SA Conferense and Derbies

[PaarlBok]

The SA Conferense will produce some tough battles. Myself expect home wins in our conferense and touring success may settle our conferense.

Round 1 have two derbies:
Sharks vs Tin Ears in Durban 17h00 SA Time:

Tin Ears have the habbit of playing their best rugby against the Sharks in Durban. They go in this match with form in their warm ups and a good mix of Cheetah and Griqua players. Their expected team for the clash
Hennie Daniller, Benjamin, Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss, Phillip Burger, Olivier, Pretorius, Ashley Johnson, Juan Smith, Frans Viljoen, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Muller, WP, Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen

Sharks:
Luddick, JP Pietersen (doubtfull with a hammie), Oupa Terreblanche, Bosman, Mevuku, Lampie, McLeod, Kankow, Alberts, Botes, Mostert, Sucks, Jannie, Smit, Beast

The fattie departtment probably the key in this match.


Lions vs Brutes Ellispark 19h00

The Lions also in great form after despatching the Sharks in the Neo series at Newlands. The Jukskei war always bring the best of them and it will be interesting to see JM influense on them in their first outing against 2010 S14 champs. The Brutes will have FdP back and should dominate the lineouts, scrums maybe evens but its in the passion stake you can expect maybe a surprise from the Lions.

Probable teams
Lions:

Jaco Taute, Michael Killian, Waylon Murray, Doppies la Grange, Lionel Mapoe, Elton Jantjies, Jano Vermaak, Warren Whiteley, Joshua Strauss, Derick Minnie, Franco van der Merwe, George Earle, JC Janse van Rensburg, Bandise Maku, Kevin Buys

Bulls:
Jaco van der Westhuizen, Gerhard van den Heever, Stefan Dippenaar, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Morne Steyn, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Dewald Potgieter, Deon Stegman, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha, Guthro Steenkamp

Bolded = new players in the franchise

Stormers have a bye in round 1

 

[kavin]

they looks really tough now.

 

[PaarlBok]

Tin Ear team picked:
Hennie Daniller; Philip Burger, Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss, Rayno Benjamin; Naas Olivier, Sarel Pretorius; Kabamba Floors, Juan Smith ©, Frans Viljoen, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Francois Uys, WP Nel, Adriaan Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen. Reserwes: Kobus Calldo, Rayno Barnes, Waltie Vermeulen, Ashley Johnson, Tewis de Bruin, Sias Ebersohn, Riaan Viljoen.

They have change their home strip to orange, I like it Orange Free State, cant get better then this!

Cheetahs get their Puma skin.

Also have their sponsorship on board
Venters Qoute

"I cannot divulge the name just yet, it's like telling a kid what his birthday present is before the day, but let's just say it is the best we have ever had."

The new deal is believed to exceed the Vodacom one, understood to be R15-million a year, with speculation putting it at about R20-million.

"I know our sponsorship in the past was always equal to that of Western Province and the Bulls and we are still in that bracket," Verster said.

"And with our associate sponsors bringing in another R10-million, we are set to do well in the short and long term."

 

[PaarlBok]

1. John Smit (Captain)
2. Bismarck du Plessis
3. Jannie du Plessis
4. Steven Sykes
5. Alistair Hargreaves
6. Jacques Botes
7. Willem Alberts
8. Ryan Kankowski
9. Charl McLeod
10. Patrick Lambie
11. Lwazi Mvovo
12. Meyer Bosman
13. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
15. Louis Ludik

Replacements
16. Tendai Mtawarira
17. Eugene van Staden
18. Anton Bresler
19. Keegan Daniel
20. Conrad Hoffmann
21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter
22. Adrian Jacobs

 

[PaarlBok]

Bottom vs Top clash:

Brutes
15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Stephan Dippenaar, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Fourie du Preez, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Dewald Potgieter, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Victor Matfield (c), 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Gurthro Steenkamp

Substitutes: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Danie Rossouw, 19. Derick Kuun, 20. Ruan Snyman, 21. Francois Brummer, 22. Jaco van der Westhuyzen.

Lions
15 Jaco Taute, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Derrick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe (c), 4 George Earle, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Wikus van Heerden, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Burton Francis, 22 James Kamana.

 

[rustycruiser]

 

[DPK]

Aaaaargh, can't he take another year off? Please?

 

[Hawko]

1. John Smit (Captain)

Replacements
16. Tendai Mtawarira

They must be paying the Beast a fortune to be in the squad, otherwise he would have gone long ago. Doesn't do his Boks chances any favours though.

 

[Hawko]

Bottom vs Top clash:

Expect them to be propped up by the Cheetahs, Highlanders, Rebels and maybe a couple of others.

 

[PaarlBok]

They must be paying the Beast a fortune to be in the squad, otherwise he would have gone long ago. Doesn't do his Boks chances any favours though.

Think this year its a good thing having all the fatties at the Sharks, player burn out and all that kak. Next year its a total different thing, Smit will retire or Beast will go to the Lions for big money.

 

[PaarlBok]

Expect them to be propped up by the Cheetahs, Highlanders, Rebels and maybe a couple of others.

Nee Boet you underestimate the Tin Ears, think the Lions will be the bottom SA team but still ahead of the Clan and Rebels. The SA teams will be strong at home this year.

 

[PaarlBok]

Picks for round 1
Player: PaarlBok
Pool(s): Green And Gold Rugby,
Game 1: Hurricanes v Highlanders: Hurricanes by 12
Game 2: Rebels v Waratahs: Waratahs by 20
Game 3: Blues v Crusaders: Blues by 9
Game 4: Brumbies v Chiefs: Brumbies by 9
Game 5: Sharks v Cheetahs: Sharks by 15
Game 6: Lions v Bulls: Bulls by 12
Game 7: Reds v Force: Reds by 15

 

[ChargerWA]

Someone call the Sharks and Cheetahs, they still think its 2009, kicking, kicking, kicking.

 

[BRIX]

Someone call the Sharks and Cheetahs, they still think its 2009, kicking, kicking, kicking.

Agree. But I noticed a fair bit of wind and rain at the tail end of the second half there. Scrum time was a joke tonight, Strauss & B du Plessis were having a right laugh about who was going to pack their head where - Joubert seemed to have lost control of that particular facet of the game and started giving short arms at random thereafter.

Big Willie Alberts had a great game for the Sharks, they're pack is going to be menacing this season. Cheetahs too nonchalant at the contest tonight - and I just wanted to mention how classy Adriaan Strauss was in defeat, seems like a real positive & humble fella

 

[PaarlBok]

Someone call the Sharks and Cheetahs, they still think its 2009, kicking, kicking, kicking.

There were rolling mauls from lineouts , the tries came from them, you saw 5 Tin Ear fatties getting stuck into another, 4 Grey Bloem boytjies who care more about getting the big hit in then a free kick from Joubert. Those two made it worth a watch for myself and rainy weather is not something you are use to in summer , specially on the Veld.

Anyway the Lions Brutes game make more then up for it and a gutsy display from the Lions. Thought they are going to get knock over by plenty at half time but they keep on coming back at the Brutes. That man Joshua Strauss, Bolandse boer was my MOTM in this one. Good to see them stuck to their running gameplan even when the odds were down. This weekend its going to be a tough one for the Stormers, Lions sure not far away from an upset win and our lot will still have some pre season rust.

Interesting crowd figures on the weekend

Total Crowd = 187,420
Largest Crowd of the weekend:, Johannesburg = 55,011

Smallest Crowd of the weekend: Wellington = 11,091

Per Conferense:
NZ = 43,791 (21,896)
OZ = 64,811 (21,604)
SA = 78,818 (39,409)

 

[qwerty51]

I don't understand why the Kiwis get poor crowds to their Super games, especially derbies.

How the hell can the Blues/Crusaders game not be a sell out...

 

[Blue]

Someone call the Sharks and Cheetahs, they still think its 2009, kicking, kicking, kicking.

True but if you go back 100 years between these teams it's never pretty. Slugfest mostly.

Hint: The last English Outpost in Africa (Natal) vs the Boer farmers in the Free State.

Having said that the Currie Cup game between these two last year was sensational running rugby but when it comes to the first game of the new season, conservative game plans seemed to be the approach of most teams.

PS Not everyone had the luxury of the Rebels "defense"

 

[sudrugby]

Don't know where else posting this but it seems to be official for Bakkies Botha playing in Toulon next year. It should be official tomorrow for a three years contract.

 

[PaarlBok]

Don't know where else posting this but it seems to be official for Bakkies Botha playing in Toulon next year. It should be official tomorrow for a three years contract.

Thanks for posting this. The Lions try to line him up but Bakkies promise Toulon way back when and he is one that will deliver on it.

 

[Blue]

Don't know where else posting this but it seems to be official for Bakkies Botha playing in Toulon next year. It should be official tomorrow for a three years contract.

Not surprised. They have been after him since 2007.