Cell C Sharks vs Airlink Pumas Friday May 6 2022

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CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS

CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS

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CHANGING THE GAME is a team effort.

SIYA KOLISI - RUGBY 4

CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS

@OAKLEY INC.

OAKLEY.COM

MESSAGE

PRESIDENT OF SA RUGBY

Welcome to this exciting meeting in the Carling Currie Cup, which remains the premier provincial competition on the South African rugby landscape as we have started the process of re-aligning the local season.

As the oldest provincial rugby competition in the world, the Carling 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.

This year, more than ever before, we are looking forward to our teams unearthing the next generation of Springbok stars by providing playing opportunities to the best local talent.

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

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 our tournament sponsor, Carling Black Label, 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 has worked hard behind the scenes to make the 2022 edition of the Carling Currie Cup happen, all the players and staff and all other important stakeholders.

MARK ALEXANDER

President: SA Rugby

And then, there is the drama and intrigue associated with the Carling Currie Cup – will be Vodacom Bulls continue their domination of the last two seasons, or will a new team step up to lift the coveted gold trophy in June?

Good luck to all the teams for what CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS

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CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS

CONTENTS

MATCH PREVIEW | 10

MAJOR MATCH UP | 20

10 14 22 27 28

MATCH PREVIEW

CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS KICK OFF 16H45

MAJOR MATCH UP HERBST V FOURIE

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

CHAMPING AT THE BIT TO GET BACK ON THE PARK WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP

It’s been a month since the Cell C Sharks have been in action on the Carling Currie Cup stage, and, according to coach Etienne Fynn, the boys are fizzing to get back into action. With the race for playoff spots heating up, it’s imperative that Fynn’s charges bag maximum points today to close the gap between them and the top-of-the-table Bulls…

Fynn, in his first season in charge of the Cell C Sharks’ Carling Currie Cup squad, is pleased with where the team is currently poised on the ladder - in third place, on 24 championship points, behind the Bulls (32) and Cheetahs (31).

“No campaign is ever perfect,” he reckons.

“However, we’ve won five of our first eight games, and in the two that we lost we were competitive until the end. I am sure that we are capable of reaching the playoffs, and of winning the competition.

“So, although it might not be perfect, we’re happy with where we are at the moment.”

Apart from the Cell C Sharks’ five wins and two losses, another match, against the Bulls at home on April 16, had to be cancelled and, therefore, drawn, due to the horrific floods in KwaZulu-Natal last month.

Both teams agreed to share championship 10 CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS

points, with each team awarded two, out of respect to all those who lost their lives during the natural disaster.

Although a fantastic gesture from both teams, given the circumstances, the reality is that it did deprive the Cell C Sharks from an opportunity to close the gap between themselves and the Bulls.

“We appreciated that the decision was for a great cause and we had no qualms about it,” Fynn agrees.

“A possible win against the Bulls, though, would have definitely assisted us.

“We have a highly competitive Carling Currie Cup squad, and the guys were champing at the bit to take on the Bulls; they really looked forward to that battle.

“But, we’re hoping to meet the Bulls during a later stage of the tournament.”

The last time the Cell C Sharks were in action during the Carling Currie Cup competition was at Kimberley, where the domestic showpiece had its origins more than 130 years ago, when, exactly a month ago, they ground out a hard-fought 13-6 win against Griquas.

“It’s always tough in Kimberley,” Fynn says.

“Griquas just never give up. They’re an abrasive and highly competitive outfit, and I’m sure they will be there come playoff time.”

The Cell C Sharks have now turned their attention to the Pumas, who, although they perhaps don’t have a realistic chance of making the playoffs anymore, should certainly not be underestimated.

After all, the Pumas arrived in Durban on the back of two handsome victories, over the Lions (45-10) and WP (37-11), the last of which away from home in Cape Town.

In fact, the last time the Pumas lost, was when the Cell C Sharks upstaged them 24-10 at Mbombela Stadium in early March.

their penultimate league game at home this season.

“The goal for any game is to win, first and foremost, and then to maximise points,” Fynn says.

“Who knows, if they can win all their remaining games, with maximum points, the Pumas might still be in with a sniff,” Fynn suggests.

“For this to materialise, everybody has to be on the same page and play according to plan. Should we encounter a speed bump or two on the way, the guys simply need to stand together, deal with it and pull through.”

“The Pumas are a well-coached unit, with great structures and really good players, so one can certainly not afford to relax against them.

Next Saturday, the Cell C Sharks will be heading to Bloemfontein to tackle the highriding Cheetahs, who are just one point behind the Bulls, with a game in hand.

“The thing is, the Carling Currie Cup is a very, very tough competition. People tend to underestimate just how tough it is.

As a matter of fact, the Cheetahs are the only unbeaten side in this year’s Carling Currie Cup, having won seven from seven.

“The Cheetahs are extremely tough, especially in Bloem,” Fynn agrees.

“Just the physicality of a Carling Currie Cup game; die manne is seer na die tyd…”

The boys are prepared to put their bodies on the line once again, as they will not be satisfied with anything less than a full haul of championship points from today’s encounter at Hollywoodbets Kings Park -

“They boast a core of experienced players, who understand the Free State style of rugby. However, they are also pretty pragmatic in their approach to the game, hence the fact that they are still unbeaten, and deservedly so…”

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#WEARERHINO

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@TheSharks

@TheSharksZA

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CELL C SHARKS

HEAD COACH ETIENNE FYNN

MANAGER

LUSANDA MTIYA

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NEVALDO FLEURS

15

YAW PENXE

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JEREMY WARD

13

ETHAN FISHER

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MARNUS POTGIETER

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BOETA CHAMBERLAIN

10

CAMERON WRIGHT

09

SIKHUMBUZO NOTSHE

08

JEANDRE LABUSCHAGNE

07

JAMES VENTER (C)

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HYRON ANDREWS

05

RUBEN VAN HEERDEN

04

WIEHAHN HERBST

03

KERRON VAN VUUREN

02

DIAN BLEULER

01

FEZ MBATHA

16

KHWEZI MONA

17

LOURENS ADRIAANSE

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EMILE VAN HEERDEN

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DYLAN RICHARDSON

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THEMBELANI BHOLI

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ZEE MKHABELA

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TITO BONILLA

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KICK OFF 16H45 REFEREE A. J. JACOBS

AIRLINK PUMAS

5

DEVON WILLIAMS

4

SEBASTIAN DE KLERK

3

ALWAYNO VISAGIE

2

EDDIE FOUCHE

1

TAPIWA MAFURA

0

TINUS DE BEER,

9

CHRISWILL SEPTEMBER

8

WILLIE ENGELBRECHT (C)

7

ANELE LUNGISA

6

DANIEL MAARTENS

5

SHANE KIRKWOOD

4

MALEMBE MPOFU

3

IGNATIUS PRINSLOO

2

EDUAN SWART

1

CORNE FOURIE

6

LLEWELLYN CLASSEN

7

DEWALD MARITZ

8

SIMON RAW/ETIENNE JANEKE

9

DARRIEN LANDSBERG

0

PHUMZILE MAQONDWANA

1

GIOVAN SNYMAN

2

ALI MGIJIMA

3

JAPIE KLEINHANS ASSISTANT REFEREES SEAN MULLER & SANELE MDLALOSE TMO EGON SECONDS

HEAD COACH

JIMMY STONEHOUSE

MANAGER

SAMUEL SIKIWE

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THE ULTIMATE TEAM

SECURITY, FACILITIES & CLEANING Visit www.ssgsa.co.za 18 CELL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS

LOCAL IS LEKKER! DID YOU KNOW THAT THE SHARKS NOW OWN THE AFROS IN UMHLANGA? PURCHASE A CELL C SHARKS

MATCH DAY TICKET AND RECEIVE

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MAJOR MATCHUP

HERBST V FOURIE Wiehahn Herbst returned to the Cell C Sharks last year, from the Lions.

Apart from his renowned strength at scrum time, as well as in the tight loose, the 33-year-old tighthead prop has brought back with him a wealth of frontrow experience, and, indeed, expertise.

Having represented the Cell C Sharks on almost 100 combined occasions, in the Carling Currie Cup and Super Rugby, from 2009 to 2014, Herbst spent five years in Belfast, Ireland, where he turned out 80 times for Ulster.

Thereafter, he had brief stints with the Bulls and Lions, before returning to Durban in 2021.

At 33 years of age, too, Corné Fourie is no spring chicken either.

The Pumas looshead prop, who is equally adept at playing hooker, has also represented the Blue Bulls, Golden Lions and WP on the domestic scene, while he boasts vast Super Rugby experience with both the Lions and Stormers.

Overseas experience includes stints with the Panasonic Wild Knights in Japan and Gloucester in the UK, and Fourie is currently one of the top try-scorers in the 2022 edition of the Carling Currie Cup, with a tally of three.

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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 AIRLINK PUMAS

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R E I G N I T E YO U R PAS S I O F O R L IVE S P O R T S!

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Excludes official BOUNCE grip socks. Subject to availability. Valid for 1 x FREE General Access Session when booking any other session type. Only valid at BOUNCE Cornubia Mall. Bookings can only be made through the contact centre, please quote the booking code when making your booking.

To receive the booking code and for full terms and conditions please scan the QR code.

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CURRIE CUP LOG TEAM VODACOM BULLS

P

W

D

L

PD

PTS

8

6

1

1

101

32

TOYOTA CHEETAHS

7

7

0

0

114

31

CELL C SHARKS

8

5

2

1

21

24

WINDHOEK DRAUGHT GRIQUAS

8

4

4

0

17

20

AIRLINK PUMAS

7

3

4

0

42

15

DHL WESTERN PROVINCE

8

1

6

0

-75

9

SIGMA LIONS

8

0

7

0

-220

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CURRIE CUP FIXTURES / RESULTS R0UND 2

WED, 19 JAN

CELL C SHARKS VS TAFEL LAGER GRIQUAS | 24-23

R0UND 3

WED, 2 FEB

CELL C SHARKS VS DHL WESTERN PROVINCE | 35-20

R0UND 4

SAT, 19 FEB

SIGMA LIONS VS CELL C SHARKS | 31 - 43

R0UND 5

FRI, 4 MAR

NEW NATION PUMAS VS CELL C SHARKS | 10 - 24

R0UND 6

WED, 16 MAR

VODACOM BULLS VS CELL C SHARKS | 35 - 21

R0UND 7

WED, 23 MAR

CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS | 15 - 29

R0UND 8

WED, 6 APR R0UND 9

SAT, 16 APR

TAFEL LAGER GRIQUAS VS CELL C SHARKS | 6 - 13 CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS | MATCH CANCELLED

R0UND 10

SAT, 7 MAY

CELL C SHARKS VS NEW NATION PUMAS

R0UND 11

SAT, 14 MAY

TOYOTA CHEETAHS VS CELL C SHARKS

R0UND 13

SAT, 4 JUNE

CELL C SHARKS VS SIGMA LIONS

R0UND 14

SAT, 11 JUNE

DHL WESTERN PROVINCE VS CELL C SHARKS

HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN AWAY EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK, JHB AWAY MBOMBELA STADIUM, NELSPRUIT AWAY LOFTUS VERSFELD, PRETORIA HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN AWAY TAFEL LAGER PARK, KIMBERLEY HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN AWAY TOYOTA STADIUM, BLOEMFONTEIN HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN AWAY CAPE TOWN STADIUM, CPT

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TITLE SPONSOR

APPAREL SPONSOR

STADIUM SPONSOR

ASSOCIATE SPONSORS

OFFICIAL PARTNERS

MEDIA PARTNERS

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MEDICAL SPONSORS

CLUB COMPETITION SPONSORS

DEVELOPMENT SPONSORS

CLUB SPONSORS

ACADEMY SPONSORS

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