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The Du Plessis factor has been an important one
in recent years for The Sharks, as they tend to
win more often in Vodacom Super Rugby when
these two brothers of the front-row – Jannie and
Bismarck – start a game together.
The Sharks have lost only four out of 19 Vodacom
Super Rugby matches, or 79 percent of their games
with both Du Plessis’ in the starting line-up. This
is in contrast to the overall winning record of 62
percent since Jannie, the Springbok prop, joined
Bismarck, his Bok hooker brother, in Durban in
2008.
The Du Plessis brothers packed down in the same
front row for the fi rst time against the Blues in 2008
– the fi rst of fi ve games together in the starting XV
that season, of which two were lost.
In 2009, the Sharks won four of the six Vodacom
Super Rugby matches where the brothers featured
in the starting team while last season the Durban
franchise were unbeaten in fi ve games when
Jannie wore 3 on his back and Bismarck 2.
The Sharks have started 2011 on a high, winning
all three their games thus far, with the Du Plessis’
starting all of those – against the Toyota Cheetahs
(24-9), Blues (26-12) and the Western Force (39-
12). They are currently in fi rst position on the
Vodacom Super Rugby log and are one of only three
undefeated teams in the competition.
The Sharks’ winning record 2008-2011
Year Games Won Percentage
2008: 14 - 9 - 64
2009: 13 - 8 - 62
2010: 13 - 7 - 54
2011: 3 - 3 - 100
Some more stats here:
http://cdn.24.co.za/files/Cms/Genera...f2f1879d74.pdf