{"id":144293,"date":"2019-08-24T14:30:12","date_gmt":"2019-08-24T12:30:12","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/knockout-rugby-featured-durban-blog\/"},"modified":"2019-08-24T14:30:12","modified_gmt":"2019-08-24T12:30:12","slug":"knockout-rugby-featured-durban-blog","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/knockout-rugby-featured-durban-blog\/","title":{"rendered":"Knockout Rugby \u2013 Featured Durban Blog"},"content":{"rendered":"

Knockout Rugby<\/a>: <\/p>\n

The Cell C Sharks team to face the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in the final Currie Cup clash of the pool stages has been bolstered by two returning Springboks as the team look to finish on a high.<\/p>\n

Thomas du Toit and Andre Esterhuizen, released back to their province, have been named in the side to travel to Pretoria for one last push before the semi-finals.<\/p>\n

Du Toit takes over from Mzamo Majola who plays off the bench, while Esterhuizen will feature at centre, with co-captain Jeremy Ward shifting to the number 13 jersey and JP Pietersen taking a place amongst the reserves.<\/p>\n

In the other change to the starting line-up, Coenie Oosthuizen returns after missing last week\u2019s victory over the Golden Lions due to injury.<\/p>\n

Head coach Sean Everitt has added another debutant to the fray after last week\u2019s glowing first match for the Cell C Sharks, Boeta Chamberlain. Andisa Ntsila has been named on the bench and is poised to be the latest new recruit to wear the Black White jersey.<\/p>\n

After two wins \u2013 albeit tight victories \u2013 the Cell C Sharks have worked their way into a healthy position on the log with the very real chance of securing a home semi-final should they defeat the Blue Bulls and a coupe of other results go their way.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe team is in a good space right now and hopefully everything falls into place with this last game,\u201d explains wing Kobus van Wyk.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019re almost there as a team, small margins have cost us a bit in terms of our rhythm, but everyone has bought into what coach Sean has put together as a campaign and in the games we lost, we lost track of the game plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both teams have a lot to lose and everything to gain out of this match which just adds to the hype.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is going to be a determined Bulls team so we need to go out there and do what we have been doing for the last two weeks. We have the team to do it, we just need to do it. The past three or four weeks have been finals rugby for us, we\u2019ve had to win every game and the team has grown immensely in that time.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

Cell C Sharks<\/strong><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Thomas du Toit<\/li>\n
  2. Kerron van Vuuren<\/li>\n
  3. Coenie Oosthuizen<\/li>\n
  4. Ruben van Heerden<\/li>\n
  5. Hyron Andrews<\/li>\n
  6. Phepsi Buthelezi<\/li>\n
  7. Jacques Vermeulen<\/li>\n
  8. Tera Mtembu (c)<\/li>\n
  9. Sanele Nohamba<\/li>\n
  10. Boeta Chamberlain<\/li>\n
  11. Lwazi Mvovo<\/li>\n
  12. Andre Esterhuizen<\/li>\n
  13. Jeremy Ward (c)<\/li>\n
  14. Kobus van Wyk<\/li>\n
  15. Aphelele Fassi<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Replacements<\/strong>
    16. Dylan Richardson
    17. Mzamo Majola
    18. John-Hubert Meyer
    19. Gideon Koegelenberg
    20. Andisa Ntsila*<\/strong>
    21. Cameron Wright
    22. Rhyno Smith
    23. JP Pietersen<\/p>\n

    *Denotes that the player will be making his Currie Cup debut for the Cell C Sharks.<\/p>\n

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

    Beware of the Bulls<\/a>: <\/p>\n

    The Vodacom Blue Bulls will throw the kitchen sink at the Cell C Sharks when the two teams meet this weekend in the final pool match of the 2019 Currie Cup tournament.<\/p>\n

    For the Cell C Sharks, this is an opportunity to secure a semi-final while the Bulls will be giving it there all for a completely different reason. Either way, there is plenty riding on the outcome of this match. For both teams.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe\u2019ve made things difficult for ourselves at times from the start,\u201d explains Cell C Sharks hooker Kerron van Vuuren, acknowledging the pressure the team faces this weekend.<\/p>\n

    \u201cLosing to Griquas and the Pumas early on wasn\u2019t part of the plan obviously, but we\u2019re on the right track now and we\u2019ve pulled together well. The boys are in a good mental space, we know what we need to do and how to get the job done and it\u2019s about putting another good performance together this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

    There are so many permutations that it makes the head spin, but the rising star admits that the team are only focusing on their job.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe have to be realist about our situation and what we need to go forward, we are going to try and control our controllables and work towards a good win this weekend and whatever else happens, so be it.\u201d<\/p>\n

    With the Blue Bulls facing the prospect of relegation if they lose, there is no doubt that they will come out all guns blazing in their final game of the season with a semi-final qualification out of reach.<\/p>\n

    \u201cAs the leadership group, we have spoken about this at length,\u201d he points out. \u201cWe know that a wounded animal is a dangerous one and the Bulls are a proud union and they\u2019ll be desperate this weekend which makes them very dangerous.<\/p>\n

    \u201cWe know we have to go there with the right mindset, knowing it\u2019s a big game and stick to our set plan.\u201d<\/p>\n

    With Andre Esterhuizen and Thomas du Toit released back to the province, along with a few other Springboks, their experience and ability will be welcomed ahead of the final pool match.<\/p>\n

    \u201cIt\u2019s always a pleasure having Springboks back in the setup, they\u2019re two great assets to the team and I think they\u2019ll make a massive impact this weekend.\u201d<\/p>\n

    On a personal note, he admits that playing for the team he has supported is a dream come true.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI\u2019ve had a great year, I\u2019ve loved every minute and it still feels like a dream for me. Coming from Durban<\/a> myself, it\u2019s the best thing to be able to play for the Cell C Sharks and have my family support me every week. The fact that I get to represent this union and my province is absolutely amazing. I just want to keep going, keep pushing hard and continually improving.\u201d<\/p>\n

    Despite his youth, he\u2019s steadily growing in maturity given the responsibilities that have been placed on his shoulders, a challenge he has accepted with determination.<\/p>\n

    \u201cMaturity comes with game time. I have grown in confidence with my time on the field and I think I\u2019ve matured into the role. I\u2019ve taken on more responsibility and I\u2019m really enjoying it.<\/p>\n

    \u201cI just want to help the guys bring home the Currie Cup.\u201d<\/p>\n

    The post Beware of the Bulls<\/a> appeared first on Sharks Rugby<\/a>.<\/p>\n

    Fill in the form below to have your blog featured on MyDurban \u2013 we will post a snippet and title link to your new blog posts.<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Submit and get free press releases here:<\/strong> MyPR Free Press Release<\/a> | Meet the Durban Bloggers<\/a>.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

    Knockout Rugby: The Cell C Sharks team to face the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in the final Currie Cup clash of the pool stages has been bolstered by two returning Springboks as the team look to finish on a high. Thomas du Toit and Andre Esterhuizen, released back to their province, have been […]<\/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":true,"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-144293","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\/144293","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=144293"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/144293\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=144293"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=144293"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.myza.co.za\/press\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=144293"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}