OFFICIAL MATCH
DAY PROGRAMME
THANKS FOR THE MEMORIES
CELL C SHARKS
MUNSTER
KICK-OFF 18H15 VS
#SHAvMUN 22/04
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
6 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
CHANGING THE GAME
is a team effort.
SIYA KOLISI - RUGBY
@OAKLEY INC. OAKLEY.COM
9 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER CONTENTS 10 12 16 18 22 27 26 30 34 31 MATCH PREVIEW (VURC) THOMAS DU TOIT INTERVIEW CELL C SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER MUNSTER PLAYER PROFILES MAJOR MATCHUP FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA FIXTURES & RESULTS LOG SPONSORS VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP NOTSHE VS COOMBES THE SHARKS KICK OFF 18H15 14H30 PARKING GATES OPEN 14H45 TURNSTILES OPEN 15H00 CELL C SHARKS U19 VS LEOPARDS U19 18H15 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER POA
MATCH PREVIEW
IN OUR HANDS
WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP
Although not perfect performances, by any stretch of the imagination, the Cell C Sharks have gained enormous confidence from their last two inspirational outings, against Toulouse (in the Champions Cup) and Benetton. Neil Powell’s charges are now gunning for URC glory, and know exactly what is required…
As things stand, the Cell C Sharks have won nine of their 17 games played in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, and are placed eighth on the table.
As such, Siya Kolisi and co are guaranteed of neither a spot in either the URC quarterfinals, which will be contested during the first week of May, nor next season’s Heineken Champions Cup.
Winning their final game of the regular season against Munster today is therefore non-negotiable.
That, however, provides a supreme source of inspiration for the boys in black.
“The beauty of this is that it’s in our hands,” says Neil Powell, Cell C Sharks Director of Rugby.
“We know what is required and how to approach this game.
“No doubt, Munster will be tricky. However,
we have played them three weeks ago, and, like them, we have learnt from that experience.
“We aim to deliver a far better performance than the one against Benetton last weekend.”
Whereas the Cell C Sharks’ lively 43-33 bonus-point win against Italian outfit last Friday was precisely what they needed to keep their URC hopes alive, Powell felt that the victory wasn’t as clinical as they had wanted it to be.
The Cell C Sharks endured a particularly shaky start, with Benetton racing to an early 14-0 lead after only seven minutes.
“That meant that we were instantly on the back foot,” Powell observes.
“It was one of those games where we made life difficult for ourselves. There were just too many soft moments, which was frustrating.
10 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
“If we had just been more clinical and done the basics well, it would’ve been a different game.
“The guys nevertheless showed good composure towards the end of the first half to pull it back. Our goal was to get five points, and in the end we got exactly that.
“It was a short week, though, and therefore difficult to get the balance right in terms of proper preparation and conserving enough energy for Benetton. The match against Toulouse really took a lot out of the players, and against Benetton there was a bit of cohesion, a bit of synergy lacking.”
WE AIM TO DELIVER A FAR BETTER PERFORMANCE THAN THE ONE AGAINST BENETTON LAST WEEKEND.
The Cell C Sharks have enjoyed a great week of preparation this time around, and considering the fact that they saw off Munster 50-35, in their Champions Cup Round of 16 encounter on April 1, the local side will today be backing themselves for nothing less than the full haul of championship points required to advance through to URC quarter-finals and qualify for the next edition of the Champions Cup.
Munster have achieved eight wins in their last 10 URC matches, which have lifted the Limerick-based Irish outfit to fifth on the current standings.
Seven of those victories were secured with bonus-points and Munster boast the secondbest defensive record in the current URC.
Graham Rowntree’s charges have now won four away URC games on the trot, seeing off Edinburgh, Ulster, Benetton and, last week in Cape Town, the Stormers.
It’s all to play for, but, here in The Shark Tank, the men in black have their destiny firmly in their own hands.
11 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
SO LONG, FAREWELL
Today’s match against Munster marks Cell C Sharks’ stalwart Thomas du Toit’s final URC appearance at home in The Shark Tank. The big Bok prop, nicknamed ‘Tank’, is headed for Bath later in the year, but is indeed leaving a proud 10-year legacy behind in Durban…
ALBERT HEENOP
WORDS:
The 27-year-old front-row dynamo, who started off initially as a loosehead prop before making a highly successful shift to the tighthead side of the scrum, currently boasts 15 test caps for South Africa.
That tally may well increase during September and October this year, when the Springboks defend their Rugby World Cup crown in France.
Thomas du Toit’s abilities are no doubt held in high regard by his future coach at Bath, SAborn Johann van Graan, who has been quoted describing his new acquisition as a “wordclass operator at scrum time…
“There aren’t many players in the world who can play on both sides of the scrum to an international standard, maintain control and have destructive power,” Van Graan added.
Although it might feel like just yesterday, Du Toit joined the Cell C Sharks a decade ago from Paarl Boys High and has been worth his weight in the proverbial gold ever since.
After more than 100 outings for the Cell C Sharks, on the Super Rugby and United Rugby Championship stages of world rugby, Du Toit can be excused for feeling somewhat emotional at the prospect of running out onto the Hollywoodbets Kings Park pitch for the last time in a game of this magnitude.
“The thought has definitely settled a little bit,” he admits.
“One has to come to terms with the fact that 10 seasons, a decade basically, are coming to an end at a franchise that I have given everything for.
“You would be naive not to think about it and not to work through those emotions.
“It is sinking in and I am definitely feeling the emotion. Having said that, there are exciting times ahead for me.
13 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
“On the one hand it hurts, but at the same time it is exciting.
“It is definitely something that I have been processing for the past few weeks.
“However, my job as a rugby player requires me to play good rugby at all times. I want to leave this union on as big a high as possible.
“It is a matter of leaving the black jersey in a better shape than when I got it.
“That’s something we always speak about, but now it has become a reality.”
Shifting his focus to the on-field confrontation itself, and what Munster, who lost 35-50 to the Cell C Sharks in the Heineken Champions Cup at the beginning of April, will bring today, Du Toit, who had a brief stint with the Irish outfit in 2016, harbours no illusions about the job at hand.
“I seriously doubt whether it will be the same Munster team of earlier this month,” he suggests.
“They are going to be far better prepared.
“They probably had some hard and tough conversations within their own camp following our previous encounter. They won’t be the same.
“This was clear last weekend, as they delivered an unbelievable game against the Stormers. I predict that we will see more of the same today.
“Their coach (Graham Rowntree) made it clear what they needed to work on after our previous game. They clearly got something right against the Stormers last Saturday. “The breakdown, in particular, will be massive today.
“It is a whole different ball game and we aren’t expecting to simply rack up another half century against them. If so, we will take it, but, yeah, it’s going to be tough.”
14 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
OX NCHE
PROP
BORN: 23/07/1995
HEIGHT: 1.73 m
WEIGHT: 114KG
BONGI MBONAMBI
HOOKER
BORN: 07/01/1991
HEIGHT: 1.75 m
WEIGHT: 108KG
THOMAS DU TOIT
PROP
BORN: 05/05/1995
HEIGHT: 1.89 m
WEIGHT: 134KG
JEANDRE LABUSCHAGNE
LOCK
BORN: 17/7/1999
HEIGHT: 1.95 m
GERBRANDT GROBLER
LOCK
SIYA KOLISI
BORN: 16/06/1991
WEIGHT: 103KG
BORN: 06/02/1992
WEIGHT: 119KG
WEIGHT: 106KG
VINCENT TSHITUKA
FLANK
BORN: 10/09.1998
HEIGHT: 1.95 m
WEIGHT: 107KG
HEIGHT: 2.01 m
HEIGHT: 1.88 m
SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE
EIGHTH MAN
BORN: 28/05/1993
HEIGHT: 1.86 m
GRANT WILLIAMS
SCRUM-HALF
BORN: 22/07/1996
WEIGHT: 92KG
WEIGHT: 105KG
HEIGHT: 1.74m
CURWIN BOSCH BEN TAPUAI
BORN: 25/06/1997
16 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
HEIGHT: 1.81 m
WEIGHT: 85KG
MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI
FLANK FLYHALF
WING
BORN:26/07/1990
HEIGHT: 1.84 m
WEIGHT: 91KG
CENTRE
BORN:19/01/1989
HEIGHT: 1.80 m
WEIGHT: 95KG
CELL C SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES
LUKHANYO AM
BORN: 28/11/1993
HEIGHT: 1.86 m
WEIGHT: 93KG
WERNER KOK
BORN: 17/01/1993
HEIGHT: 1.79 m
WEIGHT: 94KG
BOETA CHAMBERLAIN
BORN: 22/02/1999
HEIGHT: 1.81 m
WEIGHT: 86KG
KERRON VAN VUUREN
BORN: 23/05/1995
HEIGHT: 1.87 m WEIGHT: 106KG
NTUTHUKO MCHUNU
BORN: 08/10/1992
WEIGHT: 112KG
CARLU SADIE
BORN: 07/05/1997
WEIGHT: 138KG
HEIGHT: 1.82 m
PHEPSI BUTHELEZI RENIEL HUGO
BORN: 19/07/1990
HEIGHT: 1.97m
WEIGHT: 109KG
LOOSE FORWARD
BORN: 30/05/1999
HEIGHT: 1.88m
HEIGHT: 1.81 m CENTRE
BORN: 11/09/1994
HEIGHT: 1.85 m
WEIGHT: 109KG
WEIGHT: 102KG
CAMERON WRIGHT
SCRUM-HALF
BORN: 12/04/1994
HEIGHT: 1.81 m
WEIGHT: 92KG
APHELELE FASSI
WING
BORN: 23/01/1998
HEIGHT: 1.89 m
WEIGHT: 87KG
17 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
PROP CENTRE LOCK
HOOKER PROP WING CENTRE
FULLBACK PROP
ROHAN JANSE VAN RENSBURG
CELL C SHARKS 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 KICK OFF 18H15 REFEREE MIKE ADAMSON MANAGER TREVOR BARNES DIRECTOR OF RUGBY NEIL POWELL BOETA CHAMBERLAIN WERNER KOK LUKHANYO AM BEN TAPUAI MAKAZOLE MAPIMPI CURWIN BOSCH GRANT WILLIAMS SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE VINCENT TSHITUKA SIYA KOLISI (C) GERBRANDT GROBLER JEANDRE LABUSCHAGNE THOMAS DU TOIT BONGI MBONAMBI OX NCHE KERRON VAN VUUREN NTUTHUKO MCHUNU CARLU SADIE JEANDRE LABUSCHAGNE PHEPSI BUTHELEZI CAMERON WRIGHT ROHAN JV RENSBURG APHELELE FASSI
MUNSTER
MIKE HALEY
CALVIN NASH
ANTOINE FRISCH
MALAKAI FEKITOA
SHANE DALY
JACK CROWLEY
CONOR MURRAY
GAVIN COOMBES
ALEX KENDELLEN
PETER O'MAHONY (C)
FINEEN WYCHERLEY
JEAN KLEYN
STEPHEN ARCHER
DIARMUID BARRON
JEREMY LOUGHMAN
HEAD COACH
GRAHAM ROWNTREE
MANAGER
SCOTT BUCKLEY
JOSH WYCHERLEY
KEYNAN KNOX
EDWIN EDOGBO
JACK O'DONOGHUE
CRAIG CASEY
BEN HEALY
KEITH EARLS
ASSISTANT REFEREES
CWENGILE JADEZWENI & GRIFFON COLBY
TMO
HOLLIE DAVIDSON
NIALL O' DONOVAN
19 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER 15 14 13 12 11 10 09 08 07 06 05 04 03 02 01 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23
THE ULTIMATE SECURITY, FACILITIES & CLEANING Visit www.ssgsa.co.za
MUNSTER PLAYER PROFILES
JEREMY LOUGHMAN
BORN:22/07/1995
HEIGHT: 1.85 m
WEIGHT: 118KG
DIARMUID BARRON STEPHEN ARCHER
BORN: 6/08/1998
HEIGHT: 1.83 m
WEIGHT: 98KG
BORN: 29/01/2988
HEIGHT: 1.88 m
WEIGHT: 118KG
JEAN KLEYN
BORN:26/08/1993
HEIGHT: 2.03 m
WEIGHT: 121KG
FINEEN WYCHERLEY
BORN: 11/12/1997
HEIGHT: 1.93 m
WEIGHT: 112KG
PETER O’MAHONY (C)
FLANK
BORN:17/09/1989
HEIGHT: 1.91 m
WEIGHT: 107KG
ALEX KENDELLEN
BORN: 3/03/2001
HEIGHT: 1.88 m
WEIGHT: 105KG
GAVIN COOMBES
EIGHTH MAN
BORN: 11/12/1997
HEIGHT: 1.98m
WEIGHT: 110KG
CONOR MURRAY
SCRUMHALF
BORN: 20/04/1989
HEIGHT: 1.88m
WEIGHT: 93KG
BORN: 13/01/2000
HEIGHT: 1.85m
WEIGHT: 89KG
BORN: 19/12/1996
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 92KG
BORN: 10/05/1992
HEIGHT: 1.87 m
WEIGHT: 99KG
22
SHANE DALY JACK CROWLEY
MALAKAI FEKITOA
LOCK
LOCK HOOKER
PROP
FLANK
FLYHALF
WING
PROP
CENTRE
CENTRE
BORN: 1/06/1996
HEIGHT: 1.88 m
MUNSTER PLAYER PROFILES
WEIGHT: 90KG
WING
BORN: 8/08/1997
HEIGHT: 1.78m
WEIGHT: 90KG
FULL BACK
BORN: 28/06/1994
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 93KG
HOOKER
BORN: 13/06/2000
HEIGHT: 1.80m
WEIGHT: 104KG
PROP
BORN: 22/07/1999
HEIGHT: 1.83m
WEIGHT: 108KG
PROP
BORN: 6/04/1999
HEIGHT: 1.85m
WEIGHT: 115KG
LOCK
BORN:21/12/2002
HEIGHT: 1.96m
WEIGHT: 122KG
LOOSE FORWARD
BORN:8/2/1994
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 109KG
CRAIG
SCRUM-HALF
BORN: 19/04/1999
HEIGHT: 1.65 m
WEIGHT: 76KG
BEN HEALY
FLYHALF
BORN: 29/06/1999
HEIGHT: 1.91m
WEIGHT: 97KG
FLANK
BORN: 2/10/1987
HEIGHT: 1.78m
WEIGHT: 87KG
JACK O’DONOGHUE EDWIN EDOGBO CALVIN NASH ANTOINE FRISCH MIKE HALEY JOSH WYCHERLEY SCOTT BUCKLEY KEYNAN KNOX KEITH EARLS CASEY
25 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER Now available for FREE to all existing print subscribers! Access an e-edition of your favourite newspaper via Not a subscriber, download the app and get 14 days free trial. INDEPENDENT 1. Tap on Account 2. Tap on SIGN IN 3. Tap on SIGN UP 4. Enter your email address (Please use the email address associated with your print subscription to be authenticated for newspaper app access for free) 5. Select your own password and confirm 6. Tap SIGN UP 7. Tap on the Library tab to access your issues As proud sponsors of The Sharks, SMG offers innovative mobility solutions to match their powerful performances on the field. To explore our exceptional range of vehicles visit www.smg.co.za. PROUD SPONSOR OF THE SHARKS Performance partners
MAJOR MATCHUP NOTSHE
VS COOMBES
Having been sidelined for close on a year following a serious knee injury, Sikhumbuzo Notshe has swiftly regained the fabulous form that highlighted him as one of the Cell C Sharks’ stars during the table-topping 2020 Super Rugby campaign, which, sadly, had to be aborted due to Covid-19.
Since arriving from the Stormers in 2020, the six-test Springbok loose forward has rejuvenated his career in the black of the Cell C Sharks, and established himself as the team’s frontline No 8.
This is courtesy of a couple of powerhouse performances from the back of the scrum against both Toulouse, in the Heineken Champions Cup quarter-final, and last week against Benetton.
Gavin Coombes was magnificent at No 8 for Munster in the Heineken Champions Cup, finishing the pool stages as the joint-second highest try-scorer, and has been equally impressive so far in the URC.
His second-half try ensured that Munster achieved a vital victory over the Stormers in Cape Town last weekend, while his hat-trick of tries led to a runaway 58-3 win against the Ospreys in February this year.
Coombes (25) made his international debut for Ireland in 2021, and is destined to add to his two current test caps in the near future.
26 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA
CURWIN ’N GRANT FLYING THE FLAG FOR SHARKS IN URC …
As the regular season of the 2022-23 URC is about to be concluded this weekend, it is opportune to take a look at the competition stats and how our Cell C Sharks’ boys have fared so far…
* The Cell C Sharks have won nine of their 17 games to date, scoring 60 tries in the process and conceding 59;
* Curwin Bosch is ranked in fourth spot as far as points scorers in this year’s competition is concerned, having amassed 102 points to date. Bosch’s tally includes 25 conversions, 14 penalty goals and two tries. Bosch kicked 2898 metres in total, and also made 39 tackles.
* Grant Williams is amongst the top try-scorers (joint fourth) in the current URC, having crossed the whitewash on no fewer than nine occasions so far. This includes a brace against Benetton last Friday, which bagged him the Man of the Match award. Williams made 60 carries, gained 501 metres and made 10 clean breaks.
* Eben Etzebeth (8) and Jaden Hendrikse (13) are both included in the URC ‘Top 100’, a player ranking system that combines recent performances across the URC, EPCR competitions and international rugby. Unfortunately both Etzebeth and Hendrikse are currently sidelined through injury.
27 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
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
28 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP FIXTURES / RESULTS
ZEBRE VS CELL C SHARKS
DRAGONS VS CELL C SHARKS
LEINSTER VS CELL C SHARKS
CELL C SHARKS VS GLASGOW WARRIORS | 40-12
CELL C SHARKS VS ULSTER | 24-31
CELL C SHARKS
CONNACHT
CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
AWAY STADIO LANFRANCHI
AWAY RODNEY PARADE
AWAY RDS ARENA
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
AWAY THE SPORTS GROUND
AWAY DAM HEALTH STADIUM
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
AWAY LOFTUS VERSFELD STADIUM
AWAY EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK
AWAY DHL STADIUM
AWAY PARC Y SCARLETS
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN
30
FRI, 23 SEP SAT, 1 OCT SAT, 8 OCT SAT, 15 OCT SAT, 22 OCT SUN, 27 NOV FRI, 2 DEC FRI, 23 DEC SAT, 31 DEC SAT, 7 JAN SAT, 28 JAN FRI, 3 FEB SUN, 30 OCT SAT, 18 FEB SAT, 4 MAR SAT, 25 MAR FRI, 14 APR SAT, 22 APR R0UND 1 R0UND 2 R0UND 3 R0UND 4 R0UND 5 R0UND 6 R0UND 7 R0UND 8 R0UND 9 R0UND 10 R0UND 11 R0UND 12 R0UND 13 R0UND 14 R0UND 15 R0UND 16 R0UND
17
CARDIFF RUGBY | 0 - 35
C SHARKS
OSPREYS | 25-10
C SHARKS VS EMIRATES LIONS | 37-10
C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS | 47-20
VS
CELL
VS
CELL
CELL
RUGBY
CELL C SHARKS | 24-12
VS
C SHARKS | 19-22
C SHARKS
DHL STORMERS | 46-19
BULLS VS CELL C SHARKS | 40-27
LIONS VS CELL C SHARKS | 7-29
STORMERS VS CELL C SHARKS | 29-23
CELL C SHARKS | 32-20
C SHARKS VS BENETTON RUGBY | 43-33
C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
EDINBURGH VS CELL
CELL
VS
VODACOM
EMIRATES
DHL
SCARLETS VS
CELL
CELL
| 42 - 37 | 19 - 20 | 54-34
18
R0UND
VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP CURRENT LOG
31 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER TEAM TEAM ALL CONFERENCES SOUTH AFRICAN CONFERENCES P P W W D D L L PD PD PTS PTS 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 17 16 12 11 12 10 10 9 9 8 8 8 6 5 6 3 0 11 9 9 8 1 0 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 2 0 0 0 0 5 4 5 7 7 8 8 9 9 9 11 10 10 14 17 4 8 8 9 272 162 124 93 113 32 110 6 -77 -99 -62 13 -97 -54 -160 -376 124 110 6 -99 79 64 63 58 53 49 48 46 41 40 39 38 35 34 19 10 63 48 46 40 LEINSTER ULSTER DHL STORMERS GLASGOW WARRIORS MUNSTER CONNACHT VODACOM BULLS CELL C SHARKS
RUGBY
LIONS
RUGBY
DHL STORMERS VODACOM BULLS CELL C SHARKS EMIRATES LIONS
BENETTON
EMIRATES
CARDIFF
EDINBURGH OSPREYS SCARLETS DRAGONS ZEBRE
APPAREL SPONSOR
STADIUM SPONSOR
ASSOCIATE SPONSORS
MEDIA PARTNERS
OFFICIAL PARTNERS
MEDICAL SPONSORS
DEVELOPMENT SPONSORS
ACADEMY SPONSORS
STADIUM PARTNERS
CLUB COMPETITION SPONSORS
CLUB SPONSORS
34 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER TITLE SPONSOR
35 CELL C SHARKS VS MUNSTER
