Springbok legend Breyton Paulse has tipped the 10bet Lions as the South African team to watch in this year’s Vodacom United Rugby Championship.
The sixth season of the competition is set to kick off on Friday 25 September, and with the 10bet Lions facing a tough opening fixture against defending champions Leinster in Johannesburg on Saturday 26 September.
Positive expectations
But after a groundbreaking campaign last season when they won the South African Shield, made the playoffs for the first time, and had coach Ivan van Rooyen named as Coach of the Season as well as several other individual player awards, Paulse is hopeful that the 10bet Lions can do even better this season.
“I think for the South African team that will surprise this Vodacom United Rugby Championship season, I want to go with the 10bet Lions,” says Paulse.
Team cohesion
“They really play for each other and they play as a team, even with constraints around budget and not having the level of big names other teams have.”
Elsewhere amongst the South African teams, Paulse believes both the DHL Stormers and Vodacom Bulls have strengthened their squads with the right players.
And the other teams?
“I feel that the DHL Stormers have bought well this year with the likes of Cheslin Kolbe, Siya Kolisi and Wilco Louw. Then you also have the rise of a player like Yaqeen Ahmed. It’s going to be massive. But it all comes down to keeping your players fit and not having injuries in key positions like Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu or Ruhan Nel, who has been an inspirational captain. The Vodacom Bulls have also bought well. And then we’re still waiting for the Hollywoodbets Sharks to unlock their potential. Maybe this time around JP Pietersen has learnt a lot and he’ll get those players to fire for him.”
