This is the third in the series of Cell C Sharks Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2014. We do 2 articles per week per South African Super Rugby participating franchise.
We discuss the players IN the Super Rugby Group, and not all the options beyond that.
In this Article we look at the contenders for LOCKS in the Cell C Sharks 2014 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.
The Contenders:
Name: Pieter-Steph du Toit:
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Pieter-Steph du Toit is the grandson of Piet “Spiere” du Toit (Springbok prop between 1956 to 1961) and a product of Riebeeck Kasteel Primary School and Swartland High School.
Du Toit was a member of the South Africa Under 20 team that won the 2012 IRB Junior World Championship.
In July 2013, he signed a two-year contract extension with the Sharks.
He made his Springbok Test debut versus Wales in Cardiff on 9 November 2013 at age 21.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2010 – Boland – U18 Craven Week, South Africa – SA U18 High Performance
- 2011 – Sharks – ABSA Under 19 Competition, Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2012 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, South Africa – IRB Junior World Championship, Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Springbok squad member – Castle Lager Incoming Series, Springbok squad member – The Rugby Championship, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division, Springboks – Castle Lager Outgoing Tour
A lot is expected from Pieter-Steph du Toit in 2014, not only as a prime Sharks Super Rugby lock, but also as a Springbok. He will be one to watch keenly as he continues his upward curve.
Name: Marco Wentzel:
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Marco Wentzel is a true journeyman and rugby mercenary and it might have been easier to note which teams and clubs he has not played for compared to those he played for.
After leaving Wasps after the 2012–13 Premiership season, he returned to South Africa and signed a two-year contract to play for the Natal Sharks domestically and for the Cell C Sharks in Super Rugby.
Marco Wentzel arrived at Leicester from Italian club Benetton Treviso in the summer of 2007, made his debut on the opening day of the season in the victory at Bristol and was an almost ever-present in the first half of the Guinness Premiership season. He suffered an ankle injury in the league win at Gloucester but returned in time to return to Kingsholm in the play-offs and ended his first season in England with an appearance in the Guinness Premiership Final at Twickenham.
Marco played Currie Cup rugby with Boland Cavaliers and gained Super 12 experience with the the Cats, winning Test caps with South Africa against Scotland and France during 2002. He also spent three seasons in Italy, gaining Heineken Cup experience in each season.
His playing career is shortly as follows:
- 1999 – SWD Eagles
- 2000 to 2002 – Pumas
- 2002 – Springboks (2 Tests)
- 2003 – Cats Super Rugby
- 2003 to 2004 – Free State Cheetahs, Cats Super Rugby
- 2005 to 2007 – Treviso
- 2006 – Boland
- 2007 to 2009 – Leicester
- 2009 – Southern Kings
- 2009 to 2011 Leeds
- 2011 to 2013 – Wasps
- 2013 – The Sharks
Quite frankly, at age 34 he must be reaching the end of his career and I would think that he will be usurped by younger players at the Cell C Sharks in 2014.
Name: Etienne Oosthuizen:
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Etienne is a product of Vastrap Primary School and Bergsig Academy.
In September 2012, he signed a contract to join the Brumbies on a two-year deal. However, he was released from his contract after just one year and returned to South Africa to join the Sharks on a two-year contract.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2008 – SA – Under 16 Elite Squad, Leopards – U16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week
- 2010 – Leopards – U18 Craven Week, South Africa – SA U18 High Performance
- 2011 – Lions – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2012 – MTN Lions – Vodacom Super Rugby, MTN Golden Lions – Vodacom Cup, MTN Golden Lions – ABSA Under 21 Competition, MTN Golden Lions – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Brumbies – Vodacom Super Rugby
Having been at the Brumbies in 2013 with Jake White, he might get some Super Rugby time in 2014, not that he amounted to much whilst at the Brumbies. He is just another player with hardly a chance for national honours.
Name: Anton Bresler:
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Anton is a product of Werda Primary school and Durban High School
He is a true Sharks home grown player, having only represented the Natal side from junior level up.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2006 – Natal – U18 Academy Week
- 2007 – Sharks – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2008 – Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2009 – Sharks – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2010 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks Invitational XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory Friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2011 – Sharks XV – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, Sharks XV – ABSA Currie Cup Compulsory friendlies, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Anton Bresler should be one of the frontline locks for the Cell C Sharks in their Super Rugby campaign in 2014.
Name: Edwin Lesley “Edwin” Hewitt:
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Edwin is a product of Afrikaans Hoër Seunsskool & North-West University.
He spent his junior career at the Leopards but has also had stints with Griquas and the SWD Eagles.
He joined the Natal Sharks in 2013, initially for a trial period, but then signed a two-year contract with the Sharks.
His playing career is as follows:
- 2007 – Leopards – ABSA Under 19 Competition
- 2008 – Platinum Leopards – ABSA Under 21 Competition
- 2010 – Pukke – Varsity Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2011 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, SWD Eagles – ABSA Currie Cup First Division, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2012 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, GWK Griquas – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
- 2013 – GWK Griquas – Vodacom Cup, Sharks – Vodacom Super Rugby, The Sharks – ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Starters:
The Sharks are assured to start with Pieter-Steph du Toit for most of the Super rugby season (barring injury) and Anton Bresler will also get some prime Super Rugby game time but in a competition where the Cell C Sharks believe heavily in rotation, the other 3 players should all get some Super Rugby game time in 2014.
The next Article in the range will deal with the Cell C Sharks’ loose forwards.
Marco Wentzel
