The Emirates Lions were undeniably the South African team that made the strongest statement in the Vodacom United Rugby Championship at the weekend but it remains the Hollywoodbets Sharks that have the most intriguing and promising unfolding story.
Firstly, the Lions were outstanding in dispatching Edinburgh. Almost predictably, the foot was lifted from the pedal in the second half, and the visitors salvaged some pride by outscoring the hosts 21-7 after halftime. But the game was done and dusted long before then, indeed probably before the half hour mark, when the Lions had already topped the 30 points mark.
A clean sweep from the South African sides in the #VURC 😎⚡ pic.twitter.com/AAQNPV2ZqR
— SuperSport Rugby (@SSRugby) October 5, 2024
There was a connectedness to the Lions’ attacking game that was sublime, with the official man of the match JC Pretorius as valuable for his linking play as he is for his work at the breakdowns. Kade Wolthuter had a slight injury that forced him off towards the end of the first half, but it was not before he had played a strong role in helping set up some of the Lions tries.
It didn’t look like a serious injury and if it isn’t, then the Lions certainly have a very capable replacement for Jordan Hendrikse, who left for the Sharks in the off-season, and an excellent foil for Sanele Nohamba. Wolhuter was identified as a player of national interest (PONI) at the start of the last World Cup cycle but sadly he sustained two serious ligament injuries playing for the DHL Stormers that limited his game time.
With Manie Libbok, Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu and now Jurie Matthee also on their books, and let’s not forget Damian Willemse can also play flyhalf, the Stormers did the right thing by releasing Wolhuter after his last injury to play for the Lions.
As he grows in confidence, so he's started to thrive, and with the Lions forwards also so dominant against Edinburgh, he had a strong platform to play off.
LIONS’ POLICY IS PAYING OFF
With Morne van den Bergh showing why he is now a Springbok, and by the way nailing an excellent touchline conversion when Wolhuter was injured, plus Edwill van der Merwe showing why he is now considered to be among the reservoir of wing options available to the Boks, the Lions have a lot of weapons.
Jarod Cairns is an example of a player who made his name in their impressive run in the Carling Currie Cup before being so cruelly denied by the Sharks in the closing minutes of the final who is transferring that form into the URC.
All round, the Lions look like they are profiting from their youth policy and the continuity mantra that replicates what brought them relative success in the form of three appearances in successive Super Rugby finals between 2016 and 2018.
The Lions have 10 points from two starts, which is as good an opening salvo to their URC challenge that you can get. The only caveat is that the wins against Ulster and Edinburgh were both achieved in games that kicked off effectively at lunch time at the start of a new South African summer, which if you throw in the altitude does give them a massive advantage over overseas opponents.
It is a ridiculous time to play rugby and it’s not just the players who suffer but the fans too, with the poor turn-out at Emirates Airlines Park possibly a reflection of the discomfort that comes with watching lunch time rugby in the sun.
The Lions will find it tougher when they head off on tour now, but with no home URC games scheduled for the remainder of the year, the full house of points they have so far was much needed. They can consider themselves to be in prime position to challenge for the play-off place and the Investec Champions Cup qualification that goes with it that has proved so elusive for them.
SHARKS LOOK POTENTIAL TITLE CONTENDERS
However, while the Vodacom Bulls impressed against Ulster and the Stormers showed impressive control in shutting out Zebre in Parma, it was the team that denied them the Currie Cup title two weeks ago that sent out the strongest indication of being potential title contenders.
Charging To Conquest 🐂⚡️
— BKT United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial) October 5, 2024
The Vodacom @BlueBullsRugby dominate the scoreline in South Africa with a resounding 47-21 victory over @UlsterRugby#BKTURC #URC | #BULvLEI pic.twitter.com/6XKloTSph2
That may seem an odd thing to say about a team that produced easily the weakest of the four performances from South African teams in what for them was effectively round 2 of the competition. The Dragons are improved, as are most of the Welsh teams, but they are no great shakes, and it shouldn’t have needed the Sharks to rely on an 85th minute injury time try to replacement hooker Fez Mbatha to win them the game.
But it was the manner of the win, and the way it stacks up from the narrative that was effectively started in the semifinal of last season’s EPCR Challenge Cup, that should inspire confidence in Sharks fans. For once again the Sharks found a way to win a game they looked almost certain to lose at several stages of the game, just like the recent Currie Cup semifinals and final, and even the last domestic league game against the Bulls before that.
Jurenzo Julius 👉 Ethan Hooker 👉 Andre Esterhuizen 👉 Jaden Hendrikse = Pure Magic 🪄✨@Vodacom #URC | #DRAvSHA pic.twitter.com/vFIgez98dN
— Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) (@URCOfficial_RSA) October 5, 2024
Last year the Sharks made a habit of conspiring against themselves and losing games they should have won. This time around it is going in the opposite direction, with the return to type from last season suggested by the manner of their defeat to Connacht in the opening round being overturned in Newport.
It wasn’t just the way the Sharks stuck to their guns in the final minutes when they were chasing the win that was impressive and further vindication of the view that John Plumtree has succeeded in his mission of correcting the Sharks’ culture.
There was also a phenomenal fightback either side of halftime from what was a 22-5 deficit, one in which young centre Jurenzo “Boogieman” Julius featured strongly.
The Sharks will have to watch their discipline going forward, for it nearly cost them the game at Rodney Parade, but they will be refreshed by the return of several top Boks shortly and have the material to capitalise on any momentum picked up in the period when they remain absent.
WEEKEND VODACOM UNITED RUGBY CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
Cardiff 36 Glasgow Warriors 52
Scarlets 23 Connacht 24
Emirates Lions 55 Edinburgh 21
Vodacom Bulls 47 Ulster 21
Dragons 30 Hollywoodbets Sharks 33
Benetton 5 Leinster 35
Zebre 5 DHL Stormers 36
Munster 23 Ospreys 0