This is the third in the series of Cell C Sharks Squad Contenders for Super Rugby 2015.

The Sharks have lost the services of Anton Bresler (Edinburgh) and Peet Marais (Brive), between seasons, and have gained the services of Mouritz Botha (from Saracens) as well as the backup services of Giant Mtyanda. Stephan Lewies is still on a longer term injury list and should return somewhere in the middle of the tournament.

The early question raised is how Pieter-Steph du Toit will fare, coming back from injury.

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 2015 Super Rugby group, and whether they could force their way into Bok contention.

The Contenders:

Name: Pieter Stephanus “Pieter-Steph” du Toit:

Position Lock Height 2.00m Weight 115 Kg Date of Birth 20 August 1992 Place of Birth Cape Town Provincial Debut 2012 for Sharks in Vodacom Cup Provincial Caps 10 Provincial Points 5 Super Rugby Debut 2012 for Sharks Super Rugby Caps 22 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut 9 November 2013 vs Wales (Springbok No 854) Test Caps 2 Test Points 0

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.

A lot was expected from Pieter-Steph du Toit in 2014, not only as a prime Sharks Super Rugby lock, but also as a Springbok. Injury cut his 2014 season dramaticaaly short.

In 2015 he will have to get to his best form quickly, as Sharks depth at lock is not of the best out there, as well as in an attempt to regain his Springbok inclusion again well in time before the Rugby World Cup starts.

Rugby Career:

• 2010: Boland (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), South Africa (SA Under 18 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), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series – Squad Member), Springboks (The Rugby Championship – Squad Member), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division), Springboks (Castle Lager Outgoing Tour)
• 2014: Cell C Sharks (2014 Super Rugby Friendlies), Cell C Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby)

Name: Mouritz Botha:

Position Lock Height 1.98 m Weight 117 Kg Date of Birth 29 January 1982 Place of Birth Vryheid, South Africa Provincial Debut Bedford Blues 2006, Saracens 2009 Provincial Caps 73 Bedford, 111 Saracens Provincial Points 70 CLUB points Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut 2011 for England vs Wales Test Caps 10 PLUS 3 Saxons Caps Test Points 0

He joined English club Bedford Blues in 2006 and made 73 appearances before moving to Saracens in 2009. Botha was named in the 2011 England Saxons squad for the Churchill Cup after qualifying for England on residency grounds. In 2011 he was selected in the England 44-man squad for the 2011 World Cup and made his England debut in the 23–19 England victory over Wales. Botha played in every game of England’s 2012 Six Nations campaign, ultimately helping them to a second place finish.

Botha joined Bedford Blues from Bedford Athletic in 2006 and was a mainstay in the Bedford team. His performances for the Bedford team got the attention of many different people including the selectors for the East Midlands team. Botha was selected for the East Midlands team to play in the match against the Barbarians. These performances eventually got the attention of the incoming Saracens head coach Brendan Venter and he was signed for Saracens in 2009.

Botha started the 2009 / 2010 season having just signed from National League One side Bedford Blues, but he finished it as one of the Premiership’s most consistent second rows and pushing for international honours with England.

Botha was signed for Saracens in the UK summer of 2009 from the National League One team the Bedford Blues. He made his debut on 5 September 2009 in the London Double Header against London Irish. He came on as a substitute in the 60th minute for fellow Saracens lock Hugh Vyvyan. Mouritz was a success in his first season for Saracens and quickly became a fan’s favourite. The season ended in an appearance in the Guinness Premiership Final for Saracens. He again came on as a substitute in this game. Overall in the 2009–10 season he made 32 appearances and scored 1 try.

Mouritz Botha played for Saracens during the 2010 / 2011 season. Mouritz played a vital role in helping Saracens to win the 2011 Aviva Premiership. Along the way he made 27 appearances and was named in the 2011 Sky Sports Dream Team. As a reward for his fantastic performances during the season he was named in the 2011 England Saxons squad for the Churchill Cup. He made his debut in the 87–8 victory over the USA. After his performances for the Saxons, Mouritz was selected in the full England squad and made his debut against Wales.

For Mouritz the 2011 / 2012 season was his third season for Saracens and he played throughout the season for Saracens helping them to finish in the semi-final places of the Aviva Premiership, losing to Leicester Tigers in the semi-final. Overall in the season he made 24 appearances for Saracens scoring one try. Due to his performances for Saracens he made appearances for England in both the Six Nations and in all 3 tests on England’s tour of South Africa.

During the 2012 / 2013 season he made his 100th appearance for the club in the 40–7 win over Edinburgh, helping Saracens to win their Heineken Cup pool, giving them a home quarter final draw against Ulster. Botha also started in the first ever Aviva Premiership match to be played at Saracens’ new ground Allianz Park, in a 31–11 victory over Exeter Chiefs. Botha came off of the bench as a second half substitute for Alistair Hargreaves to help Saracens to a 27–16 victory over Ulster in the quarter final of the Heineken Cup setting up a semi final with Toulon at Twickenham.

After spending five-and-a-half seasons at Saracens, Botha returned to South Africa prior to the 2015 Super Rugby season, signing for Durban-based side the Cell C Sharks.

Although he was born in South Africa, Botha qualifies for England on residency grounds having moved to England in 2004. In 2011 he was selected in the England 44 man squad for the 2011 World Cup and made his England debut in the 23–19 England victory over Wales although missed out on selection for England’s final World Cup Squad.

Botha played in every game of England’s 2012 Six Nations campaign, ultimately helping them to a second place finish. At the end of 2012, Botha was named in the England squad for their tour of South Africa. Returning to his homeland, he started in England’s 22–17 loss to South Africa. He later started in the second test and came on as a substitute in the 14–14 draw with South Africa in the last test.

Botha was named in the Elite Player Squad for the November Internationals in 2012 although he only made one appearance as a substitute against South Africa, largely due to the emergence of Joe Launchbury. For the 2013 Six Nations, Botha was originally named in the England Saxons squad but was then later called up to the full senior squad due to an injury to Callum Clark.

Mouritz has played in 10 Tests and also additionally 3 times for the Saxons.

Rugby Career:

• 2006: Bedford Blues
• 2007: Bedford Blues
• 2008: Bedford Blues
• 2009: Bedford Blues, Saracens
• 2010: Saracens
• 2011: Saracens, England Saxons
• 2012: Saracens, England (Six Nations), England (June Tour to South Africa), England (November Internationals)
• 2013: Saracens, England (Six Nations)
• 2014: Saracens

Name: Etienne Oosthuizen:

Position Lock Height 1.98m Weight 120 Kg Date of Birth 22 December 1992 Place of Birth Rustenburg Provincial Debut 2012 for MTN Golden Lions in Vodacom Cup Provincial Caps 17 Provincial Points 5 Super Rugby Debut 2012 for MTN Lions Super Rugby Caps 21 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

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.

Having been at the Brumbies in 2013 with Jake White, he got some vital Super Rugby time in 2014, not that he should be considered as one of the better locks in Super Rugby. He is just another player with hardly a chance for national honours.

Rugby Career:

• 2008: Leopards (Under 16 Coca-Cola Grant Khomo Week), South Africa (Under 16 Elite Squad)
• 2010: Leopards (Under 18 Coca-Cola Craven Week), South Africa (SA Under 18 High Performance)
• 2011: Golden 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)
• 2014: Cell C Sharks (2014 Super Rugby Friendlies), Cell C Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Cell C Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)

Name: Joseph Stephanus Theuns “Stephan” Lewies:

Position Lock Height 2.01 m Weight 114 Kg Date of Birth 27 January 1992 Place of Birth Pretoria Provincial Debut 2012 for Natal Sharks Provincial Caps 16 Provincial Points 5 Super Rugby Debut 2014 for Cell C Sharks Super Rugby Caps 17 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut 28 June 2014 (Springbok No 860) Test Caps 1 Test Points 0

He is a product of Wierdapark Primary School and Eldoraigne High School in Centirion.

He played for the Sharks Under 19 side in 2011 and for the Sharks Under 21’s in 2012 and 2013, starting 33 matches for those sides.

He was included in the Sharks XV Vodacom Cup side in 2012 and made a late substitute appearance in their match against the Boland Cavaliers in Malmesbury to make his first class debut. Another substitute appearance followed in the 2013 Vodacom Cup, this time in a home match against the Free State XV.

His Currie Cup debut came during the 2013 Currie Cup Premier Division season, when he started in their match against the Golden Lions. He remained in the side for the rest of the season, starting two matches in total and making three substitute appearances, including coming on in the Currie Cup final, where he contributed to the Natal Sharks beating Western Province 33–19.

Lewies was also included in the Sharks squad for the 2014 Super Rugby season and made his debut in a 31–16 victory against the Bulls in Durban.

After Bakkies Botha became unavailable and Flip van der Merwe was injured, Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer called up Lewies for the Test Match against Scotland. Lewies made his test debut on 28 June 2014, replacing stand-in captain Victor Matfield in the 55-6 thump over Scotland in Port Elizabeth.

Rugby Career:

• 2011: Sharks (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
• 2012: Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
• 2013: Sharks XV (Vodacom Cup), Sharks (ABSA Under 21 Competition), The Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)
• 2014: Cell C Sharks (2014 Super Rugby Friendlies), Cell C Sharks (Vodacom Super Rugby), Springboks (Castle Lager Incoming Series), Cell C Sharks (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)

Name: Lubabalu “Giant” Mtyanda:

Position Lock Height 1.99m Weight 116 Kg Date of Birth 19 March 1986 Place of Birth Port Elizabeth Provincial Debut 2006 for Mighty Elephants vs Western Province Provincial Caps 123 Provincial Points 60 Super Rugby Debut Super Rugby Caps 0 Super Rugby Points 0 Test Debut Test Caps 0 Test Points 0

Mtyanda started his career coming through the youth ranks at the Mighty Elephants (now Eastern Province Kings) and made his debut for them in the 2006 Vodacom Cup competition against Western Province.

He joined the Golden Lions later in the same year, where he represented their Under 21 team. He made 4 appearances for them in the 2007 Vodacom Cup and also represented UJ in the 2008 Varsity Cup, but failed to break into the first team.

He joined the SWD Eagles at the start of 2009, where he quickly established himself as a regular, making over 50 appearances for the George-based union.

In 2013, he joined the Pumas prior to the 2013 Currie Cup First Division season. He was also included in a South Africa President’s XV team that played in the 2013 IRB Tbilisi Cup and won the tournament after winning all three matches.

He is training with the Sharks for the 2015 Super Rugby season due to the injury to Stephan Lewies.

Rugby Career:

• 2005: Eastern Province (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Eastern Province (ABSA Under 19 Competition)
• 2006: Mighty Elephants (Vodacom Cup), Mighty Elephants (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Golden Lions (ABSA Under 21 Competition)
• 2007: Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Golden Lions (ABSA Under 21 Competition), Golden Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Squad Member)
• 2008: UJ (FNB Varsity Cup), Golden Lions (Vodacom Cup), Xerox Lions (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Squad Member)
• 2009: SWD Eagles (Vodacom Cup), SWD Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), SWD (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), SWD Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
• 2010: SWD (Vodacom Cup), SWD (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), SWD (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), SWD Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
• 2011: SWD Eagles (Vodacom Cup), SWD (ABSA Currie Cup Compulsary Friendlies), SWD Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
• 2012: SWD Eagles (Vodacom Cup), SWD Eagles (ABSA Currie Cup First Division)
• 2013: South Western Districts (Vodacom Cup), South Africa Presidents XV (IRB Tbilisi Cup), Steval Pumas (ABSA Currie Cup First Division), Steval Pumas (ABSA Currie Cup Promotion / Relegation)
• 2014: Steval Pumas (Vodacom Cup), Steval Pumas (ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division)

Starters:

The Sharks are virtually assured to start with their International Locks in Pieter-Steph du Toit and Mouritz Botha but in the long Super Rugby season they will be required to rotate players and use more than just the frontline locks, so Etienne Oosthuizen will see some game time and Stephan Lewies too (when he returns from injury duty).

I think Giant Mtyanda is there just for cover and as an “Injury Policy” and I would not be surprised to rather see a player like Willem Alberts fit in at lock in an emergency, rather than go too low down the lock pecking order.

The next Article in the range will deal with the Cell C Sharks’ loose forwards.