2010 SA Currie Cup Competition

[PaarlBok]

Jeez. Byebye Ricky?

Who will be left for the Guppies at 9 next year? The young blonde bloke? They should pinch Petoors.

How did Lambie go at 10 this weekend? Dooes he look like the business?

See they want to poach Conrad Hoffman
Sport24

Currie Cup

Hoffmann on Sharks' radar
2010-08-16 22:33Email | Print

Stephen Nell

Cape Town – The Sharks are hoping to offer Western Province utility back Conrad Hoffmann a new rugby home in Durban from next season.

While rumours circulated Monday about Sharks scrumhalf Rory Kockott reportedly having been in talks with WP, Sport24 can reveal that Hoffmann is considering penning a deal with the Sharks.

On Saturday, Hoffmann is likely to either do duty on WP’s substitutes bench again or start at fullback in the Currie Cup match against the Sharks in Durban.

The Sharks are looking for a player to fill the void left by Ruan Pienaar’s departure and that may well be why they are trying to sign Hoffmann.

Hoffmann (22) has played scrumhalf and fullback for WP this year. His chances of starting regularly at scrumhalf in the Cape are likely to be limited with Dewaldt Duvenage and Ricky Januarie in WP’s ranks.

It will therefore come as no surprise if he signs for the Sharks.

Province coach Allister Coetzee said on Monday that Hoffmann is a fullback option for the weekend’s match and that Conrad Jantjes may move to the wing. Fabian Juries has a leg injury and is unlikely to be available.

“JJ Engelbrecht and Danie Poolman are both playing well for the under-21 side. The other option is to move Conrad (Jantjes) to the wing and pick Hoffies in the starting line-up,” said Coetzee.

He denied that WP were interested in Kockott. “ It’s just a rumour ... a wild rumour,” he said.

Coetzee’s players had the afternoon off on Monday following the weekend’s narrow win in the physical clash against the Blue Bulls.

Both locks in the starting team – Adriaan Fondse and Anton van Zyl – have colds. Tighthead Brok Harris has stiffness in his shoulder after his man-of-the-match performance against the Bulls.

Coetzee gave the assurance that all three would be fit to face the Sharks.

It will be interesting to see whether the Sharks include Kockott in their starting lineup.

Also know they try to chase Vermaak from the Lions.

Havent watch much Lampie in 10 but he sure make their backline more attacking.

 

[PaarlBok]

Conrad Jantjes on his comeback from injury
WP site

Comeback King
Vodacom Western Province´s kicking game played a big part in their early season successes in the Absa Currie Cup, and Conrad Jantjes played a big part in that. The fullback´s safety under the high ball meant there was no weakness at the back that the opposition could expose, and when they did kick onto Jantjes, they invariably found that the ball sailed back at them with some interest.
In fact, the 30-year-old´s form has been so good that it is hard to think of him now as the player who suffered such a nightmare injury during last year´s Vodacom Super 14. There have been some horrible rugby injuries over the years, but Jantjes´ broken leg will be remembered with shivers of discomfort by those who were there, so it is hard to imagine what it must have been like for the player.

'It´s a very painful memory in every possible way, and it was definitely the scariest night of my life,' recalls Jantjes. 'Coming from Johannesburg obviously I am not easily scared,' he laughs, 'but the image of my leg facing the other way did haunt me for a long time afterwards and I woke up on several occasions in the middle of the night with horrible memories of the sound of bone snapping.'

Clearly coming back from an injury like that is not easy, and Jantjes admits that it was a long and complicated process for him.

'It did take a while for me to get over it, and I am not just talking about the physical aspect. The psychological hurdle that I had to overcome was massive, and I did have to turn to psychological help to ease the process. Fortunately there is a bit of a support group going among sportsmen who have suffered similar injuries. Dillon Sheppard of Mamelodi Sundowns suffered a similar break a couple of years ago and more recently so did Eduardo of Arsenal. We were in contact with one another and it was a good way of informing yourself of what to expect and what was necessary to overcome both the physical and psychological challenges.

'After the injury I gave myself eight months off. I took a complete break from the game and didn't even did any gym work in that time. There was no point to it. I knew that once I was able to, I would be able to push myself hard in the gym and from my experience of prior injuries I knew I would need an intense six weeks or so to get back.

'Obviously my first contact and my first game back was a big step, and I may have been a bit hesitant in that first game. But once you have taken contact a couple of times and you have stood up to it your confidence comes back. Now it is just a case of me having to get endurance back into my legs. That is not something you can train for. You just have to play.

'My situation is different from someone like Nick Koster, who suffered an ACL tear. A bone break is not as complicated as a ligament tear and you don´t have a situation where one leg is weaker than another or you have to get your power back. There is nothing you can train for, it is just a case of me getting endurance back into my leg. I find my legs get tired quite quickly.'

Jantjes has been happy with his form since returning, but reckons it will take about three months for him to be completely comfortable. However, he is prepared to be patient, and right now he has no lofty rugby goals - he just wants to play again.

'I will be honest with you, I hardly even watched any rugby during my year away. My time away afforded me the chance to do other things I would not normally be able to do, like go away for a weekend, and when I did watch bits of the games, like in this year´s Super 14, I saw some of the big hits put in and ended up asking myself whether my leg would be able to take it.

'I wouldn´t say I was particularly frustrated or anything; I realised I had to live with the situation. But when the British & Irish Lions arrived, I do remember it sinking in that I was missing out on something big. Make no mistake, there are times when you are in rehab when it is a very lonely and dark place, and it can be a bit of a roller-coaster ride emotionally.

'At the moment it's just about me wanting to play, and to improve from one game to the next. I am enjoying playing Absa Currie Cup rugby and really want Vodacom WP to do well. During my time away I added up all the time I have been away with injury during my career, and figured out that in terms of my rugby, I am more like 27 years old than 30. You could say I am light on racing. So I do have plenty of time left in the game.'

Jantjes' recuperation from the injury is still far from over. At the end of the season he has to have two pins taken out of his leg and after that he will go into another six weeks of rehab.

'But I will be ready for next year's Vodacom Super 15, that is the next big step for me,' he says.

 

[PaarlBok]

Look like John Mitchell and Spencer at least do one thing right with the Lions. Unearthing some fine young talent in Jantjies and Jaco Taute.

Rugby365

Young Taute a man for all seasons

Every season the Currie Cup produces a new batch of young South African rugby talent. This year has been no exception, with Lions back Jaco Taute emerging as a rising star of note.

New Lions boss John Mitchell - despite having been in the country for a weeks only - is building from the ground up and has opted to field a youthful backline with nothing to lose.

As a result, Mitchell's aptly-named 'Lion Cubs' - while admittedly still being a little raw - have breathed life into a team that has a proud history as one of the powerhouses of South African rugby, but a recent record that they would not be proud of.

Taute has been one of his team's stars - even in defeat - but his electric pace and eye for a gap was on display even more as the Lions earned their first big win of the season when they defeated the Cheetahs 30-26 this past weekend.

"It [winning a big match] felt awesome hey - we played such good rugby in the second half," Taute told rugby365.com in an exclusive interview this week.

The 20-year-old was - as one would expect - full of praise for his coach, who has been handed what seemed an unenviable job of steering the Lions out of troubled waters.

"We've been training very hard since John [Mitchell] first got here and have been working towards that first big win," explained Taute, who has featured exclusively at fullback for the Lions - after making his Currie Cup debut as a schoolboy last year.

"He has brought a whole new dimension to our game, and really backs his players by creating a structure around them. I think that's what makes him such a great coach.

"He is a people's person, so he interacts well with his players and knows exactly how to get the best out of us," added the young star.

Of course, there is also another Kiwi at the Lions who is making a big impression on the SA Under-20 star, with legendary All Blacks flyhalf Carlos Spencer handing out some words of wisdom - at training and on the field of play.

An excitable Taute admitted: "Sometimes I think I need to wake up from a dream when I see that I'm training and playing with Carlos!

"Carlos has taught me a lot and he likes to develop specific skills; like improving our vision on the field by looking up and creating space for ourselves to play," he added. "He has such a great knowledge of the game and I've learned so much from him already."

Which position is most suited to Taute's skill set and electric pace remains a mystery - as he is capable of playing all over the backline - much like his 'Baby Boks' teammate, Sharks ace Patrick Lambie.

Taute, however, admitted that he does not know which number will feature on the back of his jersey in the future.

"I loved playing outside centre at the Baby Boks [in Argentina], but I'm looking at what is best for me and I'm enjoying playing fullback at the moment," he said.

"I must admit I would like to play closer to the game because I've been a flyhalf my whole life. Once I've developed my game a bit more, and now that I've settled at senior level, I think I could play flyhalf again in the future."

But his utility value aside - nevermind the debate as to which position suits him best - Taute has not been overwhelmed by the big stage and it seems that it is a case of when, as opposed to if, he will be in Green & Gold.

"My big ambition in life is to become a Springbok and I plan to work hard so that I can achieve that," admitted the former Monument pupil.

"My first stepping stone is playing in the Currie Cup, where I'm feeling comfortable, and I've found that it's getting a bit easier for me with every match I play."

The article has it wrong because Jaco will only turn 20 during March 2011 and is still a 19 year old. His favourate position is 10 and the amount of talent now coming through in this position is just amazing. All of a sudden we have Jantjies, Taute , Lambie, Sias Ebersohn (starting for the Cheetahs this weekend) and Lionel Cronje.

 

[DPK]

The article has it wrong because Jaco will only turn 20 during March 2011 and is still a 19 year old. His favourate position is 10 and the amount of talent now coming through in this position is just amazing. All of a sudden we have Jantjies, Taute , Lambie, Sias Ebersohn (starting for the Cheetahs this weekend) and Lionel Cronje.

How'd you like his kick after 80 to win, Paarl?

 

[PaarlBok]

Hartman Roodt has been injured in round 1 and havent feature since. Still waiting for the Pumas and Sharks teams to be announce in the mean time the two teams to play on friday.

Currie Cup: Weekend teams
Blue Bulls:
15. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. John Mametsa, 10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9. Ruan Snyman, 8. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Derick Kuun (captain), 5. Fudge Mabeta, 4. Juandre Kruger, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Dean Greyling

Replacements: 16. Henry Bantjes, 17. Bees Roux, 18. Jaco Engels, 19. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20. Dustin Jinka, 21. Stephan Dippenaar

Griquas:
15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Richard Lawson, 13. Wailmaure Louw, 12. Matthew Rosslee, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Naas Olivier (captain), 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Burger Schoeman, 7. Davon Raubenheimer, 6. Rohan Kitshoff, 5. Cecil Kemp, 4. Frikkie Spies, 3. Jacobie Adriaanse, 2. Ryno Barnes, 1. Steph Roberts

Replacements: 16. Simon Westraadt, 17. Jean Botha, 18. Michael Passaportis, 19. Johan van Deventer, 20. Marnus Hugo, 21. Barry Geel / Rocco Jansen, 22. Rudi Vogt

Johan van Deventer (BizKid) is a special fecther flanker and one Mitchell let go from the Lions.

 

[PaarlBok]

How'd you like his kick after 80 to win, Paarl?

That was a great effort against the Brutes. The Ebersohn Twins is a little bit light. Hope Naka feed them more mielie pap and steak to beef up. Feeling sorry for Lionel Cronje at the moment and hope he get more change to play for WP. Would love to see him man up to Lampie this weekend in the Shark Tank.

 

[DPK]

That was a great effort against the Brutes. The Ebersohn Twins is a little bit light. Hope Naka feed them more mielie pap and steak to beef up. Feeling sorry for Lionel Cronje at the moment and hope he get more change to play for WP. Would love to see him man up to Lampie this weekend in the Shark Tank.

How do you rate Pat Lambie? He looked very very sharp in the Sevens.

 

[PaarlBok]

How do you rate Pat Lambie? He looked very very sharp in the Sevens.

Got great vision and quite nippy. He sure made a huge differense to that Shark backline since playing 10. His big test will be against WP this weekend. WPs defense had been great thus far and looking forward to see this going against the Sharks.

 

[PaarlBok]

Currie Cup

Free State Cheetahs v Leopards, Bloemfontein - 19:00

Free State Cheetahs:
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Jongi Nokwe, 10. Sias Ebersohn, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Christoffel Philippus Van der Walt, 6. Hendro Scholtz, 5. Waltie Vermeulen, 4. Francois Uys, 3. Kobus Calldo, 2. Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen

Replacements: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. Willem Petrus Nel, 18. Kabamba Floors, 19. David de Villiers, 20. Tertius Carse, 21. Louis Strydom, 22. Riaan Smit

Leopards:
15. Jan Van Zyl, 14. Deon Scholtz, 13. Jovan Bowles, 12. Walter Venter, 11. Dumisani Matyeshana, 10. Neill Jacobs, 9. Michael Bondesio, 8. Riaan Swanepoel, 7. Wilhelm Koch (captain), 6. Christo van Niekerk, 5. Edrich Linde, 4. Bradley Peter Mockford, 3. Os Van der Walt, 2. Gavin Williamson, 1. Bennie Geldenhuys Uys

Replacements: 16. Pellow van der Westhuizen, 17. Johan Coetzee, 18. Anthonie Johannes Gronum, 19. RW Kember, 20. Theo Clyde van Wyk, 21. Clayton Durand, 22. Shuaib Samaai

Pumas v Lions, Witbank - 19:10

Pumas:
15. Nicky Kritzinger, 14. Vainon Willis, 13. Shaun Venter, 12. Tian Carel Meyer, 11. Allistair Kettledas, 10. Elgar Watts, 9. Jacques (Pumas) Coetzee, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 6. Corne Steenkamp, 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Andries Kruger, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Hannes Franklin (captain), 1. Ronnie Uys

Replacements: 16. De-Jay Terblanche, 17. Dawie Steyn, 18. Willem Jacob Serfontein, 19. Jaco Bouwer, 20. Ricardo Croy, 21. Ashwin Scott, 22. Duwayne Enslin Smart

Lions:
15. Jaco Taute, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Renaldo Bothma, 5. Franco van der Merwe (captain), 4. George Earle, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Edgar Marutlulle, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg

Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Wayne Swart, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Joshua Strauss, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jannie Boshoff

SATURDAY, AUGUST 21:

Sharks v Western Province, Durban - 19:10

Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 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. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16. Craig Burden, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Ross Skeate, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Rory Kockott, 21. Monty Dumond, 22. Riaan Swanepoel

Western Province:
15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. JJ Engelbrecht, 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Paul Bosch, 11. Frikkie Welsh, 10. Willem de Waal, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Rynhard Elstadt, 6. Pieter Louw, 5. Anton van Zyl (captain), 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Wicus Blaauw

Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Buhle Mxunyelwa, 18. De Kock Steenkamp, 19. Nick Koster, 20. Conrad Hoffmann, 21. Lionel Cronje 22. Morgan Newman

 

[Blue]

Huh I thought Kanko was dropped from the boks because he is injured?

 

[PaarlBok]

Huh I thought Kanko was dropped from the boks because he is injured?

Dont look so Boet, ditto Frans Steyn who will play club rugby in France this weekend. Hope its his last roll of the Bok dice.

The Guppies have bar JP their best possible team against a WP side without 7 Bok players. Going to be a tough nut this one and a moerse double header coming up.

PB's mood on saturday 9 bells:
Bokke win WP lose = happy!
Bokke lose WP win = normal!
Bokke win WP win = over the moon!
Boke lose WP lose = dronk verdriet!

Maybe a good think to stay away from liquir but to watch rugby without a cold one and a piece of biltong is vokken unthinkable!

 

[Ruggo]

Huh I thought Kanko was dropped from the boks because he is injured?

He was by far their best player in Brisbane.

 

[Hartman]

He was by far their best player in Brisbane.

careful...

 

[Blue]

Dont look so Boet, ditto Frans Steyn who will play club rugby in France this weekend. Hope its his last roll of the Bok dice.

You're full of shit about Frans.

SARU has admitted to not making a formal request for Frans' release. How stupid is that?

You keep on about Steyn doing this and that but SARU cocked this up. He wanted to play. They never even contacted his club for release (which is in his contract). What are you jealous that he makes money overseas?

Having known that Steyn may not play, they release Kirchner to the Bulls and he gets injured. PdV really is a top drawer imbecile.

 

[Hartman]

You're full of shit about Frans.

SARU has admitted to not making a formal request for Frans' release. How stupid is that?

You keep on about Steyn doing this and that but SARU cocked this up. He wanted to play. They never even contacted his club for release (which is in his contract). What are you jealous that he makes money overseas?

Having known that Steyn may not play, they release Kirchner to the Bulls and he gets injured. PdV really is a top drawer imbecile.

Honestly I think any opportunity to play people that aren't Kirchner is a good thing. But Steyn should really be in that spot. I want to know what is actually happening with him behind the scenes, whether there is some vendetta against him by the management or what is actually happening.

 

[PaarlBok]

Honestly I think any opportunity to play people that aren't Kirchner is a good thing. But Steyn should really be in that spot. I want to know what is actually happening with him behind the scenes, whether there is some vendetta against him by the management or what is actually happening.

Cant be a vendetta, otherwise he would not even had a change to be picked. Its his club, telling the Bok management he is injured and then he plays for them.

This club kak started with Bath and Bitch James and Fransie even worse. If Fransie really wants to play he would. He make all this statements and kak, vokken man the Bokke of 1981 would have die to have this oppertunity. For me its not about the player anymore, its about the system and Snor has made a big problem picking NH players. Its like our poofball lot also.

Why can Aus and NZ pick local players and we not. Dont tell me we dont have the depth, its just wrong to go north, local players first.

 

[Hartman]

Cant be a vendetta, otherwise he would not even had a change to be picked. Its his club, telling the Bok management he is injured and then he plays for them.

This club kak started with Bath and Bitch James and Fransie even worse. If Fransie really wants to play he would. He make all this statements and kak, vokken man the Bokke of 1981 would have die to have this oppertunity. For me its not about the player anymore, its about the system and Snor has made a big problem picking NH players. Its like our poofball lot also.

Why can Aus and NZ pick local players and we not. Dont tell me we dont have the depth, its just wrong to go north, local players first.

I thought that was moustache's policy, and I was under the impression that Steyn had committed to South African rugby. Aus and NZ also don't have the problem of having one of their best players in a certain position being a NH based player.

 

[PaarlBok]

I thought that was moustache's policy, and I was under the impression that Steyn had committed to South African rugby. Aus and NZ also don't have the problem of having one of their best players in a certain position being a NH based player.

No Boetie you wont find any NH based players in the Wallabies or All Black teams. The Bokke picked NH based players since Jake White's days and Snor havent change that. BJ Botha and Bitch the other two examples.

 

[Hartman]

No Boetie you wont find any NH based players in the Wallabies or All Black teams. The Bokke picked NH based players since Jake White's days and Snor havent change that. BJ Botha and Bitch the other two examples.

That's true but I thought the reason they were picked is that they're committing to S15 in 2011 like Jean? What I mean is that none of the best Australian/NZ players are playing overseas anyway so it's not an issue for them.

 

[PaarlBok]

That's true but I thought the reason they were picked is that they're committing to S15 in 2011 like Jean? What I mean is that none of the best Australian/NZ players are playing overseas anyway so it's not an issue for them.

Not to sure about that either. Carter spend some time in France with permission and the Wallaby captain in Ireland. Also think Vickerman was the Wallabies best lock when he leaves.

You get a triple negative sword when you pick NH base players. Your up and coming players leave (like Peter Grant , Heinke van der Merwe) and you lose some hold on them playing in SA and you have to sit up with club first, country last like Frans Steyn.