Sonny Bill eager to make his mark
SONNY Bill Williams has received a lot of press this week – he’s been the subject of plenty of twitter talk and he’s cropped up on more than one meme, but it’s on the rugby field where the All Blacks star will want to leave his mark this weekend.
Williams returns for the Auckland-based side for their Super Rugby clash with the Lions after missing out through injury last week and his return is sure to be a major boost to the former champions. Tana Umaga’s men have played some of the best attacking rugby in recent years, including this season, too, yet they continue to struggle to go the distance and bank the wins.
The 32-year-old former league star divides opinion, but what is certain is that he has the potential, still, to be a highly influential figure on the rugby field and is sure to keep the Lions on their toes for the full 80 minutes tomorrow. His offloads are legendary, but according to the Lions’ backline coach Neil de Bruin, there’s more to a rugby team than one “world class player”.
- Jacques van der Westhuizen THE TWO South African Vodacom Super Rugby sides in action on local soil this weekend will have the same goal in mind, but are approaching their fourth round matches differently.
The Cell C Sharks host the Sunwolves at 3.05pm in Durban and are looking for their first win of the season, while the Emirates Lions will be aiming to build on their three wins so far when they host the Blues at 5.15pm in Johannesburg.
The DHL Stormers kick off the weekend’s action at 8.35am this morning (SA time) with their final Australasian tour fixture, against the Highlanders in Dunedin, while the Vodacom Bulls begin their overseas commitments against the Reds the next morning in Brisbane.
In the remaining SA Conference fixture, the Jaguares welcome the Waratahs to Buenos Aires (11.40 pm) tomorrow.
Robbie Fleck’s DHL Stormers have been severely hit by injuries, with promising lock JD Schickerling the latest long-term casualty, while versatile Cobus Wiese is nursing a shoulder injury.
Former SA Schools star forward Salmaan Moerat (lock) has been named on the bench for the Dunedin clash, with the youngster set to make his competition debut should he get some action. The Cape side made five changes to their starting fifteen and four more amongst the replacements.
Springbok Handre Pollard, who last week played No 12, is back at flyhalf for the Vodacom Bulls, who start their Australasian leg with a visit to the Reds in Brisbane on Saturday. Johnny Kotze comes into the inside centre berth as a result of the decision to move Pollard to No 10.
Pollard played inside centre last Saturday against the Emirates Lions in Pretoria because of the late withdrawal of Burger Odendaal. Warrick Gelant, who came off the bench, returns to the starting line-up as No 15 in place of Divan Rossouw.
Following an away loss to the Emirates Lions and a home draw against the Waratahs, the Cell C Sharks will be eager to register their first win of the season when they host the Sunwolves at Jonsson Kings Park in Durban.
Young Springbok Curwin Bosch has been picked at fullback for his first start of the season while the