The Sharks have confirmed that former Southern Kings and current Cheetahs winger Makezole Mapimpi will join the team ahead of Super Rugby next year.
The 27-year-old, who scored 10 tries in 13 appearances for the Kings in 2017, was snapped up by the Bloemfontein side earlier in the year, but opted to exercise a release clause in that contract when it became clear that the Cheetahs would join the Kings in Super Rugby relegation. Mapimpi is currently representing the Cheetahs in Pro 14 action, but will apparently join the Sharks for Super Rugby pre-season training in January.
Mapimpi is an example of a player who has battled his way to the top through sheer hard work; he started his career as an amateur with the bankrupt Border Bulldogs in 2014, shining as a rough diamond in a team of club players that took big hidings against professional opposition that year. His staying power was eventually rewarded and his rise through the professional ranks – based on a phenomenal strike rate and elusive attacking skills – has been as meteoric as it has belated.
We look forward to welcoming Makazole to the Sharks family.
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Some serious talent
Those that say Mapimpi must first show his worth, before being selected for the Sharks XV, are missing a trick. He is a finisher of note. If sentiment says keep van Wyk, then play him at 13. Mapimpi is the top try scorer in the Pro14, and was high on the try scoring sheets in SuperRugby. In Super Rugby he scored 11, to van Wyk’s 7.
@KingCheetah (Comment 2) : great signing, would have liked to have had him for the would of preseason which starts this month I hear, but I guess his on form so lets see him play in pro14 a bit more.
really fast for a guy this big. depth is important.
I get his signing but Zas? We have such a log jam there.
@revolverocelot (Comment 3) : He should be joining before serious pre-season prep starts. I actually have no idea when he is joining officially. Cheetahs are going to miss Mapimpi. He makes things happen. Electric pace off the mark, and good vision.
@coolfusion (Comment 4) : Zas is a bit of a punt. Can play 15, which is a boon.
@KingCheetah (Comment 2) : look I have no stats but on my personal opinion I think van Wyk is a bit better defensively than Mapimpi. Really looking forward to Nkosi, Mapimpi and van Wyk on the wing for the Sharks as all of them is fast and strong with the ability to finish!!! With Mvovo and Bosch at 15 Sharks potentially have a very dangerous back 3!!!
@JD (Comment 7) : If van Wyk can rediscover the form he had before his injury(leading line and tackle breaker in SR at the time) then we have 3 seriously good wings on our books.
Personally think Sharks should have a long hard look at the possibility of offering April, Smith, Ben10 and Blewitt to either Kings or Cheetahs (to play in top14) on a loan deal. Would be much better than letting them sit on the sidelines and watching rugby.
@Quintin (Comment 8) : think he will be there when Super rugby start!
@robdylan (Comment 6) : Yep but we have April smit mvovo bosch a bit congested and wing will also get that way with Nkosi van wyk mapimpi mvovo again. Just think we should spend some money on forwards. But Zas is not confirmed like the other two right?
We are spoilt at the back I must say. Hope we can retain. We should have an agressive rotation policy maybe but then you lose continuity.
@coolfusion (Comment 12) : Actually I’ll shut up now. It’s like complaining about having 3 different types of bacon on your breakfast plate.
@coolfusion (Comment 13) : haha this!
@JD (Comment 9) : Maybe at the Kings. Cheetahs need wings. At flyhalf we are spoilt for choice with any of Zeilinga, Stapelberg, Marais, Swart and Petzer being better than Bosch or April. At FB we have Blommetjies who can be brilliant and diabolical, in the same match. Zeilinga is having a run at 15 tomorrow, so we will see how that pans out. Quite feasible that Marais or Swart can play FB too.
@KingCheetah (Comment 15) : I think you just said Fred Zeilinga is better than Curwin Bosch 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 16) : You got that right! Bosch is going to give some moments of brilliance, but he aint gonna win any trophies. You let a good player slip with Zeilinga
@KingCheetah (Comment 17) : All your 10s have been playing good rugby in the Pro14, without any of them being spectacular, they have all been solid and dependable. I think it is interesting to compare the competition the Cheetahs now have in the Pro14 to SuperRugby/Currie Cup. You have pointed out some differences in the approach in the Pro14 which I found interesting. I have been really happy to see the Cheetahs perform in the Pro14, so far it looks like a good move.
@Dancing Bear (Comment 18) : Also have to remember the Cheetahs have gone from SuperRugby right into Pro14, it is a very long season for them this year. It does bode well for their chances next season though.
Good stuff…
@robdylan (Comment 6) : he got hurt in mid feb
“Wing Leolin Zas suffered a broken leg and has been ruled out for the year, the Stormers confirmed on Monday.
Zas fractured both his fibula and tibia after coming on as a replacement in the friendly match, having recently returned from an unrelated leg injury”
before that though, the guy had speed, size, defense, solid under the high ball. impressed for saA against the england saxons.
Look I think its commendable that there is concern for playing time for our players on this site, it shows a concern for these guys, no one wants any player to fall into obscurity. and a balanced squad is vital. but so is reasonable depth.
we do seem to have options for days at wing which is great. guys like tythan adams can now focus on 7’s, odwa retired, ulunga super young and not very impressive I guess. but we have mapimpi, nkosi and van wyk
If you look at our fh options, Rob is the closest thing we have to a complete fh, but his not perfect. neither is bosch (defense), ben (passing and deadball kicking), inny (consistancy and injuries)
at centre I think we may let deysel go now that we have all this depth in that position
its all relative though, WP/stormers usually have insane depth.
at the end of each sr season theres usually a huge turn over of players that results in us having to start over. so be glad it actually looks like we are well equiped in the backline next yr for sr (we dont know who stays for cc)
forward depth … will have to assess. not convinced with ross at TH just yet, but maybe with a pre season and first choose forwards around him he will excel.
@revolverocelot (Comment 21) : actually think Meyer might leapfrog Ross next year! Either way I just hope one of them can step up as cover for Coenie!
âť— https://youtu.be/EBF5TXLICo4
Just a little something to get you excited!
@Dancing Bear (Comment 18) : Agreed. It hasn’t been ideal having a dual participation, but as you point out, it will benefit us next year. I think people underestimate the quality of rugby in Pro14. Sides lije Munster, Ulster, Glasgow and Llannelli have many seasoned internationals.
It is goid exposure for the Cheetahs and I think it will benefit SA rugby in the long run. Super Rugby would be ideal, but who knows. After 3 seasons in Pro 14, we might be able to afford the depth that sides like the Sharks, Bulls and WP can maintain.
As for the flyhalves, they have all stepped up magnificently. Considering Stapelberg had only really previously played Varsity Cup and club rugby. In addition the style if rugby the Cheetahs play, doesn’t really show how well the flyhalves perform individually. But to be amongst the top try scoring teams and lead the points scorer list individually is indicative of how ell Stapelberg has been playing.
He is competing against some reniwned goal kickers like Halfpenny, Biggar, and Funn Russell.
@KingCheetah (Comment 17) : Haha haha. … I can’t. ..I just can’t. ..And SP Marais as well? Hahaha…
@coolfusion (Comment 25) : Ah yes! SP Marais, the Clayton Blommetjies of Sharks rugby. One moment brilliant, next diabolical. Still prefer him to April. Though I like Smith
@coolfusion (Comment 25) : See they have Freddy at FB tonight vs Connacht. Going to be interesting to see how that pans out. A surfeit of 10’s and a dearth of wings and 15’s at the Cheetahs.
@KingCheetah (Comment 27) : Cheetahs should have snapped up Cronje. Probably still have a chance to.
@KingCheetah (Comment 26) : Too bad the coach doesn’t see it that way. April must have some luck to constantly get picked over smith.
@KingCheetah (Comment 27) : Yup Fred at FB very interesting choice.
@coolfusion (Comment 28) : Yes Lionel had a stellar season. As much as I would have him, we have too many 10,s, unless he is happy to play FB.
@KingCheetah (Comment 31) : Good thing is he can cover both even center if you have to. I would trade a fh for 1 utility like that. Also has good leadership.
@coolfusion (Comment 32) : True. You make a very valid point there. We have quite a few injured guys coming back, and players on bok duty. But we are shy some pace out wide and a solid FB option. Will see what the suits come up with.
@coolfusion (Comment 32) : What is up with Chilli causing trouble because he wasn’t selected after returning from the boks? Just because AC “rates” him doesn’t make him a certain choice! Franco has been in good form.
@KingCheetah (Comment 34) : I haven’t seen this report. Where did that come from?
5A Rugby mag. Seems like therebis unhappiness with the coach too.
@KingCheetah (Comment 36) : Chilli was quite a useful hooker for us this year, but at the end of CC, there is no way he could say he was better than akker or marais
@KingCheetah (Comment 34) : Haven’t seen it. Watched the Conacht match, for my money Obi is still a much better winger and all round player his workload probably more than twice what Mapimpi did. For example hat reason I would rather have van wyk start. He is just as involved in all facets.
@KingCheetah (Comment 36) : Ja read the article. On the face of it I would say it’s silly and counter productive of him. Both the other hookers did well so why not use them for continuity or to see what they could do. It the coaches prerogative to rotate and place men however he sees fit. I hope we don’t fall into the trap we were in a few years back where players steered the boat, we all know where that gets you. If he isn’t happy with the coach he should be discussing departure. The coach is there for the direction and wellbeing of the whole team nit just this year but for his tenure.
@KingCheetah (Comment 34) : If Alistar rates him so highly why didn’t he play him the entire year.
Chilli shot his bolt, he has never been the same since his long drug ban for repeated infringements.He would do well to remember the Sharks taking him in when no one else would have him.
something ugly is brewing there. I’m waiting for some more details before I write anything about it.
@robdylan (Comment 41) : I agree
@robdylan (Comment 41) : @The hound (Comment 42) : If i had to pick i know who id prefer they show the door….
@The hound (Comment 40) : Precisely! I really detest this whole scenario. If the provincial/franchise coaches don’t rate a player as the best in his position, then that is what it is. different scenario’s.
@The hound (Comment 40) : Quite right.
@KingCheetah (Comment 44) : Will always create an issue when the Boks pick a player who isnt the best in his position at his franchise…
@SheldonK (Comment 46) : Sheesh was hoping we would atleast have one sr season of three quality options like the lions did when they had marx, coatzee, aker, at one point also pretorius and yes ramon samuals. but of cause that unsustainable for a few seasons.
for now im not going to judge or speculate until all the facts are out.
@revolverocelot (Comment 47) : Yeh look Chilliboy is no longer a spring chicken and i agree with Rob thats its tough to pick him with the other two there. Not sure who i 4th in line now as i think the Sharks XV guy went to Kings. So prob an u21 or club guy
@robdylan (Comment 41) : for sure!!! Really don’t like stuff like this happening anywhere especially at the Sharks!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 48) : I think Kerron van Vurren is next.
@robdylan (Comment 50) : Yeh thats prob right
@robdylan (Comment 41) : see the Sharks posted a press release regarding the whole issue. If what they say is correct then I must say the future is looking good with 27 players of the current squad resigning with the Sharks! So it would seem that someone is pushing an agenda to destabilise rugby in SA!