Despite expecting a completely different challenge to last week, the Cell C Sharks have kept faith in their team which comprehensively beat the Vodacom Bulls for their second home game of the season, against the Hurricanes at Growthpoint Kings Park on Saturday.
These two sides did not play last year, meaning the ‘Canes will visit Durban for the first time in almost three years, when current Sharks CEO John Smit captained the KwaZulu-Natalians from hooker and scored a try against the Kiwi side.
The Hurricanes have a useful record in South Africa – they’ve won 18 from 39 over here, or 46.2% of their matches – a similar stat to their overall record against the Cell C Sharks. These two sides are dead-even in the head-to-head stakes after 15 encounters.
Jake White, coach of the Cell C Sharks, realises it won’t be a walk in the park against the ‘Canes, despite them hitting the road very early in the competition.
In fact, they Hurricanes have a good record when they tour to South Africa early in the season – they have a 70% win record over here when their matches took place in the first three rounds.
“Touring early for anyone is either very good or very bad,” said White. “You can either get some points away from home then take those points back home, and some sides have proved that it works for them, or you miss out.
“The Hurricanes have asked SANZAR for this because for the last couple of years they have been playing in South Africa first up. They want to tour early. So as much as read into the fact that they’ve had to tour early, it’s probably one of their requests, because you’re allowed certain requests to SANZAR. I’m sure they want to get their tour done and dusted early on.
“Obviously mentally they like to tour early and as much as we think it’s a bonus (them coming here early), maybe it’s what they want.”
The teams are:
- Cell C Sharks: SP Marais, Odwa Ndungane, Paul Jordaan, Frans Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo, Patrick Lambie, Cobus Reinach, Ryan Kankowski, Willem Alberts, Marcell Coetzee, Pieter-Steph du Toit, Anton Bresler, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis (captain), Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Dale Chadwick, Lourens Adriaanse, Stephan Lewies, Jean Deysel, Charl McLeod, Heimar Williams, S’bura Sithole.
- Hurricanes: Marty Banks, Cory Jane, Conrad Smith (captain), Hadleigh Parkes, Julian Savea, TJ Perenara, Blade Thomson, Jack Lam, Faifili Levave, Mark Abbott, Jeremy Thrush, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Dane Coles, Ben Franks. Replacements: Motu Matu’u, Chris Eves, John Schwalger, Mark Reddish, Adam Hill, Chris Smylie, Alapati Leiua, James Marshall.
Cell C Sharks v Hurricanes
- Date: Saturday, 22 February
- SA Time: 17h05
- Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban
- Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
- Assistant referees: Marius Jonker (South Africa), Stefan Breytenbach (South Africa)
- Television match official: Deon van Blommestein (South Africa)
Other fixtures (South African kick-off times):
Friday, 21 February:
- 08h35: Crusaders v Chiefs – Christchurch
Saturday, 22 February:
- 08h35: Highlanders v Blues – Dunedin
- 10h40: Brumbies v Reds – Canberra
Sunday, 23 February:
- 07h05: Waratahs v Force – Sydney
Bye: Rebels
