Match Day Programme Dec 3 2021 Cell C Sharks vs Vodacom Blue Bulls by Sharks Uncaged

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

RETURN OF THE FANS CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 19H00

3/12

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 3

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS

SPONSOR’S MESSAGE

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

Local is always lekker. Things change, and they change fast these days. But one thing stays the same – you don’t get between a South African and his or her rugby. So, this weekend, the Vodacom United Rugby Championship is all about bringing our boys home. They’ve had to travel and play away from home in Ireland, Scotland, Wales and Italy. They’ve had to play in front of foreign crowds in the rain and cold. And as their most passionate fans, you’ve had to watch from afar as your favourite teams compete in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

And what a line-up we have. A good oldfashioned grudge match between the Cell C Sharks and the Vodacom Bulls in Durban, and the mother of all showdowns in the Mother City between the DHL Stormers and the Emirates Lions. Our boys are back. And you are back. That’s all we need as we sign off 2021 with some home-ground advantage. So blow that whistle already. And let’s do this. JORGE MENDES Chief Officer - Consumer Business Unit, Vodacom

Well, this weekend that changes. Let the rest of the world do what it feels it needs to do, but here in South Africa, it’s Derby time. And we’re going to play. So let’s welcome our boys back to their fields and their fans. Let’s make this a celebration of South African rugby. This weekend is all about the home of the world champions, and our rugby heroes being welcomed home. CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 5

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS

CONTENTS

MATCH PREVIEW | 10

10 12 16 18 22 25 28 30 31 34

MATCH PREVIEW

THOMAS DU TOIT INTERVIEW

CELL C SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS KICK OFF 19H00

VODACOM BULLS PLAYER PROFILES

FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA

MAJOR MATCH UP MBONAMBI VS DU PLESSIS

FIXTURES & RESULTS

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

LOG

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP

SPONSORS THE SHARKS

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 7

INTERVIEW | 12

C E L L C P RO U D LY SU PPO RT S T HE S H ARK S

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 9

MATCH PREVIEW

UNITED WE STAND WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP

Today’s encounter with the Bulls heralds in a new chapter for the Cell C Sharks. The occasion marks the first United Rugby Championship match to be hosted at Jonsson Kings Park. As well as a long-overdue homecoming for Sean Everitt’s charges… The Cell C Sharks experienced a tough introduction to the United Rugby Championship, having had to play their first four games on the trot in Ireland and the United Kingdom. They managed to secure one win from the four outings up north, but, now, with the prospect of nine games on home soil, as well as a much-needed Springbok injection, the boys have it all to play for. The Cell C Sharks suffered a rather rude awakening to URC warfare last year, going down quite heavily to three-time champions Munster (17-42) and the Glasgow Warriors (24-35). In both losses, the inexperience of the relatively youthful Cell C Sharks was exposed, especially as far as defence was concerned, while they also let themselves down through some erratic lineout work and poor decision-making and discipline.

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A much improved performance in Swansea on October 8, which included a hat-trick of dropped goals from the boot of Boeta Chamberlain, saw Everitt’s team secure their first victory in the new tournament with a hard-fought yet well-deserved 2713 win against the Ospreys, while they were also somewhat unfortunate to narrowly lose their fourth and last appearance on tour by 17-23 in Cardiff. Now, following a month-long break, during which heaps of ‘pre-season’ work, for which there really wasn’t time for ahead of the tournament, have been done on the training track, the Cell C Sharks are fizzing to resume their URC campaign at home in The Shark Tank. “It’s been a while since we last played,” Everitt acknowledged, following the recent hitout against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein. “It has been five weeks and we knew we

were going to be rusty, and we used the last couple of weeks as a mini-preseason, as we haven’t had that opportunity prior to the Currie Cup.” There is, of course, also the added benefit of having a host of Springboks entering the fray, albeit gradually to allow international stars like Siya Kolisi, Lukhanyo Am, Makazole Mapimpi and Ox Nche time to catch a bit of breath following their hectic test season in 2021. Originally scheduled to open their home campaign with consecutive matches against the Scarlets from Wales and Italian outfit Zebre respectively, the Covid-19 pandemic has once more thrown a spanner in the works. With those two matches against European opposition postponed, the local derby against the Bulls, scheduled for February next year, has been brought forward, hence today’s big clash with the arch-rivals from Pretoria.

THE CELL C SHARKS ARE FIZZING TO RESUME THEIR URC CAMPAIGN AT HOME IN THE SHARK TANK. No confirmation about the future schedule, following tonight’s game, is available as yet. Originally, following a month-long Christmas break, the team was supposed to return to action on January 8, 2022, travelling to the Stadio Comunale Di Monigo in Italy to take on Benetton. Thereafter the Cell C Sharks were scheduled to return to the Republic for no fewer than 10 matches on South African soil, including seven at home in The Tank, before concluding the league phase of their campaign against Ulster in Belfast, Ireland, on May 21.

That, however, is still six months down the line, and for now the focus is on ensuring that the Cell C Sharks maximise homeground advantage against the Bulls tonight. As things stand, the Cell C Sharks and Bulls are lying in 14th and 15th position on the table respectively.

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ADAPT AND BE ACCOUNTABLE With eight years of top-storey rugby under the belt, including a brief stint with Munster five years ago, Cell C Sharks’ manmountain Thomas du Toit knows what it takes to compete at the highest level, and, more specifically, in the northern hemisphere circuit. As such, his experience and leadership should prove invaluable to the team in black and white over the next six months of United Rugby Championship warfare… WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP 12 CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS

Most folks would agree that, despite having turned out for South Africa in 13 tests to date, 26-year-old Thomas du Toit has not yet fully realised his formidable potential. The 1.89m, 128kg loosehead-turnedtighthead prop recently returned to The Shark Tank from the UK where he spent the past month in the Springbok camp for the recent Autumn Internationals against Wales, Scotland and England. Du Toit was one of quite a few Boks, however, who didn’t see any game time and he agrees that it was somewhat exasperating not getting in on the action. “It was frustrating yet pleasing at the same time,” suggests Du Toit. “It’s tough spending time on the touchline and it doesn’t get any easier. It does help, though, when you’re in such a great, professional environment; you’re not just sitting around wasting time, but actually get to work out with the best rugby players in South Africa. “It’s all part of the game, and I’m just so excited to finally get out there and play again.” Having played Super Rugby for the Cell C Sharks since 2014, Du Toit is perfectly positioned to comment on the difference between the southern hemisphere showpiece and the United Rugby Championship (previously the Pro14). “One is held far more accountable for mistakes in the URC,” he suggests. “When committing an error, you are swiftly punished. “The northern hemisphere teams are quick to capitalise on opposition mistakes, and an error in the wrong side of the field normally means points against you. As a result, the game is somewhat more technical than what we were used to in Super Rugby. “The northern hemisphere sides have created a style of rugby through which they can CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 13

“IT’S TOUGH SPENDING TIME ON THE TOUCHLINE AND IT DOESN’T GET ANY EASIER. IT DOES HELP, THOUGH, WHEN YOU’RE IN SUCH A GREAT, PROFESSIONAL ENVIRONMENT; YOU’RE NOT JUST SITTING AROUND WASTING TIME, BUT ACTUALLY GET TO WORK OUT WITH THE BEST RUGBY PLAYERS IN SOUTH AFRICA.

maximise the conditions in their favour. They have been employing this style for many years, and have improved both their attacking and defensive capabilities too.

“It was nice that I could give the guys a heads up in terms of that, because for a lot of the Cell C Sharks it was their first exposure to northern hemisphere rugby.

“It goes without saying that they are very well coached.” Du Toit acknowledges that the URC very much suits a tight forward.

“So, as a team, we have to adapt as quickly as possible to the foreign style. It’s not something that happens overnight, but will come with time.

“As a front-row forward, and even a lock, one is required to work much harder, especially in the cold and wet conditions up north,” he says.

“Having to play our first four games abroad was a pretty tough baptism of fire for a lot of the guys. It wasn’t easy.

“And, your weaknesses as a tight forward are easily exposed. “But, you get to engage more in the things that you really enjoy, such as scrums and mauls. Take the lineout, for instance; from every lineout one first starts mauling and then play from that platform. “As South African forwards, we really enjoy this style.” Du Toit reckons that his three-month contract with Munster in 2016 has greatly benefitted him in this regard. “For starters, it gave me an idea of what to expect in the URC.

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“Therefore, the quicker we can adapt the better. Look, the northern hemisphere sides are by no means superhuman and their brand of rugby not at all unstoppable, yet there are a few things one has to learn and you have to be super professional in your approach.”

@TheSharks

@TheSharksZA

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 15

CELL C SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES

NTUTHUKO MCHUNU

BONGI MBONAMBI

PROP

BORN: 05/04/1999 HEIGHT: 1.88 m

WEIGHT: 114KG

HOOKER

BORN: 07/01/1991 HEIGHT: 1.75m

WEIGHT: 108KG

RUBEN VAN HEERDEN

HYRON ANDREWS

LOCK

BORN: 27/10/1997 HEIGHT: 1.99 m

WEIGHT: 116KG

JEANDRE LABUSCHAGNE FLANK

BORN: 17/07/1999 HEIGHT: 1.92 m

WEIGHT: 104KG

BOETA CHAMBERLAIN F LY H A L F

BORN: 22/02/1999 83KG C SHARKS VSWEIGHT: VODACOM BULLS 16 CELL HEIGHT: 1.84 m

BORN: 06/07/1995 HEIGHT: 2.03m

WEIGHT: 108KG

PHEPSI BUTHELEZI EIGHTH MAN

BORN: 30/05/1999 HEIGHT: 1.85 m

WEIGHT: 104KG

MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI WING

BORN: 26/07/1990 HEIGHT: 1.84 m

WEIGHT: 91KG

THOMAS DU TOIT PROP

BORN: 05/05/1995 HEIGHT: 1.89 m

WEIGHT: 134KG

SIYA KOLISI FLANK

BORN: 16/06/1991 HEIGHT: 1.88 m

WEIGHT: 103KG

RUAN PIENAAR SCRUMHALF

BORN: 10/03/1984 HEIGHT: 1.87 m

WEIGHT: 92KG

LUKHANYO AM CENTRE

BORN:28/11/1993 HEIGHT: 1.86 m

WEIGHT: 87KG

CELL C SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES

SBU NKOSI

JEREMY WARD CENTRE

BORN: 10/06/1996 HEIGHT: 1.87 m

BORN: 21/01/1996 HEIGHT: 1.81 m

WEIGHT: 92KG

HENCO VENTER

RENIEL HUGO

BORN: 05/01/1988 HEIGHT: 1.80m

BORN: 27/03/1992 WEIGHT: 107KG HEIGHT: 1.92m

WEIGHT: 111KG

TITO BONILLA CENTRE

BORN: 12/04/1989 HEIGHT: 1.78 m

WEIGHT: 79KG

WEIGHT: 115KG

SANELE NOHAMBA

FLANK

LOCK

WEIGHT: 86KG

PROP

BORN: 08/10/1992 WEIGHT: 113KG HEIGHT: 1.81 m

WEIGHT: 106KG

BORN: 10/02/1990 HEIGHT: 1.80 m

LOURENS ADRIAANSE

PROP

HOOKER

BORN: 19/07/1990 HEIGHT: 1.97 m

FULLBACK

WEIGHT: 93KG

KHWEZI MONA

KERRON VAN VUUREN BORN: 23/05/1995 HEIGHT: 1.87 m

ANTHONY VOLMINK

WING

SCRUM-HALF

BORN: 19/01/1999 HEIGHT: 1.66 m

WEIGHT: 69KG

WERNER KOK CENTRE

BORN: 17/01/1993 WEIGHT: 94KG CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 17 HEIGHT: 1.79 m

CELL C SHARKS

HEAD COACH SEAN EVERITT

MANAGER

TREVOR BARNES

18 CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS

ANTHONY VOLMINK

SBU NKOSI

JEREMY WARD

LUKHANYO AM (C)

MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI

BOETA CHAMBERLAIN

RUAN PIENAAR

PHEPSI BUTHELEZI

JEANDRE LABUSCHAGNE

SIYA KOLISI

HYRON ANDREWS

RUBEN VAN HEERDEN

THOMAS DU TOIT

BONGI MBONAMBI

NTUTHUKO MCHUNU

KERRON VAN VUUREN

KHWEZI MONA

LOURENS ADRIAANSE

RENIEL HUGO

HENCO VENTER

SANELE NOHAMBA

TITO BONILLA

WERNER KOK

KICK OFF 19H00 REFEREE JACO PEYPER

VODACOM BULLS

KURT-LEE ARENOSE

MADOSH TAMBWE

DAVID KRIEL

CORNAL HENDRICKS

RICHARD KRIEL

MORNE STEYN

EMBROSE PAPIER

ELRIGH LOUW

ARNO BOTHA

MARCELL COETZEE (C)

RUAN NORTJE

WALT STEENKAMP

ROBERT HUNT

BISMARCK DU PLESSIS

GERHARD STEENEKAMP

JOHAN GROBBELAAR

SIMPHIWE MATANZIMA

LIZO GQOBOKA

JACQUES DU PLESSIS

SINTU MANJEZI

ZAK BURGERR

CHRIS SMITH

HAROLD VORSTER ASSISTANT REFEREES AIMEE BARRETT-THERON & PAUL MENTE TMO STUART BERRY

HEAD COACH JAKE WHITE

MANAGER

ELIAS BENNETT

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 19

20 CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 21

VODACOM BULLS PLAYER PROFILES

GERHARD STEENEKAMP PROP

BORN: 09/04/1997 HEIGHT: 1.94 m

WEIGHT: 108KG

WALT STEENKAMP LOCK

BORN:21/07/1995 HEIGHT: 2.03m

WEIGHT: 121KG

ARNO BOTHA FLANK

BORN:26/10/1991 HEIGHT: 1.88m

WEIGHT: 108KG

MORNE STEYN F LY H A L F

22 BORN: 11/07/1984 HEIGHT: 1.84 m

WEIGHT: 91KG

BISMARCK DU PLESSIS HOOKER

BORN: 22/05/1984 WEIGHT: 114KG HEIGHT: 1.84 m

RUAN NORTJE LOCK

BORN:25/07/1998 WEIGHT: 113KG HEIGHT: 2.00 m

ELRIGH LOUW EIGHTH MAN

BORN: 20/09/1999 WEIGHT: 112KG HEIGHT: 1.95m

RICHARD KRIEL WING

BORN: 07/07/2000 WEIGHT: 90KG HEIGHT: 1.92 m

ROBERT HUNT PROP

BORN: 16/08/1996 WEIGHT: 122KG HEIGHT: 1.85 m

MARCELL COETZEE FLANK

BORN: 08/05/1991 WEIGHT: 116KG HEIGHT: 1.93 m

EMBROSE PAPIER SCRUMHALF

BORN: 25/04/1997 HEIGHT: 1.71 m

WEIGHT: 80KG

CORNAL HENDRICKS CENTRE

BORN: 18/04/1988 HEIGHT: 1.88 m

WEIGHT: 95KG

VODACOM BULLS PLAYER PROFILES

DAVID KRIEL BORN:15/02/1994 HEIGHT: 1.93 m

FULL BACK

WING

WEIGHT: 97KG

BORN: 12/05/1997 WEIGHT: 90KG HEIGHT: 1.86m

JOHAN GROBBELAAR

BORN:07/06/1996 HEIGHT: 1.80 m

SIMPHIWE MATANZIMA

PROP

BORN: 18/08/1997 WEIGHT: 111KG HEIGHT: 1.82 m

JACQUES DU PLESSIS LOOSE FORWARD

WEIGHT: 119KG

WEIGHT: 76KG

LIZO GQOBOKA

PROP

BORN: 30/12/1997 WEIGHT: 98KG HEIGHT: 1.82 m

BORN:12/08/1993 HEIGHT: 2.01 m

KURT- LEE ARENOSE

MADOSH TAMBWE

CENTRE

BORN: 24/03/1990 WEIGHT: 115KG HEIGHT: 1.83 m

SINTU MANJEZI

ZAK BURGER

LOOSE FORWARD

SCRUMHALF

BORN:07/04/1995 HEIGHT: 1.97m

CHRIS SMITH F LY H A L F

BORN: 09/09/1994 WEIGHT: 86KG HEIGHT: 1.81m

WEIGHT: 114KG

BORN: 20/08/1998 HEIGHT: 1.74 m

HAROLD VOSTER CENTRE

BORN: 11/10/1993 HEIGHT: 1.86 m

WEIGHT: 94KG

WEIGHT: 83KG

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FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA

THE RIVALRY RESUMES THE CELL C SHARKS AND BULLS HAVE BEEN SOUTH AFRICA’S TWO MOST SUCCESSFUL SUPER RUGBY FRANCHISES, SINCE THE INAUGURAL SUPER 12 TOURNAMENT WAS STAGED IN 1996...

DID YOU KNOW THAT... The Cell C Sharks, with the Blues of New Zealand, jointly appeared in the fourth-most Super Rugby finals (4), following behind the Crusaders (14) and Brumbies (6); The Bulls won 3 Super Rugby finals in 2007, 2009 and 2010, and also appeared in the inaugural Pro14 Rainbow Cup final this year, losing 8-35 to Benetton; Since 1996, the Cell C Sharks and Bulls have clashed 36 times in Super Rugby and Pro14 competitions, with the Cell C Sharks winning 10, the Bulls 23 and 3 matches ending in a draw. The most epic of the 36 encounters between these two sides, and arguably the most dramatic final in the history of Super Rugby, was the Super 14 showdown on May 19, 2007, in Durban: The attendance at Jonsson Kings Park was a then Super Rugby record 54,000; The Sharks, who, in a first for South Africa, had topped the 2007 Super 14 table, enjoyed a narrow 14-10 halftime lead courtesy of a runaway try by JP Pietersen and three penalty goals by Percy Montgomery; With barely a couple of minutes left on the clock, Albert van den Berg powered through for a try that afforded The Sharks a seemingly decisive 19-12 lead; However, a comedy of kicking errors, defensive lapses and refereeing oversights, in the 82nd minute, allowed Bryan Habana to snatch victory... Bulls 20, The Sharks 19.

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26 CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS

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MAJOR MATCHUP

MBONAMBI V DU PLESSIS World Cup-winning hooker Bongi Mbonambi is a thrilling addition to the Cell C Sharks’ ranks. The hard-grafting hooker made the No 2 Bok jumper his own during RWC 2019 in Japan, delivering a solid performance in the final as South Africa blitzed England to the title. The 30-year-old, who has represented both the Bulls and Stormers, also starred for the Boks in this year’s series triumph over the British & Irish Lions and sensational Rugby Championship win against the All Blacks in October. Mbonambi has 48 test caps under the belt and turned out 74 times for the Stormers. A most familiar figure in The Shark Tank, Bismarck du Plessis recently signed for the Bulls when his contract at French outfit Montpellier came to an end. A no-nonsense legend of Springbok rugby, Du Plessis was capped 79 times for South Africa. He rose to prominence with The Sharks in 2005, making 131 Super Rugby appearances for the men in black and white. Since 2015, he has also turned out 108 times for Montpellier, clinching the European Rugby Challenge Cup twice. As a Bok hooker, he represented his country at no fewer than three Rugby World Cup tournaments, winning the title in 2007.

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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 CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS 29

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES / RESULTS R0UND 1

SAT, 25 SEP

| 42 - 17

MUNSTER VS CELL C SHARKS

R0UND 2

SAT, 2 OCT

GLASGOW WARRIORS VS CELL C SHARKS

AWAY THOMOND PARK

| 35 - 24

AWAY SCOTSTOUN STADIUM

R0UND 3

FRI, 8 OCT

OSPREYS VS CELL C SHARKS

| 13 - 27

AWAY SWANSEA.COM STADIUM

R0UND 4

SAT, 16 OCT

CARDIFF RUGBY VS CELL C SHARKS

| 23 - 17

AWAY CARDIFF ARMS PARK

R0UND 5

SUN, 6 FEB

EMIRATES LIONS VS CELL C SHARKS

R0UND 6

SAT, 27 NOV

CELL C SHARKS VS SCARLETS

POSTPONED

AWAY EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK HOME JONSSON KINGS PARK, DURBAN

R0UND 7

SAT, 4 DEC

CELL C SHARKS VS ZEBRE RUGBY

POSTPONED