Orlando Pirates, like their going to strengthen their squad with some of the Premier Soccer League’s finest, but few would have predicted that Gamphani Lungu would be among those on their radar.

The Zambian international had been a loyal servant at SuperSport United and, even after the club’s status was sold and the team rebranded as Siwelele, with an imminent move to Bloemfontein, the utility player did not look for a way out.

In football, players who remain committed through such upheaval are increasingly rare. Lungu’s consistency at the highest level, however, never wavered.

Perhaps that is what caught Pirates’ attention, particularly because the 27-year-old offers the versatility modern coaches crave. He can operate at right-back, on either wing and, if required, lead the line as a striker.

At a club increasingly built around emerging talent, Lungu also brings something else: experience.

He has played extensively in the Betway Premiership and on the continent, offering Pirates an important senior presence as the champions attempt to strike the right balance between youth and experience.

For coach Abdeslam Ouaddou, technical ability is only part of what makes a player suitable for his system.

Being a good human being matters, but character and heart are also important. Lungu appears to have those qualities in abundance.

It would help explain why he has settled so quickly at Pirates, while also making an immediate contribution on the pitch, scoring important goals in both the league and the MTN8.

Ouaddou was candid when explaining why “Mr Jones”, as Lungu is affectionately known, did not appear to struggle with the transition from Siwelele to the Soweto giants.

“This boy helped us to win the title last season,” joked Ouaddou, referring to Lungu’s hat-trick in Siwelele’s remarkable 7-4 defeat to Mamelodi Sundowns, a result that had a significant impact on the Brazilians’ goal difference.

“I was not surprised. When he came here, he was very excited, first of all. He was very happy to join such a big club. From last season, I think he was already part of the family. We integrated him very well, and he’s giving all his best.”

For all his experience, Ouaddou was still struck by the humility Lungu displayed after making the move to one of the biggest clubs in the country.

“I always say that you all the time have a short time or a long time for new recruitment when you come to a new club, but we just opened our hearts when he came, and he was part of the family,” the coach said. “It’s like he’s been here for a long time.”

That sense of belonging may prove just as valuable as Lungu’s versatility.

At Pirates, he has arrived not simply as another signing, but as a player capable of filling multiple roles while providing the character and experience required in a squad with serious ambitions at home and in Africa.

The post Gamphani Lungu: Big Impact appeared first on SportsClub.

The Springboks will start the Championship as the best-placed team in the 12-side tournament, having accumulated the most log points across the three rounds staged in July.

At this stage, Rassie Erasmus’ charges are on course to qualify for the grand final in London on 29 November, which will be contested by the top-ranked teams of the southern and northern conferences. France are the favourites to represent the European contingent, having finished at the head of the northern standings this past July.

It is interesting to note, however, that the French have accumulated just 12 log points after three rounds, whereas the leading teams in the southern conference, namely the Boks and the All Blacks, have banked a maximum of 15.

There has been a lot of criticism of the tournament structures over the past few months, and there may well be an outcry if one of the aforementioned teams wins all of its league matches yet fails to progress to the final.

While the Nations Championship is essentially a clash between the hemispheres, the integrity of the competition may well be compromised if the best-performing teams do not meet in the decider.

There is still a lot of rugby to be played, though, and it remains to be seen whether that scenario will come to pass.

In the meantime, Erasmus will keep one eye on his side as they battle Italy, France and Ireland in successive weeks, and another on the All Blacks, who will face Scotland, Wales and England.

At a glance, it would appear that the Boks have the tougher schedule, given that France and Ireland have been among the world’s leading sides for several seasons, while the teams from the United Kingdom have been far less consistent.

THE STORY SO FAR

At the start of the season, Erasmus explained that the Boks were building towards the four-Test Greatest Rivalry series against the All Blacks, and beyond that, the 2027 World Cup in Australia.

While the Nations Championship was never a priority, the Boks set out to win all three games against England, Scotland and Wales in South Africa, and to bolster their squad depth with future series and tournaments in mind.

Erasmus blooded five new players in Paul de Villiers, Jaco Williams, Vusi Moyo, Ruben van Heerden and Carlü Sadie, and used as many as 43 players across the three Tests.

The Boks averaged 43 points and seven tries a game. More importantly – at least in the context of the southern conference league race – they recorded a points difference of +81, and this allowed South Africa to finish ahead of the All Blacks.

Dave Rennie’s side faced tougher opponents in July, and were made to fight tooth and nail for a 34-32 win against France and a 40-21 victory over Ireland. After a slow start, the All Blacks hammered Italy 47-17.

Meanwhile in the northern conference, France bounced back from that loss to New Zealand in Christchurch to secure a 42-26 victory against Australia in Brisbane and a 42-15 win against Japan in Tokyo. Les Bleus were without several star players in July – due to injuries and resting protocols – butstill managed to finish at the top of the standings.

While Scotland recorded big wins against Argentina and Fiji, it was the four-try bonus point they earned in the loss to South Africa that allowed Gregor Townsend’s men to edge ahead of England in the northern conference standings.

England hit back after losing to the Boks in round one, thrashing Fiji 73-8 in Liverpool before pipping the Pumas 31-24 in a spiky contest staged in Santiago del Estero.

Ireland beat Australia 33-31 in Sydney before downing Japan 36-20 in Newcastle.

The loss to the All Blacks in Auckland, however, brought them back to earth with a thump.

While they only trail France by two log points in the northern conference at this stage, it would be a surprise to see Andy Farrell’s side qualifying for the grand final in November.

THE RACE FOR FINAL PLACE
The Boks will fancy their chances against Italy in Turin this November, having beaten the Azzurri three times in 2025. They shouldn’t take Gonzalo Quesada’s team lightly, though, given they will face Italy in the pool stages of next year’s World Cup.

Erasmus is likely to rotate his team over the course of the four-week series in Europe, and it is worth noting that there will be a six-day turnaround between the first game in Turin and the second in Paris.

The Boks may be desperate to bank a big win against Italy, but they will be looking to peak in later games against France and Ireland Can the Boks score four or more tries and win all three matches? Their point and try-scoring averages in the recent matches staged in South Africa bode well, as does the fact that they swept all three nations on the previous tour to Europe in 2025.

The performances of the All Blacks, of course, may influence the Bok tactics as the competition enters the final stages.

New Zealand should win all three of their matches against Scotland, Wales and England this November.

Erasmus will be hoping that one of those teams possibly England – can force an upset or that two or more can deny the Kiwis a try-scoring bonus point.

Bonus points may decide the race for top spot in the southern conference, and neither the Boks nor the All Blacks will want to leave themselves with too much to do on the final weekend of the league stage.

Erasmus has managed his squad well over the past few seasons, and may feel that he has the resources to win three matches and possibly a final in Europe this November.

Should they qualify, the Boks may meet France for the second time in the space of three weeks, and the team with the greatest strength in depth may win the all-important encounter at Twickenham.

Alternatively, one of Scotland, Ireland or England could advance to the decider. England have recorded some poor results in 2026, but will be tougher to beat in a rare final staged at their home ground.

That said, the Boks have beaten England on their last two visits to Twickenham, and have an excellent record against the side in knockout fixtures.

While the Nations Championship was never going to be a priority for the Boks at this stage of the World Cup cycle, they will have the opportunity to push for a place in the final, and for yet another title this November.

The post Nations Championship: Sudden Death appeared first on SportsClub.

England arrive for a marquee Africa this summer with questions over their ability to put a chastening 12 months behind them and whether any of their New Year’s resolutions include a little more restraint.

They are all but out of the running for the World Test Championship (WTC) final but have not lost a series to South Africa, the defending champions, since 2012, and not lost a series in South Africa since 2000 and will see this as an opportunity for rebirth after several controversies, many involving the team’s drinking culture.

At the helm is new coach Stephen Fleming, officially appointed in July and taking charge for the first time on this tour, alongside returning captain Joe Root, whose job it is to score runs and bring respectability back into their game.

He led England between 2017 and 2022 stepped down before Ben Stokes and coach Brendon McCullum ushered in the age of ‘Bazball’, an aggressive, entertainment-focused approach to Test cricket.

Stokes and McCullum urged their players to adopt an aggressive, fearless mindset, but the approach eventually came under increasing scrutiny. It marked the end of an era for England that had promised so much but ultimately fell short of its ambitions.

On numbers alone, the Bazball era was not that bad. Between May 2022 and July 2026, England played 49 Tests under McCullum, winning 27, losing 20 and drawing two; a win rate of 55%. In series terms, they won half of the 16 series they played, drawing four and losing four.

But it was the way they were defeated in two of those four series they conceded that soaked an unwashable stain into their reputations.

Losing 1-4 to India and 1-2 to Pakistan in 2024 at a time when both teams had home conditions heavily in their favour was disappointing but not unheard of.

In fact, no one beat India in a home series between England’s win 2013 and New Zealand’s in 2024 and while Pakistan’s record is not quite as strident, there was a brief period when they rode their luck on batting first on spinners’ tracks.

Tough, but understandable.

In Australia, England lost the first Ashes Test in two days and the second in three and then went on what was described as a glorified stag-do to the coastal town of Noosa, where things started to fall apart.

Players were filmed taking up residence at beach bars, vaping and staggering around. They went on to lose the third and fifth Tests too and return home embarrassed.

England’s response was to install a midnight curfew, as though they were a team of Cinderellas. McCullum and Stokes survived the scrutiny until their home season started.

Immediately after the first match – a win over New Zealand – Stokes and Gus Atkinson were out in the early hours of the morning, there was an altercation they were adjacent to, and a huge fall out followed.

Stokes missed the next match, which England lost and then returned for the third, where he announced his retirement mid-game.

England lost again. Even with Stokes gone, an axe still needed to fall and it landed on McCullum, but he has kept the white- ball job. Still, sorry England still had mistakes to make.

With Fleming due to take over for the South Africa series, Marcus Trescothick was in charge for their home Tests against Pakistan.

Just after his first match, squad member Brydon Carse, who was released to play a county match, was caught on video in handcuffs after a night out celebrating Durham’s win over Derbyshire. In the background, Stokes lurked.

The new-old captain Root could only comment on being “hacked off,” at developments. What the impact of all this on his own game will be remains to be seen.

Root has played 101 Test matches in which he has not been England’s captain and his record in those games is eye-wateringly good.

He has scored 8696 runs including 27 centuries playing as just another member of the XI and his average is 53.34.

As captain, the record is not much worse though his average dips under 50 and

he has not scored as many hundreds.

There was a period between 2017 and 2019 when Root did not hit a century in 29 innings where the leadership seemed to be weighing on him but he came back to score three hundreds (two of which were double tons) in three games to put any worries to bed.

These days, Root’s form is not a discussion point. He is the most accomplished batter still active on the international circuit and only Sachin Tendulkar has more Test runs than him. That he will play for England is not in doubt but the question could be: for how much longer?

Root is 35 years old, has been playing at the highest level for 14 years and seems to be thinking about the twilight of his career.

He will return to Paarl Royals for season 5 of the SA20, after playing there in season 3 and there is even talk of Root looking into a winelands holiday home for post- career visits.

Before that, he will bring a Test squad headlined by seamer Jofra Archer but laced with inexperience in both the attack and the batting line-up to try and topple the WTC title-holders.

The series will be an opportunity for vice-captain Harry Brook to prove his maturity, and for the likes of opening batter Emilio Gay and wicket-keeper Jamie Smith to establish themselves as regulars.

But for England to win they will need their pace pack to step up which puts the onus on Gus Atkinson, Josh Tongue and Ollie Robinson to bring their best, and make sure they stay away from the bar.

The post After BazBall appeared first on SportsClub.

There is an interesting subplot developing at Kaizer Chiefs, and it has nothing to do with the attacking department or the latest transfer rumour.

It is happening between the posts. AmaKhosi moved quickly to sign Renaldo Leaner, and the goalkeeper has immediately been installed as the second choice behind captain Brandon Petersen.

That move has significantly changed the goalkeeping pecking order at Naturena.

Bruce Bvuma, who has spent much of his career competing for the No.1 jersey, is now effectively third choice with one year remaining on his contract, while Fiacre Ntwari has been sent out on loan to Kruger United.

For now, Petersen remains the undisputed first choice – and you would think the armband also gives the experienced player a slight edge.

But there is a bigger question sitting behind Leaner’s arrival: are Chiefs simply strengthening their goalkeeping department, or are they also preparing for life after Petersen?

The timing makes that question difficult to ignore. Petersen, like Bvuma, has one year left on his contract, and negotiations over a new deal have been stalling.

Chiefs continue to rate him highly, and coach Fernando Da Cruz has made it clear that he has not lost faith in his captain following several howlers that cost AmaKhosi points early on in the campaign.

“Brandon also made mistakes last season,” Da Cruz acknowledged.

But that was only part of his assessment. “He also made a very good season last season, he got a lot of points for his team.”

And then came the strongest endorsement of Petersen. “He’s our captain so we trust in him.”

Those words matter because Petersen is not just Chiefs’ goalkeeper. He is their leader and that makes his position considerably more complicated than simply deciding who is making the fewest mistakes. It takes a certain amount of guts to drop your captain.

For Da Cruz, there is an additional consideration – goalkeeper’s mistakes are often more visible and more costly than those of
an outfield player. One misplaced pass, one poor decision or error in a crowded penalty area can change the result of a match.

And Chiefs are a club where those moments are magnified.

The Glamour Boys have historically had great goalkeepers in Brian Baloyi, one of the club’s most dependable figures between the posts before Itumeleng Khune eventually took over and became an institution at Naturena.

Khune’s longevity set an incredibly high standard for what Chiefs supporters expect from their No.1 shot stopper.

But since his decline and eventual departure from the first-team picture, the positionhas been more hit and miss. Chiefs have tried different options without finding someone who has truly made the position their own for an extended period.

Petersen has arguably come closest. His performances last season earned him the captaincy and, despite mistakes, the trust of Da Cruz. The coach’s comments suggest he believes the good has outweighed the bad.

But football has a short memory. A goalkeeper can be trusted today and questioned after one costly mistake tomorrow.

That is where Leaner becomes particularly interesting.

Petersen knows him well. In fact, the Chiefs captain revealed that the pair go back to their school days, with Petersen having been Leaner’s head boy.

“I’ve known Renaldo since we were very young. I was his head boy in high school, and we’ve always had a good relationship.”

There is no sense from Petersen that he sees Leaner’s arrival as a threat.

Quite the opposite. “I think he [Leaner] is a good signing for the team.”

He also welcomed the competition. “It’s a great opportunity for him, and for us in the goalkeeping department, it’s good competition.”

And perhaps that is exactly how Chiefs want it to be viewed. Leaner has earned his opportunity after developing through the Ajax Cape Town system and fighting his way into the professional game.

Now he has walked into one of the biggest clubs in the country and immediately finds himself one mistake, injury or loss of form away from potentially being asked to take over.

That is a very different proposition to simply signing a goalkeeper for squad depth.

The question, then, is whether Chiefs see Leaner as Petersen’s understudy or potentially his successor.

There is no indication that the club has already made that decision yet and they clearly still value Petersen, otherwise he would not be captain and Da Cruz would not be publicly defending him.

But the unresolved contract situation adds another layer.

If negotiations continue to stall, Chiefs now have a goalkeeper who can develop behind Petersen while the club assesses its options.

If Petersen renews and continues performing, Leaner provides the competition Chiefs have been lacking. We will know more a few months down the line.

The post Is Leaner the Future? appeared first on SportsClub.

The Glamour Boys start their campaign in the second preliminary round after receiving a bye in the first round due to their CAF ranking.

Amakhosi are set to face Red Arrows in the first leg at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium on Saturday, October 17, before welcoming the same opponents for the return leg at the Moses Mabhida Stadium on Friday, October 23.

Chiefs are set for another CAF Confederation Cup campaign as they look to go one step further after narrowly missing out on the knockout stages last season.

“Kaizer Chiefs are back in the CAF Confederation Cup, determined to make amends after narrowly missing out on the knockout stages last season by the finest of margins- a single-goal difference in the group phase.

“Thanks to their CAF ranking, Amakhosi received a bye in the first preliminary round and will now begin their campaign in the second round playoff.

“Chiefs will face Red Arrows of Zambia over two legs this month. The Zambian side earned their place in this round after overcoming Madagascar’s FC Rouge in September.

“The first leg will be played on Saturday, 17 October at the Levy Mwanawasa Stadium in Ndola, Zambia. The game will start at 15:00. Chiefs are familiar with the venue, having played there earlier this year in the group stages of this continental competition against Zesco United.

“The decisive second leg will take place at Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban on Friday, 23 October, with kick-off set for 18:00.

“The overall winner of the round will advance to the group stages of this season’s CAF Confederation Cup.”

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The Buccaneers are set to face Mamelodi Sundowns in the MTN8 final when the two sides meet at the Moses Mabhida Stadium in Durban.

Pirates will be looking to successfully defend their top-eight title and secure their fifth straight trophy in the competition.

Xoki believes every player in the dressing room is ready to give 100% and contribute to the Buccaneers’ pursuit of another trophy.

“So, for a while, it’s a great feeling. But now, we are playing a final. It’s not really about me.

“It’s about the team. It’s about every one of us being ready and being ready to contribute to the team.

“And I’m sure every guy that is in the changing room is ready and willing to put in their 100% for the Cup.”

The post Xoki Embraces MTN8 Final Challenge as Pirates Target Glory appeared first on SportsClub.

The Buccaneers will look to successfully defend their title when they take on Sundowns in the MTN8 final at Moses Mabhida Stadium on Saturday.

The Sea Robbers are on the hunt to claim their fifth straight top-eight title when they face the Brazilians in what is expected to be an entertaining final in Durban.

Abdeslam Ouaddou says his side are relishing the opportunity to defend their title in Durban, with preparations progressing well ahead of the highly anticipated clash.

“The preparation is going well, it’s a good event, we are excited to play this kind of game and defend this title, we had a round two weeks to prepare this game, we missed some players international, like many teams but the rhythm and focus is on the game,” he said.

“Fantastic event in Durban, we have lot of support in this city, two champions, fantastic event for the country and football lovers, our aim is to have big ambition to do well and show the best face of Pirates and show a good image of South African football

“The game is watched over the continent, let’s say even the world, so it’s important to show a good image. I’m excited, good energy from the players and technical staff, we now just wait for the international players to arrive to continue preparation.”

The post Ouaddou: Pirates Ready to Defend Their Title in Durban appeared first on SportsClub.

Nduli suffered an ankle injury due to a dangerous tackle from AmaZulu striker Thandolwenkosi Ngwenya in the second match of the Betway Premiership.

The 30-year-old has since returned to the Pirates camp for light training as he continues to mend his way back to full fitness.

However, Nduli is expected to be out of action when Pirates take on Mamelodi Sundowns in the final of the MTN8 on Saturday.

Ouaddou revealed the midfielder is progressing well through his rehabilitation and could return to the pitch in the coming weeks.

“Sihle, we’re happy to see him back on the pitch, in the process of rehab, soon you will be able to see him,” revealed Ouaddou.

“He needs a couple of weeks but the good news is step by step he is coming back to the pitch.”

The post Ouaddou: Nduli Closing in on Pirates Return appeared first on SportsClub.

South Africa are set to face their Algerian counterpart in the second international friendly match when they meet at Dr Petrus Molemela Stadium in Bloemfontein.

The South African U23 side secured a 3-1 victory over the same opponents when they met in the first friendly on Thursday.

Mogudi also highlighted the need to rotate the squad, give every player valuable minutes and build a strong unit, while thanking the supporters for their role in driving the team forward.

“It’s going to be tough because of this 3-1 win, and we need to work a lot on the consistency factor, making sure that our boys are not complacent because sometimes complacency can creep in and we don’t want that,” said Mogudi.

“Since we are in a building phase of this squad, it is important that we rotate the squad around a bit, it is crucial that everyone gets minutes, our goalkeepers also need minutes, so everyone must get minutes and this is the only way we can build a solid foundation for the journey ahead.

“Yes about 60 to 70 percent of these players have been with us since the U20 program, while some were in the U17 squad, hence the need to build a proper unit and make them one.

“We saw the support and we are very thankful that they came through, and I know that there will be more fans on Sunday.

“We can never thank the fans enough and we are grateful because the 12th man is very important, hopefully it will be a full house on match day so that we can push our boys.”

South Africa against Algeria kicks off at 3pm.

The post Mogudi warns U23s against complacency ahead of Algeria rematch appeared first on SportsClub.

The Capetonians lost 17-13 to Edinburgh in Scotland on Friday night, with a misfiring lineout in windy conditions not helping their cause.

On Saturday, the 10bet Lions beat the Ospreys by 35-19 in Johannesburg, before the Hollywoodbets Sharks edged Leinster, the defending champions, by 26-20 in Durban to move to the top of the log.

In the final game of the second round, the Vodacom Bulls went down 26-22 to Munster in Limerick.

The KwaZulu-Natalians have a perfect 10 points after their first two home games, while the men from Johannesburg are in third place on nine points, the same as Cardiff and Edinburgh.

The teams from Pretoria and Cape Town, who return to South Africa after two games on the road, are both on six points in seventh and eighth positions on the log – the same as Musnter in ninth – as the four South African sides prepare for a derby round next Saturday.

10bet Lions overpower Ospreys to remain unbeaten

After trailing 12-10 at halftime, the 10bet Lions produced a dominant second-half display to secure maximum points and maintain their unbeaten start to the Vodacom URC season with a convincing 35-19 bonus-point victory over Ospreys at in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.

The Lions opened the scoring through a Chris Smith penalty goal in the 11th minute before Erich Cronje crossed for the first try of the match. Smith converted to give the hosts a 10-0 advantage, but the Welsh visitors responded strongly.

First Keiran Williams finished a slick attacking movement for a converted try, before Efan Daniel powered over from a driving maul on the stroke of half-time, giving the Ospreys a two-point lead at the break.

The 10bet Lions pack laid the platform after halftime. PJ Botha (hooker) crashed over from a maul in the 42nd minute before his replacement, Morné Brandon, repeated the feat six minutes later. Boeta Chamberlain then secured the four-try bonus point with a well-taken score, stretching their lead to 25-12.

The hosts finished strongly as Kelly Mpeku struck twice in three minutes, crossing in the 62nd and 65th minutes to put the result beyond doubt. Ross Moriarty scored a late consolation try after the hooter for the Ospreys, converted by Dan Edwards.

Scorers:

10bet Lions 35 (10) – Tries: Erich Cronje, PJ Botha, Morné Brandon, Boeta Chamberlain, Kelly Mpeku (2). Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalty goal: Smith.

Ospreys 19 (12) -Tries: Keiran Williams, Efan Daniel, Ross Moriarty. Conversions: Dan Edwards (2).

Edinburgh edge DHL Stormers in Scotland

The DHL Stormers suffered a narrow 17-13 defeat to Edinburgh at Hive Stadium on Friday night, as the home side produced a late surge to snatch victory in a hard-fought Vodacom URC encounter, played in very windy conditions in the Scottish capital.

Edinburgh flyhalf James Grayson slotted an early penalty goal to give the hosts a 3-0 advantage, while the Capetonians were frustrated by a series of misfiring lineouts and missed opportunities as they went into the break scoreless.

The visitors found their rhythm after half-time. Yaqeen Ahmed kicked two penalty goals to put the DHL Stormers 6-3 ahead before Edinburgh responded through replacement prop Paul Hill, whose converted try gave the hosts a 10-6 lead.

The game’s disciplinary flashpoint came shortly afterwards when DHL Stormers wing Seabelo Senatla was shown a yellow card, while Edinburgh flanker Freddy Douglas was then sent to the sin bin for repeated team infringements, leaving both sides to navigate crucial stages with 14 men.

The DHL Stormers capitalised when No 8 Hacjivah Dayimani powered over from a dominant scrum, with Ahmed’s conversion edging the visitors 13-10 ahead. However, Edinburgh had the final say. Sustained pressure resulted in Rory McHaffie crossing in the corner, and Grayson added the conversion to secure a 17-13 lead that the hosts held until full-time.

Scorers:

Edinburgh 17 (3) – Tries: Paul Hill, Rory McHaffie. Conversions: James Grayson (2). Penalty goal: Grayson.

DHL Stormers 13 (0) – Try: Hacjivah Dayimani. Conversion: Yaqeen Ahmed (1). Penalty goals: Ahmed (2).

Hollywoodbets Sharks pip Leinster in Durban humdinger

The Hollywoodbets Sharks recorded only their second victory over Leinster when they beat the Irish visitors by 26-20 in an exciting Vodacom URC game in Durban on Saturday afternoon.

A number of returning Springboks were in action for the hosts and made an immediate impact as the KwaZulu-Natalians not only remained unbeaten but shot to the top of the standings.

A converted try by Ireland midfielder Robbie Henshaw gave Leinster a 7-0 lead before the Hollywoodbets Sharks hit back with tries by Manu Tshituka and Litelihle Bester, both converted by Vusi Moyo, to give the hosts a 14-7 lead at the break, with their pack setting the tone.

Tom Clarkson’s unconverted try made it 14-12 with half an hour to go, and Leinster then took a one-point lead when Sam Prendergast nailed a 66th minute penalty goal, but the hosts then took control, with Ox Nche and Eben Etzebeth showing their experience off the bench.

Bok centre Andre Esterhuizen, who captained the home side, crossed for a superb try with Moyo’s conversion making it 21-15 before Edwill van der Merwe, another one of the hosts’ returning Boks, all but sealed the deal with an intercept try in the 78th minute, which also secured them a try-scoring bonus point.

Leinster grabbed a losing bonus point through Andrew Osborne in injury time, but it was too little, too late for the defending champions from Dublin.

Scorers:

Hollywoodbets Sharks 26 (14) – Tries: Manu Tshituka, Litelihle Bester, Andre Esterhuizen, Edwill van der Merwe. Conversions: Vusi Moyo (3).

Leinster 20 (7) – Tries: Robbie Henshaw, Thomas Clarkson, Andrew Osborne. Conversion: Caspar Gabriel. Penalty goal: Sam Prendergast.

Vodacom Bulls come up short in Limerick

The Vodacom Bulls came up short in an entertaining Vodacom URC clash against Munster in Limerick, where the hosts won by 26-22 after the teams were locked at 14-14 at the break.

Ruan Vermaak gave the visitors the lead when he went over after a strong lineout drive, but five minutes later Diarmuid Kilgallen levelled matters when he scored from a great cross kick.

When Charlie O’Shea charged down a Curwin Bosch kick and added the conversion, the hosts led 14-7 with 10 minutes to go in the first half, but the men from Pretoria hit back with a try by Francois Klopper after a relentless attacking spell shortly before the break.

Jeandré Rudolph won a breakdown penalty early in the second half and Bosch nailed the kick to give the Bulls a 17-14 lead, but O’Shea’s second try, followed by an Alex Kendellen score, saw Munster enter the final 10 minutes leading by 26-17.

Rudolph was rewarded for a great game with a try in the 73rd minute, which put the Vodacom Bulls back in the picture at 26-22, but unfortunately for they failed to find the extra gear needed to secure victory, instead leaving Limerick with a losing bonus point.

Scorers:

Munster 26 (14) – Tries: Diarmuid Kilgallen, Charlie O’Shea (2), Alex Kendellen. Conversions: O’Shea (3).

Vodacom Bulls 22 (14) – Tries: Ruan Vermaak, Francois Klopper, Jeandré Rudolph. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (2). Penalty goal: Bosch.

Issued by SA Rugby Communications

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