2010 SA Currie Cup Competition

[PaarlBok]

15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Willem De Waal, 9. Ricky Januarie, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Schalk Burger (captain), 5. Anton van Zyl , 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. JD Moller

Replacements: 16. Hanyani Shimange, 17. JC Kritzinger, 18. De Kock Steenkamp, 19. Pieter Louw, 20. Dewaldt Duvenage, 21. Lionel Cronje, 22. Paul Bosch

Blue Bulls: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Danie Rossouw, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Derick Kuun, 5. Victor Matfield (captain), 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Dean Greyling

Replacements: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Flip van der Merwe, 19. Pierre Spies, 20. Ruan Snyman, 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22. Deon Stegmann

 

[PaarlBok]

With a semi-final win rate of close to 90 percent, history suggests that the Vodacom Blue Bulls will carry the favourites tag in preparation of their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final game against The Sharks in Durban on Saturday at 14h30.

The defending champions boast the best semi-finals winning record of all South African sides that compete in Absa Currie Cup. The Vodacom Blue Bulls have won an amazing 88 percent of their semi-finals, losing only two of their 17 games at this stage in the competition.

The Sharks and the Vodacom Blue Bulls have met in three previous semi-finals, with the team from Pretoria winning all of these games – in 2002 (22-19), 1998 (31-17) and back in 1970 (24-8).

However, John Plumtree’s troops will use their recent history against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Durban to their advantage as they prepare for their playoff clash. The hosts have won their last five games against the defending champions in matches played at The Absa Stadium Durban, which include a 14-9 victory in the final of the 2008 competition.

The Sharks have enjoyed a successful home campaign during this year’s competition. They secured seven victories in Durban – over the Platinum Leopards (63-6), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (30-16), GWK Griquas (48-30), Vodacom Western Province (27-16), Xerox Lions (48-19), Vodacom Blue Bulls (34-28) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (27-17). The hosts have conceded only two home defeats during the last two seasons in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, one of those in last year’s semi-final.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls, who ended the league phase of the competition in fourth position on the log, have not enjoyed the best of form on the road during this season’s competition. The Pretoria outfit conceded four defeats – against the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (22-21) in Witbank, Vodacom Western Province (15-12) in Cape Town, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (20-14) in Bloemfontein and The Sharks (34-28) in Durban.


There will be very little separating Vodacom Western Province and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs when these sides meet up in the second Absa Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final at Newlands on Saturday at 17h00.

Both sides secured six victories in the 12 Absa Currie Cup games they played against each other since 2005. Vodacom WP have won four of their last six games played at Newlands against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, but the Bloemfontein side hold the advantage when it comes to their history in semi-finals.


The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs have a 50 percent success rate in semi-finals and defeated Vodacom WP during their last two visits to Newlands in playoff games in the Absa Currie Cup. In 2005 the Bloemfontein side recorded a 16-11 victory over Vodacom WP and in 2004; they toppled the hosts 17-11.

Province, who have a 60 percent semi-final winning record at Newlands, lost their last four semi-finals in the Absa Currie Cup. Their last victory in a final-four clash happened back in 2001, when they defeated the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 40-18. It was also in 2001 that Vodacom WP last claimed silverware in the Absa Currie Cup after they defeated The Sharks (29-24) in the final played at Newlands.

Three of the competition’s leading points’ scorers could also be in action this weekend. The leading points’ scorer in the 2010 competition – Vodacom WP flyhalf William de Waal (199), who became the second leading points’ scorer (1412) in the history of the Absa Currie Cup after he added 16 points with the boot during his side’s 33-21 victory over The Sharks last week, will probably go head to head against his opposite number Louis Strydom (146), who is the fifth leading points’ scorer this season.

In the other Absa Currie Cup semi-final clash The Sharks pivot Patrick Lambie (169), who has scored the fourth most points this season, will aim to break his union’s losing streak in semi-finals against the Vodacom Blue Bulls. Jacques-Louis Potgieter of the Bulls, joint-second on the list with 173 points, will probably be on the bench.


Vodacom Blue Bulls


P W L W %


Home 10 9 1 90
Away 7 6 1 86

Total 17 15 2 88

Vodacom Western Province


P W L W %

Home 10 6 4 60
Away 8 6 2 75

Total 18 12 6 67

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs

P W L W %

Home 4 2 2 50

Away 12 6 6 50

Total 16 8 8 50

The Sharks
P W L W %

Home 14 7 7 50

Away 4 0 4 0

Total 18 7 11 38

 

[Hartman]

jislike I wish we could get the semis and finals live in Australia. Not getting regular season games live I can manage (barely) but this is torture...

WeePee, jou lekka deng!

 

[Langthorne]

Any news on the Free State and Natal teams for the semis?

I'm looking forward to these matches.

 

[rustycruiser]

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Corné Uys, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tewis De Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Riaan Smit.

 

[Blue]

jislike I wish we could get the semis and finals live in Australia. Not getting regular season games live I can manage (barely) but this is torture...

WeePee, jou lekka deng!

We used to in the past.

You can watch them online though.

 

[PaarlBok]

We used to in the past.

You can watch them online though.

We get live ITM matches in SA. Been watch Cantabs vs Southland Shield match on saturday and feel honestly without trying to disrespect the Kiwis, it dont come close to the CC matches quality, WP vs Sharks for a example. Do make a huge differense when you have a packed Newlands watching the game.

 

[Blue]

We get live ITM matches in SA. Been watch Cantabs vs Southland Shield match on saturday and feel honestly without trying to disrespect the Kiwis, it dont come close to the CC matches quality, WP vs Sharks for a example. Do make a huge differense when you have a packed Newlands watching the game.

I disagree. It was an incredibly tight game and was played like a final, which it was.

For me the ITM and CC are about on par when the top tier teams meet.

I would reckon the likes of Cantabs Bulls , WP Southland, Waikato Sharks to be close contests.

 

[PaarlBok]

Tim Lane's boy Sam (12) WP U19 and the Smith Twins will run out for WP U21 against the Cheetahs on Newlands in the semi.

WP youth teams
Vodacom WP u21
15. Martin Du Toit
14. Danie Poolman
13. Johan Sadie
12. Berton Klaasen
11. JJ Engelbrecht
10. Gary Van Aswegen
9. Louis Schreuder (C)
8. Nick Koster
7. Yaya Hartzenberg
6. Wimpie Van Der Walt
5. Reniel Hugo
4. Quinn Roux
3. Ruan Smith
2. Sidney Tobias
1. Alistair Vermaak

Reserves:
16. Albe De Swardt
17. JP Smith
18. Stephan Greeff
19. Tertius Daniller
20. Nicholas Groom
21. Reuben Johannes
22. Stokkies Hanekom

Vodacom WP u19
15. Ulrich Beyers
14. Clearance Khumalo
13. Michael Van Der Spuy
12. Sam Lane
11. Sizo Maseko
10. William Van Wyk
9. Ricky Schroeder (C)
8. Siyamtanda Kolisi
7. Nizaam Carr
6. Kobus Porter
5. Wilhelm Van Der Sluys
4. Eben Etzebeth
3. Frans Malherbe
2. Siyabonga Ntubeni
1. Adriaan Botha

Reserves:
16. Neil Rautenbach
17. Jacques Kotze
18. Cameron Lindsay
19. Jody Reyneke
20. Gerhard Jordaan
21. Damian De Allende
22. Pieter-Steyn De Wet

Bolded = Paarl Gym boys.

 

[I like to watch]

Tim Lane's boy Sam (12) WP U19 and the Smith Twins will run out for WP U21 against the Cheetahs on Newlands in the semi.

hey Paarl, I think you mean the 19's?
How has he been going?
I see he is playing 12.......he was never that big when in Sydney.
Do you think he will get to play with the Stormers in time?

 

[PaarlBok]

hey Paarl, I think you mean the 19's?
How has he been going?
I see he is playing 12.......he was never that big when in Sydney.
Do you think he will get to play with the Stormers in time?

Well he is still only U19 but he sure have the highway to the Stormers at the moment. The Paarl Gym 10 van Wyk have been playing WP Craven Week as well , so maybe 12 is Lanes position now.

Sharks team:
Sharks: 15. Louis Ludik, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Stefan Terblanche (Captain), 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1.Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Anton Bresler, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Rory Kockott, 21. Andre Pretorius, 22. Odwa Ndungane

 

[PaarlBok]

WP aim high

Superrugby

WP union aim for rare treble

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

by Gavin Rich 18 October 2010, 09:01

The main focus is of course on the Absa Currie Cup final, but the game between Western Province and the Sharks will not be the only point of interest for the WP administration and Cape fans on finals day in Durban on 30 October.

Ever since Rassie Erasmus arrived to take over what was essentially the director of rugby role at WP three seasons ago he has spoken about the importance of getting the systems right and getting the succession planning flow working by ensuring that a culture of excellence and strong work ethic is not only introduced at senior level, but also at age-group level.

This of course is taking a lead from what has worked highly successfully for the Bulls under Heyneke Meyer, and you have to say that it is working for WP.

ALL THREE FINALS

They still have it all to do in terms of winning the trophies, but WP will be action in all three finals at Absa Stadium – the under-19 game, the under-21 match and the big one, the Currie Cup final itself.

While Schalk Burger’s team won convincingly against the Cheetahs in their semifinal, with the result seldom in any doubt en route to their 31-7 victory which broke something of a hoodoo for Province in knock-out games against those opponents, the under-21 team did not have it all their own way.

Indeed, for long periods of their match against the Cheetahs junior side, it looked as if Louis Schreuder’s men were suffering from the lack of mental toughness that has sometimes been posed as a question mark over WP teams due to a perceived weakness in play-off games.

Last year for instance the WP age-group teams enjoyed great league seasons but were both beaten in the semifinals.

It was as if the WP under-21 side were desperate to lose the game, with two big errors enabling the Cheetahs to score two tries in the first quarter that took them into a handy lead.

LAST-GASP TRY

Then WP fought back, only for mistakes to let the Cheetahs back in. This sequence repeated itself for most of the game, right up to the moment when WP showed their nerve by scoring a great try to equalise the scores off the last move of the match.

If that showed that WP did have the temperament after all, flyhalf Gary van Aswegan scotched that with a poor conversion, one which would normally be well within his ambit, to force the game into extra time.

It was then that the WP class came through, and although the final scores were level at 49-all after 100 minutes, Province, who had topped the under-21 log, advanced by virtue of scoring six tries to four.

The under-19 semifinal was won easily by WP, with the good work being done at the Rugby Institute in Stellenbosch being highlighted by an excellent 49-13 win over the Leopards.

A triple of successes – Currie Cup, under-21 and under-19 competitions – is something only the Bulls have managed to pull off in recent years and having three teams in the finals is certainly a major step forward for the WP union, who last year had no representation in the showpiece day of the domestic season.

Win or lose WP rugby is the best they have been in many a year, 2010 achievements thus far

Achievements to date;
Vodacom WP U12 - Unbeaten in Southern province tournament
Vodacom WP U13 - Unbeaten Champions
Vodacom WP U13 XV Academy Week - Unbeaten Champions
Vodacom WP U16 - Unbeaten Champions
Vodacom WP U18 Academy Week - Unbeaten Champions (drew final with Boland)
Vodacom WP U18 LSEN Week - Unbeaten Champions
Vodacom WP U18 - Losing finalists to Tin Ears
Vodacom WP Amateur team - Champions
Vodacom WP Women´s - Champions
Vodacom WP Disa Team - Champions
Vodacom WP U19 - top of log - final to be contested.
Vodacom WP U21 - top of log - final to be contested.
Vodacom WP senior team - final to be contested.

Vodacom Stormers - Finalists in Soweto.

Other honours
Maties - Finalists at Club Champs.
Maties and UCT contested the Varsity cup final with Maties winning.


and the Players being honoured last night

WP Rugby Site

WP Players honoured at annual WPRFU awards evening
WPRFU held its annual awards evening last night at the Kelvin Grove Club. The event, held in conjunction with Die Burger, recognizes clubs in the Western Cape and professional players who have performed well in 2010.
Flanker Duane Vermeulen was the star of the evening, walking away with the award for Best Forward for 2010, as well as the prestigious Players Player of the Year Award, an award voted for by his peers. The award for Best Backline player went to Gio Aplon who has enjoyed a remarkable season, with speedster Juan De Jongh, in a breakthrough season, being awarded the Most Promising Senior player trophy.

With both the Province u19 and u21 teams finishing top of their logs and progressing to the finals of their respective tournaments, there was a lot of talent to choose from in the Junior Awards category. Promising youngster Siya Kolisi (No 8) took honours in the u19 Best Forwards player category, with team mate William Van Wyk (flyhalf) chosen as the u19 Best Backline player and full back Ulrich Beyers as the Most Improved u19 player.

In the u21 category, wing Danie Poolman was the well deserved winner of the Best Backline player award, with prop Allister Vermaak rewarded for a great season by being selected as the Best Forwards player. Province centre Berton Klaasen scooped the award for the Most Improved u21 player.

Maties captain, Lourens Adriaanse, was recognized as the Club Player of the year, whilst the Women´s Player of the year went to Lauren Johannes.

Rassie Erasmus, on congratulating all the players, commented,” Whilst the job is not quite done yet, the season has already been a remarkable one for WP Rugby and special congratulations goes to all the winners.”

Tobie Titus, President WPRFU, added,” The investment into facilities, structures, planning and human capital at all levels is starting to produce results and will restore WP to her glory days in the near future. Rugby as a sport is healthy in this Province and we look forward to a successful future.”

 

[PaarlBok]

Tin Ears honour their playing stock
Free State honour Ashley
Posted: Today at 6:19am
http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/Free-State-honour-Ashley-20101020

Free State eighthman Ashley Johnson’s excellent form has not just been noticed by the Springbok selectors, but he was also honoured by the Free State Rugby Union (FSRU) on Tuesday evening.

Johnson was named the FSRU’s player of the year at a function after being one of the Cheetahs’ star performers in 2010.

The loose forward picked up two of the FSRU’s five awards when he was also named the players’ player of the year.

The latter award speaks volumes about what the Springbok meant for his team-mates on the field and underlined why he is in Springbok coach Peter de Villiers’s plans.

Johnson, prop Coenie Oosthuizen, hooker Adriaan Strauss, flank Juan Smith and prop CJ van der Linde were all included in a Springbok training squad that will get together for a two-day camp in Johannesburg on Friday.

The official squad for the tour to Britain and Ireland will be announced after the Currie Cup final on October 30.

Oosthuizen, who established himself in the Free State starting line-up at the age of 21, received the award for the player to have made the most progress.

Strauss led the Cheetahs well in Smith’s absence and was deservedly named most valuable player. This award goes to a player who had a big impact on the achievements by the team, and encouraged team-mates on and off the field.

Smith showed under trying circumstances why he is still considered one of the best flanks in world rugby and was honoured as the FSRU’s rugby star of the year. His father passed away earlier this year and he still managed to play excellent rugby.

The award goes to a player who is an ambassador for the Cheetahs and South African rugby, and also promoted the image of the FSRU and the game.

Johnson became a Bok at the end of last year when he toured to Europe. His player of the year award goes to a Free State player who has represented the Cheetahs in at least five games and performed consistently well.

 

[Lee Grant]

PB

Reading your last couple of posts makes me jealous, once again, of the system you have there: national competitions, not only for senior players but also for U/19 and U/21 players. It is only possible in a rugby-centric country which has an audience that underwrites the costs of such tournaments and that includes sponsorship, since the customers of sponsors are part of the audience also.

I'm also jealous, as I have mentioned before, that this audience, and the money it generates, is not divided by 31 other professional football teams (ignoring soccer, common to both countries).

Sometimes I wonder how we can compete with you fellows, but our more relevant comparison is with NZ.

What we have to do is somehow copy what the Kiwis do and make the most of what we have. Although they don't have a large number of senior men players either compared to South Africa, they do better with what they have than we do with what we have. They have a strong domestic semi-pro comp, and it's one of the things that many of us think will help us to get on top of them and not rely on the careers of great players aligning, as was the case about 10 years ago.

But somehow I suspect that even if they didn't have their NPC (now named the ITM) I feel they would do better than us. Therefore we have to look at what they do at the grassroots.

But I digress from the Currie Cup topic.

 

[PaarlBok]

PB

Reading your last couple of posts makes me jealous, once again, of the system you have there: national competitions, not only for senior players but also for U/19 and U/21 players. It is only possible in a rugby-centric country which has an audience that underwrites the costs of such tournaments and that includes sponsorship, since the customers of sponsors are part of the audience also.

I'm also jealous, as I have mentioned before, that this audience, and the money it generates, is not divided by 31 other professional football teams (ignoring soccer, common to both countries).

Sometimes I wonder how we can compete with you fellows, but our more relevant comparison is with NZ.

What we have to do is somehow copy what the Kiwis do and make the most of what we have. Although they don't have a large number of senior men players either compared to South Africa, they do better with what they have than we do with what we have. They have a strong domestic semi-pro comp, and it's one of the things that many of us think will help us to get on top of them and not rely on the careers of great players aligning, as was the case about 10 years ago.

But somehow I suspect that even if they didn't have their NPC (now named the ITM) I feel they would do better than us. Therefore we have to look at what they do at the grassroots.

But I digress from the Currie Cup topic.

Oom Lee we have a lot to be thankfull but we have this qouta number thing that draw us back from schoolboy upwards. Many think its a good thing but for any sportsmen its a lose lose situation. If we can pick on merit only from bottom to top structure in rugby we'll be unstoppable, unbeatable as a rugby nation.

I am pretty sure Australia will benefit hugely with the new S15 model and NZ and SA will be peck back when they start to limited our CC or ITM top provincial teams.

 

[Blue]

Well done WP.

(Bloody goats, fokkit.)

Lee I continue to be amazed ho Oz is able to compete so well at international level with such a thin base in many ways.

While there are the many issues you mention the reality is that the system delivers great players. Problem is that there are these dips where there is a shortage of some number of high quality individuals but I think Australia are coming out of the downturn with all the signs pointing towards a great period for the game here.

Now only if we can have the ARC back. Every time I walk past the ARU office on my way into the gym I am tempted to walk in the their offices and ask to speak to Jon: "Sir, explain to me exactly why you aren't trying to reinstate the ARU."

PS Maybe the ARU can cut their Soy Latte budget at the coffee shop next door (there's always a little cluster of them there) as well as give up th 400 unused parking spaces in the basement so I can park my car somewhere. I'm sure that will also fund half the comp.

 

[cyclopath]

PS Maybe the ARU can cut their Soy Latte budget at the coffee shop next door (there's always a little cluster of them there) as well as give up th 400 unused parking spaces in the basement so I can park my car somewhere. I'm sure that will also fund half the comp.

Blue, you must be pretty buff if you're going to the gym that much!!

 

[Blue]

Blue, you must be pretty buff if you're going to the gym that much!!

I wish. I am too old to be buff. Now I just work to avoid anything hanging.

I end up going to St L Fitness First if I am in the area. It can't be a coincidence that every time I go the coffee shop right next door always has some prominent ARU figures hanging around and they must have little ARU badges in at least half the parking spaces (most of which I have never seen used.)

 

[DPK]

I wish. I am too old to be buff. Now I just work to avoid anything hanging.

I end up going to St L Fitness First if I am in the area. It can't be a coincidence that every time I go the coffee shop right next door always has some prominent ARU figures hanging around and they must have little ARU badges in at least half the parking spaces (most of which I have never seen used.)

Blue, just use the spots and say you work in the web department. How strong are the G&GR / ARU links?

 

[PaarlBok]

Well done WP.

(Bloody goats, fokkit.)

:yay Ja Boet WP always had the best supportbase in the world. No other club or province came close to 2010 attendances at Newlands, 43,000+ for S14 and 30,000+ for CC matches, Stellenbosch rocks 10,000 full houses during the Varsity Cup a few times and Paarl dont get 20,000+ for Interschools yearly. About time our teams start performing.

The job aint done fully, would love to get that CC cherry on top!