Well, it wasn’t a good weekend for Sharks rugby, that’s for sure.
Khaya Majola’s young Sharks XV side lost to a somewhat more experienced Boland Cavaliers team at the Suger Ray Xulu Stadium in Claremont township on Friday night, conceding five tries in a 25-37 reversal. Late tries were scored by Majola himself, S’bura Sithole and Wandile Mjekevu to add a measure of scoreline respectability for the Sharks XV; the damage had already been done by Boland, though, with
three tries without reply in the opening period ensuring they remained well ahead throughout.
The Sharks XV were in good company, though, with the Lions and Pumas also suffering unexpected defeats in the opening round. The next fixture for the Sharks outfit is against Border, in East London on Friday night.
SCORERS
Cell C Sharks XV β Tries: Sβbura Sithole, Khaya Majola, Wandile Mjekevu; Conversions: Innocent Radebe (2); Penalties: Radebe (2).
Boland Cavaliers β Tries: Shaun Adendorff, Shaun McDonald, Ryan Nell, Danwell Demas, Adriaan Carelse; Conversions: Nico Scheepers (3); Penalties: Scheepers (2).

Not a great start at all…and this side gets depleted with players touring with the Sharks now. And they lost to Border comfortably in the preseason. So definitely a lot of work ahead for this group…
@SheldonK (Comment 1) : Is there any of the Impi players that gets drafted into the squad with the players going away? Should hope that they do in giving them an opportunity in getting senior game time
@Henkb (Comment 2) : Im sure a few will be drafted in
@SheldonK (Comment 3) : This extended CC is just another way for SARU to dance to the pipes if the smaller unions as all the bug unions are now fully committed on super rugby
Seeing as these rounds are pretty much Vodacom Cup and Horak just started as coach this was probably approached as more of a practise game than anything else. Not sure we should read too much into the scoreline.
@vanmartin (Comment 5) : Nope, most of the guys playing are part of the Super rugby squad and had very little to none game time as yet, sure this was used to try and get them some game time and fitness in a way
@Henkb (Comment 4) : They lost Vodacom as a sponsor so thats why the extended format of CC
@SheldonK (Comment 7) : that would explain why the format change happened.
I see the varsity cup playing they promo\rele game on supersport. Would love to see uct lose and see what they do to keep them in the cup
@Poisy (Comment 9) : yes that would be fun!!! Go UWC!!!
@JD (Comment 10) : UWC is already losing π 23-0 after 30min to UCT
@Poisy (Comment 11) : Close game i see…hope KPMG signed off on all the players π
@Poisy (Comment 11) : pity!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 12) : By the looks of it they must check if Gulam Bodie is not part of the KPMG team, as Impi would have screwed IKEYS
@SheldonK (Comment 12) : No need, UWC didn’t pose a threat to UCT, so kpmg’s input would be deemed redundant.
@Henkb (Comment 14) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 15) : believe the powers that suck I mean the powers that be are having one major celebration party tonight as their plan work perfectly!!!
@JD (Comment 16) : Just another corrupt body thriving within the corrupt body, never held accountable for their actions by the corrupt governing body…..
…just one Sharks victory, and my bleak outlook over our rugby wilderness might improve considerably π
@FireTheLooser (Comment 17) : Is nothing going to come of this Varsity Shield sham? Sharks/UKZN not going to fight back and challenge this? KMPG not going to be held accountable for their mistake? I am sooooo disillusioned… π
@pastorshark (Comment 18) : I saw a tweet from Xola a week ago, where he said heard Impi will be appealing the decision….that was the last I heard.
Sadly, the rugby laager will stand together and sweep everything under the rug.
Unless Smit and the Sharks board put their full force behind the Impi appeal, ukzn will be seen as a small dog making too much noise….and they’ll be silenced.
…and the VC sham continues.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 17) : hahaha ja maybe a nice victory over the Blues will make us feel beter!!!
Just saw the pukke get tmo’d out of the title
@FireTheLooser (Comment 20) : Definitely a try by Pukke, somehow tmo calls knock on
Early tackle? Penalty try???
@pastorshark (Comment 18) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 19) : problem is promotion/relegation game was played today so not sure anything Impi or Sharks do will change anything. The decision was made and I can’t see them changing it.
Next time I consider moaning about the referee, I’ll rewatch this game and feel relieved. 6 penalties and a yellow card, still no penalty try for pukke
All within 5m of the try line forgot to mention
Will we see bigger BMT than that of Joe P?
A modicum of faith restored.
Well done Pukke….finally.
What a great push the last 15min hope Gary Gold can see what real character is.
@JD (Comment 25) : Big enough guns can avail much…force VC to add a tenth team for the next two years…
If you have the money, there’s plenty of legal routes to follow….could sadly mean making a lot of enemies in the rugby fraternity.
@jdolivier (Comment 27) : @FireTheLooser (Comment 29) : at least Pukke did not need the ref to win the game! Congrats Pukke!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 31) : sorry to say but can’t see it happening.
@JD totally agree, also it is great to see the underdogs win it
@jdolivier (Comment 34) : yes glad they won and not Maties.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 19) : You see…that makes me lose faith in humanity… π₯ I note with interest how quiet the media is about all this…now if UCT was in the same position I doubt that would be the case…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 31) : We’ve had those enemies for decades…what’s new?
Sorry…cynical mood tonight…glad Varsity Cup is over…time to get over it…oh, hang on, I’m already very much over it!
@pastorshark (Comment 36) : unfortunately some people only worry about their own agenda and to hell with the rest!
I see Johan Deysel played for Pukke in the final. Id love to see him and Rhyno Smith in Sharks colours…That Maties 13 is also a good clever player
@pastorshark (Comment 38) : I read Benedict’s article on ruggaworld, seems ukzn won’t appeal due to financial restrictions….obviously VC counted on this – knowing fully well that fighting their under-handed dealings would be impossible without major financial backing.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 41) : *restraints
I see Proudfoot’s name has been added to the rumoured list…not sure what van Graan’s purpose will be with Proudfoot’s as forwards coach – another 4 years of easy money I presume. π
@FireTheLooser (Comment 43) : I suspect if Proudfoot comes in then Van Graan will move to that Mobi unit fulltime…probably long term to take over from Rassie
@FireTheLooser (Comment 43) : @SheldonK (Comment 44) : this whole Bokke coach appointment thing makes me think of an April fools joke that will last for the next 4 years!!!!!
To go back to the Boland game, I must say I was rather surprised that we lost this one.
I started the year thinking that our depth was pretty good. But if our back-up players to Super Rugby are loosing to Boland in this competition, then I fear, I am rather concerned in hindsight over our depth as the Super Rugby progresses and holes we may have to fill from this group. π
@SheldonK (Comment 44) : Van Graan (through his family) is clearly ingrained in the saru-minati….not sure whether he is any good, seems SA rugby appointments are 100% determined by who you know…..no overseas coach will ever be appointed into the laager.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 41) : think you’re spot on!!! Geez it totally pisses me off!!!!
@stevovo (Comment 46) : me to especially as they basically lost 3 from 3 (if you include the 2 warmup games)!
@FireTheLooser (Comment 47) : We can forget about an overseas coach in the foreseeable future thats for sure. Best bet is some guy as a consultant
@stevovo (Comment 46) : I unfortunately think you are correct…perhaps we need to do some shopping or exchange a few of ours for theirs
@FireTheLooser (Comment 43) : Well, that’s it for me…as far as that infernal competition is concerned I shall mention and remember it no more…over and out…
@FireTheLooser (Comment 41) : It’s no pleasant thing when cynicism is proved correct in the end…