{"id":132229,"date":"2019-02-26T15:17:26","date_gmt":"2019-02-26T13:17:26","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/van-der-merwe-and-du-preez-to-join-sale-sharks-featured-durban-blog\/"},"modified":"2019-02-26T15:17:26","modified_gmt":"2019-02-26T13:17:26","slug":"van-der-merwe-and-du-preez-to-join-sale-sharks-featured-durban-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/van-der-merwe-and-du-preez-to-join-sale-sharks-featured-durban-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"VAN DER MERWE AND DU PREEZ TO JOIN SALE SHARKS \u2013 Featured Durban Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"

VAN DER MERWE AND DU PREEZ TO JOIN SALE SHARKS<\/a>: <\/p>\n

The Cell C Sharks <\/span><\/span>confirm<\/span><\/span> t<\/span><\/span>he departure of <\/span><\/span>Akker van der Merwe and Robert du Preez (Jnr)<\/span><\/span>, who will join Sale Sharks in England <\/span><\/span>at the conclusion of this year\u2019s Vodacom Super Rugby tournament<\/span><\/span>.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

This announcement has been made early <\/span><\/span>to <\/span><\/span>allow <\/span><\/span>both <\/span><\/span>these <\/span><\/span>players <\/span><\/span>the opportunity to <\/span><\/span>concentrate <\/span><\/span>on <\/span><\/span>the Cell C Sharks<\/span><\/span> Super Rugby<\/span><\/span> campaign<\/span><\/span>, which sees us currently on top of the overall log with two bonus point wins. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The Sharks CEO, Gary Teichmann said: \u201c<\/span><\/span>The <\/span><\/span>Cell C Sharks <\/span><\/span>are<\/span><\/span> sad to <\/span><\/span>see<\/span><\/span> t<\/span><\/span>hese two players<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>who have been <\/span><\/span>integral members of the team<\/span><\/span> depart<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>They will be missed<\/span><\/span>however <\/span><\/span>we respect their decisions and wish them well.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>With this being a rugby World Cup year, w<\/span><\/span>e<\/span><\/span> anticipated <\/span><\/span>the departure <\/span><\/span>of<\/span><\/span> a few<\/span><\/span> players <\/span><\/span>and<\/span><\/span> our long-term\u00a0<\/span><\/span>succession planning<\/span><\/span>, which <\/span><\/span>includes focusing on depth in key positions<\/span><\/span>, <\/span><\/span>ha<\/span><\/span>ve<\/span><\/span> made provisions for this. \u00a0The<\/span><\/span>re<\/span><\/span> are a talented group of young players that are coming through the system and some of them have already made the step up and this is none more so evident th<\/span><\/span>en<\/span><\/span> with four youngsters having <\/span><\/span>already <\/span><\/span>made their Vodacom Super Rugby debuts<\/span><\/span> in 2019.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Commenting on the<\/span><\/span>ir<\/span><\/span> departures the players said:<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Robert du Preez (Jnr) \u2013 \u201cIt was an extremely difficult decision to leave The Sharks and Durban<\/a>, especially with the family connections I have here but I feel as though it is the right time in my career for a new challenge<\/span><\/span> and a <\/span><\/span>change of scenery.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cI take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with Sharks rugby for everything they have done for me and <\/span><\/span>I am fully committed to the Cell C Sharks and will give everything I have during this year\u2019s Vodacom Super Rugby season and hopefully build on last year\u2019s win in the Currie Cup to produce some more special memories before I leave.\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Akker van der Merwe \u2013 \u201c<\/span><\/span>I have only great memories of my time in Durban<\/a><\/span><\/span>,<\/span><\/span> being part of the Cell C Sharks set-up<\/span><\/span> and especially the brotherhood we\u2019ve created within the team<\/span><\/span>. \u00a0This was a tough decision for my wife and I to make <\/span><\/span>because we had settled here and had hoped to have made Durban<\/a> home for a while.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201c<\/span><\/span>Life doesn\u2019t always go according to plan and circumstances require you to adapt your plan<\/span><\/span>ning<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span>My thanks and appreciation <\/span><\/span>are<\/span><\/span> extended to Coach Rob and everyone at The Sharks for providing me with opportunities to develop <\/span><\/span>myself <\/span><\/span>both as a <\/span><\/span>player <\/span><\/span>and <\/span><\/span>as a <\/span><\/span>p<\/span><\/span>erson<\/span><\/span>. <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

My immediate focus <\/span><\/span>remains <\/span><\/span>on the Cell C Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby campaign and I <\/span><\/span>am<\/span><\/span> fully committed in the coming months to finishing my time in Durban on a high.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe look forward to watching Akker and Robert perform for the Cell C Sharks in <\/span><\/span>the <\/span><\/span>next<\/span><\/span> few months with their typically high standard of play and <\/span><\/span>hopefully they<\/span><\/span> can depart Durban with more silverware<\/span><\/span> in the cabinet<\/span><\/span>\u201d, Teichmann added.<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

\n

The post VAN DER MERWE AND DU PREEZ TO JOIN SALE SHARKS<\/a> appeared first on Sharks Rugby<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Top Form<\/a>: <\/p>\n

With a full haul of 10 points from our opening two matches, the Cell C Sharks lead the South African Vodacom Super Rugby conference, as well as the overall log, a very good position to be in.<\/p>\n

Head coach of the Cell C Sharks, Robert du Preez, was beaming after his team\u2019s 26-7 defeat of the visiting Blues at JONSSON KINGS PARK on a hot and humid Saturday, typical of Durban\u2019s February weather. He likened the intensity to a full-blown test match.<\/p>\n

\u201cObviously, we\u2019re very pleased with the five points, I thought the boys showed great courage out there,\u201d he admitted.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey really played for each other against a really good team, one that ran the Crusaders close. It was like a test match out there: tough and uncompromising.\u201d<\/p>\n

While it is still early days and the competition is not won in February, a good start was always going to be vital. The coaches spoke about avoiding having to play catch up rugby and fortunately \u2013 so far \u2013 this isn\u2019t the case.<\/p>\n

Although it was a wonderful team effort, there is always a Man of the Match award, this one going to wing Makazole Mapimpi. \u201cIt was well deserved, he was fantastic and he communicates so well on the park,\u201d said du Preez. \u201cHe was unbelievable and I\u2019m really pleased for him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Although Sbu Nkosi left the field in the first half with a suspected neck injury, the coach gave some reassurance that it was not as bad as it originally appeared.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe looks ok. He had some pins and needles in his arm, but I think he\u2019s going to be alright.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite the positives of scoring four tries, limiting a very dangerous New Zealand outfit to just one (and keeping them scoreless for over an hour), du Preez explained that it didn\u2019t all go in our favour.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere are ebbs and flows in a game. I thought we had lots of opportunities and we should have converted those. In saying that, we were playing a quality side who really put us under pressure.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the team enjoyed a well-deserved celebration for a job very well done as they now regroup.<\/p>\n

\u201cFor us, it\u2019s all about proper recovery now because there are lots of bumps and bruises out there, it was one heck of a physical game. Apart from Sbu Nkosi, we came out unscathed.\u201d<\/p>\n

He outlined areas of improvement that the team will look to work on, despite the successes.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re very pleased with where the team is at right now. To get five points at home is invaluable but we want to keep growing; for us it\u2019s really important that we do well at home.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe just want to get better, we haven\u2019t seen the best from this team, that\u2019s for sure. There\u2019s still a lot to come.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Cell C Sharks host the Stormers on Saturday in Vodacom Super Rugby week three action at Jonsson KINGS PARK and what a game this should be. After losing heavily to the Bulls in the opening round, the Cape side came from behind to score a last gasp two-point win over the Lions on Saturday and should pose formidable opposition.<\/p>\n

The post Top Form<\/a> appeared first on Sharks Rugby<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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VAN DER MERWE AND DU PREEZ TO JOIN SALE SHARKS: The Cell C Sharks confirm the departure of Akker van der Merwe and Robert du Preez (Jnr), who will join Sale Sharks in England at the conclusion of this year\u2019s Vodacom Super Rugby tournament. This announcement has been made early to allow both these players […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":false,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","ngg_post_thumbnail":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","default_image_id":0,"font":"","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[18],"tags":[8275,3335,953],"class_list":{"0":"post-132229","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","6":"category-durban","7":"tag-durban","8":"tag-mydurban-co-za","9":"tag-newspaper","10":"entry"},"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132229","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=132229"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/132229\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=132229"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=132229"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=132229"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}