Marvin Orie will be stuck on 49 Super Rugby caps
- Lions lock Marvin Orie will miss out on a 50th Super Rugby cap this weekend.
- While SA Rugby have told franchises it’s their prerogative as to how they still want to cap players, Super Rugby Unlocked will be recorded separately from the main tournament.
- The Lions themselves have confirmed that they consider the Unlocked Series as a new competition.
While it’s unlikely that he’ll be overly disappointed, Lions lock Marvin Orie won’t be credited with a 50th Super Rugby cap when he takes on his Sharks counterparts in Friday’s Super Rugby Unlocked opener in Durban.
SA Rugby earlier sent out a communique to the franchises that it will be up to them to decide how they want to recognise their players in this regard.
The federation added though that “for Sanzaar record purposes, (Super Rugby) appearances and points will be kept separately”.
Orie, 27, has turned out 39 times for the Lions in addition to 10 caps for the Bulls.
Sensibly perhaps, the Lions have officially declared that the Unlocked series won’t be considered part of the Super Rugby portfolio.
“We view this as a new competition. Previous caps won’t be added,” a franchise spokesperson said.
After all, the Cheetahs have not been part of the tournament since their controversial axing in 2017, while the Pumas and Griquas’ only tangible association with the 25-year-old product has been being regional partners.
Asked earlier this week whether any sort of comparison should be made between the Unlocked Series and Super Rugby series, Elton Jantjies suggested too that SA’s upcoming domestic programme should be viewed in isolation.
It’s a telling sentiment from a man who boasts 140 Super Rugby caps himself and has pocketed 1 103 points along the way.
“No comment on that one,” said Jantjies, answering a query over whether he’ll miss the original tournament.
“It’s different‚ having a combined Super Rugby and Currie Cup in one and we’ve had to adapt to it. But it’s also new and a great opportunity in SA with both cups available.”
Kick-off at King’s Park on Friday is at 19:00.
Teams:
Sharks
15 Manie Libbok, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Werner Kok, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Phepsi Buthelezi, 6 James Venter, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Dylan Richardson, 1 Ox Nche.
Substitutes: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John-Hubert Meyer, 19 JJ van der Mescht, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Jeremy Ward, 23 Thaakir Abrahams
Lions
15 EW Viljoen, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vince Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Carlu Sadie, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Substitutes: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 MJ Pelser, 21 Hacjivah Dayimani, 22 Morne van den Berg, 23 Gianni Lombard, 24 Wandisile Simelane, 25 Ruan Dreyer.
