Annually drained of its player resources, South Africa somehow still maintains some of the most respected professional teams, who have shown they can go toe-to-toe with the best in the world.
Even without the likes of Pieter-Steph du Toit, Damian de Allende and Malcolm Marx, who have all opted for greener pastures overseas, South Africa’s four main franchises – the Sharks, Bulls, Stormers and Lions – have thrived in the first season of the URC, especially on home turf
All four teams have found real value in bringing back veteran journeymen from overseas and combining them with exciting rookies starting their careers.
In the URL, loose forwards Evan Roos, Phepsi Buthelezi, Vincent and Emmanuel Tshituka and Elrigh Louw have led from the front with youthful exuberance and are staking a…