Tomorrow

14:00

Tomorrow

14:05

Saturday

02:05

Saturday

14:05

Recap: Sharks vs Bulls LIVE | Super Rugby

By RugbyPass

31 Jan 2020

RugbyPass Live Match Centre

Follow all the action on the RugbyPass live blog from the Super Rugby match between the Sharks and the Bulls at Jonsson Kings Park.

Keep up to date with the latest score, stats and join the conversation from anywhere in the world in our Live Match Centre (click here).

Lukhanyo Am will lead an exciting Sharks team in which Ox Nche, James Venter and Sikhumbuzo Notshe all make their club debuts.

The home team have a Springbok laden backline consisting of Springbok World Cup winners Makazole Mapimpi (left wing), Sbu Nkosi (right wing) and Am (outside centre), as well as fellow Springboks Andre Esterhuizen (inside centre) and Curwin Bosch (flyhalf).

The Bulls include former Springbok fly-half Morné Steyn, who last played for the Pretoria outfit in 2013 and is the only three-time Super Rugby champion that remains within the South African circuit. His duel with Bosch is bound to play a key role.

(Continue reading below…)

Bulls’ Tongan import Nafi Tuitavake speaks out

Steyn is joined by two 2019 World Cup winners in Warrick Gelant (full-back) and Trevor Nyakane (replacement prop), while Josh Strauss (No8), Jeandre Rudolph (flank), Andries Ferreira (lock) and Wian Vosloo (replacement loose forward) will be running out for the Bulls for the first time.

History favours the visitors with the Bulls securing eight wins and a draw in their last nine matches against the Durban-based franchise, who begin their campaign at home for the first time since 2015.

Not excited for #SuperRugby in the middle of the summer? You should be.https://t.co/0HCCO1Yykv
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) January 30, 2020

The Pretoria side won five of their six South African derbies last season, their most derby victories in a single campaign since 2013.

SHARKS: 15. Aphelele Fassi; 14. Sbu Nkosi, 13. Lukhanyo Am (capt), 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. Makazole Mapimpi; 10. Curwin Bosch, 9. Louis Schreuder; 8. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7. Tyler Paul, 6. James Venter, 5. Hyron Andrews, 4. Ruben van Heerden, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Kerron van Vuuren, 1. Ox Nche. Reps: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Juan Schoeman, 18. John-Hubert Meyer, 19. Le Roux Roets, 20. Henco Venter, 21. Sanele Nohamba, 22. Boeta Chamberlain, 23. Jeremy Ward.

BULLS: 15. Warrick Gelant; 14. Cornal Hendricks, 13. Johnny Kotze, 12. Burger Odendaal (capt), 11. Rosko Specman; 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Ivan van Zyl; 8. Josh Strauss, 7. Abongile Nonkontwana, 6. Jeandre Rudolph, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Andries Ferreira, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Jaco Visagie, 1. Lizo Gqoboka. Reps: 16. Johan Grobbelaar, 17. Simphiwe Matanzima, 18. Trevor Nyakane, 19. Ruan Nortje, 20. Ryno Pieterse, 21. Wian Vosloo, 22. Embrose Papier, 23. Manie Libbok.

WATCH: New-look Sharks front up to media ahead of the clash with the Bulls

LIVE

Comments

0 Comments

Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Latest Features

LONG READ

Why it's Guy Pepper's time to come of age on England's summer voyage

The Bath treble winner excelled en route to the Premiership trophy, and former world champion Neil Back believes he can play a starring role in the Argentina series.

LONG READ

Mick Cleary: Five things Andy Farrell must get right this week

The coach has a set of non-negotiables to deliver as the British and Irish Lions prepare to play their first match of 2025 against Argentina.

LONG READ

RugbyPass names the greatest Lions squad of the professional era

From the heroes of the 1997 series win to the last, Covid-affected, tour of South Africa in 2021, which players make our Lions XV?

Comments on RugbyPass

IkeaBoy 12 minutes ago

Where are they now? The Lomu-led All Blacks team that destroyed England

He was certainly. Proper speed merchant. Seems to building a good rep with his coaching these days also.

7 Go to comments

NB 13 minutes ago

Has Quade Cooper solved a Lions riddle for Australia?

I don’t think anyone has suggested he should be part of the WB squad for the Lions as a play O/S!

31 Go to comments

NB 14 minutes ago

Has Quade Cooper solved a Lions riddle for Australia?

He certainly doesn’t offer the variety that JOC does for sure.

31 Go to comments

RK 26 minutes ago

Ian Foster left to ponder what might have been after Tony Brown and Jamie Joseph recruitment misstep

Tony Brown is in a much better environment now with the Springboks, under Rassie and a winning and innovate culture, unlike Foster who definitely doesn’t fit that mould

34 Go to comments

RedWarrior 31 minutes ago

Lions ruling puts major milestone for captain Maro Itoje on hold

There are barely more Irish players than English players which is hard on Ireland given the superiority over many years. Places are earned. I do think English entitlement borders on the ridiculous sometimes.

3 Go to comments

RedWarrior 34 minutes ago

Where are they now? The Lomu-led All Blacks team that destroyed England

Fitzpatrick did some sledging that afternoon. Poor Rob Andrew was a little shell shocked and gave away cheap possession. Next ruck the mic picked up Fitzpatrick beside Andrew saying 'loudly ‘Come on Boys, lets show them how to play Footie!’

England did keep playing in fairness.

7 Go to comments

JN 36 minutes ago

Has 'narrow-mindedness' cost Ribbans and others their Lions chance?

Sorry, this comment is narrow mindedness too, they should be able to have their cake and eat it. It’s supposed to be a professional sport. Why is it okay for South Africa but not other countries, surely this proves that it works. South Africa aren't paying the big bucks for stars wages so have money to invest in the player pathways that England, Wales do not. Any players should be able to play for any club, just the same as football snd other sports.

16 Go to comments

Cantab 44 minutes ago

Emoni Narawa and the best of wingers in Super Rugby final history

Yes the Chiefs have strike power on the wings but so too do the Crusaders. This match I suspect will be decided up front where the Crusaders appear to have a slight edge in the front 5 and they are now showing strength in their defensive system . Note that after a shaky start the Crusaders defence gave the Blues nothing other than their 2 early tries while scoring 3 of their own. This match is going to be tight either way.

1 Go to comments

Icefarrow 58 minutes ago

The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders

Obviously, my comment meant to be taken literally.

45 Go to comments

fl 1 hour ago

Ex-Wallaby laughs off claims Bath are amongst the best in the world

“Yes I wrote that, because you had Leinster as the best team in the world. What was that based on - winning the URC this season?”

It was based on Leinster’s performances over the course of this season, and on their trophy. If Bordeaux beat Toulouse then I’ll change my mind and move them to first. But as it is I expect Bordeaux, Toulouse, and Leinster to all finish with one trophy each, and with Leinster having produced the best week-on-week performances of the three.

“One of those teams won the league in each of those years so yes they were worse. If I was a fan of either of those four teams I would rather have been a fan of a team that won a trophy than didn’t.”

That’s true - I would too. With regard to Stormers I think their trophy was very much enabled by the fact that they weren’t playing in europe, so were able to rest their players much more than the non-SA teams were so I’m not sure whether I would or wouldn’t consider them to have had a better season than Leinster in 2022, but clearly Munster and Glasgow (respectively) had better seasons than Leinster in 2023 and 2024. But if I was a fan of one of those 3 teams I would rather be a fan of a team that won 66 URC+CC matches over the course of 3 seasons (Leinster) than a team that won 46 (Munster) or 42 (Glasgow). If you think trophies are literally the only thing that matters, do you think Blackburn Rovers are a more successful Premier League team than Tottenham Hotspur are?

“You contradict yourself alot. Trophies matter in one post and in the same post coming second consistently makes you better.”

Its going to get really frustrating if you’re not willing to read what I write. I said: “Trophies matter. They matter a lot. But so does winning games. So does making finals.” How does that contradict my assessment that Leinster were better than Stormers?

“I doubt Leinster would say they have been the better team in any of the seasons you keep going on about.”

Teams generally downplay talk of them being the best, so that wouldn’t surprise me. But crucially I don’t think Leinster were the best team in 2022, or in 2023, or in 2024, so I’m not sure what you think you’re responding to.

“Lets make it clear though - you are the one who went on and on about previous seasons with your deep dive into la Rochelle and Stormers etc.”

Yeah - I did that because you brought up Leinster’s trophyless record from 2022-2024, so I thought that was worth responding to. If you’d like though I can stop responding to the things you say?

22 Go to comments

JW 1 hour ago

‘Title win could set Chiefs up to build a Super Rugby dynasty’

The Chiefs could be Ireland these days. Full of Internationals.. LOL

16 Go to comments

Alex 1 hour ago

Simon Mannix names injury depleted Portugal squad for Ireland

How is this their only test match of the summer? These nations need more game time!!

1 Go to comments

SadersMan 1 hour ago

The Chiefs are better than the Crusaders

Don’t be a sucker & let him live in your head bud. He doesn’t deserve your time. My comments are clearly satire. Look it up.