

“We were in it for 60 minutes, but the last quarter just wasn’t good enough,” Plumtree observed.

“The Lions got off to a great start to go 19-3 up, but I was proud of the boys coming back to reduce the halftime deficit to just 10-19. And, that despite us having a couple of tries disallowed, which was pretty frustrating.

“But the start was average. We never gave up and also came back well at the end, but couldn’t execute that last lineout.”

“I NEVERTHELESS HAVE A LOT OF CONFIDENCE IN THIS TEAM..."

The Hollywoodbets Sharks’ coach has reiterated that once his charges become more clinical they will be a real force.

“Against quality teams, one has to be good enough to nail those little opportunities that are presented to you.

“I just want us to get better and better, and improve all the time.

“My immediate focus now is around our retention, our recruitment, learning more about the players and them learning more about me and the coaching team, and what is expected.

“It has been frustrating since I haven’t had the opportunity to work with the full-strength pack that I need, especially in the big derby games.

“I nevertheless have a lot of confidence in this team, that we’ll get it right and go to the places that we want to go, but right now it’s a bit of a struggle for various reasons.

“The challenge for us is to be able to do well, even without our Springboks. When we get all of them back, of course, we can be a force…”

IMMENSE IN EVERY SENSE

The Shark Tank will be delighted today to welcome back Eben Etzebeth, following knee surgery. The double RWC-winning Bok bruiser, who has just scooped back-to-back SA Rugby Player of the Year awards, is fizzing to return to Vodacom URC action and certain, as usual, to make a mammoth difference.

Eben Etzebeth was also a nominee for World Rugby’s Player of the Year award, following his enormous endeavours for South Africa at last year’s triumphant Rugby World Cup.

Following the tournament, The Guardian’s rugby experts each picked their “player of the tournament” and almost half opted for the giant Springbok.

“Eben Etzebeth. Immense in every sense of the word,” Jonathan Liew observed.

“Not just the heart and claws of this South Africa side but its platform and its emotional fulcrum. “Other players were more flawless. None was as influential.”

Colleague Michael Aylwin was in full agreement: “Some things in rugby run deeper than who can run fastest, pass sweetest or tackle most.

“Etzebeth dominates a rugby match just by standing there. Martin Johnson had that.

“People are glad to be in the same team as such players.”

Massive accolades, indeed, coming from the often notorious British press.

Etzebeth became only the second player to pull off back-to-back SA Rugby Player of the Year awards when he was recognised for his superb season at the SA Rugby Awards 2023.

The 32-year-old walked off with the main spoils in South Africa for a second successive time following consistently high levels of performance in the green and gold as the Boks lifted the Webb Ellis Cup for a second time in a row in France last October.

“Eben was at the front of the Springboks’ charge to their second RWC title,” acknowledged Mark Alexander, President of SA Rugby.

For now, though, Etzebeth’s focus has shifted to the Hollywoodbets Sharks and their Vodacom United Rugby Championship campaign, which

has been an arduous one to date - for a variety of reasons, not least of all Etzebeth’s absence during the last two matches due to knee surgery.

“I’d been struggling with the knee even before last year’s World Cup,” he explained.

“The recent break provided the perfect time for the operation, because, although I was out for seven weeks, I only missed the two local derbies (against the Stormers and Lions).

“We haven’t had a good campaign so far, and there are no excuses.

“We need to take a hard look at ourselves, both individually and as a collective. We are working extremely hard, and there are innovative plans in place.

“Somehow, though, we haven’t yet been able to execute that, which has been disappointing and frustrating.

“That is what we need to get right during the rest of the season. We still have five home games left, which we will target to see how far we can advance and end the season on a positive note.

“Even though a top-eight finish in the URC isn’t possible anymore, the intent is still to end strong, and there is still the EPCR Challenge Cup that we are targeting, as winning that can also ensure qualification for the Investec Champions Cup.

“Above all, there is our pride in the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ jersey, which serves as the ultimate motivation to do well and win.”

NTUTHUKO MCHUNU

PROP

BORN: 05/04/1999

HEIGHT: 1.88m

WEIGHT: 114KG

EBEN ETZEBETH

BORN: 29/09/1991

BONGI MBONAMBI

BORN: 07/01/1991

HEIGHT: 1.87 m

WEIGHT: 105KG

GERBRANDT

WEIGHT: 119KG LOCK LOCK

WEIGHT: 117KG

BORN: 06/02/1992

HEIGHT: 2.01 m

HEIGHT: 2.03 m

VINCENT TSHITUKA GEORGE CRONJÉ

FLANK

BORN: 10/11/1998

HEIGHT: 1.95m

WEIGHT: 107KG

SIYA MASUKU

BORN: 01/10/1996

HEIGHT: 1.81 m

WEIGHT: 86KG

HANRO JACOBS

BORN: 14/03/2000

HEIGHT: 1.82 m

WEIGHT: 122KG

PHEPSI BUTHELEZI

BORN: 30/05/1999

HEIGHT: 1.88m

WEIGHT: 102KG

BORN: 28/06/2001

HEIGHT: 1.92m

WEIGHT: 102KG

BORN: 26/07/1990

HEIGHT: 1.84m

WEIGHT: 91KG

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES

LUKHANYO AM

CENTRE

BORN: 28/11/1993

HEIGHT: 1.86 m

WEIGHT: 93KG

JADEN HENDRIKSE

SCRUM-HALF

BORN: 23/03/2000

HEIGHT: 1.79m

WEIGHT: 87KG

ETHAN HOOKER

BORN: 20/01/2003

HEIGHT: 1.94 m

WEIGHT: 98KG

EDUAN KEYTER

BORN: 13/06/1996

HEIGHT: 1.85 m

WEIGHT: 93KG

KERRON VAN VUUREN OX NCHE

BORN: 23/05/1995

HEIGHT: 1.87 m

WEIGHT: 106KG

APHELELE FASSI

BORN: 23/01/1998

HEIGHT: 1.89 m

WEIGHT: 87KG

VINCENT KOCH

BORN: 23/07/1995

HEIGHT: 1.76 m

WEIGHT: 117KG BORN: 13/03/1990 HEIGHT: 1.85m

WEIGHT: 118KG

CORNE RAHL LAPPIES LABUSCHAGNE CAMERON WRIGHT

BORN: 27/05/2002

HEIGHT: 2.03 m

WEIGHT: 103KG

BORN: 17/07/1999

HEIGHT: 1.92m

CURWIN BOSCH

BORN: 25/06/1997

HEIGHT: 1.81 m

WEIGHT: 85KG

WEIGHT: 104KG

BORN: 20/04/1994

HEIGHT: 1.81m

FRANCOIS VENTER

CENTRE

BORN:19/04/1991

HEIGHT: 1.85 m

WEIGHT: 93KG

WEIGHT: 92KG

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS

ULSTER RUGBY

WILL

EDUAN

LUKHANYO

JAMES HUME

TREVOR

ETHAN

STUART MCCLOSKEY

MIKE LOWRY

SIYA

GEORGE

GERBRANDT

EBEN

NTUTHUKO

BEN

CORNE

BILLY BURN

JOHN COONEY

NICK TIMONEY

DAVID MCCANN

HARRY SHERIDAN

IAIN HENDERSON (C)

KIERAN TREADWELL

TOM O’TOOLE

TOM STEWART

STEVEN KITSHOFF

JOHN ANDREW

ANDREW WARWICK

SCOTT WILSON

CORMAC

MATTY REA

NATHAN

JUDE POSTLETHWAITE

SEAN REFFELL

ASSISTANT REFEREES

CWENGILE JADEZWENI & GRIFFIN COLBY

TMO

COLIN BRETT

HEAD COACH

RICHIE MURPHY MANAGER

RICHIE MURPHY

ULSTER RUGBY PLAYER PROFILES

STEVEN KITSHOFF

PROP

BORN: 10/02/1992

HEIGHT: 1.83 m

WEIGHT: 126KG

KIERAN TREADWELL

LOCK

BORN: 06/11/1995

HEIGHT: 1.98 m

WEIGHT: 115KG

DAVID MCCANN

FLANK

BORN: 13/06/2000

HEIGHT: 1.93m

WEIGHT: 108KG

BILLY BURNS

FLYHALF

BORN: 13/06/1994

HEIGHT: 1.83m

WEIGHT: 87KG

TOM STEWART

BORN: 11/01/2001

HEIGHT: 1.83 m

TOM O'TOOLE

ULSTER RUGBY PLAYER PROFILES

ETHAN MCILROY JAMES HUME WILL ADDISON

CENTRE

PROP

WEIGHT: 103KG

IAIN HENDERSON

BORN: 21/02/1992

HEIGHT: 1.98 m

WEIGHT: 116KG

NICK TIMONEY

LOCK HOOKER EIGHTH MAN

BORN: 01/08/1995

HEIGHT: 1.88 m

WEIGHT: 114KG

MIKE LOWRY

WING

BORN: 20/08/1998

HEIGHT: 1.70m

WEIGHT: 76KG

BORN: 10/01/1993

HEIGHT: 1.89 m

WEIGHT: 120KG

HARRY SHERIDAN

FLANK

BORN: 21/09/2001

HEIGHT: 1.95 m

WEIGHT: 108KG

JOHN COONEY

SCRUMHALF

BORN: 01/05/1990

HEIGHT: 1.78m

WEIGHT: 85KG

CENTRE

BORN: 06/08/1992

WEIGHT: 112KG

BORN: 07/09/1998

HEIGHT: 1.88 m

WEIGHT: 97KG

JOHN ANDREW

WING

BORN: 10/08/2000

HEIGHT: 1.88 m

WEIGHT: 86KG

ANDREW WARWICK

PROP HOOKER

BORN: 26/05/1993

HEIGHT: 1.80m

WEIGHT: 100KG

CORMAC IZUCHUKWU

LOCK

BORN: 28/01/2000

HEIGHT: 2.01m

WEIGHT: 117KG

BORN: 12/03/1991

HEIGHT: 1.78m

WEIGHT: 116KG

MATTY REA

LOOSE FORWARD

BORN: 21/09/1993

HEIGHT: 1.93m

WEIGHT: 110KG

JUDE POSTLETHWAITE

FLYHALF

BORN: 03/04/2002

WEIGHT: 103KG

HEIGHT: 1.93 m

FULL BACK

BORN: 20/08/1992

HEIGHT: 1.85m

WEIGHT: 93KG

SCOTT WILSON

PROP

BORN: 06/08/2002

HEIGHT: 1.88m

WEIGHT: 119KG

NATHAN DOAK

SCRUM-HALF

WEIGHT: 87KG BORN:17/12/2001

HEIGHT: 1.85m

SEAN REFFELL

FLANK

BORN: 04/11/1998

WEIGHT: 100KG

HEIGHT: 1.93m

HEIGHT: 1.80m

STUART MCCLOSKEY

MAJOR MATCHUP

MBONAMBI VS STEWART

Dubbed the Springboks’ ‘Iron Man’ by the French media due to his epic performances at RWC 2023, Bongi Mbonambi will be at the forefront of the Hollywoodbets Sharks’ charge against Ulster today.

Mbonambi, with 68 test caps to his name, was a standout performer for the Boks throughout last year’s global showpiece, scooping the Player of the Match award for his gallant endeavours in the heart-stopping 29-28 quarter-final win against France.

Sadly, his participation in the pulsating final win against the All Blacks was curtailed less than five minutes into the contest, when he sustained a knee injury.

However, since returning to action for the Hollywoodbets Sharks this year, Mbonambi has steadily regained his world-beating form.

At barely 23 years of age, Tom Stewart certainly has a bright future ahead of him as a hooker of the highest order.

Already boasting a couple of test caps for Ireland, the Ulster No 2 is currently one of the top try-scorers in the Vodacom URC with no fewer than seven tries. The Belfast-born hooker has certainly enjoyed a fast and furious start to his senior professional career, and made an immediate impact on debut against Connacht two years ago, scoring a try and scooping the Man of the Match award.

Stewart already holds the record for the most tries scored in a URC season, having touched down on 16 occasions during the previous campaign, and is especially dangerous from lineout mauls.

GREY COLLEGE & GLENWOOD

TOP OF THE “ORIGINS”

The Vodacom United Rugby Championship invited teams, during Rounds 10 and 11 of the URC, to celebrate the communities and people who helped launch their careers. The majority of players elected to wear their school socks during the Origin Rounds and the schools represented in the current Hollywoodbets Sharks squad make for an interesting read…

Did you know:

* The current Hollywoodbets Sharks squad of players represents no fewer than 33 high schools.

* The honour of having the most representatives in the Hollywoodbets Sharks squad belongs to Grey College, Bloemfontein, with five representatives (George Cronje, Tiaan Fourie, Francois Venter, IG Prinsloo, Coenie Oosthuizen), while Glenwood High School is close on Grey’s heels with four (Jaden Hendrikse, Zee Mkhabela, Kerron van Vuuren, James Venter).

* The school that has to date produced the most Springboks (54) in history, Paul Roos Gymnasium, occupies third place with three representatives (Hanro Jacobs, Reniel Hugo, Francois Hougaard), alongside Afrikaanse Hoër Seunskool (Gerbrandt Grobler, Eduan Keyter, Marnus Potgieter), Hoërskool Garsfontein (Hyron Andrews, Diego Appollis, Le Roux Roets), Maritzburg College (Ntuthuko Mchunu, Fez Mbatha, Jeandré Labuschagne), Paarl Boys High (Dan Jooste, Emile van Heerden, Boeta Chamberlain) and Paarl Gymnasium (Bradley Davids, Muller du Plessis, Grant Williams).

* Three agricultural high schools have made the list, namely Hoër Landbouskool Oakdale (Dian Bleuler, Corné Rahl), Hoër Landbouskool Boland (Marco de Witt) and Hoër Landbouskool Marlow (Nevaldo Fleurs).

* Elsewhere in Africa, Churchill High School (Zimbabwe) produced Tino Mavesere, while there is also an overseas school involved, with Kiwi Joel Hintz hailing from St Patrick's College in New Zealand.

* Although Vincent Tshituka was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), he was educated at Northcliff High School in Johannesburg.

* Veteran scrumhalf, Cameron Wright, attended both Hilton College and Westville Boys High School.

WELCOME TO THE SHARKS ACADEMY

THE SHARKS ACADEMY IS A WORLD-CLASS SOCCER AND RUGBY ACADEMY WHICH IS BACKED BY STRATEGIC PARTNERSHIP WITH THE SHARKS.

@THESHARKSACADEMY

@SHARKSACADEMY

@SHARKS_ACADEMY

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY

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R0UND 13

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R0UND 15

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MUNSTER VS HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS | 34-21

LEINSTER VS HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS | 34-14

OSPREYS VS HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS | 19-5

ZEBRE VS HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS | 12-10

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS VS CONNACHT RUGBY | 12-13

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS VS DRAGONS | 69-14

VODACOM BULLS VS HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS | 44-10

HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS VS EMIRATES LIONS | 18-20

DHL STORMERS VS HOLLYWOODBETS SHARKS | 16-15

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Come up to Kearsney to enjoy top schoolboy rugby.

Thurs 28, Sat 30 March & Mon 01 April

With some of SA’s top-ranked rugby schools, a KidZone, refreshment tent and a wonderful festival atmosphere on our beautiful campus, the festival provides a great day out for the whole family.

Download the festival app for fixtures, team information, scores and more.

Tickets on Quicket.co.za to avoid the queues R45p/p, or at the gate R 40p/p.

No alcohol may be brought onto campus.

All games will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools.

KearsneyCollege

@KearsneyNews

kearsney.college

Kearsney College, Old Main Rd, Botha’s Hill, KZN

TOP SCHOOLBOY RUGBY FOR EASTER WEEKEND

Easter in KwaZulu-Natal has become synonymous with the Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival and this year promises to be bigger and more thrilling than ever before.

Fourteen highly-rated 1st XV high school teams will showcase their skills this year, as well as ten U13 sides in the inaugural primary schools’ festival, which will run concurrently on an adjacent field.

Kearsney College will be joined by Durban High School (DHS), Glenwood and Westville Boys’ High as the KZN representatives at this 15th Kearsney Easter Rugby Festival.

The organisers are excited to welcome newcomers Hoërskool Rustenburg from North-West, Rondebosch Boys’ High from Cape Town and Pearson High School from Gqeberha. Two powerhouse teams from Gauteng - Hoërskool Monument from Krugersdorp and Hoërskool Dr EG Jansen (Boksburg) will return to showcase their brand of fast and physical rugby.

After an excellent festival debut last year, Worcester Gimnasium from the Western Cape, together with the Eastern Cape’s Nico Malan High School (Humansdorp), Hoërskool Framesby (Gqeberha) and Hoër Landbouskool Marlow (Cradock) are certain to offer spectators thrilling running rugby. They will be joined by the tenacious team from Hoërskool Noord-Kaap (Kimberley).

Play days:

Thursday 28 March,

Saturday 30 & Monday 01 April.

A primary schools’ festival has been introduced this year, which will showcase the skills of 10 local teams. Participating U13 teams are Ashton International College Ballito, Chelsea Prep, Glenwood Prep, Highbury Prep, Hillcrest Primary, Kloof Senior Primary, Umhlali Prep, Westville Senior Primary, Winston Park Primary and the KZNRU Ibutho Development Team.

The family-friendly festival on Kearsney College’s beautiful campus in Botha’s Hill will have numerous food outlets, a refreshment tent, a fun KidZone for little ones and ample available on-site parking.

Download the Kearsney College Events app to get useful festival info, fixtures, team sheets, results and match reports. Fixtures are also available on www.kearsney.com and, for those unable to attend the festival, it will be live streamed on SuperSport Schools.

Online tickets can be purchased through Quicket.co.za at R45 per person to avoid queues, or at the gate for R40 per person. Children under six years of age are free.

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