The moment of truth has arrived. If South African sides were unsure of the challenge of playing in Europe, they will get a full on reality check this weekend when three massive games involving South African franchises take place in the Heineken Champions Cup.
From the Cell C Sharks to the DHL Stormers to the Vodacom Bulls, all three sides face significant challenges with the Bulls possibly having the toughest task against a massive Toulouse side away from home.
So here is the comprehensive all-you-need-to-know guide to get you ready for the three big clashes.
Cell C Sharks vs Munster
Round of 16
1 April 2023, Kick Off: 13.30’
TV: SuperSport
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park
Referee Wayne Barnes (Eng)
Assistant Referee Thomas Foley (Eng)
Assistant Referee Adam Leal (Eng)
TMO: Stuart Terheege (Eng)
Citing Commissioner Csaba Priskin (Cze)
MATCH FACTS
CELL C SHARKS
• Jaden Hendrikse has made more kicks which have been retained than anyother player (14), 38% of his kicks in play. As a team, the Sharks have retained themost Kicks in the Heineken Champions Cup this season (24).
• The Sharks have maintained the highest rate of gainline success in thetournament so far (64%).
• The Sharks have been awarded the most penalties in the competition in themaul (eight) but have scored just one maul try this season.
MUNSTER RUGBY
• Gavin Coombes has made more tackles than any other player (67). He hasalso won seven turnovers, in a variety of ways: jackalling at the ruck, in the maul,tackling a player into touch, counter-rucking and an interception.
• Munster have the lowest rate of scrum success in the tournament (69%).They have conceded five penalties on their own feed — only the Exeter Chiefshave conceded as many.
• Munster have scored as many tries from tap penalties as any other team(four = Exeter Chiefs).
Recent Champions’ Cup form
Cell C Sharks
21/01/2023 Harlequins 39 29 Cell C Sharks
14/01/2023 Cell C Sharks 32 3 Union Bordeaux-Begles
16/12/2022 Union Bordeaux-Begles 16 19 Cell C Sharks
10/12/2022 Cell C Sharks 39 3 Harlequins
Munster
22/01/2023 Stade Toulousain 20 16 Munster Rugby
14/01/2023 Munster Rugby 27 23 Northampton Saints
18/12/2022 Northampton Saints 6 17 Munster Rugby
11/12/2022 Munster Rugby 13 18 Stade Toulousain
• First meeting in the Heineken Champions Cup
Team line-ups
Cell C Sharks: Boeta Chamberlain; Werner Kok, Lukhanyo Am, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Makazole Mapimpi, Curwin Bosch, Jaden Hendrikse; Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Vincent Tshituka, Siya Kolisi (captain), Gerbrandt Grobler, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche.
Replacements: Kerron van Vuuren, Ntuthuko Mchunu, Carlu Sadie, Emile van Heerden, Phendulani Buthelezi, Grant Williams, Ben Tapuai, Thaakir Abrahams.
Munster Rugby: Mike Haley, Calvin Nash, Antoine Frisch, Malakai Fekitoa, Shane Daly; Jack Crowley, Craig Casey; Gavin Coombes, John Hodnett, Peter O’Mahony (captain), RG Snyman, Jean Kleyn, Roman Salanoa, Niall Scannell, Dave Kilcoyne.
Replacements: Diarmuid Barron, Josh Wycherley, Stephen Archer, Fineen Wycherley, Jack O’Donoghue, Conor Murray, Joey Carbery, Alex Kendellen.
DHL STORMERS VS HARLEQUINS
Round of 16
1 April 2023 Kick off: 4pm
TV: SuperSport
Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town
Referee Pierre Brousset (Fra)
Assistant Referee Flavien Hourquet (Fra)
Assistant Referee Vincent Blasco Bague (Fra)
TMO: Eric Gauzins (Fra)
Citing Commissioner Kay Winter-Green (Wal)
MATCH FACTS
DHL STORMERS
• Damian Willemse has made more offloads than any other player (10). Hestarted his first two matches at inside centre, his two most recent at full back.
• The Stormers are one of just two sides who have scored two tries which havebegan in their own 22, the other is Stade Toulousain.
• Hacjivah Dayimani's four clean breaks against London Irish in Round 2remains the record for a forward in a single match this season. In the Stormers’campaign so far, only Willemse (47) has made more carries than him (33).
HARLEQUINS
• Nick David has made as many metres with ball in hand as any other player(340). He has also produced more try assists than any other back (four) andbeaten more defenders than any other player (20).
• Will Evans has won more turnovers than any other player (nine). He won around-high four turnovers last time out (= Patrick Sobela of Lyon).
• Danny Care missed six tackles against the Cell C Sharks last time out. OnlyRory Jennings (London Irish) missed as many.
Match Preview
CHAMPIONS CUP FORM
DHL STORMERS
21/01/2023 DHL Stormers 30 16 ASM Clermont Auvergne15/01/2023 London Irish 14 28 DHL Stormers
17/12/2022 DHL Stormers 34 14 London Irish
10/12/2022 ASM Clermont Auvergne 24 14 DHL Stormers
HARLEQUINS
21/01/2023 Harlequins 39 29 Cell C Sharks
15/01/2023 Racing 92 30 29 Harlequins
18/12/2022 Harlequins 14 10 Racing 92
10/12/2022 Cell C Sharks 39 31 Harlequins
• First meeting in the Heineken Champions Cup
Team Line-ups
DHL Stormers: Damian Willemse; Suleiman Hartzenberg, Ruhan Nel, Daniel du Plessis, Seabelo Senatla; Manie Libbok, Herschel Jantjies; Hacjivah Dayimani, Ben Jason Dixon, Deon Fourie, Marvin Orie, Ernst van Rhyn, Frans Malherbe, Joseph Dweba, Steven Kitshoff (captain)
Replacements: JJ Kotze, Brok Harris, Neethling Fouche, Gary Porter, Willie Engelbrecht, Marcel Theunissen, Paul de Wet, Clayton Blommetjies.
Harlequins: Nick David; Joe Marchant, Luke Northmore, Andre Esterhuizen, Cadan Murley; Marcus Smith, Danny Care (captain); Alex Dombrandt, Will Evans, Jack Kenningham, Irne Herbst, Dino Lamb, Wilco Louw, Jack Walker, Joe Marler.
Replacements: Sam Riley, Fin Baxter, Will Collier, George Hammond, Tom Lawday, Lewis Hjaltema, Tommy Allan, Oscar Beard.
RC TOULOUSE VS VODACOM BULLS
Round of 16
2 April 2023, Kick off: 16.00
TV: SuperSport
Venue: Le Stadium
Referee: Matthew Carley (Eng)
Assistant Referee: Peter Allan (Eng)
Assistant Referee: Hamish Smales (Eng)
TMO: David Rose (Eng)
Citing Commissioner Chris Catling (Eng)
MATCH FACTS
STADE TOULOUSAIN
• Antoine Dupont has made the most kicks in play in the tournament so far(54) and the most kicking metres (1.482).
• Romain Ntamack has made more metres from penalty kicks than any otherplayer (916).
• Emmanuel Meafou has made the most dominant tackle contacts in thecompetition (seven).
• Stade Toulousain have the best rate of lineout success in the tournament(94%).
VODACOM BULLS
• The Vodacom Bulls have scored more tries after winning a turnover thanany other team (five) and they've scored more tries during their second or thirdphase than any other team (seven).
• Of the teams remaining in the competition, the Bulls are the most efficientin the oppostion 22 in terms of scoring tries: they have scored from acompetition-high 41% of their 22 entries.
• The Bulls have won more scrum penalties on the opposition put-in than anyother team (five).
Match Preview
CHAMPIONS CUP FORM
STADE TOULOUSAIN
22/01/2023 Stade Toulousain 20-16 Munster Rugby
14/01/2023 Sale Sharks 5-27 Stade Toulousain
18/12/2022 Stade Toulousain 45-19 Sale Sharks
11/2/2022 Munster Rugby 13-18 Stade Toulousain
VODACOM BULLS
20/01/2023 Lyon 31 7 Vodacom Bulls
14/01/2023 Vodacom Bulls 39 28 Exeter Chiefs
1712/2022 Exeter Chiefs 44 14 Vodacom Bulls
10/12/2022 Vodacom Bulls 42 36 Lyon
• First meeting in the Heineken Champions Cup
Team Line-ups.
RC Toulouse: Thomas Ramos; Juan Cruz Mallia, Santiago Chocobares, Pita Ahki, Matthis Lebel; Romain Ntamack, Antoine Dupont (captain); Alexandre Roumat, Francois Cros, Jack Willis, Emmanuel Meafou, Richie Arnold, Dorian Aldegheri, Julien Marchand, Cyril Baille.
Replacements: Pesto Mauvaka, Rodrigue Neti, David Ainu’u, Thibaud Flament, Alban Placines, Joshua Brennan, Paul Graou, Dimitri Delibes.
Vodacom Bulls: Kurt-Lee Arendse; Canan Moodie, Cornal Hendricks, Harold Vorster, David Kriel; Chris Smith, Zak Burger; Elrigh Louw, Cyle Brink, Marco van Staden, Ruan Nortje (captain), Ruan Vermaak, Mornay Smith, Johan Grobbelaar, Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: Bismarck du Plessis, Dylan Smith, Francois Klopper, Janko Swanepoel, WJ Steenkamp, Embrose Papier, Morne Steyn, Stedman Gans.