Currie Cup 2012

[PaarlBok]

FRIDAY, AUGUST 26:

Pumas v Western Province, Witbank - 19:00

Pumas:
MJ Mentz; Wilhelm Looch, JW Jonker ©, Tian Meyer, Deon Scholtz; Coenie van Wyk, Hendrik van der Nest; Doppies le Roux, Martin Sithole, Jaco Bouwer, Marius Coetzer, Eduan van der Walt, Ashley Buys, Pellow van der Westhuizen, Michael de Nieully Rice. Reserwes: Torsten van Jaarsveld, Brett Nel, JP Mostert, RW Kember, Tiaan Marx, Siviwe Magaba, Johan Jackson.

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Steven Hunt, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Nizaan Carr, 6 Nick Fenton-Wells, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (captain) 1 Steven Kitshoff.

Substitutes: 16 Skarra Ntubeni, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Quinton Roux, 19 Tertius Daniller, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache 22 Danie Poolman.

Leopards v Blue Bulls, Royal Bafokeng Stadium - 19:10

Leopards:


Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Arno Botha, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Fudge Mabeta, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (c), 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Jono Ross, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Francois Venter



SATURDAY, AUGUST 27:

Griquas v Free State Cheetahs, Kimberley - 15:00

Griquas:
Rudi Vogt; Riaan Viljoen/Wilmaure Louw, Jean Stemmet, Barry Geel, Dusty Noble; Earl Rose, Sarel Pretorius; Jonathan Mokuena ©, Davon Raubenheimer, Justin Downey, Martin Muller, Hendrik Roodt, Lourens Adriaanse, Ryno Barnes, Ivann Espag. Reserwes: Simon Westraadt, Kevin Stevens, Frikkie Spies, Marnus Schoeman, Marnus Hugo, Matthew Rosslee/Hanno Coetzee, Wilmaure Louw/Monty Dumond.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Smit, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corne Uys, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 W.P. Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Pieter van Zyl, 21 Johan Goosen, 22 Philip Burger.

Golden Lions v Sharks, Johannesburg - 17:05

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Josh Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Warren Whiteley, 21 Doppies La Grange, 22 Burton Francis

Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (c), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Subs: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Jan Andre Marais, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Adrian Jacobs.

 

[PaarlBok]

Weekend Results & Logs:

Premier:
Platinum Leopards 20 - 28 Vodacom Blue Bulls
Ford Pumas 13 - 24 DHL Western Province
MTN Golden Lions 28 - 19 The Sharks
GWK Griquas 23 - 20 Toyota Free State Cheetahs

TEAM P W PTS
Lions 7 6 27
Western Province 7 4 22
Sharks 7 5 22
Griquas 7 4 21
Free State Cheetahs 7 3 18
Blue Bulls 7 4 17
Pumas 7 0 5
Leopards 7 1 5

1st Division

Border Bulldogs 15 - 36 Regent Boland Cavaliers
SWD Eagles 24 - 60 Eastern Province Kings
Tasol Solar Griffons 46 - 21 Valke


TEAM P W PTS
EP Kings 6 6 28
Boland 6 5 26
SWD 6 3 14
Valke 6 2 10
Griff 6 1 10
Border 6 1 6


U21:

Leopards 14 - 41 Blue Bulls
SWD 7-36 Eastern Province
Border 36 - 12 Boland
Valke 3-81 Western Province
Griffons 24 - 31 Griquas
Lions 18 - 24 Sharks

Division A
Western Province 6 6 28
Blue Bulls 6 5 25
Sharks 6 4 20
Lions 6 3 18
Leopards 6 2 9
Free State 6 1 8
Valke 6 0 0
Division B
Border 2 2 9
Griquas 2 2 9
Pumas 3 1 9
Eastern Province 1 1 5
Griffons 2 0 3
Boland 1 0 0
SWD 1 0 0


U19s:

SWD 10-67 Western Province
Leopards 27 - 45 Blue Bulls
Border 17-12 Boland
Valke 43 - 34 Eastern Province
Griffons 45 - 10 Griquas
Lions 59 - 20 Sharks

TEAM P W PTS
Division A
Western Province 6 5 25
Blue Bulls 6 5 25
Lions 6 4 19
Leopards 6 3 16
Free State 6 2 12
Sharks 6 1 8
SWD 6 0 0
Division B
Griffons 2 2 10
Pumas 3 2 10
Border 2 1 6
Valke 1 1 5
Boland 1 0 1
Eastern Province 1 0 1
Griquas 2 0 1

WP/Stormers is busy building one hell of a depth!

Whitehead injured himself over the weekend and look like JP du Plessis will make his WP debut for the senior side this weekend.

 

[PaarlBok]

Lions vs Sharks CC match drew 31,509 on Ellispark. Must be the biggest crowd for the year. Lions at the top of the log at halfway and sure John Mitchell is starting to build something special in the franchise. Brutes on their way back and WP still looking good with 8 U21s in their team despite leading the U21 and U19 CC log. Think they will struggle in the second half and will be happy idf they make the semis.

 

[qwerty51]

Who's responsible for the Cheetahs losing that match... I had them to finish a nice multi

 

[PaarlBok]

Who's responsible for the Cheetahs losing that match... I had them to finish a nice multi

They always struggle at Kimberleys Groot Gat. They had the game in the bag, got a yellow and it all went down hill for the Biltong Boere. Riaan Viljoen played a huge role for them.

 

[Blue]

They always struggle at Kimberleys Groot Gat. They had the game in the bag, got a yellow and it all went down hill for the Biltong Boere. Riaan Viljoen played a huge role for them.

Quite possible the worst place in the world to play an away game. Teams always struggle there.

 

[Blue]

Lions vs Sharks CC match drew 31,509 on Ellispark. Must be the biggest crowd for the year. Lions at the top of the log at halfway and sure John Mitchell is starting to build something special in the franchise. Brutes on their way back and WP still looking good with 8 U21s in their team despite leading the U21 and U19 CC log. Think they will struggle in the second half and will be happy idf they make the semis.

Lions look legit.

Still think they need a better front row and a better lock in 4 if they are going to make a dent in the Super 15.

 

[PaarlBok]

Quite possible the worst place in the world to play an away game. Teams always struggle there.

They led 20-9 with 10 minutes to go , got a yellow and then the table turned.

 

[PaarlBok]

Lions look legit.

Still think they need a better front row and a better lock in 4 if they are going to make a dent in the Super 15.

Wikus is in great form for them at the moment. He and Engelbrecht provide them with extra loose forwards.

 

[PaarlBok]

Fixtures:
Premier:
September 2011
02 Sep Pumas v Golden Lions 19:10 Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (SS1)
03 Sep Griquas v Western Province 15:00 Kimberley (MNet)
03 Sep Leopards v Free State Cheetahs 16:00 Olen Park, Potch
03 Sep Blue Bulls v Sharks 17:05 Pretoria (MNet)

1st Div
Friday, September 02 2011 19:00 - EP Kings vs Border Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, PE
Saturday, September 03 2011 16:00 - Boland vs Griff
Boland Stadium, Wellington

U21
Friday, September 02 2011 16:15 - Eastern Province vs Border
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
16:40 - Pumas vs SWD Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit (SS1)
17:00 - Valke vs Lions Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Saturday, September 03 2011
14:00 - Boland vs Griffons Boland Stadium, Wellington
14:00 - Leopards vs Free State Profert Olën Park, Potchestroom
14:40 - Blue Bulls vs Sharks Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

U19
Friday, September 02 2011
14:30 - Pumas vs Valke Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
14:30 - Eastern Province vs Border Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium
Saturday, September 03 2011
12:00 - Leopards vs Free State Profert Olën Park, Potchestroom
12:30 - Boland vs Griffons Boland Stadium, Wellington
12:40 - Blue Bulls vs Sharks Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
15:45 - SWD vs Lions Outeniqua Stadium, George

Other live action:
3 Sep 09:15 ITM Cup: Waikato vs Canterbury (MNET)
17:25 Aviva Saffacens vs Wasps (SS5)
4 Sep 07:15 ITM Cup: Manawatu vs Hawks Bay (SS1)
20:50 Top14: Lyon vs Toulouse (SS1)

 

[Sandpit Fan]

So what's with the Golden Lions on top of the log? SARU should have an inquiry into how they can play so ordinary in the S15, and beat all comers in the Currie Cup If they can bring this form to the S15 next year it could be a good tournament, although the Cheetahs seem to have fallen off the pace a bit.

Know a bloke here who is a Lions supporter, and he's happy as a dog with 2 dicks at the moment! We won't talk about the Bulls eh?

 

[PaarlBok]

So what's with the Golden Lions on top of the log? SARU should have an inquiry into how they can play so ordinary in the S15, and beat all comers in the Currie Cup If they can bring this form to the S15 next year it could be a good tournament, although the Cheetahs seem to have fallen off the pace a bit.

Know a bloke here who is a Lions supporter, and he's happy as a dog with 2 dicks at the moment! We won't talk about the Bulls eh?

Dont think the Lions was that ordinary. If you look at their S15 results you'll see they grew since Mitchell got the coaching job. Even got a win at the House of Pain.
RESULTS
June
11 MTN Lions 30 30 Sharks Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
4 Hurricanes 38 27 MTN Lions Wellington
May
28 Highlanders 22 26 MTN Lions Dunedin
21 Waratahs 29 12 MTN Lions Sydney
14 Brumbies 20 29 MTN Lions Canberra
6 MTN Lions 19 53 Toyota Cheetahs Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
April
23 MTN Lions 30 34 Chiefs Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
16 MTN Lions 19 33 Stormers Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
9 Sharks 27 3 MTN Lions Mr Price Kings Park
2 MTN Lions 25 30 Reds Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
March
26 Vodacom Bulls 30 23 MTN Lions Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
19 MTN Lions 15 27 Western Force Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
12 Toyota Cheetahs 20 25 MTN Lions Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
4 MTN Lions 32 41 Blues Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
February
26 Stormers 19 16 MTN Lions DHL Newlands
19 MTN Lions 20 24 Vodacom Bulls Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg

Also remember the Tin Ears S100 franchise include the Griquas CC province which provide some good players like Viljoen & Pretorius and also in the top CC lot. Between WP 2nd spot and the Brutes 6th spot is only a single win differense at halfway.

TEAM P W PTS
Lions 7 6 27
Western Province 7 4 22
Sharks 7 5 22
Griquas 7 4 21
Free State Cheetahs 7 3 18
Blue Bulls 7 4 17

Brutes and WP push their young talent this year to get their depth right for next years S100. The Sharks is a bit of a worry, they opt for experiense and maybe let some talent fall on the floor. Still its anybody's race.

 

[PaarlBok]

Results & Logs
PREMIER:
Blue Bulls 27 - 39 The Sharks
Leopards 17 - 64 Cheetahs
Griquas 35 - 41 WP
Pumas 20 - 34 Golden Lions
Logs:
TEAM P W PTS
Lions 8 7 32
WP 8 5 27
Sharks 8 6 26
Cheetah 8 4 23
Griquas 8 4 23
B Bulls 8 4 18
Pumas 8 0 5
Leoprds 8 1 5

1st Div
Boland 47 - 29 Griffons
EP Kings51 - 36 Border
Logs:
TEAM P W PTS
EP King 7 7 33
Boland 7 6 31
SWD 6 3 14
Griffon 7 1 11
Valke 6 2 10
Border 7 1 7

U21:
Blue Bulls 37 - 28 Sharks
Leopards 38 - 37 Free State
Boland 23 - 21 Griffons
Valke 20 - 45 Lions
Pumas 45 - 10 SWD
EP 29 - 21 Border
Logs
TEAM P W PTS
Division A
B Bulls 7 6 29
WP 6 6 28
Lions 7 4 23
Sharks 7 4 20
Leopard 7 3 13
F State 7 1 10
Valke 7 0 0
Division B
Pumas 4 2 14
EP 2 2 9
Border 3 2 9
Griquas 2 2 9
Griffns 3 0 4
Boland 2 1 4
SWD 2 0 0

U19:
SWD 0 - 41 Lions
BBulls 32 - 24 Sharks
Boland 7-17 Griffons
Leopard 25 - 26 Free State
Pumas 41 - 34 Valke
EP 18 - 34 Border

TEAM P W PTS
Division A
Blue Bulls 7 6 30
W P 6 5 25
Lions 7 5 24
Leopard 7 3 17
FState 7 3 16
Sharks 7 1 8
SWD 7 0 0
Division B
Pumas 4 3 15
Griffon 3 3 14
Border 3 2 11
Valke 2 1 6
Boland 2 0 1
E P 2 0 1
Griquas 2 0 1

WP young side was impressive and yet another excellent debut by another WP midfielder. Brachie and Sadie really were impressive in this game. This young WP side surely start to look like the real deal going in the 2nd half of the season. Brutes fail again miserable against the Sharks. To many indispline cost them dearly and Bosman slots it from all over the Bull Ring. Lions had a hard game against the Pumas and leading the bunch.

 

[PaarlBok]

More good news for the Stormers and WP is that Jean de Villiers will end his career here and about to sign a three year contract. Jac Fourie and Habana to follow.

 

[PaarlBok]

9 17:05 Border vs SWD EL 1st Div
9 19:10 Golden Lions vs Griquas Coca-Cola Park Premier
9 Border vs Valke EL U19
9 Border vs SWD EL U21

10 Free State vs Blue Bulls Bloem U19
10 Free State vs Blue Bulls Bloem U21
10 17:05 Free State vs Blue Bulls Bloem Premier
10 11:00 Sharks vs SWD Durban U19
10 13:00 Sharks vs Valke Durban U21
10 15:00 Sharks vs Pumas Durban Premier
10 Valke vs Boland Kempton 1st Div
10 11:00 Griquas vs Boland Kimberley U19
10 12:30 Griquas vs Boland Kimberley U21
10 WP vs Leopards Newlands U19
10 WP vs Leopards Newlands U21
10 WP vs Leopards Newlands Premier
10 Griffons vs EP Welkom U19
10 Griffons vs EP Welkom U21
10 Griffons vs EP Kings Welkom 1st Div
2011 IRB WC Tournament
Sep
9 10:30 New Zealand vs Tonga Eden Park
10 03:00 Scotland vs Romania Invercargill
10 05:30 Fiji vs Namibia Rotorua
10 08:00 France vs Japan Eden Park
10 10:30 Argentina vs England Dunedin
11 05:30 Australia vs Italy Eden Park
11 08:00 Ireland vs USA New Plymouth
11 10:30 Springbokke vs Wales Wellington

 

[PaarlBok]

Duanne Vermeulen out for the season. Bad news for WP. Plus we still get 10 injuries. The Ikey Greek was just about settled after been player of the month and now got injured.

Sport24

Double blow for Province
Cape Town - Western Province received more bad news on the injury front as they prepare for their Currie Cup clash against the Leopards at Newlands on Saturday.

WP coach Allister Coetzee told Die Burger newspaper that eightman Duane Vermeulen probably won't play rugby again this year, while flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis will not be considered for the clash against the Leopards.

Vermeulen's knee is not healing as effectively as what the WP management initially hoped it would, while Catrakilis sustained a slight tear to his right bicep in the game against Griquas on Saturday.

"I'm afraid bad news from the Doctor has put a slight damper on the joy of Saturday's victory over Griquas," said Coetzee.

"The specialist is not at all happy with Duane's knee. The biggest problem is the bruising of the bone that occurred deeper within the knee. For the foreseeable future, all permitted exercise is walking."

The coach is also saddened by the injury to his flyhalf, Catrakilis. Province have had a crisis with injuries at No 10 this year and the Ikey pivot is the No 5 choice in that position. However, he has grabbed his opportunity with both hands this season, even winning the Absa Currie Cup Player-of-the-Month accolade for August.

"It's a huge pity that it had to happen now, Demetri kicked poorly over the weekend, but has shown a willingness to risk more in a sensible manner - not just through sheer opportunism.

"We expect a flyhalf to give direction to the backline, to get us into the right areas on the field and he attacked the line a couple of times on Saturday. And now this," said a dejected Coetzee.

Isma-eel Dollie or Lionel Cronjé will now slot in at No 10 on Saturday.

Dollie has trained with the team for the whole season, while Cronjé had his first field season last week after recovering from a knee injury.

 

[PaarlBok]

Ismauel Dollie making his return to senior CC rugby this weekend after WP lost their 15th flyhalf for the season with injury. Johan Goosen, 19 year old Tin Ear look like poaching the 10 jersey from the Ebersohn twin.

Teams:
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

Golden Lions v Griquas, Johannesburg 19:10

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (c), 7 Derrick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg
Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Warren Whitely, 21 Burton Francis, 22 James Kamana

Griquas: 15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Dusty Noble, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokoena (captain), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag

Substitutes: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Marnus Schoeman, 21 Matthew Rosslee, 22 Monty Dumond


SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

Sharks v Pumas, Durban 15:00

Sharks:
TBA

Pumas:
TBA

Western Province v Leopards, Cape Town 16:00

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes 14 Danie Poolman 13 Johann Sadie 12 Marcel Brache 11 JJ Engelbrecht 10 Isma-eel Dollie 9 Dewaldt Duvenage 8 Nick Koster 7 Tertius Daniller 6 Nick Fenton-Wells 5 Quinn Roux 4 Hilton Lobberts 3 Frans Malherbe 2 Tiaan Liebenberg (captain) 1 Wicus Blaauw

Substitutes: 16 Deon Fourie 17 Brok Harris 18 Nizaam Carr 19 Siya Kolisi 20 Nic Groom 21 Berton Klaasen 22 Steven Hunt

Leopards: 15 George Tossel, 14 Jovan Bowls, 13 Charl Weideman, 12 Hennie Skorbinski, 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Clayton du Randt (captain), 9 Westley Moolan, 8 Spanner Pretorius, 7 MB Lusaseni, 6 Robert Kruger, 5 Brad Mockfort, 4 Ruan van Heerden, 3 Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Snoepie Coetzee.

Substitutes: 16 Jacques Moller, 17 BG Uys, 18 Morne Hanekom, 19 Brendon Snyman, 20 Johann Laker, 21 Wesley Dunlop, 22 Joubert Engelbrecht.

Free State Cheetahs v Blue Bulls, Bloemfontein 17:05

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Philip Snyman, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe

Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Boom Prinsloo, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Burger

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouch, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Warwick Tecklenburg, 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Dean Greyling
Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Jurgen Visser

 

[PaarlBok]

Sarus Preview

The Vodacom Blue Bulls travel to Bloemfontein where they have to tough task of trying to get their Absa Currie Cup campaign back on track against the resurgent Toyota Free State Cheetahs.
The Blue Bulls linger in sixth position on the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division log and will have to get back on the winning track if they are not going to miss out on the play-offs for the first time in 10 years.

On Friday evening, the MTN Golden Lions host the GWK Griquas and will be looking to extend their lead at the top of the table, but it won’t be easy against a team that have been playing good rugby this season.

Saturday’s first two games see the Ford Pumas travel to Durban to face The Sharks and DHL Western Province host the Platinum Leopards in Cape Town.

The front runners in the Absa Currie Cup First Division, EP Kings and the Regent Boland Cavaliers, are on the road this weekend.

MTN Golden Lions vs GWK Griquas

The MTN Golden Lions will try and keep their foot on the accelerator when they face the GWK Griquas at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Friday evening.

With seven victories thus far in the Premier Division, the Golden Lions top the log and if they can keep that winning momentum going, they could host an Absa Currie Cup semi-final for the first time since 1999, which is also the last time they won the coveted golden trophy.

MTN Golden Lions assistant coach Johan Ackermann, a member of the Lions squad in 1999, said there are a lot of similarities between their squad in 1999 and this year, but that it’s still too early to start predicting who will finish where on the Absa Currie Cup log.

“We’re definitely not looking that far ahead yet,” said Ackermann.

“Home ground advantage in a semi-final can be very handy, but we’ll only start looking at possible permutations later in the season. For now we’ve got a difficult game ahead against a Griquas side that can topple any team on any given day.

“I’ve played there as well and know that they always play with great character. In Abré Minnie and Pote Human they have two very good coaches, so we’re getting ready for a big onslaught from Griquas on Friday evening.”

MTN Golden Lions vs GWK Griquas
Date: Friday, 9 September
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup:
• 24 July 2010: GWK Griquas won 26-20 in Kimberley
• 11 September 2010: MTN Golden Lions won 40-29 in Johannesburg
• 23 July 2011: MTN Golden Lions won 49-11 in Kimberley

The Sharks vs Ford Pumas

Even though his team won an entertaining match at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, Sharks coach John Plumtree will be looking for an improvement on attack when they host the Ford Pumas at Mr Price Kings Park in Durban on Saturday.

“We’re not as structured and disciplined on attack as we’d like to be,” Plumtree said after his team were outscored by four tries to three against the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

“Just when we got something going last week, the Bulls would give away a penalty and while we looked quite dangerous from turn-over ball and some of the tries we scored were really good, we don’t feel like we’re there yet.”

In their match against the Ford Pumas earlier in the season in Nelspruit, The Sharks had to work very hard for victory and Plumtree said he’s hoping his players will have the right attitude on Saturday.

“Hopefully they’ve grown as a group and will show maturity and respect for the opposition,” he said while stressing the importance of winning at home.

“If you can win all your home games in this competition then you give yourself the chance to push for a home semi and possible a home final as well. We’re taking it one game at a time really because we’ve felt like we haven’t really got our game going.”

The Sharks vs Ford Pumas
Date: Saturday, 10 September 2011
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Mr Price Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup:
• 23 July 2010: The Sharks won 27-17 in Durban
• 10 September 2010: The Sharks won 14-30 in Witbank
• 22 July 2011: The Sharks won 23-22 in Nelspruit

DHL Western Province vs Platinum Leopards

DHL Western Province are expecting a Platinum Leopards team desperate for only their second Absa Currie Cup victory this season when these two teams meet at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.

Leopards coach Leon Boshoff has decided to shuffle his team quite a bit in an effort to rest certain players, but also to give some of his fringe squad members an opportunity to get some valuable game time.

DHL WP assistant coach Matt Proudfoot, who earlier in his coaching career worked in Potchefstroom, said: “We are expecting a side that will be desperate for a win. They have made a few changes so they will be looking for improvement.

“I've coached many of their players so I know that they will throw everything they have at us. We are expecting it to be very tough physically as well as at the set piece where they will probably look to rattle us a bit.”

With Demetri Catrakilis out injured, Isma-eel Dollie, a former Emerging Springbok, will start at flyhalf for DHL WP.

In the Platinum Leopards team, Boshoff has decided to rest players like their captain Morné Hanekom, Joubert Engelbrecht, Brendon Snyman and BG Uys, giving Robert Kruger, Snoepie Coetzee and Hennie Skorbinski their first starts in the Absa Currie Cup this season.

DHL Western Province vs Platinum Leopards
Date: Saturday, 10 September 2011
Kick-off: 16:00
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup:
• 23 July 2010: DHL WP won 42-23 in Potchefstroom
• 11 September 2010: DHL WP won 59-17 in Cape Town
• 22 July 2011: DHL WP won 47-9 in Potchefstroom

Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Vodacom Blue Bulls

Victory in Bloemfontein is paramount as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, the most successful team in Absa Currie Cup in the last decade, aim to improve their position on the log as the playoffs inch closer.

It’s been almost three years since the Vodacom Blue Bulls last beat the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in an Absa Currie Cup match at the Free State Stadium. That happened on 20 September 2008, when the team from Pretoria won by 23-5. Six players from that win, Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Dewald Potgieter, Juandré Kruger and Werner Kruger, will play again this weekend.

Four Cheetah “survivors” from 2008 have been included in their match 22 for Saturday – Adriaan Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen, Robert Ebersohn and Tewis de Bruyn.

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar, who was still involved in Free State rugby in 2008, knows his team will have to lift their game in the coming weeks.

“There is no doubt that we have painted ourselves in a corner with regards to our play-off hopes,” Pienaar said.

“We need to win and keep on winning, but for that we will have to improve on our decision-making, discipline and execution. We have the quality of players to turn it around, but is running out of time.”

Two players that were part of the SA Under-20 squad earlier this year, will line up against each other. The Toyota Free State Cheetahs have selected flyhalf Johan Goosen, while inside centre Francois Venter will start for the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Vodacom Blue Bulls
Date: Saturday, 10 September
Kick-off: 17:05
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Marius Jonker
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup:
• 24 July 2010: Toyota FS Cheetahs won 25-23 in Pretoria
• 11 September 2010: Toyota FS Cheetahs won 20-14 in Bloemfontein
• 23 July 2011: Vodacom Blue Bulls won 33-30 in Pretoria

Absa Currie Cup First Division

Two two teams at the top of the log in the Absa Currie Cup First Division, EP Kings and the Regent Boland Cavaliers, are both on the road this weekend.

EP travel to Welkom to face the Tasol Solar Griffons, where they lost a year ago, while the Cavaliers are away to the Valke in Kempton Park. Both these games are scheduled for Saturday afternoon at 15:00.

The unbeaten EP Kings top the First Division log with 33 points after seven games, while Boland have 31 points, also after seven games. At this stage of the season, these two teams look set to finish in the top two positions on the log, thereby securing themselves home ground advantage in the semi-finals.

In the first game of the weekend, on Friday afternoon in the Buffalo City Stadium, the Border Bulldogs will be looking to win their first game against the SWD Eagles since 19 September 2008, when the team from East London won by 37-33.

Weekend matches:

Border Bulldogs vs SWD Eagles
Date: Friday, 9 September
Kick-off: 17:05
Venue: Buffalo City Stadium, East London
Referee: Rasta Rashivenga
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup First Division:
• 23 July 2010: SWD won 33-12 in George
• 3 September 2010: SWD won 17-7 in East London
• 29 July 2011: SWD won 46-35 in George

Valke vs Regent Boland Cavaliers
Date: Saturday, 10 September
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Stuart Berry
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup First Division:
• 24 July 2010: Boland won 53-10 in Kempton Park
• 3 September 2010: Boland won 41-21 in Wellington
• 29 July 2011: Boland won 52-10 in Wellington

Tasol Solar Griffons vs EP Kings
Date: Saturday, 10 September
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Pro Legoete
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup First Division:
• 23 July 2010: EP Kings won 26-25 in Port Elizabeth
• 3 September 2010: Griffons won 27-18 in Welkom
• 29 July 2011: EP Kings won 67-26 in Port Elizabeth

 

[PaarlBok]

Blue Bulls schoolboy signings for 2012

The following players signed contracts with the BBC and will be in their employ from 1 January 2012 to 31 December 2013:

Props: Justin Forwood (Blue Bulls), Jan Enslin (Eastern Province), Andrew Beerwinkel (Boland, SA Schools), Neethling Fouché (Free State, SA Schools 2010), Ryan Germishuys (Border).

Hookers: Hamish Herd (Pumas), Jacques Taylor (KwaZulu-Natal).

Locks: Irne Herbst (Blue Bulls, SA Schools), Philip du Preez (Golden Lions, SA Schools), Jannes Kirsten (Blue Bulls), Jacques du Plessis (Pumas, SA Schools), Dennis Visser (Blue Bulls).

Loose forwards: Roelof Smit (Blue Bulls), Leneve Damens (Free State, SA Schools), Bernie Roux (Blue Bulls), Christiaan de Bruyn (Blue Bulls), Ferdi Horn (KwaZulu-Natal), Clyde Davids (Western Province), Paul Janse van Rensburg (Blue Bulls), Nicolaas Immelman (Free State).

Scrumhalves: Kefentse Mahlo (Blue Bulls Limpopo), Carlo Engelbrecht (Blue Bulls).

Flyhalves: François Tredoux (Blue Bulls), Dalton Kannemeyer (Western Province Academy, SA Academy).

Centres: Jan Serfontein (Free State, SA Schools), Dean Moolman (KwaZulu-Natal), Lood de Jager (Eastern Province CD), Dries Swanepoel (Free State, SA Schools), Craig Geldenhuys (KwaZulu-Natal), Jason Kriel (Boland).

Wings: Ruwellyn Isbell (Free State, SA Schools), Ayabona Masiba (Border).

Fullbacks: Neil Meyer (Pumas), Jacques Rossouw (Boland).

 

[PaarlBok]

For Blue:
Volksblad

DIE twee mees gesogte spelers op tjekboekjagters se inkopielys met vanjaar se Cravenweek-rugbytoernooi in Kimberley, Jan Serfontein en Dries Swanepoel, is albei vir twee jaar by die Blou Bulle gekontrakteer.

Feitlik al die unies was agter dié twee Vrystaatse senters se dienste aan en hulle is glo teen rekordbedrae vir junior spelers bekom.

Hul agent, mnr. BC du Plessis van die Essentially-groep, wou nie kommentaar lewer nie.

Die twee was verreweg die twee beste senters in die land en het as kombinasie geen gelyke gehad nie.

Albei is ook in die nasionale junior sewes-span ingesluit wat vandeesweek na die Statebondspele vir juniors op die Isle of Man vertrek het.

Swanepoel en die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-vleuel Ruwellyn Isbell se kontrak by die Blou Bulle is van so ’n aard dat hulle oor dié tydperk ook vir die nasionale sewesspan beskikbaar sal wees.

Isbell, wat vanjaar die Vrystaat se 100ste nasionale skolespeler geword het, het ook vir twee jaar by die Blou Bulle geteken.

“Dit was ’n baie deursigtige proses vir die spelers en hul ouers om die besluit te neem,” het Du Plessis gesê. Serfontein se pa het drie jaar vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Skole-span van 1976 tot 1978 uitgedraf. Hy het ook lank vir die Oostelike Provinsie se senior span gespeel. Sy oupagrootjie Jack Slater het vir die Springbokke in die toetsreekse van 1924 teen die Britse Leeus en 1928 teen die All Blacks uitgedraf. Slater het twee drieë in sy drie toetse vir Suid-Afrika gedruk.

Serfontein en Swanepoel is vroeër vanjaar deur mnr. Dawie Theron in sy eerste nasionale o.20-groep ingesluit wat die hoë agting vir hul vermoëns beaam. Die twee is egter toestemming deur hul skool, Grey-kollege, vir opname in die span geweier.

Grey het sedert 2007 elke jaar ’n SA Skole-speler in die middelveld opgelewer, met Robert Ebersohn (2007), Francois Venter (2008), Piet Lindeque (2009), Paul Jordaan en William Small-Smith (albei 2010) wat Swanepoel en Serfontein voorafgegaan het. Slegs Ebersohn het vir die Vrystaat behoue gebly.

Swanepoel is Grey se hoofseun van 2011 en het ook die skool en Vrystaat se skolerugbyspan aangevoer.


**Al vier Grey-kollege se spelers wat ná die Cravenweek-toernooi vir die Suid-Afrikaanse Skolespan gekies is – Serfontein, Swanepoel, Isbell en die kantman Leneve Damons – is op pad Bulle toe.

Die stut Neethling Fouché, wat verlede jaar in die span was, sal ook volgende jaar na die Jakarandastad verhuis