2019 Sharks (rugby union) season

Robert du Preez

Captain	Louis Schreuder
Stadium	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
Overall	6th
South African Conference	3rd
Record	Won 7, Drew 1, Lost 8
Top try scorer	All: Dan du Preez (7)
Top points scorer	All: Curwin Bosch (97)
← 2018 2020 →

South African Rugby 2019
Rugby World Cup Rugby Championship World Rugby Under-20 Championship Super Rugby (BUL • LIO • SHA • STO) 2018–19 Pro14 (CHE • KIN) 2019–20 Pro14 (CHE • KIN) Currie Cup Premier Division Currie Cup First Division Rugby Challenge Varsity Rugby Varsity Cup Varsity Shield Gold Cup Under-21 Provincial Championship Under-20 Provincial Championship Under-19 Provincial Championship

In 2019, the Sharks participated in the 2019 Super Rugby competition, the 24th edition of the competition since its inception in 1996. They were included in the South African Conference of the competition, along with the Bulls, Jaguares, Lions and Stormers.

The Sharks won seven, drew one and lost eight of their matches during the regular season of the competition to finish third in the South African Conference, and in 6th place overall to qualify for the finals as a wildcard team. They lost in their quarterfinal match to the Brumbies.

Personnel

Coaches and management

The Sharks coaching and management staff for the 2019 Super Rugby season were:^[1]

2019 Sharks coaches and management
Name	Title
Robert du Preez	Head coach
Ricardo Loubscher	Backline coach
Jaco Pienaar	Forwards coach
Braam van Straaten	Defence coach
David Williams	Attack coach

Squad

The following players were named in the Sharks squad for the 2019 Super Rugby season:^[2]

2019 Sharks squad
Player	Position/s	Date of birth (age)	Super Rugby		Sharks
			Apps	Pts	Apps	Pts
Lukhanyo Am	Centre	(1993-11-28)28 November 1993 (aged 25)	42	40	32	35
Hyron Andrews	Lock	(1995-07-06)6 July 1995 (aged 23)	20	0	20	0
Curwin Bosch	Fly-half	(1997-06-25)25 June 1997 (aged 21)	33	178	33	178
Ruan Botha	Lock	(1992-01-10)10 January 1992 (aged 27)	59	20	33	15
Craig Burden	Hooker	(1985-05-13)13 May 1985 (aged 33)	47	20	47	20
Phepsi Buthelezi	Loose forward	(1999-05-30)30 May 1999 (aged 19)	0	0	0	0
Cullen Collopy	Hooker	(1993-01-12)12 January 1993 (aged 26)	0	0	0	0
Kwanda Dimaza	Loose forward	(1997-10-08)8 October 1997 (aged 21)	0	0	0	0
Muller du Plessis	Wing	(1999-06-25)25 June 1999 (aged 19)	0	0	0	0
Dan du Preez	Loose forward	(1995-08-05)5 August 1995 (aged 23)	37	35	37	35
Jean-Luc du Preez	Loose forward	(1995-08-05)5 August 1995 (aged 23)	38	30	38	30
Robert du Preez	Fly-half	(1993-07-30)30 July 1993 (aged 25)	31	322	17	215
Thomas du Toit	Prop	(1995-05-05)5 May 1995 (aged 23)	52	30	52	30
André Esterhuizen	Centre	(1994-03-30)30 March 1994 (aged 24)	56	25	56	25
Andrew Evans	Lock	(1997-03-31)31 March 1997 (aged 21)	0	0	0	0
Aphelele Fassi	Fullback	(1998-01-23)23 January 1998 (aged 21)	0	0	0	0
Gideon Koegelenberg	Lock	(1994-11-25)25 November 1994 (aged 24)	1	0	1	0
Marius Louw	Centre	(1995-10-24)24 October 1995 (aged 23)	17	5	17	5
Mzamo Majola	Prop	(1995-02-20)20 February 1995 (aged 23)	5	0	1	0
Makazole Mapimpi	Wing	(1990-07-26)26 July 1990 (aged 28)	24	75	10	20
Fez Mbatha	Hooker	(1999-08-02)2 August 1999 (aged 19)	0	0	0	0
Khutha Mchunu	Prop	(1997-07-01)1 July 1997 (aged 21)	0	0	0	0
John-Hubert Meyer	Prop	(1993-09-19)19 September 1993 (aged 25)	13	0	13	0
Zee Mkhabela	Scrum-half	(1994-10-15)15 October 1994 (aged 24)	2	0	0	0
Tendai Mtawarira	Prop	(1985-08-01)1 August 1985 (aged 33)	150	25	150	25
Tera Mtembu	Loose forward	(1990-12-09)9 December 1990 (aged 28)	47	25	47	25
Lwazi Mvovo	Wing	(1986-06-03)3 June 1986 (aged 32)	129	185	129	185
S'busiso Nkosi	Wing	(1996-01-21)21 January 1996 (aged 23)	20	30	20	30
Sanele Nohamba	Scrum-half	(1999-01-19)19 January 1999 (aged 20)	0	0	0	0
Coenie Oosthuizen	Prop	(1989-03-22)22 March 1989 (aged 29)	102	50	28	10
Tyler Paul	Loose forward	(1995-01-20)20 January 1995 (aged 24)	30	10	15	5
Chiliboy Ralepelle	Hooker	(1986-09-11)11 September 1986 (aged 32)	104	30	35	10
Dylan Richardson	Loose forward	(1999-01-15)15 January 1999 (aged 20)	0	0	0	0
Juan Schoeman	Prop	(1991-09-18)18 September 1991 (aged 27)	27	0	27	0
Louis Schreuder	Scrum-half	(1990-04-25)25 April 1990 (aged 28)	96	20	16	5
Rhyno Smith	Fullback	(1993-02-11)11 February 1993 (aged 26)	8	0	8	0
Luke Stringer	Loose forward	(1995-12-12)12 December 1995 (aged 23)	0	0	0	0
Akker van der Merwe	Hooker	(1991-06-17)17 June 1991 (aged 27)	64	50	15	15
JJ van der Mescht	Lock	(1999-05-04)4 May 1999 (aged 19)	0	0	0	0
Philip van der Walt	Loose forward	(1989-07-14)14 July 1989 (aged 29)	85	30	36	5
Ruben van Heerden	Lock	(1997-10-27)27 October 1997 (aged 21)	5	0	0	0
Kerron van Vuuren	Hooker	(1995-05-23)23 May 1995 (aged 23)	0	0	0	0
Kobus van Wyk	Wing	(1992-01-22)22 January 1992 (aged 27)	54	100	24	55
Jacques Vermeulen	Loose forward	(1995-02-08)8 February 1995 (aged 24)	22	10	22	10
Wian Vosloo	Loose forward	(1995-02-15)15 February 1995 (aged 24)	6	0	6	0
Jeremy Ward	Centre	(1996-01-10)10 January 1996 (aged 23)	15	5	13	5
Grant Williams	Scrum-half	(1996-07-22)22 July 1996 (aged 22)	1	0	1	0
Courtney Winnaar	Fullback	(1997-03-27)27 March 1997 (aged 21)	0	0	0	0
Cameron Wright	Scrum-half	(1994-04-20)20 April 1994 (aged 24)	18	10	18	10
Leolin Zas	Wing	(1995-10-20)20 October 1995 (aged 23)	15	40	0	0
Note: Players' ages and statistics are correct as of 15 February 2019, the date of the opening round of the competition.

Standings

The final standings for the 2019 Super Rugby season are:

2019 Super Rugby: Overall standings

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Crusaders	16	11	3	2	497	257	+240	73	31	8	0	58	Conference leaders Qualified to the finals
2	Jaguares	16	11	0	5	461	352	+109	60	38	5	2	51
3	Brumbies	16	10	0	6	430	366	+64	65	49	5	3	48
4	Hurricanes	16	12	1	3	449	362	+87	60	46	3	0	53	Wildcard teams Qualified to finals
5	Bulls	16	8	2	6	410	369	+41	42	50	3	2	41
6	Sharks	16	7	1	8	343	335	+8	40	39	3	4	37
7	Chiefs	16	7	2	7	451	465	−14	63	59	2	2	36
8	Highlanders	16	6	3	7	441	392	+49	60	53	2	4	36
9	Lions	16	8	0	8	401	478	−77	53	64	2	1	35
10	Stormers	16	7	1	8	344	366	−22	34	46	1	4	35
11	Rebels	16	7	0	9	393	465	−72	56	61	3	3	34
12	Waratahs	16	6	0	10	367	415	−48	46	54	0	6	30
13	Blues	16	5	1	10	347	369	−22	45	47	2	6	30
14	Reds	16	6	0	10	385	438	−53	50	59	1	3	28
15	Sunwolves	16	2	0	14	294	584	−290	34	85	0	4	12

South African Conference

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
1	Jaguares	16	11	0	5	461	352	+109	60	38	5	2	51
2	Bulls	16	8	2	6	410	369	+41	42	50	3	2	41
3	Sharks	16	7	1	8	343	335	+8	40	39	3	4	37
4	Lions	16	8	0	8	401	478	−77	53	64	2	1	35
5	Stormers	16	7	1	8	344	366	−22	34	46	1	4	35

Competition rules[3]
Qualification: Eight teams will qualify to the finals, with their final positions in the overall log determining their seedings in the quarter-finals. The conference winners will be seeded #1 to #3 for the quarter-finals, in order of log points gained during the group stages, while the wildcards will be seeded as #4 to #8 in order of log points gained during the group stages. In the quarter-finals, the three conference winners and the highest-ranked wildcard team will host the first round of the finals, with the highest-seeded conference winner (Team #1) hosting the fifth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #8) in quarter-final 1, the second-seeded conference winner (Team #2) hosting the fourth-seeded wildcard entry (Team #7) in quarter-final 3, the third-seeded conference winner (Team #3) hosting the third-seeded wildcard entry (Team #6) in quarter-final 4 and the top-seeded wildcard entry (Team #4) hosting the second-seed wildcard entry (Team #5) in quarter-final 2. The quarter-final winners will progress to the semi-finals, where the winners of quarter-finals 1 and 2 will play each other, as well as the winners of quarter-finals 3 and 4, each tie hosted by the higher-seeded team. The winner of the semi-finals will progress to the Final, again to be held at the venue of the highest-seeded team.
Tournament points breakdown: * 4 tournament points for a win * 2 tournament points for a draw * 1 tournament bonus point for a loss by seven points or less * 1 tournament bonus point for scoring at least three tries more than the opponent in a match
Classification: Teams standings are calculated as follows: * Conference leaders * Tournament points * Number of games won * Overall points difference * Number of tries scored * Overall try difference * Coin toss

The table below shows the Sharks' progression throughout the season. For each round, their cumulative points total is shown with the overall log position:

Team	R1	R2	R3	R4	R5	R6	R7	R8	R9	R10	R11	R12	R13	R14	R15	R16	R17	R18	QF	SF	Final
Opposition	SUN	BLU	STO	BUL	Bye	REB	BUL	LIO	JAG	RED	WAR	CRU	CHI	Bye	LIO	HUR	JAG	STO
Cumulative Points
Position (overall)
Position (SA Conf.)
Key:	win	draw	loss	bye

Matches

The Sharks played the following matches during the 2019 Super Rugby season:^[4][5]

	16 February 2019	Sunwolves	10–45	Sharks	National Stadium, Singapore
	12:55	Try: Shane Gates  8' Con: Hayden Parker  9' Pen: Hayden Parker  14'	Scoreboard[6]	Try: Robert du Preez  4'	Referee: Nic Berry

	23 February 2019	Sharks	26–7	Blues	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	15:05	Try: Robert du Preez  17', 37', 80'	Scoreboard[7]	Try: Tanielu Tele’a  61' Con: Otere Black  62'	Referee: Paul Williams

	2 March 2019	Sharks	11–16	Stormers	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	17:15	Try: Robert du Preez  15', 51'	Scoreboard[8]	Try: Damian Willemse  4' Con: SP Marais  5' Pen: SP Marais  28', 38', 65'	Referee: Jaco Peyper

	9 March 2019	Bulls	37–14	Sharks	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
	17:15	Try: Jesse Kriel  19' Rosko Specman  43', 80' Con: Handré Pollard  21', 80' Pen: Handré Pollard  3', 9', 29', 35', 52' Drop: Handré Pollard  78'	Scoreboard[9]	Try: Robert du Preez  42', 55'	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	23 March 2019	Sharks	28–14	Rebels	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	17:15	Try: Robert du Preez  17', 27', 37'	Scoreboard[10]	Try: Tom English  20' Jack Maddocks  31' Con: Quade Cooper  22', 32'	Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

	30 March 2019	Sharks	16–19	Bulls	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	15:05	Try: Robert du Preez  5', 61'	Scoreboard[11]	Try: Jesse Kriel  52' Con: Handré Pollard  52' Pen: Handré Pollard  2', 28', 67', 79'	Referee: Mike Fraser

	5 April 2019	Lions	5–42	Sharks	Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
	19:10	Try: Sylvian Mahuza  79'	Scoreboard[12]	Try: Robert du Preez  31' Curwin Bosch  47'	Referee: Mike Fraser

	13 April 2019	Sharks	17–51	Jaguares	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	15:05	Try: Robert du Preez  22'	Scoreboard[13]	Try: Tomás Cubelli  3' Pablo Matera  33', 42' Matías Orlando  37', 66', 80' Matías Moroni  53' Con: Domingo Miotti  4', 34', 38', 44', 68' Pen: Domingo Miotti  51', 61'	Referee: Nick Briant

	19 April 2019	Sharks	14–21	Reds	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	15:05	Try: Robert du Preez  26' Curwin Bosch  80'	Scoreboard[14]	Try: Bryce Hegarty  2' Chris Feauai-Sautia  19' Tate McDermott  59' Con: Bryce Hegarty  3', 20' Hamish Stewart  60'	Referee: Federico Anselmi

	27 April 2019	Waratahs	15–23	Sharks	Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney
	11:45	Try: Jake Gordon  24' Bernard Foley  80' Con: Bernard Foley  26' Pen: Bernard Foley  7'	Scoreboard[15]	Try: Dan du Preez  13' André Esterhuizen  52' Con: Curwin Bosch  14', 53' Pen: Curwin Bosch  29', 69', 72'	Referee: Nic Berry

	3 May 2019	Crusaders	21–21	Sharks	AMI Stadium, Christchurch
	9:35	Try: Mitchell Hunt  12', 56', 80'	Scoreboard[16]	Pen: Curwin Bosch  8', 21', 35', 43', 50', 68', 74'	Referee: Brendon Pickerill

	11 May 2019	Chiefs	29–23	Sharks	FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton
	09:35	Try: Brad Weber  26', 70' Mitchell Karpik  34' Anton Lienert-Brown  68' Con: Marty McKenzie  27', 35', 71' Pen: Marty McKenzie  10'	Scoreboard[17]	Try: Hyron Andrews  31' Ruan Botha  56' Con: Curwin Bosch  32', 57' Pen: Curwin Bosch  30', 38', 61'	Referee: Nic Berry

	25 May 2019	Sharks	27–17	Lions	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	17:15	Try: Curwin Bosch  16' Dan du Preez  23' Makazole Mapimpi  59' Con: Curwin Bosch  18', 25', 61' Pen: Curwin Bosch  54', 76'	Scoreboard[18]	Try: Lionel Mapoe  31' Cyle Brink  49' Con: Elton Jantjies  32', 49' Pen: Elton Jantjies  73'	Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

	1 June 2019	Sharks	17–30	Hurricanes	Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
	15:05	Try: Aphelele Fassi  38' Juan Schoeman  44' Con: Curwin Bosch  40', 46' Pen: Curwin Bosch  9'	Scoreboard[19]	Try: Jordie Barrett  6' Ngani Laumape  32' Wes Goosen  66' Con: Beauden Barrett  7', 34', 68' Pen: Beauden Barrett  12', 16', 63'	Referee: Nic Berry

	8 June 2019	Jaguares	34–7	Sharks	José Amalfitani Stadium, Buenos Aires
	21:40	Try: Sebastián Cancelliere  2', 59' Emiliano Boffelli  15', 53' Santiago Carreras  80' Con: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla  16', 54', 60' Pen: Joaquín Díaz Bonilla  44'	Scoreboard[20]	Try: André Esterhuizen  68' Con: Curwin Bosch  68'	Referee: Nick Briant

	15 June 2019	Stormers	9–12	Sharks	DHL Newlands, Cape Town
	15:05	Pen: Joshua Stander  23', 44' Jean-Luc du Plessis  76'	Scoreboard[21]	Try: Robert du Preez  80'	Referee: AJ Jacobs

Quarterfinal	22 June 2019	Brumbies	38–13	Sharks	GIO Stadium, Canberra
	12:05	Try: Christian Lealiifano  20'	Scoreboard[22]	Try: André Esterhuizen  56' Con: Curwin Bosch  57' Pen: Curwin Bosch  8', 15'	Referee: Mike Fraser

Player statistics

The Super Rugby appearance record for players that represented the Sharks in 2019 is as follows:

2019 Sharks player statistics
Player name	SUN	BLU	STO	BUL	REB	BUL	LIO	JAG	RED	WAR	CRU	CHI	LIO	HUR	JAG	STO	BRU	SF	F		App	Try	Con	Pen	DG	Pts
Tendai Mtawarira	1	1	1	1	1	1	1		1	1								—	—		9	0	0	0	0	0
Akker van der Merwe	2	2	2	2	2	2				16	16							—	—		8	3	0	0	0	15
Coenie Oosthuizen	3	3	3	3	3	3	3		3	18	3	3	3	3	3	3	3	—	—		16	0	0	0	0	0
Hyron Andrews	4	4	4	5	5	5	5	5	5	5	19	4	19	19	4	5	5	—	—		17	2	0	0	0	10
Ruan Botha	5	5	5							19	5	5	5	5	5			—	—		9	1	0	0	0	5
Jacques Vermeulen	6	6	6	7	7	7	7		7	20	20	6	20	6	6	6	6	—	—		16	1	0	0	0	5
Tyler Paul	7	7	7						19			19		20	7	7	7	—	—		9	0	0	0	0	0
Dan du Preez	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8	8		8	8	8	8	8	—	—		16	7	0	0	0	35
Louis Schreuder	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	21	9	9	9	9	9	9	9	—	—		17	0	0	0	0	0
Robert du Preez	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	10	22	22	22	22	22	10	10	10	—	—		17	2	16	10	0	72
Makazole Mapimpi	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11		11	11	11	11	11	11	11	11	—	—		16	5	0	0	0	25
André Esterhuizen	12	12	12	22	12	12	12	12	12	12	12		12	12	12	12	12	—	—		16	4	0	0	0	20
Lukhanyo Am	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13		13	13	13	13	13	13	13	13	—	—		16	3	0	0	0	15
S'busiso Nkosi	14	14	14	14	14				14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	14	—	—		14	1	0	0	0	5
Aphelele Fassi	15	15	15		15	15	23	23	23	15	15	15	15	15	23	15		—	—		15	4	0	0	0	20
Kerron van Vuuren	16	16	16			16	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	2	—	—		15	1	0	0	0	5
Juan Schoeman	17	17	17	17	17		17	1	17				17	17	17		17	—	—		12	1	0	0	0	5
Khutha Mchunu	18					18												—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Gideon Koegelenberg	19	19	19	4	19	19										19	19	—	—		6	0	0	0	0	0
Phepsi Buthelezi	20	20	20	20	6													—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Cameron Wright	21	21	21						21	9	21	21	21			21	21	—	—		10	0	0	0	0	0
Rhyno Smith	22		23	15												23	23	—	—		5	1	1	0	0	7
Jeremy Ward	23	22	22	12											22	22	22	—	—		7	2	0	0	0	10
Thomas du Toit		18	18	18	18	17	18	3	18	3	1	1		18	18	17	18	—	—		15	1	0	0	0	5
Curwin Bosch		23		23	23	23	15	15	15	10	10	10	10	10	15		15	—	—		14	2	15	19	0	97
Wian Vosloo				6														—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Fez Mbatha				16			16	16	16			16						—	—		4	0	0	0	0	0
Ruben van Heerden				19	4	4	4	4	4	4	4		4	4	19	4	4	—	—		13	0	0	0	0	0
Grant Williams				21	21	21	21	21										—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Craig Burden					16										16			—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Luke Stringer					20	6	6	6				20			20	20	20	—	—		8	0	0	0	0	0
Marius Louw					22				22	23	23	12						—	—		5	0	0	0	0	0
Lwazi Mvovo						14	14	14	11									—	—		4	0	0	0	0	0
Philip van der Walt						20	20	7	6	6	6	8	6					—	—		8	0	0	0	0	0
Kobus van Wyk						22	22	22	13			23	23	23				—	—		7	0	0	0	0	0
JJ van der Mescht							19	19										—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Mzamo Majola								17		17	17	17	1	1	1	1	1	—	—		8	0	0	0	0	0
John-Hubert Meyer								18			18	18	18			18		—	—		4	0	0	0	0	0
Jean-Luc du Preez								20	20	7	7	7	7	7				—	—		7	0	0	0	0	0
Dylan Richardson													16					—	—		1	0	0	0	0	0
Cullen Collopy														16		16	16	—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Zee Mkhabela														21	21			—	—		2	0	0	0	0	0
Total																					17	41	32	29	0	356

(c) denotes the team captain. For each match, the player's squad number is shown. Starting players are numbered 1 to 15, while the replacements are numbered 16 to 23. If a replacement made an appearance in the match, it is indicated by . "App" refers to the number of appearances made by the player, "Try" to the number of tries scored by the player, "Con" to the number of conversions kicked, "Pen" to the number of penalties kicked, "DG" to the number of drop goals kicked and "Pts" refer to the total number of points scored by the player.

• Kwanda Dimaza, Muller du Plessis, Andrew Evans, Tera Mtembu, Sanele Nohamba, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Courtney Winnaar and Leolin Zas did not make any appearances.

See also

• Sharks
• 2019 Super Rugby season

References