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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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Bull Shark 2 hours ago
Rassie Erasmus' Boks selection policy is becoming bizarre

To be fair, the only thing that drives engagement on this site is over the top critiques of Southern Hemisphere teams.


Or articles about people on podcasts criticizing southern hemisphere teams.


Articles regarding the Northern Hemisphere tend to be more positive than critical. I guess to also rile up kiwis and Saffers who seem to be the majority of followers in the comments section. There seems to be a whole department dedicated to Ireland’s world ranking news.


Despite being dialled into the Northern edition - I know sweet fokall about what’s going on in France.


And even less than fokall about what’s cutting in Japan - which has a fast growing, increasingly premium League competition emerging.


And let’s not talk about the pacific. Do they even play rugby Down there.


Oh and the Americas. I’ve read more articles about a young, stargazing Welshman’s foray into NFL than I have anything related to either the north and south continents of the Americas.


I will give credit that the women’s game is getting decent airtime. But for the rest and the above; it’s just pathetic coming from a World Rugby website.


Just consider the innovation emerging in Japan with the pedigree of coaches over there.


There’s so much good we could be reading.


Instead it’s unimaginative “critical for the sake of feigning controversial”. Which is lazy, because in order to pull that off all you need to be really good at is:


1. Being a doos;

2. Having an opinion.


No prior experience needed.


Which is not journalism. That’s like all or most of us in the comments section. People like Finn (who I believe is a RP contributor).


Anyway. Hopefully it will get better. The game is growing and the interest in the game is growing. Maybe it will attract more qualified journalists over time.

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