CELL C SHARKS VS WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

CHANGING THE GAME

is a team effort.

SIYA KOLISI - RUGBY

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

CELL C PROUDLY SUPPORTS THE SHARKS

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).

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.

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.

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

“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.

“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.

“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!

Explore the world with unrivalled elegance

Wherever you go in the world, one airline goes further to make it feel unforgettable. Fly with the World’s Best Airline and experience the exceptional. qatarairways.com

CELL C SHARKS

WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

JAY-CEE NEL

SAKO MAKATA

SANGO XAMLASHE

TERTIUS KRUGER

LUTHER OBI

EDDIE FOUCHE

JOHAN MULDER

CARL ELS

HANRU SIRGEL (C)

STEPHAN SMIT

ALBERT LIEBENBERG

JOHAN RETIEF

JANU BOTHA

JANCO UYS

CEBO DLAMINI

SEAN SWART

EDDIE DAVIDS

JUNIOR BANDA

DYLAN SJOBLOM

NIEL OTTO

RAEGAN ORANJE

GEORGE WHITEHEAD

ASHLON DAVIDS

TMO QUINTON IMMELMAN

HEAD COACH

PETER BERGH

MANAGER

LANCE SALTER

ABRAHAMS VS NEL MAJOR MATCHUP

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.

BULLS VS CELL C SHARKS

AIRLINK PUMAS VS CELL C SHARKS

CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS

NOVAVIT GRIFFONS VS CELL C SHARKS

FIDELITY ADT LIONS VS CELL C SHARKS

DHL WESTERN PROVINCE VS CELL C SHARKS

/ RESULTS

HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN

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

APPAREL SPONSOR

STADIUM SPONSOR

ASSOCIATE SPONSORS

MEDIA PARTNERS

OFFICIAL PARTNERS

MEDICAL SPONSORS

DEVELOPMENT SPONSORS

ACADEMY SPONSORS

STADIUM PARTNERS

CLUB COMPETITION SPONSORS

CLUB SPONSORS