The Grubber: How will SA teams fare in Super Rugby this year?

Although it’s cliche to name a rugby dedicated column or show after terminology or jargon used in the sport – the name for this new column came naturally as a grubber was always a cool and unconventional way to get over the gain-line.

This weekly column will focus on the upcoming Vodacom Super Rugby season, with a special focus on our local team, The Sharks.

This exciting new venture will feature three pundits – a local club rugby player, a high school rugby coach and regular rugby fan (those opinions are the most authentic), who will also share their opinions through videos and voice recordings.

Let the post-world cup rugby madness begin!

The 25th edition of the Southern Hemisphere’s most prestigious tournament, The Vodacom Super Rugby, started on Friday, 31 January. The first South African derby of the season took place in Durban when Sean Everitt’s Cell C Sharks claimed a 23-15 win over three-time champions the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

The clash was a kicking chess match Curwin Bosch and the experience of Morne Steyn in the first but Lukhanyo Am’s troops scored two brilliant tries from Springbok winger, Sbu Nkosi and young scrumhalf, Sanele Nohamba.

The Sharks have some exciting new signings and young players that made debuts and  made a strong impression on the Kings Park faithful. New recruits, Skhumbuzo Notshe, James Venter, Ox Nche, Le Roux Roets and Henco Venter will made their first starts and homegrown talents, Boeta Chamberlain and and debut try-scorer, Sanele Nohamba will look to make an impact from the bench on their tour to Australasia.

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The Vodacom Bulls welcomed back the experienced, Morne Steyn who scored all 15 points for the men in blue at flyhalf and Scottish international, Josh Strauss made his run-on debut alongside Jeandre Rudolph, Andries Ferriera and Wian Vosloo who also made his debut from the bench.

The Bulls have an  impressive record at Kings Park with eight wins in their last nine visits before Friday’s defeat. They take on the DHL Stormers in Cape Town next.

The other South African teams, the Emirates Lions and the DHL Stormers  took on the Jaguares and the Hurricanes respectively. Siya Kolisi suffered an early exit during their 27-0 win over the Hurricanes and is out for the next six weeks with a knee injury.

The men from the Cape dominated the clash with big performances from Jaco Coetzee, world cup winners, Damien Willemse and Herchell Jantjies scored brilliant tries and the all Springbok front-row of; Steven Kitshoff and Frans Malherbe putting in a good shift, Bongi Mbonambi also going down injured.

A new-look Emirates Lions side was outplayed 38-8 by an experienced Jaguares side. The Jaguares kept the Lions out of reach with some brilliance. Captain Elton was also inaccurate off the tee and it made a difficult fixture even harder for the young Lions side.

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After a successful world cup campaign with the Springboks, will the South African sides that possess world cup winners in their sides – translate that form into the Vodacom Super Rugby Season?

Here’s what the panel had to say:

Kelton Thunder (Hillcrest Villagers rugby player) – The SA Super Rugby teams should do well and I won’t be surprised if we see a SA winner. Even though plenty of our World Cup winning players are doing duty overseas, we have a nice pool of depth that boasts much exciting youth, coupled with a few older, calmer heads. It’s a time for young players to put their hands up for future positions in the Springbok squad.

Linda Sibiya (Fan of the week) – I see there being a big improvement from our South African teams in terms of positions on the overall log, but I still don’t see them dominating like the New Zealand teams have been. They’ll definitely be a Saffa in the final!

The 27-man Sharks squad travelling to Australasia:

Forwards: Hyron Andrews, Craig Burden, Phendulani Buthelezi, Thomas du Toit, Mzamo Majola, John-Hubert Meyer, Ox Nche, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Tyler Paul, Dylan Richardson, Le Roux Roets, Juan Schoeman, Ruben van Heerden, Kerron van Vuuren, Henco Venter, James Venter.

Backs: Lukhanyo Am, Curwin Bosch, Boeta Chamberlain, Andre Esterhuizen, Aphelele Fassi, Makazole Mapimpi, Sbu Nkosi, Sanele Nohamba, Louis Schreuder, Madosh Tambwe, Jeremy Ward.

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