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The pandemic claims another match in SA after 'scrumming session' exposure
By Online Editors
The pandemic has claimed another match in South Africa. In compliance with COVID-19 protocols, the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked match between the Emirates Lions and Phakisa Pumas scheduled for Emirates Airline Park on Saturday has been postponed.
According to SA Rugby, the decision was taken to reduce the possibility of further infection in the rugby community as part of recommended precautions advised by the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD).
The union want to reschedule the game as soon as possible.
The decision was triggered on Friday after receipt of two more positive results from the second batch of testing, after one player from Phakisa Pumas returned a positive result in the scheduled tests earlier this week.
Contact tracing protocols were followed which suggested that all infected players had been engaged in a scrumming session. As a result, a number of Pumas forwards have been put in quarantine for 10 days.
The Phakisa Pumas are scheduled to conclude their Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked programme at Loftus Versfeld on 20 November. Plans are already being made to reschedule both Phakisa Pumas’ matches against the Emirates Lions and Vodacom Bulls.
The Tafel Lager Griquas match against the Cell C Sharks tonight (Friday, 13 November) and the DHL Stormers meeting with the Toyota Cheetahs tomorrow (Saturday, 14 November) are unaffected.
It's not the first match to be cancelled. In October, the Vodacom Super Rugby Unlocked match between Emirates Lions and Toyota Cheetahs scheduled for Emirates Airlines Park was called off “in line with COVID-19 protocols” on the day it was meant to take place.
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"And you think they are finished products? 🤣"
I think Ntamack was a better player at 21 than Marcus is at 25. I think his game will continue to develop, but I don't think either of them will get very much better. Dan Carter became an incredible game manager as he got older, but he never dominated the opposition more than he did aged 23. Wilkinson pretty indisputably hit his peak at 24. Not everyone is Johnny Sexton, and most players who are touted as prodigies turn out to have peaked young.
"That, or the English game has been slow to develop. I'll let you decide the answer to that one Finn 😉"
no, England have generally looked like a good side when Smith isn't in the team.
"Great job illustrating he's the man to take England to WC 27' though, kinda counter to wanting a 35yo Farrell!"
literally no one is arguing for Farrell.
Go to commentsScott Robertson is within his rights to state a case. Richie Mo'unga would have made a huge difference to the All Blacks this year. To say he and Richie worked well together at the Crusaders is a massive understatement. 7 titles speaks for itself. He then guided Brave Lupus to the Japanese League title in 2024. It worked well when Richie's fellow Crusaders great Matt Todd and team mate ,was able to play for the All Blacks while in Japan in 2018.
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