CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

NEXT UP CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS KICK-OFF 13H30

29/04

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CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

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CHANGING THE GAME is a team effort.

SIYA KOLISI - RUGBY 4

CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

@OAKLEY INC.

OAKLEY.COM

MESSAGE

PRESIDENT OF SA RUGBY

Welcome to this exciting meeting in the 2023 edition of the Currie Cup, the premier provincial competition on the South African rugby landscape at a time when the process of re-aligning the local season with the northern hemisphere is well underway.

As the oldest provincial rugby competition in the world, the Currie Cup has always provided a magnificent pathway for players to show they have what it takes to step up to high-intensity action at the top level.

As always, we are looking forward to our provincial teams again unearthing the next generation of Springbok stars by providing playing opportunities to the best local talent.

The iconic Currie Cup is about respectful rivalry, provincial passion, ambition, pride and community, with local support always at very high levels.

And then there’s the captivating drama and intrigue associated with the Currie Cup, with eight teams fighting it out for top honours this year after the NovaVit Griffons joined the Premier Division after winning the First Division in 2022.

Will the Airlink Pumas be able to repeat their massive achievement from last year when they defeated Windhoek Draught Griquas in a pulsating final in Kimberley, or will the traditional powerhouses of the competition, DHL Western Province, the

Vodacom Bulls and Cell C Sharks flex their muscles once again?

The Toyota Cheetahs are always a threat especially at home in Bloemfontein, the Fidelity ADT Lions will be looking to make a massive step up and push hard for the final towards the end of June, and the newly promoted NovaVit Griffons will no doubt will be very happy to be back in the Premier Division.

Another exciting competition awaits and the big question is, who will step up this year to lift the coveted gold trophy at the final on Saturday, 24 June?

Good luck to all the teams for what promises to be an exciting and challenging double round of action, culminating in the playoffs late in June.

I’d also like to thank our broadcast partner, SuperSport and all our other stakeholders for their continued support, as well as all the team partners who invest in the local game, ensuring we can deliver a top-class product week in and week out.

Thank you also to everyone who continue to work hard behind the scenes to make the 2023 edition of the Currie Cup a reality.

And good luck to all the players, coaches, management staff and volunteers for their various contributions to ensure this remain our premier local provincial competition.

MARK ALEXANDER

President: SA Rugby

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CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

CONTENTS

POA 11H15 PARKING GATES OPEN 11H30 TURNSTILES OPEN 13H30 CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

10 14 20 21 22

MATCH PREVIEW

CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS KICK OFF 13H30

MAJOR MATCH UP ABRAHAMS VS NEL

FIXTURES & LOG CURRIE CUP

SPONSORS THE SHARKS

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

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MATCH PREVIEW

CONSISTENCY IS KEY WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP

With the Currie Cup competition having passed the halfway mark, and the Cell C Sharks coming off an inspirational away win against the Cheetahs, head coach Joey Mongalo is imploring his charges to be more consistent in the run-up to the business end of the tournament. That consistency needs to take shape against Griquas at home today…

With seven rounds of the 2023 edition of the Currie Cup still left to play, before they conclude their regular campaign against Western Province in Cape Town on June 10 this year, the Cell C Sharks (19) are wellpoised in third spot on the standings - 10 championship points adrift of the tabletopping Pumas (29) and only seven shy of the second-placed Cheetahs (26).

“Tactically, James, as well as our halfback pair of Lionel Cronje and Bradley Davids, needs to be complimented,” Mongalo observed.

This favourable state of affairs is courtesy of Joey Mongalo’s team having weathered a fierce Cheetahs comeback in Bloemfontein last Friday, to emerge with a hard-earned yet well-deserved 24-17 win in the Free State capital.

“Thankfully, they’ve learnt and grown, and they were able, during the last quarter, to do something different to what we’ve done previously, whenever we were under pressure.

Even though the Cheetahs started the contest as overwhelming favourites, the Cell C Sharks, with captain and tearaway flanker James Venter leading the charge, were swiftly out of the blocks to open up a handy 17-0 lead at the break.

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“Tactically, they were incredible during the first half. We took our eyes off the ball between the 40th and 60th minute, which seems to be a thing this team likes doing.

“They stuck to the system.

“Everybody knows that the Cheetahs always bring an attacking threat during the last 20 minutes, and structurally we defended really well. Moreover, it felt like the guys were prepared to put their bodies on the line.

‘The thing is, one can have the best systems in the world, but if you don’t have guys making the tackles it goes for nothing.”

Mongalo is of the opinion that if the Cell C Sharks can now start winning more regularly it should significantly improve their chances of making the Currie Cup final this year, and, perhaps, go all the way for the first time in five years.

“If we can somehow string together a series of wins, it will make a massive difference,” Mongalo said.

THANKFULLY, THEY’VE LEARNT AND GROWN, AND THEY WERE ABLE, DURING THE LAST QUARTER, TO DO SOMETHING DIFFERENT “We’ve won one, lost one, won one, lost one…

At some point we have to stop making our lives so difficult, and just go through two, three, four or five wins in a row. That will make all the difference in the world.

“This has become especially important since the log is so tightly grouped at this stage.

Every result has a bearing on where we could go.

“There simply is no place for inconsistent performances anymore.”

This afternoon the Cell C Sharks are hosting Griquas, and the home side will be intent on turning the tables on the visitors following their disappointing 40-48 loss in Kimberley a month and a half ago, when they squandered a promising 28-10 halftime lead.

Two rather tough away assignments await the boys over the next fortnight, as they first head up to Pretoria to tackle the Bulls, before heading to Mbombela to take on the defending champions, the Pumas.

Being at Hollywoodbets Kings Park today, the Cell C Sharks are therefore fizzing to make hometown advantage count against Griquas, and then some!

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CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS 13

CELL C SHARKS

HEAD COACH

JOEY MONGALO

THAAKIR ABRAHAMS

15

YAW PENXE

14

JOSH JONAS

13

ALWAYNO VISAGIE

12

MARNUS POTGIETER

11

LIONEL CRONJE

10

BRADLEY DAVIDS

09

HENCO VENTER

08

THEMBELANI BHOLI

07

TINOTENDA MAVESERE

06

RENIEL HUGO (C)

05

OCKIE BARNARD

04

KHUTHA MCHUNU

03

KERRON VAN VUUREN

02

KHWEZI MONA

01

DAN JOOSTE

16

DIAN BLEULER

17

HANRO JACOBS

18

MARCO DE WITT

19

DAMON ROYLE

20

TIAAN FOURIE

21

FRED ZEILINGA

22

MURRAY KOSTER

23

MANAGER

ANDRE BARNARD

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KICK OFF 13H30 REFEREE CWENGILE JADEZWENI

WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

5

JAY-CEE NEL

4

SAKO MAKATA

3

SANGO XAMLASHE

2

TERTIUS KRUGER

1

LUTHER OBI

0

EDDIE FOUCHE

9

JOHAN MULDER

8

CARL ELS

7

HANRU SIRGEL (C)

6

STEPHAN SMIT

5

ALBERT LIEBENBERG

4

JOHAN RETIEF

3

JANU BOTHA

2

JANCO UYS

1

CEBO DLAMINI

HEAD COACH

6

SEAN SWART

LANCE SALTER

7

EDDIE DAVIDS

8

JUNIOR BANDA

9

DYLAN SJOBLOM

0

NIEL OTTO

1

RAEGAN ORANJE

2

GEORGE WHITEHEAD

3

ASHLON DAVIDS

PETER BERGH

MANAGER

TMO QUINTON IMMELMAN CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS 15

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THE ULTIMATE TEAM

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Performance partners

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PROUD SPONSOR OF THE SHARKS

To explore our exceptional range of vehicles visit www.smg.co.za.

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MAJOR MATCHUP

ABRAHAMS VS NEL Already renowned as one of the most lethal attacking outside backs in the business, Thaakir Abrahams, normally a winger, will be firing from fullback for the Cell C Sharks today.

Prior to the season-ending injury sustained against Ospreys in Swansea a year ago, Abrahams had made huge inroads on the big stage, leading to comparisons with Springbok ace Cheslin Kolbe. He boasts four tries in this year’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship.

A former SA U20 representative, Abrahams will be joining French Top 14 outfit Lyon on a two-year deal next season, but is fizzing to end his stay with the Cell C Sharks on a high.

Another versatile player, who has made a name for himself at centre, Jay-Cee Nel will provide Griquas’ last line of defence against the Cell C Sharks today.

Having worked his way through the Blue Bulls’ ranks four years ago, Nel’s Currie Cup debut for the Pretoria-based team was against the Golden Lions in 2020. He made an instant impression with his solid play and strong tackling in midfield.

Nel joined forces with Griquas in 2021, and immediately established himself as an attacking threat for the Peacock Blues, with two tries in two games, and was one their try-scorers in the impressive 32-13 win against WP a month ago.

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CURRIE CUP LOG TEAM AIRLINK PUMAS

P

W

D

L

PD

PTS

7

6

0

1

162

29

TOYOTA CHEETAHS

7

5

0

2

87

26

CELL C SHARKS

7

4

0

3

19

19

THE WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

7

4

0

3

-26

19

VODACOM BULLS

7

3

0

4

-33

17

DHL WESTERN PROVINCE

7

3

0

4

1

16

FIDELITY ADT LIONS

7

2

0

5

-51

14

NOVAVIT GRIFFONS

7

1

0

6

-159

7

CURRIE CUP FIXTURES / RESULTS R0UND 1R

SAT, 11 MAR

HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN

CELL C SHARKS VS NOVAVIT GRIFFONS | 32-16

ROUND 2

SUN, 19 MAR

WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS VS CELL C SHARKS | 48-40

R0UND 3

SUN, 26 MAR R0UND 4

SAT, 1 APR R0UND 5

FRI, 7 APR R0UND 6

FRI, 14 APR

CELL C SHARKS VS DHL WESTERN PROVINCE | 20-7 CELL C SHARKS VS FIDELITY ADT LIONS | 34-22 CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS | 19-12 CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS | 20-24

R0UND 7

SUN, 23 APR R0UND 8

SAT, 29 APR R0UND 9

SAT, 6 MAY

TOYOTA CHEETAHS VS CELL C SHARKS | 17-24 CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS VODACOM BULLS VS CELL C SHARKS

R0UND 10

FRI, 12 MAY R0UND 11

FRI, 19 MAY

AIRLINK PUMAS VS CELL C SHARKS CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS

R0UND 12

SAT, 26 MAY R0UND 13

SAT, 3 JUN

NOVAVIT GRIFFONS VS CELL C SHARKS FIDELITY ADT LIONS VS CELL C SHARKS

R0UND 14

SAT, 10 JUN

DHL WESTERN PROVINCE VS CELL C SHARKS

AWAY TAFEL LAGER PARK, KIMBERLEY HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN AWAY EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK, JHB HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN AWAY TOYOTA STADIUM, BLOEMFONTEIN HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN AWAY LOFTUS VERSFELD, PRETORIA AWAY MBOMBELA STADIUM, NELSPRUIT HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN AWAY DOWN TOUCH INVESTMENT STADIUM, WELKOM AWAY EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK, JHB AWAY DHL STADIUM, CPT

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