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Siya Kolisi blasts backlash over Jaden Hendrikse as ‘banter’ after Munster URC drama during shootout

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Siya Kolisi defends Jaden Hendrikse after Sharks’ dramatic URC win as controversy swirls over cramp incident in penalty shootout
An image collage containing 3 images, Image 1 shows Hollywoodbets Sharks players celebrating a victory, Image 2 shows Siya Kolisi of South Africa, Image 3 shows Munster rugby players after a quarter-final match

SOUTH AFRICA skipper Siya Kolisi has leapt to the defence of Sharks scrum-half Jaden Hendrikse.

It comes in the wake of the controversial URC penalty shootout win over Munster in Durban.

31 May 2025; Jaden Hendrikse of Hollywoodbets Sharks and Bradley Davids of Hollywoodbets Sharks celebrate as Hollywoodbets Sharks beat Munster in a kick off to qualify for the semi-finals during the United Rugby Championship quarter-final match between Hollywoodbets Sharks and Munster at Kings Park Stadium in Durban, South Africa. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile
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Siya Kolise rubbished claims that his teammate was faking cramp to delay Jack Crowley’s attempt in the URC semi-final
31 May 2025; Munster players look on during the kick-off after the United Rugby Championship quarter-final match between Hollywoodbets Sharks and Munster at Kings Park Stadium in Durban, South Africa ended in a 24-24 draw. Photo by Shaun Roy/Sportsfile
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Munster players were left devastated aftrer the controversial shootout defeat

The two-time World Cup winning captain rubbished online speculation that his teammate was faking cramp to delay Jack Crowley’s attempt.

Kolisi said: “We stand with Jaden. He is competitive. There has been banter everywhere in the game — we’ve seen it from players from all over the world.

“There is always a big thing about it, but it’s normal. These things happen and people can say what they like. It’s banter between two players, and that’s all it is — and that’s what Jaden is.

“From our side, he knows we’re backing him all the way. He cramped - you can see he was definitely cramping.”

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Kolisi also hinted at double standards, appearing to reference Johnny Sexton’s World Cup altercation with Rieko Ioane.

He also alluded to similar antics from some Munster players in the past.

The flanker went on to further his teammate.

He added: “I get people saying stuff to me in the game, I don’t moan about it.

"We just carry on, or you react however you want to react. It is what it is. We are ing him, we stand with Jaden.

“You’ve seen the ones that happened during the World Cup, and some guys who were on the field there have also done it to other people.

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“Let’s get over it — it’s rugby, it’s entertainment. That’s what people want.”

The URC semi-finals now see Leinster host reigning champions Glasgow and the Bulls vs Sharks in an all South African clash.

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