CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BLUE BULLS DEC 31 2022

CHANGING THE GAME

SIYA KOLISI - RUGBY

is a team effort.

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MATCH PREVIEW

PURSUING PERFECTION INTO THE NEW YEAR

WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP

The Cell C Sharks’ quest for excellence in the VURC continues following their powerhouse performance against the Lions last week. The intent is to build steadily on that impressive display against the Vodacom Bulls today, as the men in black seek to progressively work their way up the log table…

It might have been on the eve of, well, Christmas Eve, yet the Cell C Sharks were in no mood to hand out any presents to the Lions last Friday evening.

Bok flyer Makazole Mapimpi recorded a trademark brace, as Neil Powell’s charges displayed abundant grunt to overpower the visitors from Johannesburg in the second half - to the tune of 37-10 and five tries to one.

This resounding result has not only seen the Cell C Sharks advance from 10th to seventh on the current Vodacom United Rugby Championship standings, it was also their fourth straight win - two in both the VURC and Heineken Champions Cup. The pursuit of perfection is far from over, though.

“We always keep pushing for that perfect game, where we get everything right,”

Powell observed afterwards.

“We showed glimpses of it against the Lions, both on attack and in defence, as well as in the management of our kicking game. “Unfortunately, we couldn’t keep it up for the full 80 minutes.

“Whereas we were really clinical in the first quarter, scoring two early tries, there were also soft moments when we let the Lions back into the game.

“If you build up good momentum, it is important to maintain that momentum and to stay on top of the opposition.

“It’s nevertheless a step in the right direction. As a team, we are heading in the right direction.

“It’s just a case of looking at where we are and determining where we can still

improve.”

The Cell C Sharks’ formidable form at the moment also has a lot to do with growing confidence within the squad, Powell suggests.

“The team is starting to believe that we can be successful, that we can do well in both the URC and Champions Cup.

“We just need to keep believing in the system and believing in each other.

“And, we need to take another step up against the Bulls today.”

The Pretoria-based outfit will run out into The Shark Tank this afternoon as the fourthplaced outfit in the VURC, but coming of a pulsating 27-37 loss to the Stormers in Cape Town over the weekend and having played two more matches than the Cell C Sharks.

The scores were still tied 13-13 at the half in Cape Town, but the defending champions exposed the Bulls’ inexperience on defence during the second stanza to run out convincing winners.

Considering just how ferocious confrontations between the Cell C Sharks and Bulls traditionally are the home side will nevertheless not be underestimating the visitors at all today.

Securing yet another home win this evening will be top of the agenda for the men in black, especially since they will be heading

back up north for a date with Connacht at The Galway Sportsgrounds in Ireland next Saturday, before returning home to resume their Champions Cup campaign against Bordeaux Bègles in a fortnight’s time.

WHEREAS WE WERE REALLY CLINICAL IN THE FIRST QUARTER, SCORING TWO EARLY TRIES, THERE WERE ALSO SOFT MOMENTS WHEN WE LET THE LIONS BACK INTO THE GAME.

BLACK AND WHITE, IT’S ALL I KNOW…

Standing 2.03m tall and tipping the scales at 108kg, Hyron Andrews is a rangy unit that combines supreme athleticism with set-phase efficiency to rule the air at lineout time. His worth on the touchline is a given, yet the 27-year-old lock has added far more value to the Cell C Sharks, over the past decade, through his uncanny mobility around the track, too…

Educated at Hoërskool Garsfontein in Pretoria, Hyron Andrews represented the Blue Bulls at age-group level prior to linking up with The Sharks Academy in 2014, making Hollywoodbets Kings Park his base and becoming a regular and reliable member of the Cell C Sharks’ second row.

Hyron Diego Andrews’ story can be traced back to the Cape, where he was born in Paarl on July 6, 1995 - less than a fortnight after South Africa had clinched its maiden Rugby World Cup title against the All Blacks at Ellis Park on June 24 that year.

Twelve years later John Smit’s Springbok class of 2007 would become heroes to Andrews and his mates, when they secured a second RWC crown in France.

Andrews spent the first 16 years of his life in the Cape, and was, not surprisingly, initially more into athletics than rugby.

“At Paulus Joubert Primary School in Paarl, I participated in cross country, while Grant Williams and I also competed in the 110m hurdles,” he recalls.

“I even went to the SA Championships, but at high school the hurdles eventually became too high for me.

“I never really cared for rugby and didn’t even bother to attend primary school trials, but then, one day, a teacher came and fetched me from the class to attend a training sessionsimply because I was the tallest kid around.

“And, I fell in love with rugby.

“I started out at flyhalf, but already jumped in the lineout, too…

“Eventually, in my last year at primary school, I was moved to lock.”

Andrews attended Klein Nederburg Secondary School in Paarl, but a telephone call from his father, in 2011, would alter the entire course

of his life and rugby career.

“Dad said that there was an opportunity for me to continue my school career at Hoërskool Garsfontein in Pretoria, on a rugby bursary,” he explains.

“There were 12 players from the Western Cape who had received bursaries from top rugby schools in Pretoria, but a lot of the guys missed home too much and eventually returned. I was determined to stick it out, though, and my time at Garsies turned out to be an amazing experience.

“Being away from home, and out of one’s comfort zone, teaches you self-discipline and it actually set me up nicely for my time, away from home, in Durban, too.”

Andrews represented the Blue Bulls at the U16 Grant Khomo Week (2011) and the U18 Craven Week (2012-13), and also gained selection for SA Schools in 2012.

He received post-school offers from both the Blue Bulls and Cell C Sharks, and wisely decided on the black and white.

“I just figured the Cell C Sharks would be the best fit for me,” he says.

“In addition, they offered me the opportunity to attend the The Sharks Academy, where I could further develop my skills.

“Black and white, it’s all I know…

“The Cell C Sharks gave me everything, and mean everything to me.”

His progress was swift, and Andrews made his Super Rugby debut, against the Southern Kings, in 2016, aged 20, and was a member of the Cell C Sharks’ outfit that clinched the Currie Cup two years later.

Nowadays he is rubbing shoulders with the likes of Bok legend Eben Etzebeth in the Cell C Sharks’ second row.

“Eben, Siya (Kolisi) and the rest of the Boks add a certain energy to the group, and it is simply fascinating to be able to learn from them, how they go about their business, and in the process grow my own game.”

According to Andrews, the Cell C Sharks are fizzing for today’s tussle with the Bulls, and are also geared for the long and winding road ahead, which sees them winging their way to Ireland this week to take on Connacht, before resuming their Champions Cup campaign at home in a fortnight.

“We didn’t play to our potential against the Bulls at Loftus, and so the boys are well prepared and psyched up for today,” he says. “Before the season started, we were briefed on what it would take, and that we were going to need the whole squad. Even though you might not be in the match-23 for a specific game, one needs to stay ready because you will get an opportunity.

“Everyone is one the same page and giving his all. It’s a whole squad effort.”

BORN: 29/10/1991 HEIGHT: 2.03 m WEIGHT: 117KG

VODACOM BULLS PLAYER PROFILES

SIMPHIWE MATANZIMA

BORN:18/01/1997

JOHAN GROBBELAAR

MORNAY SMITH

HEIGHT: 1.82 m WEIGHT: 111KG

RUAN VERMAAK

PROP LOCK

BORN:1/05/1998 HEIGHT: 2.01 m

CYLE BRINK

FLANK

BORN:30/12/1997 HEIGHT: 1.83m WEIGHT: 98KG

BORN:30/01/1998 HEIGHT: 1.81 m

RUAN NORTJE (C)

LOCK

BORN:25/07/1998 HEIGHT:2.00 m WEIGHT: 118KG

HOOKER EIGHTH MAN

WEIGHT: 113KG

RUAN VENTER

WEIGHT: 113KG

BORN: 29/11/2002 HEIGHT: 1.98m

BORN: 16/01/1994 HEIGHT: 1.91m WEIGHT: 118KG

CHRIS SMITH

FLYHALF

BORN: 9/09/1994 HEIGHT: 1.80m

KURT-LEE ARENDSE

WING

BORN: 17/06/1996 HEIGHT: 1.77m

WEIGHT: 76KG WEIGHT: 91KG

WEIGHT: 109KG

MARCO VAN STADEN

BORN: 25/08/1995 HEIGHT: 1.84 m WEIGHT: 106KG

ELRIGH LOUW

BORN: 20/09/1999 HEIGHT: 1.95m

PROP FLANK SCRUMHALF CENTRE

WEIGHT: 112KG

HAROLD VORSTER

BORN: 11/10/1993 HEIGHT: 1.86 m WEIGHT: 94KG

BORN:18/04/1988 HEIGHT: 1.88 m

BULLS PLAYER PROFILES

JAN-HENDRIK WESSELS

HOOKER

BORN: 08/05/2001 HEIGHT: 1.93 m

WEIGHT: 95KG

BORN:05/11/2022

HEIGHT: 1.90m

CENTRE PROP

WING PROP

WEIGHT: 89KG

BORN: 27/07/1992 HEIGHT: 1.85m WEIGHT: 89KG

SEBASTIAN LOMBARD

WEIGHT: 120KG WEIGHT: 126KG

LOCK

BORN: 9/04/1997 HEIGHT: 1.91 m

NIZAAM CARR

LOOSE FORWARD

BORN: 7/10/2002

FULL BACK SCRUM-HALF

WEIGHT: 107KG

BORN: 4/04/1991 HEIGHT: 1.83m

WEIGHT: 103KG

BORN: 25/04/1997 HEIGHT: 1.69m WEIGHT: 80KG

LIONEL MAPOE

FLYHALF

BORN: 13/07/1988 HEIGHT: 1.82m

WEIGHT: 95KG

DAVID KRIEL

FLANK

BORN:8/09/1999 HEIGHT: 2.00 m WEIGHT:97KG

BORN: 15/02/1999 HEIGHT: 1.96 m

JOHAN GOOSEN

CORNAL HENDRICKS

CANAN MOODIE

GERHARD STEENEKAMP

JANKO SWANEPOEL EMBROSE PAPIER

MAJOR MATCHUP

CHAMBERLAIN V ARENDSE

Boeta Chamberlain hit the headlines last year with a stupendous hat-trick of dropped goals against the Ospreys.

The 23-year-old continued his impressive shape in the current URC campaign, when he called the shots at flyhalf to near perfection as the Cell C Sharks hammered the Glasgow Warriors 40-12. He ripped the opposition defence wide open to put Anthony Volmink away for the first of a brace of tries and produced a copybook kick-pass for Werner Kok to nail the Warriors’ coffin shut.

Having switched positions, Chamberlain’s form at fullback has been equally inspirational, crossing the whitewash for the try that sealed the Cell C Sharks’ maiden Champions Cup victory, over Harlequins, a few weeks ago.

A former Blitzbok ace, Kurt-Lee Arendse has simply exploded on the 15-man stage over the past couple of seasons.

Tipping the scales at a mere 76kg, Arendse boasts heaps of pace and panache, which saw him make the most clean breaks (24) during the previous URC season, while he also beat 43 defenders and recorded seven tries.

More recently, he has been in sublime Springbok shape, notching tries in each of South Africa’s four autumn internationals, against Ireland, France, Italy (2) and England.

This has led to the 26-year-old flyer, who is equally at home on the wing, being nominated as one of SA Rugby’s Players of the Year for 2022.

FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA

CELL C SHARKS: TIME TO GET ‘BULLISH’

The visiting Vodacom Bulls may currently be three posi-tions higher on the VURC table than the Cell C Sharks and enjoy slightly superior stats, yet the Durban-based power-house is aggressively closing in on the top four…

Did you know that…

* The Vodacom Bulls, runners-up in last year’s URC, have won seven of their first 10 matches in the current URC, of which the first three on the trot.

* The Cell C Sharks have only played eight matches in the current URC this far, winning five and losing three.

* The Vodacom Bulls are currently the top points-scorers in the URC with a tally of 329, and have scored the second-most number of tries (41), while the Cell C Sharks have scored 225 points and 28 tries.

* Chris Smith (77) of the Bulls and Boeta Chamberlain (66) of the Cell C Sharks are both amongst the top five individual points-scorers in the current edition of the URC.

* Cell C Sharks and Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth is still topping the current URC Top 100, with fellow Bok and captain Siya Kolisi ranked third. The high-est Bull, and other SA player, is Zak Burger (13th).