Brotherly rivalry has to wait after injury scuppers Tshituka v Tshituka clash

A brand new brotherly rivalry was supposed to be ignited in Durban on Friday night time when the Tshituka brothers, Vincent and Emmanuel, have been set to battle it out on reverse sides for the primary time when the Sharks and Lions clashed of their United Rugby Championship (URC) match.

However a late injury to Vincent, who was named to begin at lock for the primary time in his profession, instead of rested Springbok enforcer Eben Etzebeth, noticed the elder brother withdrawn shortly earlier than the sport.

The Tshituka’s will now have to wait for the return fixture at Ellis Park in mid-February to hopefully begin a brand new and thrilling brotherly rivalry that would change into an exciting a part of the SA rugby panorama for a few years. 

Vince and Manu, as they’re identified, had solely ever performed collectively professionally, though they each went to the identical faculty, Northcliff High, the place 24-year-old Vince and 22-year-old Manu by no means performed in the identical crew on the identical time.

That all modified when Manu adopted in his brother’s footsteps and labored his approach into the Lions squad, the place he made his debut in 2021, after Vince had carried out the identical again in 2018.

The two then performed collectively for shut to two years, forming a dynamic partnership in the course of the latter phases of final season’s URC competitors, earlier than Vince made the transfer down to Durban to be a part of up with the Sharks on the conclusion of the inaugural URC season.

“For the past two years we got used to playing with each other but now the time has come that we play against each other. We have spoken about it, and it is something that we are both excited for,” admitted Manu within the lead up to the Lions and Sharks URC match.

“Our household is sort of excited as effectively. My (youthful) brother, my mother and my dad, everybody is sort of excited to watch the sport. 

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“But I think I can speak for the both of us when I say it’s ultimately just another fixture where we get to represent our franchises. I will just go out to do my best, as I have done the last couple of weeks.”

It was nevertheless set to be an fascinating match-up as Manu was named to begin at No 6 for the Lions, having performed at eighthman for them over the previous few video games, whereas Vince was named at No 4 lock for the Sharks, regardless of having solely performed within the free for them up to now.

Manu has loved a powerful season for the Lions to date and is aiming to proceed constructing on it over the remainder of the marketing campaign.

“I am happy but I am not content. It’s one thing the coach’s drive on their side, to never be content or complacent with your performances. You must always strive to get better each week,” mentioned Manu about his type this season.

“So my goal is to always come out and make the most of it each week and play as well as I can for my teammates.”

When the Tshituka’s ultimately face one another for the primary time they are going to be a part of up with one other Lions v Sharks rivalry that began final 12 months, between the Hendrikse brothers, Jordan and Jaden.

Jordan began at flyhalf for the Lions on Friday, whereas Jaden got here off the bench at scrumhalf for the Sharks within the second half, in a match that the Sharks ran out comfy 37-10 winners.

Arguably essentially the most well-known current brother v brother rivalries in South African rugby have been between the Ndungane twins and the Du Plessis brothers. 

With the Ndungane’s, Akona performed for the Bulls and Odwa performed for the Sharks, and their dad and mom used to sit within the stands with their father and mom sporting opposing crew shirts.

For the Du Plessis brothers, the Bulls Bismarck and the Sharks Jannie have been well-known for having a giant membership rivalry, whereas forming a robust Springbok partnership over a few years.

The Du Preez brothers additionally had a brief lived rivalry when oldest brother Robert represented the Stormers, whereas twins Jean-Luc and Dan performed for the Sharks, whereas all three now play for Sale Sharks in England.

Another quick rivalry was between the Jantjies brothers when Elton represented the Lions and Tony performed for the Bulls.