CEL C SHARKS VS AIRLINK PUMAS 07 APRIL 2023

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

CURRIE CUP CRUNCH

WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP

In terms of important Currie Cup encounters, they hardly come bigger than today’s tussle between the Cell C Sharks and defending champions, the Pumas. Even though the domestic showpiece hasn’t reached the halfway stage yet, it is pretty much a must-win occasion for the home team…

The Pumas arrive at Hollywoodbets Kings Park tonight as not only the defending Currie Cup champions, but also as the current log leaders and only unbeaten side in 2023 edition of the 131-year-old competition.

The Mbombela-based outfit underlined their intent in no uncertain terms last Friday, when they walloped the Cheetahs 61-21 in Bloemfontein to consolidate their top-of-the-table status. They have now won their first four Currie Cup games on the trot, while it was the Cheetahs’ first defeat of the season.

The Cell C Sharks suffered their second loss of the season in Johannesburg on Saturday, going down 22-34 to the Lions in a titanic tussle on the Highveld.

The Cell C Sharks were leading 12-5 at the break, having outscored their hosts by

two tries to one in the opening spell.

At the end of the day, however, Joey Mongalo’s charges let themselves down through some indiscipline - they conceded a costly yellow card shortly after the break - and several missed opportunities at goal, which ultimately denied them of what could have proven to be an invaluable away win. Back at home today, the Cell C Sharks will be backing themselves for another much improved effort, against the defending champions.

The Durbanites have to date won all their matches in The Shark Tank, against the Griffons during the opening round of this year’s Currie Cup competition and, then, a fortnight ago against Western Province.

The Capetonians were also undefeated when they arrived in Durban, but the Cell C Sharks produced a highly committed

performance to emerge with a crucial but well-deserved 20-7 win against WP in a highly entertaining encounter at Hollywoodbets Kings Park.

Murray Koster and co will no doubt be fizzing to replicate that type of hometown display tonight against the Pumas.

As things currently stand, the Cell C Sharks are placed fourth on the Currie Cup Premier Division table, nine championship points adrift of the top-of-the-log Pumas, but only three and five points behind the Lions and Cheetahs respectively, who are in third and second spot.

BACK

The importance of winning at home tonight therefore goes without saying for the Cell C Sharks.

The boys remain at home next week, hosting the beleaguered Bulls, before heading back upcountry for what promises to be a tough away assignment against the Cheetahs at Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.

The Cell C Sharks will return to Hollywoodbets Kings Park at the end of the month, for their return encounter with Griquas.

But, for now, this is indeed the biggest Currie Cup game of the season to date for the Cell C Sharks, and one in which they are aiming to exhibit the creativity and fighting spirit that have become the hallmark of the men in black down the years.

AT HOME TODAY, THE CELL C SHARKS WILL BE BACKING THEMSELVES FOR ANOTHER MUCH IMPROVED EFFORT, AGAINST THE DEFENDING CHAMPIONS.

CELL C SHARKS

AIRLINK PUMAS

DEVON WILLIAMS

ETIENNE TALJAARD

DIEGO APPOLLIS

ALI MGIJIMA

JADE STIGHLING

TINUS DE BEER

GOIVAN SNYMAN

KWANDA DIMAZA

FRANNA KLEINHANS

ANDRE FOUCHE

SHANE KIRKWOOD (C)

DEON SLABBERT

IG PRINSLOO

LLEWELLYN CLASSEN

CORNE FOURIE

PJ JACOBS

CAMERON DAWSON

JUICE GUMEDE

MALEMBE MPOFU

RUWALD VAN DER MERWE

CHRISWILL SEPTEMBER

BRANDON THOMSON

STEFAN COETZEE

ASSISTANT REFEREES

YANGA SOTSHANGANE & DAMIAN VARNEY

TMO

QUINTON IMMELMAN

HEAD COACH

JIMMY STONEHOUSE

MANAGER

SAMUEL SIKIWE

POTGIETER V APPOLLIS MAJOR MATCHUP

Although renowned as a hard-running winger, Marnus Potgieter has been utilised in the Cell C Sharks midfield of late, and to good effect.

Originally named in the Bulls squad for the Super Rugby Unlocked competition two years ago, Potgieter made his debut for the Blue Bulls later that same year in the Currie Cup Premier Division, against the Free State Cheetahs.

The 23-year-old has since found a new home at Hollywoodbets Kings Park, where he has already impressed for the Cell C Sharks with his speedy sorties along the tramlines and down the middle of the field.

Diego Appollis is currently the top try-scorer in the Currie Cup Premier Division with a tally of five tries in four games played.

Born on August 27, 2000, in Paarl, Appollis received his high school education at Hoërskool Garsfontein, in Pretoria, from where he gradually started working his way up through the Blue Bulls age-group ranks.

Appollis represented the Blue Bulls during last year’s Currie Cup competition, making his debut against the Golden Lions, but has since signed with the Mbombela-based defending champions.

CURRIE CUP FIXTURES / 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

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

HOME HOLLYWOODBETS KINGS PARK, DURBAN

AWAY DOWN TOUCH INVESTMENT STADIUM, WELKOM

AWAY EMIRATES AIRLINE PARK, JHB

AWAY DHL STADIUM, CPT

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