Ken Borland

The Lions showed tremendous heart as they kept coming back from the hits before eventually being foiled by a scrum penalty five metres from the Sharks line after the final hooter, giving the home side a 19-16 win in the opening Super Rugby Unlocked match at Kings Park in Durban on Friday night.

It’s a horrible way to lose after captain Elton Jantjies had elected to go for the win at 16-19 down when the Lions were given a penalty deep inside the Sharks 22. It was made even worse by the irony of ironies that the Sharks had been under pressure in the scrum all night.

Thomas du Toit and Ox Nche struggled to handle the pressure exerted on them by Sti Sithole and Carlu Sadie, and with the Sharks lineout also a bit hit-and-miss in breezy conditions, it deprived the Sharks of a vital platform for their attacking intent.

The Sharks opened the match with the sort of ball-in-hand continuity and expansive play that made them such hits in proper Super Rugby earlier this year, but their supercharged play lost momentum after the first quarter.

They had raced into a 13-0 lead in the first half-hour as Lukhanyo Am, surely one of the best outside centres in world rugby, combined superbly with livewire flank Phendulani Buthelezi to send Werner Kok racing down the left touchline to score.

But this current Lions side, in a rebuilding phase, showed that even if they lack the electrifying skills of the side that took them to three successive Super Rugby finals, they have enormous grit and are willing to scrap for whatever they can get.

Under the calm leadership of Elton Jantjies, and with their pack cutting off the Sharks set-piece supply and successfully slowing down the flowing game they prefer, they very nearly stole the spoils at Kings Park.

Scorers

Sharks – Try: Werner Kok. Conversion: Curwin Bosch. Penalties: Bosch (4).

Lions – Try: Jamba Ulengo. Conversion: Elton Jantjies. Penalties: Jantjies (3).

Coach Jake White may have joked this week that because they have lost the element of surprise by using their new expansive approach in their warm-up game against the Sharks a fortnight ago they are going to revert back to “just kicking up-and-unders and Charge!”, but the Bulls are likely to still bring plenty of fizz to their opening Super Rugby Unlocked match against Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night.

The raw pace of Kurt-Lee Arendse may be missing due to injury, but his replacement on the wing, young David Kriel, showed plenty of finishing ability, and the centre pairing of Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans, who did much to mastermind the fantastic backline display against the Sharks on SuperFan Saturday, are still in place.

When an inveterate dazzler like Gio Aplon says he is loving the game-plan at Loftus Versfeld, then you know the coach has given his charges the freedom to run. But the veteran fullback did also issue a word of pragmatism ahead of the clash with tricky opponents, who hammered the Bulls 37-15 in Pretoria last year in the Currie Cup.

“I’m really enjoying the game-plan and it’s very exciting being at the Bulls right now. But first and foremost our goal is to win. So at some stages we might kick more and at others we will play more rugby. We want to find whatever way we can to win and we want to be unpredictable. We will do whatever is necessary for us to win.

“The Bulls are a team with good tradition and a great history and we want to get their name back up there. It’s a massive honour, especially at my age, to play for them and we’re not here to compete, we want to win competitions,” the 38-year-old Aplon said.

While White has been able to lure back stars such as Aplon, stand-in captain Arno Botha, Jason Jenkins and Jacques van Rooyen, as well as investing in a host of exciting young prospects, and can afford to rest Springbok star Duane Vermeulen due to a knee niggle, there is a financial gulf between the Bulls and Griquas.

Nevertheless, Scott Mathie’s team from Kimberley do possess some quality players.

Fullback Anthony Volmink can certainly match any of the Bulls’ backline for pace and is a potent finisher, while flyhalf and captain George Whitehead has Super Rugby experience and is a smart head whose tactical and goal kicking could make the difference for Griquas.

Niell Jordaan, the former Shimlas star, is a hardened eighthman and he will relish taking on Tim Agaba now that the daunting Vermeulen is no longer his direct opponent, while prop John-Roy Jenkinson has returned from Japan to play for Griquas and will pack down against Van Rooyen in an intriguing battle in which both men weigh 122kg.

White knows, however, that his team is expected to win well and all the positive vibes from the Sharks game will be erased should they struggle.

“Of course it’s always a risk taking on one of the so-called minnows without all your first-choice players, and we understand that they will want to prove a point. But last year the Bulls lost against Griquas so I don’t even need to give them a team talk, I can just show them the highlights of that game. We expect them to be fired up and confident because they won here last year.

“But we need to focus on what we can control, which is playing to a certain standard and the type of game we want to execute. I’m not trying to be arrogant but we want to be one of the best club sides in the world and if we’re going to prove that in Europe next year then we need to be top here in South Africa, like Leinster are over there,” White said.

Teams

Bulls – Gio Aplon, Travis Ismaiel, Stedman Gans, Cornal Hendricks, David Kriel, Morne Steyn, Ivan van Zyl, Tim Agaba, Arno Botha, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Corniel Els, Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Lizo Gqoboka, Mornay Smith, Sintu Manjezi, Elrigh Louw, Embrose Papier, Chris Smith, Marco Jansen van Vuren.

Griquas – Anthony Volmink, Daniel Kasende, Harlon Klaasen, Andre Swarts, James Verity-Amm, George Whitehead, Zak Burger, Niell Jordaan, Stefan Willemse, Carl Els, Victor Sekekete, Ian Groenewald, John-Roy Jenkinson, HJ Luus, Mox Mxoli. Replacements: Alandre van Rooyen, Bandisa Ndlovu, Madot Mabokela, Adre Smith, Zandre Jordaan, Gideon van der Merwe, Ashlon Davids, Berton Klaasen.

Kick-off – 7pm.

Bulls players to bring the fizz

David Kriel

The former member of the Stormers squad stands nearly two metres tall and looked a real threat with ball in hand when he came on against the Sharks on SuperFan Saturday. Comfortable anywhere in the back three, he is good under the high ball, a strong runner and with a step that is reminiscent of former Springbok and Western Province great Pieter Rossouw. Jake White has high hopes that the Potchefstroom-born Kriel will become a favourite son at Loftus Versfeld.

Cornal Hendricks & Stedman Gans

The new Bulls centre pairing went toe-to-toe with a highly-rated Sharks midfield of Jeremy Ward and Lukhanyo Am and won the battle convincingly. White’s decision to move Hendricks from wing to inside centre was a surprise, but it certainly worked as the Springbok showed he was up for the physical challenge, while still showing the deft touches of an international-quality player.

Gans played a fantastic game at outside centre against the Sharks, the Springbok Sevens captain showing an uncanny knack for finding space and fully exploiting it, and his decision-making on defence was also on-point.

Gio Aplon

The 38-year-old fullback showed he still has plenty of pace when he inserted himself into that dynamic backline against the Sharks and Griquas could come to grief if they don’t close him down quickly. Aplon’s talent for stepping is well-known, but as an experienced general at the back he has also become highly adept at scanning the field and directing tactical play.

Griquas players to watch

Anthony Volmink

The much-travelled 30-year-old has plenty of experience, including 20 Super Rugby games for the Lions, and has built his reputation on his try-scoring ability. Volmink has played most of his rugby on the wing but was outstanding at fullback last year for Griquas as they made the Currie Cup semi-finals. The Bulls will have to be on guard for his propensity for moments of individual brilliance.

George Whitehead

Apart from being a strong leader in the Griquas set-up, Whitehead has the all-round skills to dictate strategy from flyhalf and has developed into a reliable goal-kicker. The Griquas general certainly had Bulls fans squirming last year at Loftus Versfeld.

Niell Jordaan

The former Cheetahs captain is a ferocious eighthman who is always up for the forward challenge. He will bring power but also offloading skills as Griquas are likely to try and produce some good running rugby.

John-Roy Jenkinson

The 29-year-old Glenwood High School product has returned from the Japanese Top League, where he gained further high-level experience. Jenkinson won the Currie Cup First Division with the North-West Leopards in 2015, the same year he was named in the Varsity Cup Dream Team, and he actually made three appearance for the Bulls in Super Rugby in 2017 and is acknowledged as a powerful scrummager.

Bulls coach Jake White has refused to release an injury report this week ahead of their SuperRugby Unlocked opener against Griquas at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday night, and the reason became clear on Thursday when he announced a team missing several of the stars from their impressive warm-up against the Sharks a fortnight ago.

White has decided not to risk the “niggling” injuries captain Duane Vermeulen, dazzling new wing Kurt-Lee Arendse and experienced loose forward Nizaam Carr have suffered and he has also been shorn of the services of hooker Schalk Erasmus for six weeks, after surgery on a twisted ankle.

So flank Arno Botha, who has made an impressive return to South African rugby, will lead the team against Griquas and Tim Agaba will start at eighthman. The tall David Kriel looked a threat when he came on in the second half against the Sharks and he will replace Arendse at left wing, while the Bulls have good cover at hooker with Corniel Els starting and the exciting young Johan Grobbelaar on the bench.

“Duane has a bang on the leg from last week’s Springbok Showdown and he’ll be fine, but with us playing for five weeks in a row we cannot afford to risk him pushing through. We can afford to give other guys opportunity though and it’s a great chance to see how Tim, who everyone speaks highly of, goes along with the first-choice pack.

“Kurt-Lee is also injured, he has a contusion on his quad and for someone who needs to run a lot, that’s a risk. He’ll be ready next week. Schalk has had an operation on an ankle roll and we know he’ll be ready in six weeks, whereas if we’d treated it conservatively it could reoccur. Nizaam has a bang on his knee so I couldn’t pick him.

“All the teams seem to have a lot of niggles because of the lack of rugby and contact. I suppose I could pick these guys if I really wanted to, but we can’t afford it with our schedule if they have niggles. That’s why I don’t want to give my injury report on a Monday because then the opposition then basically knows my team at the start of the week and I wanted to see if some of these guys could pull through,” White said on Thursday.

The one area where White has taken something of a risk is at tighthead prop, however, with Trevor Nyakane chosen despite spending the week in Cape Town in quarantine because he had been in close proximity with fellow Springbok Oupa Mohoje, who has tested positive for Covid-19.

“Trevor had a training program in Cape Town and he’s been able to stick to that. Of course it’s not ideal that he hasn’t trained with us, but he’s a Springbok and important to us. He knows how we play, he’s been at every session except the last two weeks. We’ll start with him and then if he gets fatigued then we can bring the reserve [Mornay Smith] on,” White explained.

Grobbelaar has recently got over his own struggle with Covid-19 and with Lizo Gqoboka recovered from injury and starting loosehead Jacques van Rooyen having arrived at the Bulls and impressed, the Pretoria side have plenty of front-row experience for a clash in which the first battle will be up front.

Team – Gio Aplon, Travis Ismaiel, Stedman Gans, Cornal Hendricks, David Kriel, Morne Steyn, Ivan van Zyl, Tim Agaba, Arno Botha, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje, Jason Jenkins, Trevor Nyakane, Corniel Els, Jacques van Rooyen. Replacements: Johan Grobbelaar, Lizo Gqoboka, Mornay Smith, Sintu Manjezi, Elrigh Louw, Embrose Papier, Chris Smith, Marco Jansen van Vuren.

Sharks coach Sean Everitt highlighted the wonderful form shown last weekend by scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba and prop Ox Nche in the Springbok Showdown and said he was looking forward to them playing big roles in their Super Rugby Unlocked opener against the Lions at Kings Park in Durban on Friday night.

We look at their strengths and three other key areas of the Sharks challenge:

Sanele Nohamba

The young scrumhalf had a marvellous game for the triumphant Green team at Newlands, showing a pleasing range to his game with his tactical kicking being astute, his service crisp and his ability to spark attack also on point. The Lions will be wondering how to deal with him and not allow him to dominate from the base.

“Sanele was a shining light last weekend and I was extremely happy for him. The whole experience would have been really good for him but it’s also beneficial for us – I’m sure he really learnt a lot in that week and he brought that confidence back to us. He’s quick around the field and certainly understands the game. He conducts the traffic at the back and I’m really excited about the growth he’s shown in the last 12 months, he really knows and understands his roles and responsibilities now,” Everitt said.

Ox Nche

Loosehead prop Ox Nche gave an eye-opening display at Newlands as he anchored the Green scrum in an impressive display. He successfully dismantled former Springbok tighthead Ruan Dreyer, which helped negate the massive influence of Steven Kitshoff on the loosehead side for Gold. When Carlu Sadie replaced Dreyer, he gave Nche more pause for thought.

Dreyer also struggled against Kitshoff on SuperFan Saturday and the Lions have rewarded Sadie’s better form by giving him the starting tighthead berth. It will be a mouthwatering battle between Nche and Sadie, with Thomas du Toit providing solid support in the Sharks’ No.3 jersey.

“Their great form really started early on in Super Rugby. We had a few issues at the start of the year in our scrum and there were plenty of critics. But since then the scrum has gone from strength to strength. I thought they stood up well against the Bulls two weeks ago and Ox and Thomas carried that through to last weekend’s Green and Gold game. Ox getting one over Dreyer of the Lions last weekend will add some spice to Friday night and it will be an interesting battle,” Everitt said.

JP Pietersen & Werner Kok

The Sharks have had terrible luck in the wing position with Makazole Mapimpi leaving for Japan and both Sbu Nkosi and Madosh Tambwe being injured. Yaw Penje, another to impress at Newlands last weekend, has been hastily signed up on a short-term deal, but in the meantime the 34-year-old Pietersen and Sevens Springbok Kok, who has played just 20 games of senior XV-a-side rugby in his career, will have to man the fort against the Lions out wide.

But there’s probably not a trick in the book that Pietersen, a veteran of 70 Tests, does not know, and Kok was impressive when he played on the wing for the Sharks on SuperFan Saturday, bringing plenty of work-rate and physicality.

Manie Libbok

The 23-year-old is an interesting addition to the Sharks’ line-up and will make his competitive debut for them at fullback on Friday night. Considered one of the premier talents in South African junior rugby midway through last decade, Libbok’s career did not really kick on at the Bulls. Getting an early chance to start because of Aphelele Fassi’s long-term injury, Libbok will certainly add pace, verve and incisiveness to the Sharks attack, plus he is another strong kicking option from the back.

Lukhanyo Am

Burger Odendaal’s move to Ellis Park seems to have led to a change in approach by the Lions, who have chosen a sledgehammer midfield pairing in Dan Kriel and Odendaal shifting from his usual inside centre position to No.13. Strong ball-carrying rather than tempo and expansiveness could be the Lions’ focus, especially with Willem Alberts playing at lock.

There’s going to be a fascinating clash of styles though between Sharks captain Am and Odendaal; Am will have to deal with the very direct, power-based attack of Odendaal, while the World Cup winner will be looking to use his cunning, skill and pace to elude Odendaal’s defence.