2010 SA Currie Cup Competition

[PaarlBok]

The CC starts in two weeks time and surely the heart beat of SA Rugby. The competition have three levels, U19, U21 and senior. Senior level have two sections, Premier (8 teams) and First Division (6 teams).

The Premier Division is play in home and away fixtures and the top 4 qualify for semis and the winners go into a final.

Fixture list
July
9 Leopards vs Lions 19:00 Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Phokeng
9 Blue Bulls vs Pumas 19:10 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
10 Griquas vs Sharks 15:00 GWK Park, Kimberley
10 Cheetahs vs Western Province 17:00 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
16 Cheetahs vs Griquas 19:10 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
16 Pumas vs Leopards 00:00 Puma Stadium, Witbank
17 Western Province vs Lions 15:00 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
17 Sharks vs Blue Bulls 17:05 The Absa Stadium Durban
23 Leopards vs Western Province 19:10 Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
23 Sharks vs Pumas 00:00 The Absa Stadium Durban
24 Griquas vs Lions 15:00 GWK Park, Kimberley
24 Blue Bulls vs Cheetahs 17:05 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
30 Leopards vs Griquas 00:00 Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
30 Western Province vs Pumas 19:10 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
31 Lions vs Blue Bulls 17:05 Coca-Cola Park Stadium, Johannesburg
31 Cheetahs vs Sharks 15:00 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
August 2010
6 Blue Bulls vs Leopards 19:10 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
6 Pumas vs Cheetahs 00:00 Puma Stadium, Witbank
7 Griquas vs Western Province 15:00 GWK Park, Kimberley
7 Sharks vs Lions 17:05 The Absa Stadium Durban
13 Leopards vs Sharks 19:10 Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Phokeng
13 Griquas vs Pumas 00:00 GWK Park, Kimberley
14 Lions vs Cheetahs 15:00 Coca-Cola Park Stadium, Johannesburg
14 Western Province vs Blue Bulls 17:05 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
20 Blue Bulls vs Griquas 00:00 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
20 Cheetahs vs Leopards 00:00 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
20 Pumas vs Lions 19:10 Puma Stadium, Witbank
21 Sharks vs Western Province 19:10 The Absa Stadium Durban
27 Lions vs Leopards 00:00 Coca-Cola Park Stadium, Johannesburg
27 Sharks vs Griquas 19:10 The Absa Stadium Durban
27 Pumas vs Blue Bulls 00:00 Puma Stadium, Witbank
28 Western Province vs Cheetahs 19:10 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
September 2010
3 Lions vs Western Province 19:10 Coca-Cola Park Stadium, Johannesburg
3 Leopards vs Pumas 00:00 Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
3 Griquas vs Cheetahs 00:00 GWK Park, Kimberley
4 Blue Bulls vs Sharks 19:10 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
10 Western Province vs Leopards 00:00 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
10 Pumas vs Sharks 19:10 Puma Stadium, Witbank
11 Lions vs Griquas 15:00 Coca-Cola Park Stadium, Johannesburg
11 Cheetahs vs Blue Bulls 17:05 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
17 Griquas vs Leopards 00:00 GWK Park, Kimberley
17 Pumas vs Western Province 19:10 Puma Stadium, Witbank
18 Blue Bulls vs Lions 17:05 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
18 Sharks vs Cheetahs 15:00 The Absa Stadium Durban
24 Western Province vs Griquas 19:10 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
24 Cheetahs vs Pumas 00:00 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
25 Lions vs Sharks 17:05 Coca-Cola Park Stadium, Johannesburg
25 Leopards vs Blue Bulls 15:00 Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
October 2010
1 Sharks vs Leopards 19:10 The Absa Stadium Durban
1 Pumas vs Griquas 00:00 Puma Stadium, Witbank
2 Blue Bulls vs Western Province 15:00 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2 Cheetahs vs Lions 17:05 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
8 Lions vs Pumas 19:10 Coca-Cola Park Stadium, Johannesburg
8 Leopards vs Cheetahs 00:00 Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
8 Griquas vs Blue Bulls 00:00 GWK Park, Kimberley
9 Western Province vs Sharks 17:00 Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

The Tri Nation Bokke will only feature in the business end of the competition.

I'll update this one and you lot are more then welcome to fire any question and will lve any input on it.

 

[PaarlBok]

The Golden Lions CC squad has been finalised. John Mitchell is their coach and immediately made his impact for good or bad.:

Iafrica.com

From Springbok tourist to club player in seven months. This is the story of the spectacular freefall by Earl Rose, who has failed to make the Golden Lions Currie Cup side.
Lions team manager Mustapha Boomgaard confirmed to iafrica.com that Rose is one of several high-profile players, including another Springbok in Henno Mentz, that have been sent back to their respective clubs.

"Yes, Earl has been left out of the team because of poor form," Boomgaard said.

"He has been told to go back to his club and improve his form," the team manager told us, adding: "The coaches will monitor him and he could be recalled if his form improves."

Players who have been reduced to playing club rugby - despite featuring in the senior squads, Super 14 and Vodacom Cup, this year - include Earl Rose (Raiders), Jody Rose (recovering from a knee injury, Pirates), Henno Mentz (Roodepoort), Jannie Boshoff (on rehabilitation from injury, UJ), Derrick Harwood (Alberton), Jacques Lombard (Alberton), Walter Venter (UJ) and Johan Jackson (Raiders).

However, it is the absence of Rose - who came close to being included in the Springbok Tri-Nations tour squad - that will raise the eyebrows.

A favourite of Bok coach Peter de Villiers, his inclusion in the Bok squad was thwarted and now he has been told to shape up in the club game.

After touring with the Boks on the year-end tour to England, Italy, France and Ireland in November, Rose has since been axed from the Lions Super 14 squad and after struggling in the Vodacom Cup has now been left out of the Currie Cup team.

The Lions will also be without hard-working captain Cobus Grobbelaar, one of several players who have been sidelined for the entire season with injury.

Others who will not feature in the Lions team this season include Dusty Noble, Justin Wheeler, Springbok prop Lawrence Sephaka, Nico Luus and Wigan Pekeur.

Loose forward Todd Clever has signed to play in Japan, although he is also listed as injured. He is struggling with a shoulder injury and has already returned to America.

Despite starting with what appears to be a threadbare squad, new Lions Currie Cup coach John Mitchell was very upbeat.

"The guys have been training well, and they've been doing some very hard yards and I'm impressed with what I've seen," Mitchell said.

"It’s going to be a difficult competition, but one we are ready for, and are looking forward to starting next week."

No captain for the season has been named, but it is expected Springbok Wikus van Heerden will lead the team when he returns from injury.

Meanwhile, the Lions named their team to play Boland in a pre-season friendly in Wellington on Saturday.

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Jonathan Mokuena, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Derek Minnie, 5 David Bulbring, 4 George Earle, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements - from: Martin Bezuidenhout, Wayne Swart, Warren Whiteley, Robert Kruger, Chris Jonck, Elton Jantjies, Deon van Rensburg, Alwyn Hollenbach.

Date: Saturday, July 3
Venue: Boland Park, Wellington
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Joey Salmans
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Linston Manuels

Golden Lions Currie Cup squad (in alphabetical order): Alwyn Hollenbach, Burton Francis, Charles Emslie, Chris Jonck, David Bulbring, Deon van Rensburg, Derrick Minnie, Doppies la Grange, Elton Jantjies, Franco van der Merwe, George Earle, Hans van Dyk, Herkie Kruger, Jaco Kriel, Jaco Taute, Jano Vermaak, JC Janse van Rensburg, Johan Snyman, Jonathan Mokuena, JP Joubert, Kevin Buys, Marius Delport, Martin Bezuidenhout, Michael Killian, Pieter Engelbrecht, Robert Kruger, Ross Geldenhuys, Ruan Vermeulen, Tonderai Chavhanga, Wandile Mjekevu, Warren Whiteley, Waylon Murray, Wayne Swart, Wikus van Heerden.

 

[PaarlBok]

Next squad finalised is WP

From their WPs site:

Coetzee announces Absa Currie Cup squad
Vodacom WP coach Allister Coetzee has announced a squad of 35 players for the 2010 Absa Currie Cup season.
Vodacom WP will start their campaign this weekend, when they take on the Griffons in a SARU compulsory friendly in Welkom on Friday night.

Coetzee will announce his match 22 on Wednesday, but is expected to field a strong outfit in order to hit the ground running for the opener on Saturday 10 July against Free State in Bloemfontein.

With nine players out due to National duty, of which six are backline players, Coetzee will use this opportunity to blood a number of younger players.

Amongst the forwards, Buhle Mxunyelwa adds depth at tighthead. The former Border player made a few appearances in this year´s Varsity Cup for Maties and also represented Vodacom WP in this year´s Vodacom Cup.

Vodacom WP under 21 loosehead Hein van der Merwe will provide back-up to Wicus and JD. Rynardt Elstadt graduates to the senior team ranks, after showing promise in the Vodacom WP under 21 ranks in 2009, as well as for Province in the Vodacom Cup earlier this year. Whilst Elstadt has played most of his junior rugby at lock, he will add brute force at loose forward, where Province have lost the services of Burger and Louw to the Boks. Also bolstering the loose forwards is another promising prospect in Yaya Hartzenberg. The U21 back rower was part of the Vodacom Stormers pre-season preparation match against Boland and won a number of man of the match awards for UCT in this year´s Varsity Cup.

SA U21 flyhalf Lionel Cronje will take this opportunity to learn from the experienced Willem de Waal, whilst Peter Grant spends the season in Japan. Grant will return for the 2011 Vodacom Stormers season, providing the talented Cronje with playing time at a higher level.

Tim Whitehead, who gained valuable Super 14 experience this season, will look to build on his form. Joining Tim is Morgan Newman and Paul Bosch, to fill the voids left by Jaque Fourie and Juan de Jongh.

Another new face in the squad is utility back Marcel Brache. Brache was spotted in this year´s Varsity Cup, wearing the colours of UCT, and excelled at centre, wing and fullback in the Club competition. This will be his first taste of Absa Currie Cup rugby. In the wings, JJ Engelbrecht returns to the field after showing glimpses of brilliance between injury lay-offs. Fabian Juries will add pace and skill, and the versatile Johann Sadie, who has represented WP at age group level, also gets his first crack at Absa Currie Cup rugby. Conrad Jantjes returns to play after a long term injury lay-off, and as a senior man in the squad, his presence will have a calming effect on the youngsters around him.

Anton van Zyl will captain the Vodacom WP team in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup, with Dewaldt Duvenage as vice captain. The Province Springboks (Schalk Burger, Andries Bekker, Francois Louw, Ricky January, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana and Gio Aplon) will only be available for selection for a possible Absa Currie Cup semi final.

Full Squad:
Props: Wicus Blaauw, Brok Harris, JD Moller, JC Kritzinger, Hein van der Merwe, Buhle Mxunyelwa
Hookers: Tiaan Liebenberg, Deon Fourie, Hanyani Shimange, Callie Visagie
Locks: Adriaan Fondse, Anton van Zyl (Captain), Martin Muller, De Kock Steenkamp
Loose Forwards: Pieter Louw, Rynardt Elstadt, Duane Vermeulen, Pieter Myburgh, Yaya Hartzenberg, Nick Koster
Scrumhalves: Dewaldt Duvenage, Conrad Hoffmann, Louis Schreuder
Flyhalves: Willem de Waal, Lionel Cronje
Centres: Paul Bosch, Tim Whitehead, Morgan Newman,
Wings: Frikkie Welsh, Fabian Juries, JJ Engelbrecht
Fullbacks: Conrad Jantjes, Tiger Bax
Utility Backs: Johann Sadie, Marcel Brache

Just got the feel that Conrad Jantjes will also be gone with the home leg of the Tri Nations in SA.

With the Bokke gone I am looking forward to see they way their youngsters (Bolded) stepup to CC level.

 

[PaarlBok]

Hendrik Roodt will make his debut for Griquas on friday in a friendly warmup match in Mosselbaai against SWD
Riaan Viljoen; Dewald Pretorius, Wilmaure Louw, Barry Geel, Bjorn Basson; Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius; Leon Karemaker, Davon Raubenheimer, Wesley Wilkens, Cecil-John Kemp, Hendrik Roodt, Albertus Buckle, Ryno Barnes, Stef Roberts. Reserwes: Simon Westraadt, Jacobie Adriaanse, Frikkie Spies, Gerhard Human, Warren Malgas, Richard Lawson, Rudi Vogt

Bolded the current Cheetah S14 players in the Griqua team. Gerhard Human is the son of Pote Human.

 

[PaarlBok]

Conrad Jantjes back into CC action

by CallmeCat » Fri Jul 02, 2010 5:08 am

http://www.sport24.co.za

Cape Town - Thirty-year-old Conrad Jantjes has been thrown a lifeline to resurrect his rugby career which came to an abrupt halt in May 2009 when he suffered a broken leg in a Super 14 match at Newlands.
He has been named in the Western Province Currie Cup team which will play in a SARU compulsory friendly in Welkom on Friday night, and it marks his first competitive outing in 13 months.

His injury struck on the eve of the British & Irish Lions tour last year when he was the Springboks' first choice at fullback and while he tries to consolidate his claim to the WP No 15 jersey, his long-term ambition will be to regain his standing in Springbok rugby, possibly as soon as late August when the national side start the home leg of the 2010 Tri-Nations series.

Boksburg-born Jantjes made his Bok debut in 1999 and has been capped 24 times since then.

Conrad returns to the Western Province side at a time when the fullback berth is a concern at Newlands after Joe Pietersen winged his way to Europe and Gio Aplon is away with the Boks, who are only likely to be released in time for the Currie Cup semifinals in mid-October.

"At this stage Connie's position is a tough one because we have just lost Joe Pietersen and Gio Aplon has gone on tour with the Boks," said Coetzee.

"We are now throwing him into the deep end and he has to swim now.

"He has been training with our Under-21 squad and has had some contact sessions there.

"But he is an experienced player and hopefully he is over that psychological thing (the injury setback) because it takes time. It will help him to get over it by playing.

"I'm happy to say he's shown no ill effects in training."

Jantjes will be playing behind a new-look three-quarter combination which includes the untried but exciting midfield pairing of Paul Bosch and Tim Whitehead. Out on the leftwing Marcel Brache, a star Varsity Cup performer, makes his debut. The old war horse Fabian Juries will occupy the rightwing berth.

Kicking for field positions has not been a strong point in the Cape's make-up during the Super 14 season and Jantjes' offers a prodigious boot that could offer an improvement in that department.

He will also enhance the side's penchant to attack the gain line at every opportunity and his game is likely to thrive in the company of a pack that should assert their authority in a big way.

 

[PaarlBok]

A lot of CC warmups starting this weekend and bolded the players that moved between provinces
Boland vs Golden Lions @ Wellington
Boland : Jaquin Jansen; Cornal Hendricks, Petrus Vermeulen, Dewey Swartbooi, Dane Johnson; Chris Micklewood, Alex Kok; Zandre Jordaan, Braam Immelman, Franzel September, Hottie Louw, Roderick Labuschagne, Rossouw Kruger, Clemen Lewis, Janro van Niekerk. Reserwers: Ashton Constant , Charl du Plessis, Nikolai Blignaut, Grant le Roux, Willie le Roux, Junius Pieterse, Lionel Cornelius.

Golden Lions: Jaco Taute; Tonderai Chavhanga, Marius Delport, Waylon Murray, Michael Killian; Herkie Kruger, Jano Vermaak; Jonothan Mokuena, Franco van der Merwe ©, Derick Minnie, David Bullbring, George Earl, Ross Geldenhuys, Hans van Dyk, JC Janse van Rensburg. Reserwes: Wayne Swart, Martin Bezuidenhout, Warren Whiteley, Robert Kruger, Chris Jonck, Elton Jantjies, Deon van Rensburg, Alwyn Hollenbach.

EP vs Blue Bulls PE:
EP: Tiger Mangweni, Milo Nqoro, Wayne Stevens, De Wet Barry (k), Norman Nelson, Matthew Tyler-Smith, Donald Stevens, Darron Nell, Zolani Mofu, Jacques Potgieter, Lungelo Payi, Rory Duncan, Riaan Vermeulen, Sangoni Mxoli, Pumlani Nodikita. PLAASVERVANG*ERS: Bobby Dyer, Raoul Larson, Sphephelo Mayaba, Brendon Snyman, JJ Gagiano, Morné Hanekom, Marlon Lewis, Jaco van Schalkwyk, Mzwandile Stick, Paul Perez.
Blue Bulls:Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Vainon Willis, Stephan Dippenaar, Stefan Watermeyer, Hayden Groepes, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Ruan Snyman, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Derick Kuün, Okkie Kruger, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Fudge Mabeta, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha (k), Jaco Engels. PLAASVERVANGERS: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Jeandré Kruger, CJ Stander, Danie Faasen, Francois Brummer, Clayton Blommetjies.

Tin Ears @ Border in EL:
Tin Ears:Hennie Daniller, JW Jonker, Robert Ebersohn, Meyer Bosman, Jongi Nokwe, Louis Strydom, Tertius Carse, Ashley Johnson, Francois Uys, Hendro Scholtz, Waltie Vermeulen, Izak van der Westhuizen, WP Nel, PW van Vuuren, Coenie Oosthuizen. Substitutes: Hans Grobler, Kobus Calldo, David de Villiers, Kabamba Floors, Tewis de Bruyn, Sias Ebersohn, Corné Uys, Philip Snyman.

Griquas @ SWD Eagles in Mosselbaai:
Riaan Viljoen; Dewald Pretorius, Wilmaure Louw, Barry Geel, Bjorn Basson; Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius; Leon Karemaker, Davon Raubenheimer, Wesley Wilkens, Cecil-John Kemp, Hendrik Roodt, Albertus Buckle, Ryno Barnes, Stef Roberts.
Reserwes: Simon Westraadt, Jacobie Adriaanse, Frikkie Spies, Gerhard Human, Warren Malgas, Richard Lawson, Rudi Vogt.

SWD:Bobby Joubert; Baldwin McBean, Senithemba Zweni, Bevin Fortuin ©, Joe Breytenbach; Ambrose Barends, Dougie Hellmuth; Jacques Engelbrecht, Christo du Plessis, Danzel Manuel, Henry Grimes, Giant Mtyanda, Tiaan de Kock, Wayne Bennett, Jaco Terblanche. Reserwes: Jandré de Beer, Beyers Bekker, Phillip Spies, Lyndon Hartnich, Jandré Blom, Marchall Potts, Cedric Ryneveld.

Griffons @ WP in Welkom:
Griffons: Jiffy Lamprecht; Darryl Coeries, Werner Griesel, Thabang Molefe, Eddie Fredericks; Jannie Myburgh, Enrico Schultz; Nicky Steyn ©, Marnes Briedenhann, Johan Wessels, Joubert Horn, Rudi Mathee, Sarel Louw, Derick van Heerden, Petros Methula. Reserwes: Herschol Johnson, Kevin Stevens, Sewes Oosthuizen/Gert Greyling, Windpomp van Rooyen, Willie Britz, Tertius Maarman, Charl Weideman.

WP: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Fabian Juries, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Marcel Brache, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynardt Elstadt, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (c), 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JD Moller, 18 JC Kritzinger, 19 Martin Muller, 20 Pieter Myburgh, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Lionel Cronje.

 

[Blue]

Thanks Paarl

Keep it coming. Even if I may be the only reader

Jantjes' return is just about the best news I can think of. If he can recapture his form he will be a massive asset. Our most complete 15 since Andre Joubert in my opinion.

 

[PaarlBok]

Thanks Paarl

Keep it coming. Even if I may be the only reader

Jantjes' return is just about the best news I can think of. If he can recapture his form he will be a massive asset. Our most complete 15 since Andre Joubert in my opinion.

Ja I put in a huge effort for my Brute broer, sure Oom Lee may also catch a glimpse and Thomo to.

Ja hopefull Jantjes will catch form really quick and may join the Bokke on the return leg.

 

[rustycruiser]

It really was a nasty compund fracture to Jantje's leg. Glad to see him back, and hopefully into the Bok fold in time for the 2011 RWC. I am guessing if he performs in the CC, he will go on the EOYT with the Boks?

 

[DPK]

Ja I put in a huge effort for my Brute broer, sure Oom Lee may also catch a glimpse and Thomo to.

Ja hopefull Jantjes will catch form really quick and may join the Bokke on the return leg.

Hey, I read this too! One day this knowledge will come in handy.

 

[rustycruiser]

Top Boks sit out the Currie Cup

Twenty contracted Springboks will undergo a conditioning programme between the end of the Tri-Nations and the Currie Cup play-offs.

As reported by this website in January, an elite group of players will not feature in the domestic competition until the semi-finals and final. Saru confirmed the news on Friday, and added that the move to condition 20 contracted players was geared towards World Cup success in 2011.

‘We undertook a similar programme in 2006 and were satisfied with the results and have again had buy-in from the provincial unions and our competition sponsor, Absa and from SuperSport,’ said Andy Marinos, manager of national teams. ‘The significant difference this time is that the players will appear in the knockout stages of the Absa Currie Cup – something that didn’t happen in 2006.

‘That was a strategic decision as we wanted to give the players some game time before the end-of-season tour, which will be deliberately approaching as if it were a World Cup campaign.’

The Boks finish their Tri-Nations campaign on 4 September, and those that are not among the selected group will play for their provinces.

Western Province look likely to benefit from the return of Jean de Villiers, Juan de Jongh, Francois Louw and Gio Aplon. They’ll receive a second wave of Boks a month later, assuming that they qualify for the play-offs.

After the Tri-Nations, the Bulls should have Francois Hougaard and Zane Kirchner back to boost their backline.

Strangely, coach Peter de Villiers has included several players with long-term injuries in the group of 20, players like Heinrich Brussow and Fourie du Preez who are not available for the Tri-Nations nor the Grand Slam tour.

Jean de Villiers may have been excluded due to his lack of game time at a South African union, but their are a couple of other injured players who could do with an extended run. Juan Smith has missed the Incoming Tours as well as the Australasian leg of the Tri-Nations. The same goes for Bismarck du Plessis, who is currently recovering from a neck injury.

Ruan Pienaar is also in the contracted group despite reports that he’ll take up a contract with Irish club Ulster at the end of the year.

The contracted Springboks are: Andries Bekker, Bakkies Botha, Heinrich Brüssow, Schalk Burger, Bismarck du Plessis, Fourie du Preez, Jaque Fourie, Bryan Habana, Adrian Jacobs, Ricky Januarie, Tendai Mtawarira, Victor Matfield, Wynand Olivier, Ruan Pienaar, JP Pietersen, Danie Rossouw, John Smit, Juan Smith, Morné Steyn and Pierre Spies.

http://www.keo.co.za/2010/07/02/top-boks-sit-out-currie-cup/

 

[PaarlBok]

http://www.keo.co.za/2010/07/02/top-boks-sit-out-currie-cup/

Good thing and the right place to rest them. Dunno if the top provinces that needs to qualify for the semis will do this ,but lets see where this go.

Results of the weekends warmups
Rugby365

Premier Division teams flex their muscles
Sun, 04 Jul 2010 11:48

There is a valid reason why the Currie Cup is divided into a Premier Division and a First Division, with the top sides this past weekend showing in no uncertain terms their differences in strength.

In the six compulsory fixtures - including the one between the Natal Sharks and the Valke a week ago - the Premier Division teams scored 273 points to 67 by the First Division sides, an average score of 47-11.

Simply judged by the scores in the Currie Cup's compulsory friendlies, Eastern Province performed best. However, their 24-11 loss to the Blue Bulls in Port Elizabeth on Saturday must be seen in context.

The Bulls had only two starting players of the Super 14 Final in Saturday's team in Gary Botha and Werner Kruger and this Bulls team will be strengthened by five or six players for the Currie Cup proper.

Eleven Bulls players who played in the Super 14 Final are now in Australasia with the Springboks and, with injuries to Fourie du Preez, Gerhard van den Heever and Jaco Pretorius and, with Flip van der Merwe and Deon Stegmann rested against EP, the mountain to climb for the coastal side before they are of Super Rugby standard is huge.

Last year's losing Currie Cup finalists Free State Cheetahs want to build their season on ball retention and more phase play. They gave notice that they are on their way to achieving this in a clinical 45-7 win against Border in East London on Friday night where they stuck to their structures and ran in seven tries.

Four of Western Province's five tries came from mauls and, while they will be pleased with the performance of their forwards, there was very little to be seen of the Province backline in their 29-5 win over the Griffons in Welkom.

Western Province's Springbok fullback Conrad Jantjes completed his first match since breaking a leg in last year's Super 14 and did enough to show he will again become a serious contender for a Test place.

Griquas gave unequivocal notice that they will be a factor again after a superb season last year when they overran SWD Eagles 50-12 in Mossel Bay.

Eight tries by a confident team with a smattering of new blood blending well with regulars like Springboks Riaan Viljoen and Bjorn Basson and other stalwarts, Naas Olivier and Ryno Barnes, showed they are ready for the tough competition.

The Lions were at times impressive in scoring seven tries in their 45-29 win over the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington, with the score an impressive 45-10 only 12 minutes from the end when replacements by the Lions led to a loss of structure and three Boland tries.

The win was sorely needed as a morale-booster after the 13 losses from 13 in the Super 14 competition and although there is still much work to be done, they will be confident about their away match against the Leopards on Friday night.

A week ago, the Natal Sharks beat the Valke 80-3 to add to the last two season's agony for the East Rand team.

 

[Hartman]

With the Bokke gone I am looking forward to see they way their youngsters (Bolded) stepup to CC level.

Pieter Louw is 25... and his hairline makes him look more like 35... what gave you the idea that he was a youngster? Hehe.

Yeah, Nick Koster is someone I'm particularly interested in, I wonder if he'll be making any more appearances on the wing.

 

[PaarlBok]

This weekend the real rugby starts. CC & Tri Nations in full swing.

Friday 9th July 2010
ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Leopards vs Lions 19:00 Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Phokeng
Blue Bulls vs Pumas 19:10 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

ABSA Under 19 Competition
Blue Bulls vs Griffons 17:05 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Leopards vs Lions 15:15 Royal Bafokeng Sports Palace, Phokeng

ABSA Under 21 Competition
Sharks vs Boland 15:00 The Absa Stadium, KP 2
Leopards vs Lions 17:00 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Rustenburg


Saturday 10th July 2010
ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division
Griquas vs Sharks 15:00 GWK Park, Kimberley
Cheetahs vs Western Province 17:00 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

ABSA Under 19 Competition
Free State vs Western Province 00:00 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

ABSA Under 21 Competition
Free State vs Western Province 15:00 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

all of this after the big one

Vodacom Tri-Nations
New Zealand vs South Africa 09:35 Eden Park Stadium, Auckland

Live Action on TV:
Friday, July 9, 2010
16:55 - 19:00 CSN Absa Under 19 Blue Bulls U19 v Griffons U19
19:00 - 21:00 CSN Absa Currie Cup Vodacom Blue Bulls v Pumas

Saturday, July 10,
08:30 - 11:45 SS1 Vodacom Rugby Tri-Nations New Zealand v South Africa
14:45 - 17:00 MNET Absa Currie Cup Gwk Griquas v Sharks
17:00 - 19:00 SS1 Absa Currie Cup Vodacom Free State Cheetahs v Vodacom Western Province

 

[Hartman]

Wish we got the SA quality of grassroots rugby coverage over here.

 

[PaarlBok]

Wish we got the SA quality of grassroots rugby coverage over here.

Oh well thats just the live games, we get a lot of schoolboy rugby on telly, every monday night the show us the weekends FNB Classic Clashes, the other U19 and U21 matches is shown relay over the weekend but then MNet have two rugby channels plus the ESPN one going 24 hours a day , 7 days a week.

 

[Brumby Jack]

Fox Sports usually shows 2 games on the Friday after the current round. At this stage the games aren't known.

I do know that ISP iinet show games to their customers about 10 hours after matches and if you're an iinet customer, the download doesn't count towards your monthly quota.

 

[Blue]

As for what Fox will show each week, it's a lottery. I get the impression the person picking the games has no fucking clue. The Bulls will play WP and they will show us a lesser game.

 

[PaarlBok]

Brutes – 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen; 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 John Mametsa; 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Ruan Snyman; 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Derick Kuün, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Fudge Mabeta, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (c), 1 Dean Greyling.
Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Juandre Kruger, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Danie Faasen, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Hayden Groepes.

Lui Perde: Russell Jeacocks; Deon Scholtz, Jovan Bowles, Neill Jacobs, Dumisani Matyeshana; Cecil Dumont, Michael Bondesio; RW Kember, Wilhelm Koch ©, Victor Joubert, Anthonie Gronum, Ligtoring Landman, Philip Lemmer, Gavin Williamson, Divan Kotzé. Reserwes: Pellow van der Westhuizen, Aranos Coetzee, Draad Linde, Riaan Swanepoel, Jean Tiedt, Kempie Rautenbach, Danie Dames.

 

[Hartman]

Fox Sports usually shows 2 games on the Friday after the current round. At this stage the games aren't known.

I do know that ISP iinet show games to their customers about 10 hours after matches and if you're an iinet customer, the download doesn't count towards your monthly quota.

Where can I find Currie Cup on iiNet?

I hope Fox show WP vs Cheetahs (which they surely will) and Sharks vs Griquas - I want to see Hendrik Roodt in action.