Category: SA Rugby

Jesse Kriel racist or not? Kriel Mapimpi Video Wales Test 2018

Click here for Racist or Not | Frans Steyn Mapimpi Video RWC 2019

Here is a video that is going viral on social media claiming that South African outside centre Jesse Kriel is racist for asking his centre partner Andre Esterhuizen to stand next to him instead of winger Makazole Mapimpi. The tweet gained traction after it was retweeted by well known anchor Robert Marawa.

Kriel’s probably the furthest from a racist in this Springbok squad- he’s even gone with captain Siya Kolisi to the latter’s township, but South Africa, as many know, remains a deeply divided and sensitive country about race. And for what it is worth, he even set up Mapimpi for a try in the same game! Continue reading “Jesse Kriel racist or not? Kriel Mapimpi Video Wales Test 2018”

Sharks’ first ever loss to Jaguares | Fan Comments & Analysis- Moyano hat trick Jaguares 29-13 Sharks 2018

After losing to the Melbourne Rebels for the first time in their history earlier this year, the Sharks also suffered their first ever defeat to the Jaguares as they went down 29-13 in Argentina. The crowd of 19,214, the biggest the Jaguares have had in attendance for a while, saw the home side extend their run to six straight wins thanks to a hat trick from Moyano.

The Sharks were in it for a while, but as usual were let down by their handling errors. The backline didn’t get going and their cause wasn’t helped by an early missed penalty from Robert du Preez and a crucial knock on from Lwazi Mvovo with the tryline at his mercy. The Mvovo miss came at a crucial point when the game was at 17-13, and another Sharks knock on from a promising position just minutes later saw the Jaguares score on the counter.

The Jaguares owed much of their lead to silly defensive errors from the Sharks, like with Nkosi for the Jags’ second try, but they’ve been an improved outfit under Mario Ledesma and will be a serious contender for the playoffs after this season.

As for the Sharks, inconsistency continues to plague them. They also had skipper Ruan Botha red carded late in the game, and did not even manage a bonus point from the game. Their playoff hopes hang by a thread (they’re out of the top eight after this defeat), but fortunately for them, John Mitchell’s Bulls also lost to the Brumbies.

Sharks 38-12 Highlanders Match Report & Analysis- Poor Lima Sopoaga performance in Durban

The Sharks produced one of their finest performances of the 2018 Super Rugby season as they swatted aside the Highlanders 38-12 in Durban. The visitors, who had upset the Bulls in Pretoria the week before, would’ve fancied their chances against Rob du Preez’s men, but the home side dominated from the word go and were a totally different side from the one that had got mauled by the Bulls before the bye week.

Flyhalf Lima Sopoaga had a poor outing for the Highlanders. He was first beaten to an early box kick by Ruan Botha, which allowed Akker van der Merwe to score in the first minute of the game. For the Sharks next try, he was unable to stop Makazole Mapimpi in a one on one, and when the score was 14-7, he made an error in claiming a high ball that resulted in a scrum to the Sharks, and a subsequent penalty that flyhalf Rob du Preez scored.

Du Preez set up some scintillating tries, with his brothers Jean-Luc and Daniel in equally good knick. The loose forwards’ hands did let them down a bit in the first half, but the offloads stuck in the second, and the Sharks were even able to get a bonus point at the end, something that could help them in what’s becoming a crowded looking SA Conference table.

How important is Tendai Beast Mtawarira to the Sharks?

They tend to look a bit lost without him, and his reassuring presence at scrum time again helped them establish set piece dominance over the Highlanders, whose hopes of winning the NZ conference were dealt a huge blow with this loss.

Auckland Blues 40-63 Natal Sharks Match Analysis | Du Preez brothers give Auckland the Blues

A virtuoso performance from the Du Preez brothers saw the Sharks pick up their first win on tour in 2018 with a 63-40 win over the Blues. The visitors, coming off losses to the Brumbies and the Rebels, had a good recent record against the Blues but had lost in their last visit to Auckland, and Tana Umaga’s men would’ve fancied their chances.

Instead, a stellar performance from blindside Jean-Luc du Preez and his elder brother, flyhalf Rob du Preez, guided the Sharks to a win in this 100 point clash. Jean-Luc was colossal in this game, swatting away Blues players like flies. It was his manhandling of Murphy Taramai that effectively set the platform for the Sharks’ opening try of the game and bar a ten minute stage in the second half where they appeared to lose their heads following a yellow to winger Sbu Nkosi, the Sharks were good value for their money.

Flyhalf Rob, son of the Sharks coach Rob Snr, netted 38 points from the boot- the third highest ever in Super Rugby history for an individual. He had a 100% record from the tee and would’ve done his Springbok chances no harm at all.

The Sharks weren’t flawless- their defence at times was as bad as the Blues’, if not worse. But they did the key parts better- Louis Schreuder dragging the mighty Akira Ioane into touch when the Sharks were 16-7 ahead was a key moment. Continue reading “Auckland Blues 40-63 Natal Sharks Match Analysis | Du Preez brothers give Auckland the Blues”