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Springbok's hat-trick sees Sharks go top in URC South African Shield

By PA
South Africa's Makazole Mapimpi has come from nowhere to World Cup fame in the space of 16 months (Photo by Hannah Peters/Getty Images)

Makazole Mapimpi scored a hat-trick of tries as the Sharks climbed to the top of the United Rugby Championship’s South African Shield with a thrilling 47-37 win over the Lions in Johannesburg.

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Sean Everitt’s men fought back from conceding two early tries to emerge with a victory that sees them replace their hosts at the summit after six matches.

Andre Warner and Wandisile Simelane touched down inside the opening nine minutes, but the Sharks responded through Aphelele Fassi, Mapimpi (two) and Kerron Van Vuuren to reach half-time at 27-18 up and with a bonus point already in the bag.

Video Spacer

Ruan Pienaar unpacks the South African teams’prospects in the URC

Video Spacer

Ruan Pienaar unpacks the South African teams’prospects in the URC

Ruben Schoeman, Edwill Van Der Merwe and Morne Van Den Berg crossed for the Lions as they secured a bonus point of their own in the second half, but Mapimpi also completed his hat-trick and Lukhanyo Am went over late on to secure victory.

Boeta Chamberlain kicked 12 points and Joaquin Diaz Bonilla booted five for the Sharks, while Lions fly-half Fred Zeilinga contributed 10 to his side’s cause and Tiaan Swanepoel scored a solitary conversion.

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J
JW 2 hours ago
'Passionate reunion of France and New Zealand shows Fabien Galthie is wrong to rest his stars'

Where? I remember saying "unders"? The LNR was formed by the FFR, if I said that in a way that meant the 'pro' side of the game didn't have an equal representation/say as the 'amateur' side (FFR remit) that was not my intent.


But also, as it is the governing body, it also has more responsibility. As long as WR looks at FFR as the running body for rugby in France, that 'power' will remain. If the LNR refuses to govern their clubs use of players to enable a request by FFR (from WR) to ensure it's players are able to compete in International rugby takes place they will simply remove their participation. If the players complain to the France's body, either of their health and safety concerns (through playing too many 'minutes' etc) or that they are not allowed to be part in matches of national interest, my understanding is action can be taken against the LNR like it could be any other body/business. I see where you're coming from now re EPCR and the shake up they gave it, yes, that wasn't meant to be a separate statement to say that FFR can threaten them with EPCR expulsion by itself, simply that it would be a strong repercussion for those teams to be removed (no one would want them after the above).


You keep bringing up these other things I cannot understand why. Again, do you think if the LNR were not acting responsibly they would be able to get away with whatever they want (the attitude of these posters saying "they pay the players")? You may deem what theyre doing currently as being irresponsible but most do not. Countries like New Zealand have not even complained about it because they've never had it different, never got things like windfall TV contracts from France, so they can't complain because theyre not missing out on anything. Sure, if the French kept doing things like withholding million dollar game payments, or causing millions of dollars of devaluation in rights, they these things I'm outlining would be taking place. That's not the case currently however, no one here really cares what the French do. It's upto them to sort themselves out if they're not happy. Now, that said, if they did make it obvious to World Rugby that they were never going to send the French side away (like they possibly did stating their intent to exclude 20 targeted players) in July, well then they would simply be given XV fixtures against tier 2 sides during that window and the FFR would need to do things like the 50/50 revenue split to get big teams visiting in Nov.

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