Rugby news from Western Province:
SA Rugby re-commits to campaign against discrimination and racism:
On 20 July 2019, on the day of a Test against Australia at Emirates Airline Park, SA Rugby launched a campaign called Rugby Against Discrimination and Racism (R A D A R).
The campaign was the outcome of a collaboration with the South African Human Rights Commission to address a societal issue that finds expression in all environments – including sporting ones.
At the time we said the campaign was to demonstrate rugby’s commitment to eradicating all forms of discrimination in the game.
We said we would not tolerate discrimination and racism in our team and working environments, but we acknowledged that these attitudes were a fact of life the world over. We said we wanted to shine a light on such instances in our environment to be part of the movement for change.
Unfortunately, that campaign went largely unreported or remarked.
Now, we recommit to that campaign.
SA RUGBY DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION CREDO
South African rugby is committed to an environment where all are welcome, irrespective of race, colour, creed or gender.
We acknowledge the painful inequalities of our country’s past – and its present – and that they must be eradicated.
We must maintain and continuously improve an environment that is fair and respectful, where people from different backgrounds feel accepted and valued.
An environment that recognises and embodies the fact that everyone is worthy of being heard and in which all can thrive.
We acknowledge that the only thing that separates one person from another is opportunity.
That we must strive harder to eliminate discrimination and inequality amongst administrators, players and officials.
That we must work harder to create a culture where each person feels seen, heard, and supported.
We acknowledge that South Africa’s Bill of Rights grants everyone the right to freedom of conscience, religion, thought, belief and opinion.
But we are single-minded in opposing racists and racism, and discrimination of any kind.
Ours is a sport for all; where we celebrate diversity and inclusion; and are committed to a better future for all.
We celebrate success together; and we suffer pain, hardship and losses together.
Our focus is on the things that bind us, not those that would divide us.
We are South Africa, with all it challenges, issues and disparity.
But as South Africans we have proved that we are stronger together. We will not be divided.
DHL Stormers too strong for Emirates Lions on Vodacom SuperFan Saturday:
The DHL Stormers scored five tries on their way to a 34-21 victory against the Emirates Lions on their return to rugby on Vodacom SuperFan Saturday at Loftus Versfeld.
It was an encouraging performance which saw the DHL Stormers score three tries in the first half anf two more after half-time, with a number of players catching the eye.
The Emirates Lions struck first with an early try from wing Courtnall Skosan, who claimed a cross-kick, but those were to be their only points of the first half.
The DHL Stormers forwards were dominant at scrum-time and won a string of penalties to put themselves in position for flyhalf Damian Willemse to get them on the scoreboard with a penalty.
Their first try also came from an attacking scrum, with centre Dan du Plessis taking a well-timed pass to glide through and give the DHL Stormers the lead.
The forwards were equally impressive at maul-time and a series of powerful drives saw Emirates Lions lock Marvin Orie shown a yellow card before DHL Stormers hooker Scarra Ntubeni crash over from a maul.
The defence had held out well under pressure earlier on and at the end of the first half it was the DHL Stormers who took the game to the opposition. A prolonged passage of play eventually resulted in the ball going out to captain Siya Kolisi, who left his marker graping at air with a clever stop-go to score in the corner.
That gave the DHL Stormers a commanding 20-7 advantage at half-time following an impressive opening 40 minutes in which they outscored the Emirates Lions by three tries to one.
The DHL Stormers struck again early in the second half, with fullback Warrick Gelant slicing through the defensive line to score under the poles on his DHL Stormers debut.
Both teams made a host of changes and cleared the benches before the Emirates Lions claimed their second try, with wing Jamba Ulengo scoring in the corner. They followed that up shortly afterwards with their third from replacement MJ Pelser, which brought them back within striking distance of the DHL Stormers at 27-21.
The DHL Stormers had the final say as lock Salmaan Moerat burst free from a breakdown and put replacement scrumhalf Paul de Wet over for the fifth try, which sealed the win.
The scorers:
For DHL Stormers:
Tries: Du Plessis, Ntubeni, Kolisi, Gelant, De Wet
Cons: Willemse 2, Swiel
Pen: Willemse
For Emirates Lions:
Tries: Skosan, Ulengo, Pelser
Cons: Jantjies, Lombard 2
Teams:
DHL Stormers: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Leolin Zas, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Damian Willemse, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Bongi Mbonambi, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Nama Xaba, 21 Hannes Gouws, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tim Swiel, 24 Michal Hazner, 25 Angelo Davids, 26 Tristan Leyds.
Emirates Lions: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Sti Sithole, 17 Jan-Henning Campher, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Reinhard Nothnagel, 21 MJ Pelser, 22 Francke Horn, 23 Len Massyn, 24 Dillon Smit, 25 Gianni Lombard, 26 Stean Pienaar, 27 Dan Kriel, 28 Manuel Rass, 29 Jamba Ulengo, 30 EW Viljoen.
