South African Junior Team Champions Get Chance in Currie Cup Match Between Stormers and Sharks

The champions of the South African junior teams have received an opportunity to play in the Currie Cup match between Stormers XXIII and Sharks XV, which will take place in Cape Town on Saturday.

Juniors' Participation in the Match

The Stormers XXIII and Sharks XV squads have strengthened their lineups with players who are world champions among South African juniors. Among them are forward Markus Muller, who is debuting for Stormers XXIII in the starting lineup, and Luan Giliomee, who will start for the visitors at fullback.

It is expected that Muller and Giliomee will bring a winning mentality to their teams, as well as other U20 champions included as substitutes. Both players, who played for the Junior Boks, should provide an attacking impetus for their respective teams.

Squads and Changes in the Teams

Both teams enter the match following defeats, making the contribution of the U20 stars potentially decisive. Stormers selected only one U20 player, Danny Kruger, for the bench, while Sharks included three Baby Boks in the reserves: hooker Liam van Wyk, loosehead prop Rambo Kubheka, and speedster Khuthi Rasivhaga.

For the Cape Town team, this match is considered defining for the season, as they suffered a disappointing loss to the Kavaliers last week and aim to rectify it. Stormers head coach Tom Dawson-Squibb made eight changes to the squad and stated the team's readiness for them.

Dawson-Squibb noted that introducing juniors brings individual confidence to the team, adding a 'thrilling moment'. He also emphasized that some substitutions are related to underperformance by players, which he called 'the nature of the game' in rugby. Despite the desire to correct last Sunday's mistakes, he warned that Sharks would be equally motivated to bounce back from their defeat.

Coaches' Positions

Sharks head coach Mike Walls also made several changes and aims for his team to perform for the full 80 minutes. He stated his intention to develop the strengths of previous games and correct shortcomings. Walls expects Stormers, coming off a major defeat, to play aggressively, leading to a very dynamic and physical match.

iol.co.zaJuly 24, 15:43

Second round of Currie Cup includes match between Cheetahs and Sharks XV in Bloemfontein

The second stage of the Premier Division Currie Cup kicks off this weekend, with four interesting matches scheduled. Additionally, on Friday evening in George, the champions of the 2026 First Division will be determined, where the home team SWD Eagles will meet Valke.

Premier Division Match Schedule

The Premier Division action begins on Friday afternoon with a clash between the table leaders—Cheetahs and Sharks XV in Bloemfontein. The match is set for 17:00 at Toyota Stadium. Two games are planned for Saturday: Lions versus Pumas in Ellis Park (15:00), and a home game for Griquas in Kimberley against Bulls XV (17:05).

Round Conclusion in Wellington

The second round concludes on Sunday in Wellington. Boland Kavaliers will host for the second consecutive time, welcoming neighbors Stormers XXIII at Boland Stadium. The Western Cape derby starts at 15:00 and, like three other Premier Division fixtures, will be broadcast on SuperSport.

Situation Before Matches

Friday's battle in Bloemfontein pits Cheetahs against Sharks XV. Despite being early in the tournament, both teams hold high positions in the rankings. Earlier, KwaZulu-Natalians defeated Pumas 26-24, and Free Staters won against Lions 29-27.

The Durban-based team has a 3-2 advantage in the last five encounters between the sides. Furthermore, Cheetahs won a tight match 7-5 in Durban last August. Cheetahs lead the early tournament standings as they have accumulated more points than Sharks, and with the presence of Springbok national scrum-half Faf de Klerk at number 9, they hope to maintain their initial momentum.

Saturday's Matches

In Saturday's first match, Lions aim to immediately recover the two-point deficit suffered last week in Bloemfontein, hosting Pumas in Johannesburg. Lions have a 4-1 head-to-head advantage over this team, with their only defeat to the Mpumalanga side occurring three years ago in Nelspruit. Last year's match between these two teams, also held at Mbombela Stadium, ended with a victory for Gautengers 36-35.

The second game on Saturday will take place in Kimberley. Griquas and Bulls XV hope to start their 2026 season after both teams suffered away defeats last week. The match will begin at 17:05. Based on last week's form and a large 42-21 victory in Pretoria last year, the North Cape hosts—the reigning Currie Cup champions—are considered favorites. However, the Bulls team, which has several young and promising players, should not be underestimated.

Weekend Finale in Wellington

The final match of the weekend will take place on Sunday afternoon in Wellington. Boland Kavaliers and Stormers XXIII are aiming for a second consecutive win of the season after starting it with victories last week. They currently occupy third and fourth places in the table. The Cape Town team won last year by a margin of 22 points in Cape Town, but Stefan Ungerera's team may face a hot reception and serious pressure on the field in Wellington, where a packed stadium supporting the Boland team is expected.

iol.co.zaJuly 17, 18:59

Springboks ready to give full attention to Wales ahead of Nations Cup match

The Springboks team concluded the traditional Friday captain's run at Kings Park in Durban the day before the meeting with Wales as part of the Nations Cup, which will take place on Saturday.

Springboks Team Motivation

Springboks assistant coach Mzwandile Stik stated that the team aims to add a new trophy to its extensive collection after an impressive start in the debut Nations Cup. Although coach Rassie Erasmus was initially skeptical about this intercontinental competition, his attitude towards the tournament changed after successful victories over England and Scotland.

Focus on the Current Match

The Springboks will host the home leg of the tournament in Durban, where they will face Wales. Stik emphasized that despite long-term plans, including the World Cup in Australia next year, the team always focuses on the upcoming game. He noted that participation in the final weekend of the Nations Cup in Twickenham at the end of November is an important goal, but the priority remains the game here and now.

Assessment of Opponent Wales

Stik refuted public opinion that the match against Wales would be easy. He pointed out that Wales ranks 12th in the world rankings, while the Springboks are ranked first. According to Stik, the Saturday game promises to be difficult because Wales is in better form, and the team views Wales as a very close style opponent who prides itself on its rugby.

Game Preparation

The Springboks' respect for Wales is reflected in the squad selected by Erasmus. Stik noted that the squad demonstrates great experience, including players who have been two-time world champions. He warned that if the team does not prepare properly, it risks losing, as the Welsh players possess world-class class.

Comparison with Past Experience

Stik compared the current Welsh team to the state of the Springboks during Erasmus's first year (2018). He recalled that at the beginning of this coaching era, the Springboks often lost to Wales. After several unsuccessful years (2016 and 2017), when the team experienced losses, gaining major victories and regaining confidence led to a winning streak. Now, Wales, in Stik's opinion, has overcome a period of defeats and is improving in every game.

Integration of Young Players

Despite public questions regarding the inclusion of young players such as Wusi Moyo (20) and Jaco Williams (21), Stik assured that they have established themselves in the Springboks camp. He explained that although they have only played one or two games in the United Rugby Championship, they spent seven weeks in the most demanding environment, handled the workload, and Erasmus encouraged them.