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"contents": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following a three-week hiatus, South Africa’s United Rugby Championship (URC) sides are ready for a Welsh wave of attack on home soil. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls and Stomers, in particular, will be keen to continue the form that sees them perched in the top four at this stage.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Round eight of the competition kicks off on Friday evening when defending champions, the Stormers, welcome the visiting Scarlets to DHL Stadium. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls will play host to the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. While there are two Sunday clashes as the Lions face up against the Dragons and the Sharks host the travelling Cardiff.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All four South African sides have a win percentage of 50% or better thus far in the tournament, as they continue to improve on the slow start they had to the URC in the inaugural season. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lions are the lowest-ranked South African side sitting at ninth on the table having played six matches, won three and lost three. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks are doing one better in eighth place but have only played five matches thus far. Last season’s finalists, the Bulls and the Stormers are third and fourth respectively.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Stormers look to build</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stormers will be hoping to kick on from their 31-22 away victory over the Lions — before the international break — when they face up to the Scarlets on Friday night — a side they have only faced once before, beating them 26-21 last season. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the Cape Town-based side will be without a number of stars that made the team so successful last season, who are currently on Springbok duty. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are eight players unavailable, however, Stormers head coach John Dobson said that this presents the side with an opportunity to build depth in a demanding season which includes Champions Cup fixtures.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The players getting an opportunity this week have all been training incredibly hard all season and are determined to make the most of this game,” Dobson said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are pleased with the depth we have built already this season and this is also a side that features plenty of experience in key positions, so we are excited to see how they go.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“This selection forms part of a clear strategy to prepare ourselves to be competitive across the various competitions we are involved in this season.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the big changes sees 21-year-old Kade Wolhuter wear the No 10 jersey in the absence of regular pivot Manie Libbok. </span>\r\n\r\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" class=\"size-full wp-image-1475376\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SA-URC-Welsh-attack_1.jpg\" alt=\"Kade Wolhuter, URC\" width=\"720\" height=\"533\" /> Kade Wolhuter during the DHL Stormers training session at High Performance Centre on 21 November, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)</p>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have an exciting young generation of young players coming through and it will be a big challenge for them against a team which boasts almost 300 Test caps, but we are looking forward to it,” said the coach.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Bulls find new leader</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls clash against Ospreys on Saturday will mark the first for lock Ruan Nortje as captain of the famous Pretoria union. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nortje takes over the duties in the absence 0f Marcell Coetzee, who is off to Japan for a stint with Kobe Steelers for the next few months, before returning to the Bulls to uphold his contract that ends in 2027. </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;\">“Marcell and I have become really good friends. We’ve been roommates since he’s joined us. We get along very well,” said Nortje.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“On the field, we always speak to each other, I constantly ask him for advice. I’ve learnt a lot of things from him. The lesson that stands out, however, is that he told me to just be myself, not try to put too much onto my plate. I just have to lead by example.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, Nizaam Carr — who recently rejoined the Bulls after his English club Wasps went into administration — will start in the No 6 jumper for the raging Bulls. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wandisile Simelane will reprise his role at fullback with Stravino Jacobs and David Kriel on wings, completing the back trio. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amongst the forwards, Bismarck du Plessis will start as hooker while Jan-Hendrik Wessels makes his comeback from the bench. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls’ opponents, the Ospreys currently languish in 13th on the log with one victory in their seven matches. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are learning and getting to understand our competitors better the more we play against them and that gives us a lot of confidence as a team in how much we believe in doing well in the competition,” captain Nortje said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We expect that Ospreys will come prepared and looking to get one over us but we have prepared well and we now have the opportunity to finish off the job.”</span>\r\n<h4><b>Super Sunday</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a good tour earlier in the competition, the Lions will be looking to bounce back strongly after losing their last two matches, both at home — against Ulster and the Stormers. The side from Johannesburg have not tasted success at home since beating Benetton on 30 April.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their opponents, the tenth-placed Dragons are yet to register a win following five previous visits to South African shores. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks close out round eight with a clash against Cardiff on Sunday at the Shark Tank. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks will be without a host of star players including, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche and Jaden Hendrikse, who feature for the Springboks against England on Saturday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While brilliant backs Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi are also unavailable due to injury. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it will still be a tough task for the visiting Cardiff against an ever-improving Sharks side at home. Cardiff are sixth on the table with four wins from seven matches. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A win for Sean Everitt and his black-and-white-clad side will see them jump above their guests. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n<h4><b>URC round eight fixtures featuring South African sides:</b></h4>\r\n<h4><b>Friday:</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stormers vs Scarlets (7pm) at DHL Stadium, Cape Town.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Saturday:</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bulls vs Ospreys (3pm) at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Sunday:</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lions vs Dragons (4pm) at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks v Cardiff (6:10pm) at Kings Park, Durban.</span>",
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"description": "<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Following a three-week hiatus, South Africa’s United Rugby Championship (URC) sides are ready for a Welsh wave of attack on home soil. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls and Stomers, in particular, will be keen to continue the form that sees them perched in the top four at this stage.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Round eight of the competition kicks off on Friday evening when defending champions, the Stormers, welcome the visiting Scarlets to DHL Stadium. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls will play host to the Ospreys at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday. While there are two Sunday clashes as the Lions face up against the Dragons and the Sharks host the travelling Cardiff.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">All four South African sides have a win percentage of 50% or better thus far in the tournament, as they continue to improve on the slow start they had to the URC in the inaugural season. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Lions are the lowest-ranked South African side sitting at ninth on the table having played six matches, won three and lost three. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks are doing one better in eighth place but have only played five matches thus far. Last season’s finalists, the Bulls and the Stormers are third and fourth respectively.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Stormers look to build</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Stormers will be hoping to kick on from their 31-22 away victory over the Lions — before the international break — when they face up to the Scarlets on Friday night — a side they have only faced once before, beating them 26-21 last season. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the Cape Town-based side will be without a number of stars that made the team so successful last season, who are currently on Springbok duty. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">There are eight players unavailable, however, Stormers head coach John Dobson said that this presents the side with an opportunity to build depth in a demanding season which includes Champions Cup fixtures.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“The players getting an opportunity this week have all been training incredibly hard all season and are determined to make the most of this game,” Dobson said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are pleased with the depth we have built already this season and this is also a side that features plenty of experience in key positions, so we are excited to see how they go.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“This selection forms part of a clear strategy to prepare ourselves to be competitive across the various competitions we are involved in this season.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">One of the big changes sees 21-year-old Kade Wolhuter wear the No 10 jersey in the absence of regular pivot Manie Libbok. </span>\r\n\r\n[caption id=\"attachment_1475376\" align=\"aligncenter\" width=\"720\"]<img class=\"size-full wp-image-1475376\" src=\"https://www.dailymaverick.co.za/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/SA-URC-Welsh-attack_1.jpg\" alt=\"Kade Wolhuter, URC\" width=\"720\" height=\"533\" /> Kade Wolhuter during the DHL Stormers training session at High Performance Centre on 21 November, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)[/caption]\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We have an exciting young generation of young players coming through and it will be a big challenge for them against a team which boasts almost 300 Test caps, but we are looking forward to it,” said the coach.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Bulls find new leader</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls clash against Ospreys on Saturday will mark the first for lock Ruan Nortje as captain of the famous Pretoria union. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Nortje takes over the duties in the absence 0f Marcell Coetzee, who is off to Japan for a stint with Kobe Steelers for the next few months, before returning to the Bulls to uphold his contract that ends in 2027. </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;\">“Marcell and I have become really good friends. We’ve been roommates since he’s joined us. We get along very well,” said Nortje.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“On the field, we always speak to each other, I constantly ask him for advice. I’ve learnt a lot of things from him. The lesson that stands out, however, is that he told me to just be myself, not try to put too much onto my plate. I just have to lead by example.”</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Meanwhile, Nizaam Carr — who recently rejoined the Bulls after his English club Wasps went into administration — will start in the No 6 jumper for the raging Bulls. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Wandisile Simelane will reprise his role at fullback with Stravino Jacobs and David Kriel on wings, completing the back trio. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Amongst the forwards, Bismarck du Plessis will start as hooker while Jan-Hendrik Wessels makes his comeback from the bench. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Bulls’ opponents, the Ospreys currently languish in 13th on the log with one victory in their seven matches. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We are learning and getting to understand our competitors better the more we play against them and that gives us a lot of confidence as a team in how much we believe in doing well in the competition,” captain Nortje said.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">“We expect that Ospreys will come prepared and looking to get one over us but we have prepared well and we now have the opportunity to finish off the job.”</span>\r\n<h4><b>Super Sunday</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">After a good tour earlier in the competition, the Lions will be looking to bounce back strongly after losing their last two matches, both at home — against Ulster and the Stormers. The side from Johannesburg have not tasted success at home since beating Benetton on 30 April.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Their opponents, the tenth-placed Dragons are yet to register a win following five previous visits to South African shores. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks close out round eight with a clash against Cardiff on Sunday at the Shark Tank. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The Sharks will be without a host of star players including, Siya Kolisi, Eben Etzebeth, Thomas du Toit, Makazole Mapimpi, Bongi Mbonambi, Ox Nche and Jaden Hendrikse, who feature for the Springboks against England on Saturday.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">While brilliant backs Lukhanyo Am and Aphelele Fassi are also unavailable due to injury. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, it will still be a tough task for the visiting Cardiff against an ever-improving Sharks side at home. Cardiff are sixth on the table with four wins from seven matches. </span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">A win for Sean Everitt and his black-and-white-clad side will see them jump above their guests. </span><b>DM</b>\r\n<h4><b>URC round eight fixtures featuring South African sides:</b></h4>\r\n<h4><b>Friday:</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Stormers vs Scarlets (7pm) at DHL Stadium, Cape Town.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Saturday:</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Bulls vs Ospreys (3pm) at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria.</span>\r\n<h4><b>Sunday:</b></h4>\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Lions vs Dragons (4pm) at Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg.</span>\r\n\r\n<span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Sharks v Cardiff (6:10pm) at Kings Park, Durban.</span>",
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Kade Wolhuter during the DHL Stormers training session at High Performance Centre on 21 November, 2022 in Cape Town, South Africa. (Photo: Ashley Vlotman / Gallo Images)