Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott might be heading for Western Province next season.
Mercury columnist Mike Greenaway indicated last week that the Sharks No 9 was in talks with Western Province with a view to joining them next year.
Given that his shares in Durban have fallen dramatically over the course of the 2010 season, the news may not come as a shock to fans. Charl McLeod has been Sharks coach John Plumtree’s preferred choice in the Currie Cup this season.
The Sharks have already lost the services of Ulster-bound Ruan Pienaar, and should Kockott leave too, the Durban-based outfit would find themselves short of options in the scrumhalf position with the inaugural Super 15 looming.
The Bulls’ victory in the Super 14 final in Soweto not only broke down all boundaries by becoming the biggest rugby game ever to take place in a township, but it broke all television records as well.
Figures released on Thursday by BMI Sport Info, South Africa’s leading independent sport and sponsorship Research Company, show that rugby made significant inroads into the black population, with black viewers accounting for almost 30 percent of the total viewing audience.
According to the latest AR viewership figures, a new record viewing audience of 2.9 million South Africans of 16 years and older watched the final between the Bulls and Stormers at Orlando Stadium on television this weekend.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee has named one change to his 22-man squad for Saturday’s Super 14 final against the Bulls at the Orlando Stadium in Soweto.
Prop JC Kritzinger has been included on the bench at the expense of the Argentine-born Eusebio Guinazu. The 23-year-old Kritzinger made his debut for the WP Currie Cup team against the Bulls in 2008, and now he’s set to play in his first Super 14 final, also against the Bulls.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee said it was always on the cards to recall Kritzinger to the match-day squad once he overcame a calf injury which sidelined him for the last four matches.
“JC came through a fitness test on Tuesday, so we’re pleased to be able to use him for the final,” said Coetzee.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has made only one change to his starting lineup to face the Stormers in the Super 14 final at Orlando Stadium.
Gerhard van den Heever, who has served his suspension for a dangerous tackle, returns on the wing in place of veteran Jaco van der Westhuyzen who drops to the bench in place of Stephan Dippenaar.
Ludeke has again decided to go with a 5-2 bench in stead of the traditional four forwards and three backs. This is made possible by the versatility of the backs where Jacques-Louis Potgieter can cover at flyhalf and centre and Van der Westhuyzen is at home at flyhalf, wing and fullback. Francois Hougaard will take over at scrumhalf if the need arises.
Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki has payed the highest price for his blunder against the Sharks last week by being left out of the squad for Saturday’s game against the Bulls.
The Stormers wing produced an elementary error when he failed to pick up a ball that had been kicked into the Stormers’ ingoal area by Sharks flyhalf Ruan Pienaar, who came through and pounced on it to score the Durban team’s second try in their upset Super 14 win over the more favoured side.
The score came at a critical time as the outplayed Stormers had done well to limit the Sharks to a lead of just 7-0 up to that point. As a result of the “gift” try, the Sharks had a comfortable buffer at half-time and on a night where their own defensive game was outstanding, John Smit’s men just left the Stormers with too much to do in the second half.
The return of Bryan Habana and Wicus Blaauw to the training camp of the Stormers should lift their spirits after the defeat to the Sharks over the weekend.
The Stormers defeat started in the scrums, where they were dominated by the Sharks front-row of Beast Mtawarira, John Smit and Jannie du Plessis, and the return of Blaauw after an absence of a month and a half should go a significant way towards recovering the destructive edge that has been missing from the set-piece since then.
Stormers coach Allister Coetzee did not say whether Blaauw would start against the Bulls, but he made it clear on Monday at a press gathering in Bellville that Blaauw would be involved in the final league match.
“Wicus is over his injury and he has been missed during his absence so we will definitely involve him in the match against the Bulls,” said Coetzee.
Stormers winger Bryan Habana will not be fit for Saturday’s clash against the Sharks in Durban. This is a major blow for the Stormers in their quest to nail down a Super 14 home semi-final.
Habana suffered bruised ribs in the match against the Crusaders last week at Newlands and by Wednesday morning was still experiencing discomfort.
Centre Tim Whitehead, who replaced Habana on the left wing early in the second half at Newlands last week, has been given the nod to fill the boots of the speedy Springbok winger.
Joe Pietersen, the stand-out fullback in early Super 14 matches this season, makes a welcome return after a lay-off as a result of a hip injury.
Stormers fullback Joe Pietersen has passed a fitness test on the hip injury which prevented him from touring with the Stormers and could be included in the side to face the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
Pietersen’s return could prove timely for the Stormers with Bryan Habana a doubtful participant due to a rib injury picked up during Friday’s win over the Crusaders
Fullback Pietersen was one of the star performers in the earlier stages of the competition, but injury forced him out of the overseas tour. He was back in training on Monday, and came through what coach Allister Coetzee described as a stiff test to prove his readiness.
“Joe could well be back in the playing squad this week, possibly playing off the bench. He trained this morning and he came through it well,” said Coetzee.
Fijian Sireli Naqelevuki has payed the highest price for his blunder against the 
The return of Bryan Habana and Wicus Blaauw to the training camp of the 
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