CELL C SHARKS VS DHL STORMERS FEB 4 2023

OFFICIAL MATCH DAY PROGRAMME

DERBY DAY

CELL C SHARKS

KICK-OFF 14H00 VS

DHL STORMERS

Wherever

qatarairways.com

CHANGING THE GAME

is a team effort.

SIYA KOLISI - RUGBY

MATCH PREVIEW

THE HEAT IS ON…

In more ways than one. Naturally, during this time of year, the Durban temperature at 2.00pm should be close to 30 degrees, with near 100 percent humidity. Secondly, the Cell C Sharks, following their plucky win in Edinburgh over the weekend, are turning the heat up on the log leaders in the URC, which is why today’s encounter with the defending champions, the Stormers, is shaping up as a rather decisive clash…

Neil Powell and his Cell C Sharks tourists arrived back from the UK earlier this week with four invaluable championship points in the bag, following their hard-fought 22-19 victory over Edinburgh at the DAM Health Stadium.

Not only did the Durbanites avenge their shock defeat at the hands of Edinburgh at Hollywoodbets Kings Park last year, the win in Scotland has also catapulted the Cell C Sharks into the top eight on the United Rugby Championship standings.

The tourists were without Springbok aces Siya Kolisi, Lukhanyo Am, Eben Etzebeth and Jaden Hendrikse, yet they nevertheless went into an early lead through tries by Grant Williams and Marnus Potgieter. The home-side, however, retaliated with three tries of their own before the break, to lead 19-14 at the half.

“During the opening 30 minutes we enjoyed a really good start,” Powell observed.

“We defended well, we stayed in our structure and we played in the right areas.

“However, during the last 15 minutes of the first half they started to play off our mistakes. We basically made it an unstructured game.

“So, the big message at halftime was to get back to our structure, to force them back into playing like we wanted to.

“We shouldn’t get caught up in how the opposition wants to play.”

The second half proved to be a titanic tussle from the word go, yet the Cell C Sharks exhibited enormous character in defence, especially during the heart-stopping 10 minutes at the death, with the Edinburgh

WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP

forwards hammering away relentlessly at the line.

Fullback Aphelele Fassi, who was named Man of the Match, and openside flanker James Venter were particularly prominent with some match-saving hits.

In the end, a long-distance penalty goal by Curwin Bosch and trademark try by Kerron van Vuuren were enough to ensure this crucial away win.

As a matter of fact, Neil Powell’s charges were the only South African outfit to manage a win abroad at the weekend.

“It was a massive effort and overall a very good win, especially when you consider the other South African results,” Powell acknowledged afterwards.

“We will definitely take a lot of confidence, momentum and flow from this performance. “We are so proud of the boys, for their effort, fight and character. We asked them to be really physical and dominant, and they did exactly that.

“I know the last few minutes were really tough, but we actually did that for the whole 80 minutes.

“That should become the Cell C Sharks’ standard now; we need to really pitch up for the full 80 minutes in every single game.”

Back in The Tank today, the home side will be gunning for maximum points against the Stormers, as that can boost them to just seven points behind the Cape-based side, who are currently lying second on the ladder, and still with a game still in hand.

The Stormers are smarting following their rather heavy 5-35 defeat against Ulster in Belfast.

Having now lost two games on the trot, John Dobson’s side will be intent on not only getting their campaign back on track this afternoon, but also to try and halt the Cell C Sharks’ advance.

Homeground advantage could therefore prove to be the deciding factor this afternoon.

THE BIG MESSAGE AT HALFTIME WAS TO GET BACK TO OUR STRUCTURE, TO FORCE THEM BACK INTO PLAYING LIKE WE WANTED TO.

UPWARD CURWIN…

Everybody always knew just how super talented Curwin Bosch is. However, a lot of folk wrote the 25-year-old off last year, following, by his own admission, a dismal season in black. Hopes of more appearances in green and gold were also fading. An injury-induced break of three months, though, was just the tonic that the Cell C Sharks’ pivot needed to get his career trajectory back on an upward curve…

A fractured thumb sustained against the Stormers during a pre-season hitout in Port Elizabeth was, instead of the proverbial last straw, the best thing that could have happened to him, reckons Curwin Bosch.

“The break, just to refresh the mind and get back to the basics of what makes me tick, was what I desperately needed,” he says.

“And, I’m just taking it from there.

“It was mentally refreshing, especially following the Covid-19 period when we really played a lot of rugby. We had an extremely tight schedule.

“So, being able to just sit back and reassess my career was good.”

The previous season was not good and, from a psychological perspective, pretty tough for Bosch.

“I wasn’t happy with my own standard of play,” he admits.

“It wasn’t where I wanted to be. No player wants to experience that many off days.

“It was a massive learning curve for me; I learnt a lot about myself.

“During the break I was able to look back, take the lessons learnt and decide how to implement it on the way forward.

“I was also fortunate to consult with Dr. Kirsten van Heerden, a performance psychologist and former international swimmer. Just hearing things, which you’re actually supposed to know, from someone else, a different voice, helps a lot.

“She equipped me with the necessary tools to get into that space every single time, to be consistent.

“We delved a bit deeper into the mental side of things as opposed to what we do physically,

and we do train very hard. Many players tend to neglect the mental aspect, though.” Mentally and physically, Bosch certainly appears to have found his groove again.

Even as far as defence, which used to be one area where he copped plenty of flak, is concerned, he is getting stuck in with far more self-assurance than before.

“I did work on my defence a bit, but, again, it also boils down to the mental side of things. “Once you have regained confidence in your strengths, the weaknesses seem to follow suit.

“It’s more a matter of getting one’s overall game back to a level where you know it can be.”

Over the past couple of months, South African professional franchises have had to step up to the top-tier level of the Heineken Champions Cup, yet Bosch and the Cell C Sharks appeared to have simply taken it in their stride.

“It’s been really good,” Bosch observes.

“It’s amazing to be able to play against and compare oneself to the best teams in the world, in the toughest competition in the world.

“It is hugely challenging, but that is exactly what one wants in sport - to be challenged week in, week out.”

Looking ahead in terms of the URC, Bosch agrees that the vibe in the Cell C Sharks’ camp, ahead of today’s derby against the Stormers, is highly positive.

“We’re in a good space, coming off a really good win in Edinburgh.

“As everybody’s seen, winning away from home is not easy, and for the Cell C Sharks to pull off that sort of win, displaying such character in defence, has boosted the confidence of the group, showing us what we are capable of.”

On a personal level, what are Curwin Bosch’s future goals?

“To continue on the strength I am on at the moment, and to keep on enjoying the game again, just having fun out there.

“I’m simply focussing on trying to be one percent better every time I run out, pursuing continuous improvement, and to never stop having fun doing it.

“That, after all, is why we started playing the game in the first place…”

NTUTHUKO MCHUNU

PROP

BORN: 05/04/1999

HEIGHT: 1.88 m

WEIGHT: 114KG

KERRON VAN VUUREN

HOOKER

BORN: 23/05/1995

HEIGHT: 1.87 m

WEIGHT: 106KG

CARLU SADIE

PROP

BORN: 07/05/1997

HEIGHT: 1.82 m

WEIGHT: 138KG

HYRON ANDREWS

LOCK

BORN: 6/07/1995

HEIGHT: 2.03 m

WEIGHT: 108KG

GERBRANDT GROBLER

LOCK

BORN: 06/02/1992

HEIGHT: 2.01 m

WEIGHT: 119KG

JAMES VENTER

FLANK

BORN: 21/08/1996

HEIGHT: 1.79 m

WEIGHT: 92KG

HENCO VENTER

FLANK

BORN: 27/03/1992

HEIGHT: 1.94 m

WEIGHT: 97KG

PHEPSI BUTHELEZI

EIGHTH MAN

BORN: 27/03/1992

HEIGHT: 1.92m

WEIGHT: 107KG

CAMERON WRIGHT

SCRUM-HALF

BORN: 12/04/1994

HEIGHT: 1.81 m

WEIGHT: 92KG

CURWIN BOSCH

FLYHALF

BORN: 25/06/1997

HEIGHT: 1.81 m

WEIGHT: 85KG

THAAKIR ABRAHAMS

WING

BORN:10/01/2000

HEIGHT: 1.75 m

WEIGHT: 75KG

ROHAN JANSE VAN RENSBURG

CENTRE

BORN: 11/09/1994

HEIGHT: 1.85 m

WEIGHT: 109KG

CELL C SHARKS PLAYER PROFILES

BEN TAPUAI

BORN:19/01/1989

HEIGHT: 1.80 m WEIGHT: 95KG

MARNUS POTGIETER BORN: 20/06/1999 HEIGHT: 1.87 m WEIGHT: 86KG

APHELELE FASSI

BORN: 28/01/1998

HEIGHT: 1.89 m

WEIGHT: 87KG

BORN: 21/02/1998

HEIGHT: 1.87 m

105KG

RENIEL HUGO

BORN: 19/07/1995

HEIGHT: 1.97m WEIGHT: 111KG

HANRU JACOBS

BORN: 14/03/2000

HEIGHT: 1.86 m

WEIGHT: 120KG

BRADLEY DAVIDS BORN: 30/07/2002 HEIGHT: 1.76 m WEIGHT: 79KG

LIONEL CRONJE

DHL STORMERS

CLAYTON BLOMMETJIES

SULEIMAN HARTZENBERG

RUHAN NEL

DAN DU PLESSIS

SEABELO SENATLA

MANIE LIBBOK

HERSCHEL JANTJIES

MARCEL THEUNISSEN

JUNIOR POKOMELA

DEON FOURIE (C)

GARY PORTER

RUBEN VAN HEERDEN

NEETHLING FOUCHE

JOSEPH DWEBA

BROK HARRIS

ANDRE-HUGO VENTER

ALI VERMAAK

SAZI SANDI

BEN-JASON DIXON

WILLIE ENGELBRECHT

KEKE MORABE

PAUL DE WET

SACHA FEINBERG-MNGOMEZULU

ASSISTANT REFEREES

MARIUS VAN DER WESTHUIZEN & GRIFFIN COLBY

TMO

MARIUS JONKER

CHIPPIE SOLOMAN

HEAD COACH JOHN DOBSON

MANAGER

DHL STORMERS PLAYER PROFILES

BROK HARRIS

BORN:22/02/1985

HEIGHT: 1.83 m

WEIGHT: 118KG

JOSEPH DWEBA

BORN:25/10/1995

HEIGHT: 1.80m

WEIGHT: 108KG

NEETHLING FOUCHE

BORN:10/01/1993

HEIGHT: 1.87 m

WEIGHT: 118KG

RUBEN VAN HEERDEN

BORN:27/10/1997

HEIGHT: 2.00 m

WEIGHT: 118KG

GARY PORTER

WEIGHT: 115KG

BORN:22/07/1996

HEIGHT:1.98 m

DEON FOURIE (C)

FLANK

BORN: 25/09/1986

HEIGHT: 1.77 m

WEIGHT: 100KG

JUNIOR POKOMELA

BORN: 10/12/1996

HEIGHT: 1.91m

WEIGHT: 108KG

MARCEL THEUNISSEN

BORN: 9/06/1999

HEIGHT: 1.92m

WEIGHT: 102KG

HERSCHEL JANTJIES

SCRUMHALF

BORN: 22/04/1996

HEIGHT: 1.67m

WEIGHT: 74KG

FLYHALF

BORN: 15/07/1997

HEIGHT: 1.79m

WEIGHT: 76KG

BORN: 10/02/1993

HEIGHT: 1.86m

WEIGHT: 76KG

DAN DU PLESSIS

BORN: 17/03/1995

HEIGHT: 1.93 m

WEIGHT: 97KG

SEABELO SENATLA

MANIE LIBBOK

DHL STORMERS PLAYER PROFILES

BORN:17/05/1991

HEIGHT: 1.91 m

WEIGHT: 101KG

BORN:20/05/2003

HEIGHT: 1.86m

BORN: 10/09/2001

HEIGHT: 1.87 m

WEIGHT: 106KG

BORN: 28/04/1989

HEIGHT: 1.78 m

BEN-JASON DIXON

BORN:28/04/1998

HEIGHT: 1.98 m

WEIGHT: 106KG

CLAYTON

FLYHALF

BORN: 16/03/1996

HEIGHT: 1.78m

WEIGHT: 91KG

BORN:30/08/1990

HEIGHT: 1.85m

WEIGHT: 87KG

WILLIE ENGELBRECHT

BORN: 24/07/1992

HEIGHT: 1.90m

WEIGHT: 110KG

BORN: 11/08/1998

HEIGHT:1.81m

WING PROP LOOSE

WEIGHT: 125KG

WEIGHT: 108KG

SCRUM-HALF

BORN: 21/04/2001

HEIGHT: 1.88m

WEIGHT: 103KG

WEIGHT: 80KG

BORN: 22/02/2002

HEIGHT: 1.85 m

WEIGHT: 89KG

SACHA FEINBERG-MNGOMEZULU

KZN LEGENDS VS CZECH STARS

BJ BOTHA

PAT CILLIERS

JACQUES DEEN

DAYLE SHORTT

SKOLIWE NDLOVU

ROWAN MORGAN

ABONGA NKWELO

ANDY TOMSETT

CHARLTON BUTT

DIETER KRIESE

LLOYD RIDL

JAYDON HILL

GREG KEIL

CHARL MCLEOD

LWAZI MVOVO

RICHARD STRYDOM

SACHA MAROT

WAYNE MUNN

HELMAR BREYTENBACH

MATT GIBSON

BRENT RUSSELL

ERIK AISSING

GREG MILLER

STEFAN TERBLANCHE

BRETT HENNESSEY

RIAAN SWANEPOEL

ANTONÍN BRABEC

RADEK ČERNÝ

MILOSLAV DUBINA

MILOSLAV FIALA

MARTIN FRANK

JAN FRYDRYCH

TOMÁŠ HOLOVSKÝ

RADIM JANÍČEK

MICHAL JUNA

RENÉ KOLÁČEK

JEFF MAHON

ONDŘEJ MALINA

ROBERT MÁLEK

FRANTIŠEK MERXBAUER

KEVIN QUINN

JIŘÍ SKALL

PETR SLÁMA

KVĚTOSLAV ŠTRUNC

MARTIN VESELÝ

TOMÁŠ VENIGER

JOSEF WEBER

JAN ZACHARIÁŠ

PAVEL ZACHARIÁŠ

VÁCLAV ZELENKA

ZDĚNĚK ŽÁK

MAJOR MATCHUP ANDREWS V VAN HEERDEN

Hyron Andrews arrived at The Sharks Academy almost 10 years ago, and over this period he has established himself as a regular and reliable member of the Cell C Sharks’ second row.

Standing 2.03m tall and weighing a respectable 108kg, Andrews is a rangy unit whose supreme athleticism is complemented by his set-phase efficiency at lineout time.

And, while his worth on the touchline is a given, the 27-year-old lock brings so much more to the Cell C Sharks through his uncanny mobility around the track - both on attack and in defence.

Ruben Van Heerden is no stranger to Hollywoodbets Kings Park, having represented the Cell C Sharks close on 50 times from 2018 to 2022.

Another rangy yet industrious lock forward and former SA Under-20 representative, Van Heerden was groomed as a lock at Affies in Pretoria and had a brief stint with Exeter Chiefs in the UK, before linking up with the Stormers on a short-term contract at the beginning of this year.

The Cape-based franchise is hoping that Van Heerden will add value, both in the lineouts and tight loose.

FACTS, STATS & TRIVIA

SIMPLY SUPERIOR!

Cell C Sharks and Springbok lock Eben Etzebeth was this week named SA Rugby's Player of the Year for 2022. His stats and performances, in black, as well as green and gold, suggest there could have been only one winner.

Did you know that…

* Etzebeth, at 30 years of age, became the youngest Springbok player to achieve a century of test caps for South Africa - against Wales on July 16, last year - and he celebrated the occasion with a Man-of-theMatch performance.

* He is the fifth most-capped Bok of all time with 110 caps, and the second most-capped Bok lock after Victor Matfield.

* Of his 110 tests, 31 were consecutive, from 2014 tot 2016, which are the fifth most consecutive Bok caps of all time.

* Etzebeth also claimed the Man-of-the-Match award last October in his debut for the Cell C Sharks against the Glasgow Warriors.

* He currently tops the URC Top 100, a player ranking system that combines recent performances across the United Rugby Championship, EPCR competi-tions and international rugby.

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.

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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 | POSTPONED

CELL C SHARKS VS CARDIFF RUGBY | 0 - 35

CELL C SHARKS VS OSPREYS | 25-10

CELL C SHARKS VS EMIRATES LIONS | 37-10

CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS | 47-20

CONNACHT RUGBY VS CELL C SHARKS | 24-12

EDINBURGH VS CELL C SHARKS | 19-22

CELL C SHARKS VS DHL STORMERS

VODACOM BULLS VS CELL C SHARKS

EMIRATES LIONS VS CELL C SHARKS

DHL STORMERS VS CELL C SHARKS

SCARLETS VS CELL C SHARKS

CELL C SHARKS VS BENETTON RUGBY

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

VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP CURRENT LOG

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