VAN DER MERWE AND DU PREEZ TO JOIN SALE SHARKS:
The Cell C Sharks confirm the departure of Akker van der Merwe and Robert du Preez (Jnr), who will join Sale Sharks in England at the conclusion of this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby tournament.
This announcement has been made early to allow both these players the opportunity to concentrate on the Cell C Sharks Super Rugby campaign, which sees us currently on top of the overall log with two bonus point wins.
The Sharks CEO, Gary Teichmann said: “The Cell C Sharks are sad to see these two players, who have been integral members of the team depart. They will be missedhowever we respect their decisions and wish them well.
“With this being a rugby World Cup year, we anticipated the departure of a few players and our long-term succession planning, which includes focusing on depth in key positions, have made provisions for this. There are a talented group of young players that are coming through the system and some of them have already made the step up and this is none more so evident then with four youngsters having already made their Vodacom Super Rugby debuts in 2019.”
Commenting on their departures the players said:
Robert du Preez (Jnr) – “It was an extremely difficult decision to leave The Sharks and Durban, especially with the family connections I have here but I feel as though it is the right time in my career for a new challenge and a change of scenery.
“I take this opportunity to thank everyone associated with Sharks rugby for everything they have done for me and I am fully committed to the Cell C Sharks and will give everything I have during this year’s Vodacom Super Rugby season and hopefully build on last year’s win in the Currie Cup to produce some more special memories before I leave.”
Akker van der Merwe – “I have only great memories of my time in Durban, being part of the Cell C Sharks set-up and especially the brotherhood we’ve created within the team. This was a tough decision for my wife and I to make because we had settled here and had hoped to have made Durban home for a while.
“Life doesn’t always go according to plan and circumstances require you to adapt your planning. My thanks and appreciation are extended to Coach Rob and everyone at The Sharks for providing me with opportunities to develop myself both as a player and as a person.
My immediate focus remains on the Cell C Sharks Vodacom Super Rugby campaign and I am fully committed in the coming months to finishing my time in Durban on a high.
“We look forward to watching Akker and Robert perform for the Cell C Sharks in the next few months with their typically high standard of play and hopefully they can depart Durban with more silverware in the cabinet”, Teichmann added.
The post VAN DER MERWE AND DU PREEZ TO JOIN SALE SHARKS appeared first on Sharks Rugby.
With a full haul of 10 points from our opening two matches, the Cell C Sharks lead the South African Vodacom Super Rugby conference, as well as the overall log, a very good position to be in.
Head coach of the Cell C Sharks, Robert du Preez, was beaming after his team’s 26-7 defeat of the visiting Blues at JONSSON KINGS PARK on a hot and humid Saturday, typical of Durban’s February weather. He likened the intensity to a full-blown test match.
“Obviously, we’re very pleased with the five points, I thought the boys showed great courage out there,” he admitted.
“They really played for each other against a really good team, one that ran the Crusaders close. It was like a test match out there: tough and uncompromising.”
While it is still early days and the competition is not won in February, a good start was always going to be vital. The coaches spoke about avoiding having to play catch up rugby and fortunately – so far – this isn’t the case.
Although it was a wonderful team effort, there is always a Man of the Match award, this one going to wing Makazole Mapimpi. “It was well deserved, he was fantastic and he communicates so well on the park,” said du Preez. “He was unbelievable and I’m really pleased for him.”
Although Sbu Nkosi left the field in the first half with a suspected neck injury, the coach gave some reassurance that it was not as bad as it originally appeared.
“He looks ok. He had some pins and needles in his arm, but I think he’s going to be alright.”
Despite the positives of scoring four tries, limiting a very dangerous New Zealand outfit to just one (and keeping them scoreless for over an hour), du Preez explained that it didn’t all go in our favour.
“There are ebbs and flows in a game. I thought we had lots of opportunities and we should have converted those. In saying that, we were playing a quality side who really put us under pressure.”
But the team enjoyed a well-deserved celebration for a job very well done as they now regroup.
“For us, it’s all about proper recovery now because there are lots of bumps and bruises out there, it was one heck of a physical game. Apart from Sbu Nkosi, we came out unscathed.”
He outlined areas of improvement that the team will look to work on, despite the successes.
“We’re very pleased with where the team is at right now. To get five points at home is invaluable but we want to keep growing; for us it’s really important that we do well at home.
“We just want to get better, we haven’t seen the best from this team, that’s for sure. There’s still a lot to come.”
The Cell C Sharks host the Stormers on Saturday in Vodacom Super Rugby week three action at Jonsson KINGS PARK and what a game this should be. After losing heavily to the Bulls in the opening round, the Cape side came from behind to score a last gasp two-point win over the Lions on Saturday and should pose formidable opposition.
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