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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks have picked all their big guns to take on defending URC champions Glasgow in Durban.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That they have loaded their team with World Cup winners underlines how desperate the Sharks are not to let their season spiral into a repeat of their last Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks lost their first five games and only one of their first 10 games of the 2023–2024 campaign, which ended their play-off run by the midway point of the season.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coach John Plumtree has probably seen the warning lights flashing this year, with just one win in three games. It’s a better start, but that’s all relative when compared against last season’s calamitous beginning.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks have been on tour, so that is a mitigating factor, but they need to kick start their season in earnest this weekend.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It isn’t a surprise then, that Plumtree has stacked his team with 11 players who have a Rugby World Cup gold medal at home to face defending URC champions Glasgow at King’s Park.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bok skipper Siya Kolisi returns to make his first appearance for the club since resigning from Racing 92 recently, while lock Eben Etzebeth will play his first game of the campaign.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Cup winners Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Vincent Koch complete a formidable front row. With Etzebeth and Kolisi up front, as well as Bok loosie Phepsi Nuthulezi, it’s a pack that shouldn’t take a backwards step all day.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the backline, World Cup winners Jaden Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi, André Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am offer class and experience.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throw in the brilliant Aphelele Fassi at fullback and new Bok Jordan Hendrikse at flyhalf, and there is a lot to like.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With RWC-winning prop Trevor Nyakane on a bench that also includes Bok scrumhalf Grant Williams and the wonderfully talented centre Jurenzo Julius, this should be a straightforward assignment for the Sharks.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But URC games, especially against a team as good as Glasgow, are never straightforward.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The defending champions have won three of their four matches this season – the last of which was an emphatic 33-3 win against Zebre Parma.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are second place on the standings with 16 points with the Sharks languishing in 14th at this early stage.</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2416111\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2159345-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"URC Eben Etzebeth \" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" /> <em>Eben Etzebeth (centre) during a URC match between the Sharks and Emirates Lions in Durban, South Africa, on 6 January 2024. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2416120 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2024870-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"URC Siya Kolisi\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1780\" /> <em>Siya Kolisi during the URC match between the Sharks and Munster at Kings Park in Durban, South Africa, on 22 April 2023. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><b>Munster memories</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stormers have selected Damian Willemse at flyhalf again for their clash against Munster at the DHL Stadium as they look to also bounce back after a heavy defeat.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2022 champions lost 38-7 to Edinburgh last week to complete their three-week northern hemisphere tour, and are last on the 16 team table.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Munster are also smarting after losing 26-12 to old rivals Leinster in front of more than 80,000 people at Croke Park. Munster, though, have a great record against South African opposition, having won their last nine games against South African opponents. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Stormers do have a formidable home record, winning their last nine games. But they did lose against Munster in the 2023 URC final at the DHL Stadium. In fact, Munster have a 4-0 record against the Stormers. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was eight years ago this week that former Munster and Ireland great Anthony Foley, known as Axel, died before a game in France when he was coaching the club.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His name still reverberates through the club.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“His name is mentioned literally every day that we’re together, whether it’s training or after games, whenever the boys are in a huddle, Axel’s name is always there and always will be,” Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We were speaking about it on the bus there about Axel and the great memories, but the thing about Axel, we always talk about him, always speak about him.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Today’s [16 October] his anniversary, but just in terms of what he was as a friend, what he was as a player and as a coach. He’s a person we speak about all the time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“A brilliant guy and we remember him obviously more today, for the day that’s in it, his anniversary, but his name is always there. He’s always spoken about.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Munster may have good memories of Cape Town, but last week’s setback stung. They do, though, feel that they’re not far off producing a result to go with what they believe was a decent performance against Leinster.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We did an awful lot well [against Leinster], albeit not the start of the game,” Prendergast said. “It’s something we spoke about; we cannot give teams that start. But I think if you look at 60 minutes after that there was some really good stuff on both sides of the ball.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“So a reaction is probably from frustration. And I go back to the opportunities we created a couple of metres from the line. So for me, the reaction can be about just being a bit more having that killer instinct and also just that calmness and trusting people at times that are outside you. For me, that’s where we came up short, at the start, those 20 minutes.”</span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-2416108\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2276810-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"URC Lions v Dragons\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1694\" /> <em>Jarod Cairns of the Lions is tackled by Dan Lydiate of the Dragons during their URC match at Rodney Parade in Newport, Wales, on 13 October 2024. (Photo: Chris Fairweather / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"wp-image-2416110 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271813-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" /> <em>Leolin Zas of the Stormers makes a break during the Stormers’ URC match against Zebre Parma in Parma, Italy, on 5 October 2024. (Photo: Roberto Bregani / Gallo Images)</em></p>\r\n<h4><strong>Italian excursion</strong></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lions will also target extending their unbeaten run to four matches when they line up against Zebre Parma in Italy on Saturday, and they will draw inspiration from the fact that the home side have secured only one win in their four matches so far this season.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Johannesburgers defeated Ulster and Edinburgh at home before grinding out a valuable 23-19 victory against the Dragons in Newport last week.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls are also hunting their fourth victory in a row this season when they take on the Scarlets in Llanelli. The Welsh side claimed their first victory last week against Cardiff away. </span><b>DM</b>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks have picked all their big guns to take on defending URC champions Glasgow in Durban.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">That they have loaded their team with World Cup winners underlines how desperate the Sharks are not to let their season spiral into a repeat of their last Vodacom United Rugby Championship (URC) campaign.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks lost their first five games and only one of their first 10 games of the 2023–2024 campaign, which ended their play-off run by the midway point of the season.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coach John Plumtree has probably seen the warning lights flashing this year, with just one win in three games. It’s a better start, but that’s all relative when compared against last season’s calamitous beginning.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks have been on tour, so that is a mitigating factor, but they need to kick start their season in earnest this weekend.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It isn’t a surprise then, that Plumtree has stacked his team with 11 players who have a Rugby World Cup gold medal at home to face defending URC champions Glasgow at King’s Park.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bok skipper Siya Kolisi returns to make his first appearance for the club since resigning from Racing 92 recently, while lock Eben Etzebeth will play his first game of the campaign.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">World Cup winners Ox Nche, Bongi Mbonambi, and Vincent Koch complete a formidable front row. With Etzebeth and Kolisi up front, as well as Bok loosie Phepsi Nuthulezi, it’s a pack that shouldn’t take a backwards step all day.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">In the backline, World Cup winners Jaden Hendrikse, Makazole Mapimpi, André Esterhuizen and Lukhanyo Am offer class and experience.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Throw in the brilliant Aphelele Fassi at fullback and new Bok Jordan Hendrikse at flyhalf, and there is a lot to like.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">With RWC-winning prop Trevor Nyakane on a bench that also includes Bok scrumhalf Grant Williams and the wonderfully talented centre Jurenzo Julius, this should be a straightforward assignment for the Sharks.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">But URC games, especially against a team as good as Glasgow, are never straightforward.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The defending champions have won three of their four matches this season – the last of which was an emphatic 33-3 win against Zebre Parma.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">They are second place on the standings with 16 points with the Sharks languishing in 14th at this early stage.</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2416111\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2416111\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2159345-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"URC Eben Etzebeth \" width=\"2560\" height=\"1706\" /> <em>Eben Etzebeth (centre) during a URC match between the Sharks and Emirates Lions in Durban, South Africa, on 6 January 2024. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2416120\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2416120 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2024870-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"URC Siya Kolisi\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1780\" /> <em>Siya Kolisi during the URC match between the Sharks and Munster at Kings Park in Durban, South Africa, on 22 April 2023. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><b>Munster memories</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stormers have selected Damian Willemse at flyhalf again for their clash against Munster at the DHL Stadium as they look to also bounce back after a heavy defeat.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The 2022 champions lost 38-7 to Edinburgh last week to complete their three-week northern hemisphere tour, and are last on the 16 team table.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Munster are also smarting after losing 26-12 to old rivals Leinster in front of more than 80,000 people at Croke Park. Munster, though, have a great record against South African opposition, having won their last nine games against South African opponents. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> The Stormers do have a formidable home record, winning their last nine games. But they did lose against Munster in the 2023 URC final at the DHL Stadium. In fact, Munster have a 4-0 record against the Stormers. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">It was eight years ago this week that former Munster and Ireland great Anthony Foley, known as Axel, died before a game in France when he was coaching the club.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">His name still reverberates through the club.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“His name is mentioned literally every day that we’re together, whether it’s training or after games, whenever the boys are in a huddle, Axel’s name is always there and always will be,” Munster attack coach Mike Prendergast said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We were speaking about it on the bus there about Axel and the great memories, but the thing about Axel, we always talk about him, always speak about him.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“Today’s [16 October] his anniversary, but just in terms of what he was as a friend, what he was as a player and as a coach. He’s a person we speak about all the time.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“A brilliant guy and we remember him obviously more today, for the day that’s in it, his anniversary, but his name is always there. He’s always spoken about.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Munster may have good memories of Cape Town, but last week’s setback stung. They do, though, feel that they’re not far off producing a result to go with what they believe was a decent performance against Leinster.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We did an awful lot well [against Leinster], albeit not the start of the game,” Prendergast said. “It’s something we spoke about; we cannot give teams that start. But I think if you look at 60 minutes after that there was some really good stuff on both sides of the ball.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“So a reaction is probably from frustration. And I go back to the opportunities we created a couple of metres from the line. So for me, the reaction can be about just being a bit more having that killer instinct and also just that calmness and trusting people at times that are outside you. For me, that’s where we came up short, at the start, those 20 minutes.”</span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2416108\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-2416108\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2276810-1-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"URC Lions v Dragons\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1694\" /> <em>Jarod Cairns of the Lions is tackled by Dan Lydiate of the Dragons during their URC match at Rodney Parade in Newport, Wales, on 13 October 2024. (Photo: Chris Fairweather / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_2416110\" align=\"alignnone\" width=\"2560\"]<img class=\"wp-image-2416110 size-full\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/TL_2271813-scaled.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"2560\" height=\"1708\" /> <em>Leolin Zas of the Stormers makes a break during the Stormers’ URC match against Zebre Parma in Parma, Italy, on 5 October 2024. (Photo: Roberto Bregani / Gallo Images)</em>[/caption]\r\n<h4><strong>Italian excursion</strong></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lions will also target extending their unbeaten run to four matches when they line up against Zebre Parma in Italy on Saturday, and they will draw inspiration from the fact that the home side have secured only one win in their four matches so far this season.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Johannesburgers defeated Ulster and Edinburgh at home before grinding out a valuable 23-19 victory against the Dragons in Newport last week.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls are also hunting their fourth victory in a row this season when they take on the Scarlets in Llanelli. The Welsh side claimed their first victory last week against Cardiff away. </span><b>DM</b>",
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Eben Etzebeth (centre) during a URC match between the Sharks and Emirates Lions in Durban, South Africa, on 6 January 2024. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)
Siya Kolisi during the URC match between the Sharks and Munster at Kings Park in Durban, South Africa, on 22 April 2023. (Photo: Steve Haag Sports / Gallo Images)
Jarod Cairns of the Lions is tackled by Dan Lydiate of the Dragons during their URC match at Rodney Parade in Newport, Wales, on 13 October 2024. (Photo: Chris Fairweather / Gallo Images)
Leolin Zas of the Stormers makes a break during the Stormers’ URC match against Zebre Parma in Parma, Italy, on 5 October 2024. (Photo: Roberto Bregani / Gallo Images)