Sharks 2020 Super Rugby Fixtures- Details of Tour & SR 2020 Schedule for Natal Sharks

The Super Rugby fixtures for 2020 have been officially released, and the Sharks appear to have drawn the short end of the stick. In what will be a rebuilding season for the men from Durban after the departure of Robert du Preez and his three sons as well as several other first team players, they’ve been given a really tough draw.

Against which team do the Sharks start the 2020 Super Rugby season?

The Natal Sharks’ first game of the 2020 SR season is against the Blue Bulls at home on January 31, 2020

Which teams will the Sharks be playing on tour in the 2020 Super Rugby season?

The Sharks will be playing the Highlanders, Hurricanes, Rebels and Reds on their tour.

Which Kiwi sides are the Sharks playing in the 2020 Super Rugby season?

The Sharks will play the Highlanders (A- February 7), Hurricanes (A- February 15), Chiefs (H- March 21) and Crusaders (H- May 23) in 2020.

Which Australian sides will the Durban Sharks be playing in SR 2020?

The Sharks will be playing the Rebels (A- February 22), Reds (A- February 29), Waratahs (H-April 11) and Brumbies (H- April 25)

Why is this a difficult Super Rugby draw for the Sharks?

The schedule isn’t easy- a four week tour starting in week 2, and finishing off with games against Jaguares (A), Bulls (A) and Crusaders (H). The last round of fixtures is also a bye for them.

2020 Sharks Super Rugby Fixtures

List of Sharks fixtures Super Rugby 2019- Natal SR 2019 Away Tour Games

Here is the fixture list for the Sharks 2019 Super Rugby season. They won the 2018 Currie Cup and will be hoping to end their long wait for a Super title.

What is the Sharks’ first Super Rugby game of 2019?

The Sharks will open their 2019 campaign with an away fixture against the Sunwolves on 16 February, 2019.

Whom do the Sharks play on their tour of Australia and New Zealand?

The Sharks will play the Waratahs, Crusaders and the Chiefs. Not counting teams from the Africa Conference, that means away games in Sydney, Christchurch and Hamilton and home games against the Blues, Rebels, Reds and the Hurricanes.

Round 1– Sunwolves v Sharks 16 February, 2019
Round 2– Sharks v Auckland Blues 23 February, 2019
Round 3– Sharks v Stormers 2 March, 2019
Round 4– Blue Bulls v Sharks 9 March, 2019
Round 5– Bye
Round 6– Sharks v Rebels 23 March, 2019
Round 7– Sharks v Bulls 30 March, 2019
Round 8– Lions v Sharks 5 April, 2019
Round 9– Sharks v Jaguares 13 April, 2019
Round 10– Sharks v Reds 19 April, 2019
Round 11– Waratahs v Sharks 27 April, 2019
Round 12– Crusaders v Sharks 3 May, 2019
Round 13– Chiefs vs Sharks 11 May, 2019
Round 14– Bye Continue reading “List of Sharks fixtures Super Rugby 2019- Natal SR 2019 Away Tour Games”

Talking points & fan analysis- Sharks 31-24 Lions 30 June 2018

The Lions’ seven game winning streak over the Sharks was broken as the latter kept their slim playoff hopes alive with a 31-24 win at Kings Park. The result also means that the Jaguares, who beat the Stormers 25-14 later in the evening in Argentina, could leapfrog the Lions at the top of the South African conference (Lions 41 with 1 to play, Jaguares 38 with two to play).

Poor Lions substitutions:- Perhaps the turning point of the game for the Lions. The Joburg side had set piece dominance over the Sharks, especially at scrum time, and were absolutely bossing the home side for around 55 minutes.

Then, with the Lions camped near the Sharks line, Swys decided for a front row change, and the tide changed in the Sharks’ favour. The home side were able to win a scrum penalty, and the Lions’ set piece advantage was negated for the next twenty minutes.

Poor game management:- As mentioned before, the Lions dominated this game for 55 minutes, with the Sharks left to feed on scraps going forward and having to defend for their lives. However, the visitors opted not to take several kickable shots at goal, perhaps feeling that a bonus point was on at 21-11 (3 Lions tries to one of the Sharks), and that proved to be costly at the end.

Marx v Akker:- This game was effectively one between Malcolm Marx and Akker van der Merwe. Former Lions hooker Akker was one of the best Sharks players on show, and did everything he could to keep his side in the game before being replaced by Chiliboy Ralepelle.

Sharks dig deep for win:- The Sharks lost key loosie Jean-Luc du Preez to injury early in the game. Their early defence wasn’t great either- Lions flanker Cyle Brink should’ve never been allowed to brush aside Makazole Mapimpi and Cameron Wright the way he did for the Lions’ second try. However, the defence was on their own line was far much better, and coupled with the Lions’ poor decision making, kept them in the game.

On attack, the Sharks’ offload game didn’t work in the first half, with handling errors and turnovers robbing them of momentum. It improved after the hour mark, and they were also aided by a gift intercept from Harold Vorster.

Another impressive Sharks player was centre Andre Esterhuizen, the newly capped Springbok who scored a crucial try- his defence was key.

Sharks need another eighth man:- Daniel du Preez hasn’t had the same impact as his twin and the Sharks, who could once boast of unparalleled loose forward depth (remember the days of Coetzee, Alberts, Deysel, Kankowski, Daniel and Botes?), are now scraping the barrel here.

if Duane Vermeulen wants to be in South Africa for the 2019 season, the Sharks should probably attempt to sign him. He would solve their eighth man woes, and with his pilfering abilities, would help the unbalanced Sharks loose trio, who currently have no one really good at effecting turnovers.

List of Jeppe Springboks- Jeppe High School for Boys South African Rugby Players

Sharks winger Sbu Nkosi will become the fifth Bok from Jeppe when he takes the field in South Africa’s first test against England on June 9, 2018.

List of other Jeppe Springboks:

Wilf Rosenberg
Des Sinclair
James Dalton
Brent Moyle