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Recap: Sharks vs Bulls LIVE | Super Rugby
By RugbyPass
Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Super Rugby match between the Sharks and the Bulls at Jonsson Kings Park.
Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).
Lukhanyo Am will lead an exciting Sharks team in which Ox Nche, James Venter and Sikhumbuzo Notshe all make their club debuts.
The home team have a Springbok laden backline consisting of Springbok World Cup winners Makazole Mapimpi (left wing), Sbu Nkosi (right wing) and Am (outside centre), as well as fellow Springboks Andre Esterhuizen (inside centre) and Curwin Bosch (flyhalf).
The Bulls include former Springbok fly-half Morné Steyn, who last played for the Pretoria outfit in 2013 and is the only three-time Super Rugby champion that remains within the South African circuit. His duel with Bosch is bound to play a key role.
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Steyn is joined by two 2019 World Cup winners in Warrick Gelant (full-back) and Trevor Nyakane (replacement prop), while Josh Strauss (No8), Jeandre Rudolph (flank), Andries Ferreira (lock) and Wian Vosloo (replacement loose forward) will be running out for the Bulls for the first time.
History favours the visitors with the Bulls securing eight wins and a draw in their last nine matches against the Durban-based franchise, who begin their campaign at home for the first time since 2015.
The Pretoria side won five of their six South African derbies last season, their most derby victories in a single campaign since 2013.
SHARKS: 15. Aphelele Fassi; 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am (capt), 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Makazole Mapimpi; 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Louis Schreuder; 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7. Tyler Paul, 6. James Venter, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ox Nche. Reps: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Henco Venter, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Jeremy Ward.
BULLS: 15. Warrick Gelant; 14. Cornal Hendricks, 13. Johnny Kotze, 12. Burger Odendaal (capt), 11. Rosko Specman; 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl; 8. Josh Strauss, 7. Abongile Nonkontwana, 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Lizo Gqoboka. Reps: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Ryno Pieterse, 21. Wian Vosloo, 22. Embrose Papier, 23. Manie Libbok.
WATCH: New-look Sharks front up to media ahead of the clash with the Bulls
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Latest Comments
The way Ratima has been treated he needs to look OS. Same with Perofeta and Love, Hothem too. Razor is a token coach. Gives debuts but very few mins. Also DM too. Just go earn millions elsewhere DM as all you get in NZ is bagging.
BB is coaches favourite and I say let him have BB right thru to the next 2 or maybe even 3 World cups.😁😁 Have JB outside him at 12...That just works so well.
Go to commentsIt certainly needs to be cherished. Despite Nick (and you) highlighting their usefulness for teams like Australia (and obviously those in France they find form with) I (mention it general in those articles) say that I fear the game is just not setup in Aus and NZ to appreciate nor maximise their strengths. The French game should continue to be the destination of the biggest and most gifted athletes but it might improve elsewhere too.
I just have an idea it needs a whole team focus to make work. I also have an idea what the opposite applies with players in general. I feel like French backs and halves can be very small and quick, were as here everyone is made to fit in a model physique. Louis was some 10 and 20 kg smaller that his opposition and we just do not have that time of player in our game anymore. I'm dying out for a fast wing to appear on the All Blacks radar.
But I, and my thoughts on body size in particular, could be part of the same indoctrination that goes on with player physiques by the establishment in my parts (country).
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