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"description": "Daily Maverick is an independent online news publication and weekly print newspaper in South Africa.\r\n\r\nIt is known for breaking some of the defining stories of South Africa in the past decade, including the Marikana Massacre, in which the South African Police Service killed 34 miners in August 2012.\r\n\r\nIt also investigated the Gupta Leaks, which won the 2019 Global Shining Light Award.\r\n\r\nThat investigation was credited with exposing the Indian-born Gupta family and former President Jacob Zuma for their role in the systemic political corruption referred to as state capture.\r\n\r\nIn 2018, co-founder and editor-in-chief Branislav ‘Branko’ Brkic was awarded the country’s prestigious Nat Nakasa Award, recognised for initiating the investigative collaboration after receiving the hard drive that included the email tranche.\r\n\r\nIn 2021, co-founder and CEO Styli Charalambous also received the award.\r\n\r\nDaily Maverick covers the latest political and news developments in South Africa with breaking news updates, analysis, opinions and more.",
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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The South African United Rugby Championship (URC) teams have perfect records against their European opposition in the three rounds of tournament action thus far. This is an incredible improvement on their 33% win rate at the same point last season. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lions kickstart this weekend’s action with a tough match against Edinburgh in the Scottish capital tonight. The Johannesburg side is in fine form after two superb away victories to Welsh sides Cardiff (31-18) and Ospreys (28-27) in the two previous rounds. </span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: </span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-10-03-south-african-teams-rampage-through-the-urc/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South African teams rampage through the URC</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made two changes to his run-on side that beat Cardiff last week. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first change is a rotational switch in the pack, where junior Springbok loose forward Ruan Venter will start, with Emmanuel Tshituka dropping down to the bench.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other sees Stean Pienaar come in on the wing for Edwill van der Merwe who suffered a concussion last week and has flown back to South Africa.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The halfback pairing of Sanele Nohamba and Gianni Lombard is trusted once more this week, ahead of Morné van den Berg and Jordan Hendrikse. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lions’ match against Edinburgh kicks off at 8:35pm tonight. </span>\r\n<h4><b>Stormers in Parma</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stormers and Zebre’s fortunes are currently in opposite directions with the Western Cape-based side unbeaten thus far this season while Zebre are yet to pick up their first win. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this is the Stormers’ first game abroad this season and they will know the importance of starting well, having started slowly against Edinburgh at home last weekend. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head coach John Dobson has rung the changes. His hand was partially forced in the backline with newly acquired fullback Clayton Blommetjies unavailable this weekend due to his wedding on Saturday. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Springbok utility back Damian Willemse takes the No 15 jumper as he shifts from inside centre. Junior Springbok captain Sacha Mngomezulu will play in the No 12 jersey in a switch Dobson describes as a “like-for-like replacement”. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1422659\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rugby-URC-preview-1.jpg\" alt=\"URC: Lee-Marvin Mazibuko of the Stormers\" width=\"720\" height=\"479\" /> Lee-Marvin Mazibuko of the Stormers during the United Rugby Championship warm up match between DHL Stormers and SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park on 2 September, 2022 in George, South Africa. (Photo: Mark Ward/Gallo Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another off-season buy, Samoan Alapati Leiua will partner Mngomezulu in midfield in what will be his first appearance for the blue and white side. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, another Springbok, scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will make his first start of the season, after coming off the bench against Edinburgh last week.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a handful of changes in the pack as Willie Engelbrecht and Junior Pokomela replace Hacjivah Dayimani and the rested Deon Fourie respectively.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adré Smith comes into the second row in place of last weekend’s captain Marvin Orie, with Salmaan Moerat taking over the leadership reins in Parma.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“This is a team full of potential, just looking at some of the combinations we have out there,” said Dobson.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It is fantastic to have someone of Salmaan’s stature to step in as captain and we are excited to see what the likes of Alapati, Sacha, Willie and Herschel can do as they all make their first starts of the campaign.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stormers kick off their match at 4pm on Saturday against Zebre.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Sharks in Dublin</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It’s a battle of the undefeated in Dublin on Saturday when the Sharks face Leinster. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both Leinster and the Sharks have found it tough going in the preliminary rounds of the URC, but have managed to win their respective matches. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has kept the changes to a minimum from the side that ran out 20-19 victors against the Dragons last weekend.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two changes to his starting side are rotational and in the forward pack. With Springbok Sikhumbuzo Notshe coming in for Phepsi Buthelezi at No 8 and Hyron Andrews replacing Reniel Hugo in the second row.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notshe will be accompanied by James Venter and Dylan Richardson at the back of the scrum.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“As coaches, we’re really excited with what we’ve seen [with the loose trio] over the last couple of weeks, it’s been phenomenal, and we know there’s going to be even more improvement in that department as we progress in the competition,” said Sharks assistant coach Warren Whiteley.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is also some excitement on the replacements bench with former Stellenbosch University (Maties) star Nevaldo Fleurs in line to make his URC debut for the Sharks.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 22-year-old covers flyhalf, fullback and centre. Fleurs was the top points-scorer in this year’s Varsity Cup with 118. The exciting playmaker might still play an integral role for the side down the line with both Curwin Bosch and Lionel Cronje recovering from broken arms. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks take on top of the log Leinster at 6:05pm on Saturday.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Bulls in Glasgow</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like the Stormers, the Bulls will play their first match on foreign soil this weekend when they face Scottish outfit Glasgow Warriors. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls are unbeaten thus far, having claimed all three of their victories at Loftus. On the contrary, Glasgow have only claimed one victory so far — an emphatic 52-24 win over Cardiff at home.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bulls director of rugby Jake White has been forced into making several changes to the side that beat Connacht 28-14 last week, mostly due to injury. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Springbok wingers Canan Moodie and Sbu Nkosi have not travelled with the Pretoria-based due to injuries sustained in the match, with influential hooker Johan Grobbelaar also staying home. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who can play in all three positions across the front row, will make his first start of the season at hooker on Saturday in place of the injured Grobbelaar. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The revamped backline sees Chris Smith back at flyhalf after Johan Goosen’s stint last week. Meanwhile, Lionel Mapoe starts at outside centre. Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans head up the wings, as Springbok Kurt-Lee Arendse continues his role at fullback.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I am very happy with how the guys have trained this week, in tricky weather conditions,” said White.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are in a good space as a team and have the wonderful opportunity to go out there against Glasgow and do what we need to do. Continuing to build on the momentum we already have from this campaign.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It is still early days in this new campaign but if we continue to do the basics right week in and week out, everything else will also fall into place.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls have experience to call upon from the bench with Bismarck Du Plessis and Morné Steyn among the replacements. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The match between the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors is at 8:35pm on Saturday. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The South African United Rugby Championship (URC) teams have perfect records against their European opposition in the three rounds of tournament action thus far. This is an incredible improvement on their 33% win rate at the same point last season. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lions kickstart this weekend’s action with a tough match against Edinburgh in the Scottish capital tonight. The Johannesburg side is in fine form after two superb away victories to Welsh sides Cardiff (31-18) and Ospreys (28-27) in the two previous rounds. </span>\r\n\r\n<i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Read more in </span></i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Daily Maverick</span><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">: </span></i><a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/article/2022-10-03-south-african-teams-rampage-through-the-urc/\"><i><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">South African teams rampage through the URC</span></i></a>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head coach Ivan van Rooyen has made two changes to his run-on side that beat Cardiff last week. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The first change is a rotational switch in the pack, where junior Springbok loose forward Ruan Venter will start, with Emmanuel Tshituka dropping down to the bench.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The other sees Stean Pienaar come in on the wing for Edwill van der Merwe who suffered a concussion last week and has flown back to South Africa.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The halfback pairing of Sanele Nohamba and Gianni Lombard is trusted once more this week, ahead of Morné van den Berg and Jordan Hendrikse. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lions’ match against Edinburgh kicks off at 8:35pm tonight. </span>\r\n<h4><b>Stormers in Parma</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stormers and Zebre’s fortunes are currently in opposite directions with the Western Cape-based side unbeaten thus far this season while Zebre are yet to pick up their first win. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, this is the Stormers’ first game abroad this season and they will know the importance of starting well, having started slowly against Edinburgh at home last weekend. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Head coach John Dobson has rung the changes. His hand was partially forced in the backline with newly acquired fullback Clayton Blommetjies unavailable this weekend due to his wedding on Saturday. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Springbok utility back Damian Willemse takes the No 15 jumper as he shifts from inside centre. Junior Springbok captain Sacha Mngomezulu will play in the No 12 jersey in a switch Dobson describes as a “like-for-like replacement”. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1422659\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1422659\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Rugby-URC-preview-1.jpg\" alt=\"URC: Lee-Marvin Mazibuko of the Stormers\" width=\"720\" height=\"479\" /> Lee-Marvin Mazibuko of the Stormers during the United Rugby Championship warm up match between DHL Stormers and SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park on 2 September, 2022 in George, South Africa. (Photo: Mark Ward/Gallo Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Another off-season buy, Samoan Alapati Leiua will partner Mngomezulu in midfield in what will be his first appearance for the blue and white side. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, another Springbok, scrumhalf Herschel Jantjies will make his first start of the season, after coming off the bench against Edinburgh last week.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are a handful of changes in the pack as Willie Engelbrecht and Junior Pokomela replace Hacjivah Dayimani and the rested Deon Fourie respectively.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Adré Smith comes into the second row in place of last weekend’s captain Marvin Orie, with Salmaan Moerat taking over the leadership reins in Parma.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“This is a team full of potential, just looking at some of the combinations we have out there,” said Dobson.</span>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<strong>Visit <a href=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za?utm_source=direct&utm_medium=in_article_link&utm_campaign=homepage\"><em>Daily Maverick's</em> home page</a> for more news, analysis and investigations</strong>\r\n\r\n<hr />\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It is fantastic to have someone of Salmaan’s stature to step in as captain and we are excited to see what the likes of Alapati, Sacha, Willie and Herschel can do as they all make their first starts of the campaign.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stormers kick off their match at 4pm on Saturday against Zebre.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Sharks in Dublin</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It’s a battle of the undefeated in Dublin on Saturday when the Sharks face Leinster. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Both Leinster and the Sharks have found it tough going in the preliminary rounds of the URC, but have managed to win their respective matches. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks head coach Sean Everitt has kept the changes to a minimum from the side that ran out 20-19 victors against the Dragons last weekend.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The two changes to his starting side are rotational and in the forward pack. With Springbok Sikhumbuzo Notshe coming in for Phepsi Buthelezi at No 8 and Hyron Andrews replacing Reniel Hugo in the second row.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Notshe will be accompanied by James Venter and Dylan Richardson at the back of the scrum.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“As coaches, we’re really excited with what we’ve seen [with the loose trio] over the last couple of weeks, it’s been phenomenal, and we know there’s going to be even more improvement in that department as we progress in the competition,” said Sharks assistant coach Warren Whiteley.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There is also some excitement on the replacements bench with former Stellenbosch University (Maties) star Nevaldo Fleurs in line to make his URC debut for the Sharks.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 22-year-old covers flyhalf, fullback and centre. Fleurs was the top points-scorer in this year’s Varsity Cup with 118. The exciting playmaker might still play an integral role for the side down the line with both Curwin Bosch and Lionel Cronje recovering from broken arms. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks take on top of the log Leinster at 6:05pm on Saturday.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Bulls in Glasgow</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Like the Stormers, the Bulls will play their first match on foreign soil this weekend when they face Scottish outfit Glasgow Warriors. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls are unbeaten thus far, having claimed all three of their victories at Loftus. On the contrary, Glasgow have only claimed one victory so far — an emphatic 52-24 win over Cardiff at home.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bulls director of rugby Jake White has been forced into making several changes to the side that beat Connacht 28-14 last week, mostly due to injury. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Springbok wingers Canan Moodie and Sbu Nkosi have not travelled with the Pretoria-based due to injuries sustained in the match, with influential hooker Johan Grobbelaar also staying home. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Jan-Hendrik Wessels, who can play in all three positions across the front row, will make his first start of the season at hooker on Saturday in place of the injured Grobbelaar. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The revamped backline sees Chris Smith back at flyhalf after Johan Goosen’s stint last week. Meanwhile, Lionel Mapoe starts at outside centre. Cornal Hendricks and Stedman Gans head up the wings, as Springbok Kurt-Lee Arendse continues his role at fullback.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“I am very happy with how the guys have trained this week, in tricky weather conditions,” said White.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are in a good space as a team and have the wonderful opportunity to go out there against Glasgow and do what we need to do. Continuing to build on the momentum we already have from this campaign.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“It is still early days in this new campaign but if we continue to do the basics right week in and week out, everything else will also fall into place.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls have experience to call upon from the bench with Bismarck Du Plessis and Morné Steyn among the replacements. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The match between the Bulls and Glasgow Warriors is at 8:35pm on Saturday. </span><b>DM</b>",
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Lee-Marvin Mazibuko of the Stormers during the United Rugby Championship warm up match between DHL Stormers and SWD Eagles at Outeniqua Park on 2 September, 2022 in George, South Africa. (Photo: Mark Ward/Gallo Images)