The Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks provided a ray of light in an indifferent weekend for South Africa’s five teams in the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup playoffs, as they recorded invaluable victories to advance to the quarter-finals next week.
The Springbok Women's Sevens finished in disappointing 12th spot at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens on Sunday, dropping a close 17-14 result to Spain to remain winless at Hong Kong Stadium.
The Springbok Sevens dodged a first bullet in Hong Kong this weekend, which was an important objective for the team, and according to interim head coach Philip Snyman, their next aim is to rise back into the top four again.
The Hollywoodbets Sharks shift their focus away from the Vodacom United Rugby Championship as they now look towards the EPCR Challenge Cup knockouts and a Round of 16 clash against Zebre Parma at Hollywoodbets Kings Park on Sunday.
Toyota Cheetahs head coach Izak van der Westhuizen has announced his 23-man squad for their upcoming clash against ASM Auvergne Clermont in the EPCR Challenge Cup Round of 16 at the Stade Marcel Michelin on Saturday.
Two of the highlights of the third round SA Cup involve repeats of last year’s Currie Cup Premier and First Division finals, with the Toyota Cheetahs hosting the Airlink Pumas in Bloemfontein, while the Valke travel to Wellington to take on the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers.
The Springbok Women's Sevens squad have no illusions about the steep hill that awaits them at Hong Kong Stadium this weekend, but for the team’s head coach Renfred Dazel, that is exactly what they want.
Sevens coaches can hardly ask for a more daunting start to their HSBC SVNS career than what is facing Philip Snyman, the Springbok Sevens’ new interim head coach, this weekend, but the 37-year-old will take it in his stride.
It’s do or die for the five South African franchises this weekend as they take the field in the Round of 16 of the Investec Champions Cup and EPCR Challenge Cup, where they will all be battling it out for quarter-final places.
Much has been made of the fact that the Springbok Sevens, despite winning 40 HSBC SVNS tournaments on all continents, have not cracked gold at Hong Kong Stadium, and with the iconic tournament moving to a new venue next year, they will have one last shot at breaking that bogey. (more…)