Preview: Hollywoodbets Sharks XV vs Fidelity ADT Lions:
Tonight’s Carling Currie Cup clash between the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and Fidelity ADT Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park is shaping up to be a fiercely contested derby match as both sides look to get their campaigns off to a winning start.
As always, the Durban side invests in depth during South Africa’s premier rugby tournament, looking to promote from within and develop younger players into future senior stars.
“There’s a lot of young talent in our team, exciting young talent coming through from the junior system, as well as some experienced heads like Renier Hugo, Lionel Cronje, Kwezi Mona, Yaw Penxe and Murray Koster in the mix,” explains head coach JP Pietersen as he casts his eye over the composition of his side.
“The Currie Cup is an opportunity for us to blood some youngsters, to assess whether they are capable of playing in the URC and to give those players who didn’t get to play in the URC, some game time. They also get the chance to show that they can play at URC level.
“So we have a good mix of experience and some young blood coming through.”
Not only will the wise heads lend their considerable experience to the youngsters, but developing leadership is also part of the overall plan and this is where young eighthman Nick Hatton comes in.
“This is a great opportunity to give Nick the captaincy, those players can guide him. He has lots of potential and will be a great captain one day, so to have this good group of leaders around him is important to his development.”
As he turns his attention to the opposition, he warns that this clash will be tough.
“We expect a physical game, that’s the way they play. The set-piece will be heavily contested, the set-piece is in their DNA, they compete at that area of the game so we’ll need to be at our best.
“For both sides, this is an opportunity to give players a chance to showcase their value and worth, although they’ve had a group of players together for three or more years; they have a good set-up going.
“It will be great contest, we’re excited and looking forward to it.”
Tonight’s match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park is scheduled for a 5.15pm kick-off.
The post Preview: Hollywoodbets Sharks XV vs Fidelity ADT Lions appeared first on The Sharks Durban.
Team Release – Hollywoodbets Sharks XV vs. Fidelity ADT Lions:
The Hollywoodbets Sharks XV will look to get their exciting 2024 Carling Currie Cup campaign off to a winning start when they host the Fidelity ADT Lions at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Friday evening.
This year’s Premier Division tournament sees eight teams competing, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV joined by 2023 champions Toyota Free State, the Vodacom Blue Bulls, DHL Western Province, Fidelity ADT Lions, Suzuki Griquas, Airlink Pumas and Novavit Griffons.
Former Sharks and Springbok star JP Pietersen has been named head coach for this season’s tournament which extends into September, naming eighthman Nic Hatton as his captain for the opening round.
Missing a number of Springboks in the squad ahead of the international season, Pietersen has balanced regular faces with an exciting group of young players he has coached at junior level over the last couple of years and who are now given the opportunity to make the step up into the senior ranks.
There has been a lull in rugby action recently after the conclusion of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship and the title-winning Heineken Challenge Cup, but the team is excited to get stuck into this tournament, one that the South African rugby fraternity holds dear to their hearts, and there is a commitment to do the tournament and the franchise proud in 2024.
There is an immensely rich history seated in the Currie Cup, with the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV boasting a proud list of achievements since that historic first title in 1990, followed by a number of further trophies won in the ensuing years.
Friday’s match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park is scheduled for a 5.15pm kick-off.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV
- Abraham Reyneke
- Daniel Jooste
- Khwezi Mona
- Coetzee Le Roux
- Reniel Hugo
- Tino Mavesere
- Jannes Potgieter
- Nick Hatton (c)
- Bradley Davids
- Lionel Cronje
- Jaco Williams
- Murray Koster
- Diego Appollis
- Yaw Penxe
- Hakeem Kunene
Replacements
- Kerron van Vuuren
- Phatu Ganyane
- Mawande Mdanda
- Reinier Viljoen
- Siya Ningiza
- Tiaan Fourie
- Alwayno Visagie
- Muller du Plessis
The post Team Release – Hollywoodbets Sharks XV vs. Fidelity ADT Lions appeared first on The Sharks Durban.
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