IT'S GAME
TIME CELL C SHARKS TOYOTA CHEETAHS 17H45
VS
23/03
#SHAVCHE 1
CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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CONTENTS
MATCH PREVIEW | 10
MAJOR MATCH UP | 20
10 14 20 23 24
MATCH PREVIEW
CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS KICK OFF 17H45
MAJOR MATCH UP JAMES V GIDEON
FIXTURES & LOG CURRIE CUP
SPONSORS THE SHARKS
CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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CHANGING THE GAME is a team effort. SIYA KOLISI - RUGBY
INC.C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS CELL 6@OAKLEY
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 TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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MATCH PREVIEW
NO HALF MEASURES WORDS: ALBERT HEENOP
The 2022 edition of the Carling Currie Cup reaches the halfway stage this week, with the Cell C Sharks hosting the top-of-the-table Cheetahs. Etienne Fynn’s charges will be going all out to topple the unbeaten Free Staters and get their own, impressive domestic campaign back on track… The Cell C Sharks had enjoyed an imposing run of four wins on the trot in this year’s Carling Currie Cup competition, when the Bulls dealt them their first defeat of the season last Wednesday in Pretoria. It has to be noted, though, that the Bulls loaded their Carling Currie Cup side for last week’s clash at Loftus Versfeld with half a dozen of the franchise’s top-tier URC players, and the shrewd selection paid handsome dividends as the home side overcame a spirited challenge by the visitors from Durban to eventually emerge with a comprehensive 35-21 triumph. The Cell C Sharks, who had over the previous three weeks secured two vital away wins on the trot, against the Lions and Pumas, nevertheless gave the starstudded Bulls a thorough run for their money.
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As a matter of fact, the boys in black and white were enjoying a deserved 18-14 lead at the interval. The home side, however, had too much fire power, for obvious reasons, and it told during the second stanza as the Bulls wrapped up the win by five tries to two. At the end of the day, the defending champions were more clinical, both in the set pieces and at the breakdown, while the Cell C Sharks didn’t always maximise their opportunities, with, amongst others, goalkicking letting them down. The defeat means that Fynn’s team have dropped down to third on the ladder. Back home at Hollywoodbets Kings Park tonight, however, the Cell C Sharks have a great opportunity to not only make amends for last Wednesday’s loss but to also make an emphatic statement in this year’s domestic showpiece.
They’re hosting the unbeaten front-runners in the 2022 Currie Cup, the Cheetahs, who managed a hard-fought 24-17 victory over Western Province at home in Bloemfontein last week. It was the Cheetahs’ fifth consecutive win in the current Carling Currie Cup competition, and places them at the top of the pile on 22 championship points, two ahead of the Bulls and four ahead of the third-placed Cell C Sharks. It goes without saying that this is one of the most important home assignments for the local outfit, and a convincing win tonight will provide a significant boost for their title hopes, as we approach the business end of the competition.
THE CELL C SHARKS, WHO HAD OVER THE PREVIOUS THREE WEEKS SECURED TWO VITAL AWAY WINS ON THE TROT, AGAINST THE LIONS AND PUMAS, NEVERTHELESS GAVE THE STAR-STUDDED BULLS A THOROUGH RUN FOR THEIR MONEY To be sure, hereafter the going doesn’t get any easier. In a fortnight’s time, the Cell C Sharks are heading for Kimberley to take on Griquas, who last week annihilated the hapless Lions 49-17 and are well-poised in fourth spot on the table - a mere three championship points adrift of the Durban-based side. The Cell C Sharks return to Hollywoodbets Kings Park on April 16, for the all-important return encounter with the Bulls. But, for now, the sole focus is on delivering the all-out type of team effort that will bring the victory run of the Cheetahs to an end and place the Cell C Sharks back on the winning track. CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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#WEARERHINO
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@TheSharks
@TheSharksZA
CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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CELL C SHARKS
HEAD COACH ETIENNE FYNN
MANAGER
LUSANDA MTIYA
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JORDAN CHAIT
15
YAW PENXE
14
JEREMY WARD
13
ETHAN FISHER
12
CURWIN BOSCH
11
TITO BONILLA
10
CAMERON WRIGHT
09
CELIMPIILO GUMEDE
08
THEMBELANI BHOLI
07
JAMES VENTER (C)
06
HYRON ANDREWS
05
EMILE VAN HEERDEN
04
WIEHAHN HERBST
03
FEZ MBATHA
02
DIAN BLEULER
01
DANIEL JOOSTE
16
BRAAM REYNEKE
17
LOURENS ADRIAANSE
18
CORNE RAHL
19
DYLAN RICHARDSON
20
OJ NOA
21
SANELE NOHAMBA
22
LLOYD KOSTER
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KICK OFF 17H45 REFEREE MORNE FERRIRA
TOYOTA CHEETAHS
5
CLAYTON BLOMMETJIES
4
DANIEL KASENDE
3
DAVID BRITS
2
FRANS STEYN
1
COHEN JASPER
0
SIYA MASUKU
9
RUAN PIENAAR (C)
8
MIHLALI MOSI
7
ANDISA NTSILA
6
GIDEON VAN DER MERWE
5
VICTOR SEKEKETE
4
AIDON DAVIS
3
MARNE COETZEE
2
MARNUS VAN DER MERWE
1
SCHALK FERREIRA
6
LOUIS VAN DER WESTHUIZEN
7
ALULUTHO TSHAKWENI
8
CONRAAD VAN VUUREN
9
OCKIE BARNARD
0
JEANDRÉ RUDOLPH
1
REWAN KRUGER
2
REINHARDT FORTUIN
3
ROBERT EBERSOHN ASSISTANT REFEREES CHRISTOPHER ALLISON & ZUKILE MADIKIZELA TMO QUINTON IMMELMAN
HEAD COACH
HAWIES FOURIE
MANAGER
ASHWELL RAFFERTY
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MAJOR MATCHUP
JAMES V GIDEON The primary job of an openside flanker is to retain and regain possession. And, to tackle anything that moves! James Venter has excelled in this role for the Cell C Sharks over the past few seasons. A superlative scavenger of the ball, Venter is indeed a devastating tackler and lethal at the breakdown. Unfortunately, injury woes have limited his game time for the Cell C Sharks over the past year, but Venter is back to his brilliant best. In addition, this Glenwood old boy’s leadership has also come to the fore, with him currently captaining the Cell C Sharks in the Carling Currie Cup. Another dynamo on the openside, Gideon van der Merwe recorded one of the Cheetahs’ three tries in their 24-17 win against WP last week. With a total of three tries to date, Van der Merwe now ranks among the top five try-scorers in this year’s edition of the Carling Currie Cup. Born and bred in Potchefstroom, he was educated at Gimnasium en starred for North-West University in the Varsity Cup before being contracted by Griquas in 2019. Lightning quick to the breakdown, Van der Merwe is also a lethal tackler, and, having delivered impressive displays for Griquas over the past couple of seasons, he now is a standout performer for the Cheetahs too in the domestic showpiece.
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THE ULTIMATE TEAM
SECURITY, FACILITIES & CLEANING Visit www.ssgsa.co.za CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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CURRIE CUP LOG TEAM TOYOTA CHEETAHS
P
W
D
L
PD
PTS
5
5
0
0
93
22
VODACOM BLUE BULLS
5
4
0
1
60
20
CELL C SHARKS
5
4
0
1
28
18
TAFEL LAGER GRIQUAS
6
3
0
3
18
15
DHL WESTERN PROVINCE
5
1
0
4
-31
7
AIRLINK PUMAS
5
1
0
4
-19
5
SIGMA LIONS
5
0
0
5
-149
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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 R0UND 5
FRI, 4 MAR R0UND 6
WED, 16 MAR
SIGMA LIONS VS CELL C SHARKS | 31-43 NEW NATION PUMAS VS CELL C SHARKS | 10-24 VODACOM BULLS VS CELL C SHARKS | 35-21
R0UND 7
WED, 23 MAR
CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
R0UND 8
WED, 6 APR
TAFEL LAGER GRIQUAS VS CELL C SHARKS
R0UND 9
SAT, 16 APR
CELL C SHARKS VS VODACOM BULLS
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
CELL C SHARKS VS TOYOTA CHEETAHS
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