SA Conferense and Derbies

[PaarlBok]

Starting to get all nervous for this BIG sa clash
15. Ludik vs Aplon
14. Dungane vs Poolman
13. Terblanche vs Jac Fourie
12. Bosman vs JdV
11. Pietersen vs Habana
10. Potgieter vs Grant
9. Mcleod vs Duvenhage
8. Kankowski vs Duanne
7. Alberts vs F Louw
6. Daniel vs Schalk
5. Hargreaves vs Bekker
4. Sykes vs Elstadt
3. Jannie vs Baba Blauw
2. Bismarck vs Fourietjie
1. Beast vs Harris

Bench:
(Sharks)
Smit, Van Staden, Mostert, Botes, Hoffmann, Jacobs, Mvovo
(Stormers)
Ethienne Reynecke, CJ van der Linde, De Kock Steenkamp, Nick Koster, Ricky Januarie, Gary van Aswegen, Juan de Jongh


Looking at the franchises depth, their Vodacom sides playing this weekend:
WP: (still without their UCT players playing in the Varsity Cup final on monday.)
15. Lionel Cronje 14. Shuaib Samaai 13. Johann Sadie 12. Paul Bosch 11. JJ Engelbrecht 10. Kurt Coleman 9. Nick Groom 8. Tertius Daniller 7. Siya Kolisi 6. Wimpie Van Der Walt 5. Anton Van Zyl 4. Adriaan Fondse 3. Frans Malherbe 2. Siyabonga Ntubeni 1. JD Moller (C)

Reserves
16. Sidney Tobias 17. Steven Kitshoff 18. ^ Roux 19. Hilton Lobberts 20. Reuben Johannes 21. Louis Schreuder 22. Conrad Jantjes
Brutes: (Still without Tukkies , Heyneke Meyer coached there, will play against Ikeys in the Varsity Cup final)
Clayton Blommetjies; Courtnall Skosan, William Small-Smith, Stefan Watermeyer, Sampie Mastriet; Marnitz Boshoff, Ruan Snyman; Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Marnus Schoeman, Okkie Kruger, Juandré Kruger, Fudge Mabeta, Stephanus Pretorius, Zane Botha, Corné Fourie. Reserwes: Henri Bantjies, Bêrend Botha, Cornell Hess/Andries Ferreira, CJ Stander, Dustin Jinka, Pieter van der Walt, Francois Venter
Sharks:
15. Kobus de Kock 14. Mark Richards 13. Jerome Pretorius 12. Riaan Swanepoel 11. Rosco Specman 10. Guy Cronje 9. Ross Cronje (Capt) 8. Marcell Coetzee 7. Jean Deysel 6. Francois Kleinhans 5. Ross Skeate 4. Anton Bresler 3. Wiehahn Herbst
2. Kyle Cooper 1. Dale Chadwick

Replacements
16. Monde Hadebe 17. Sabelo Nhlapo 18. Jandre Marais 19. Lambert Groenewald 20. Daniel Adongo 21. Cobus Reinach

For the record, 2010 schoolboys playing at Vodacom level:
Goosen for the Cheetahs, Kitshoff WP and Stephan van der Merwe, Paul Roos nr 12 in 2010. He did not play in any WP side but started at 13 for the Cheetahs Vodacom Cup last weekend and a very talented William Small-Smith will make his midfield debut for the Brutes.

 

[PaarlBok]

Good win for the Stormers, now a nice lead in the SA conferense. Now we need to put the Reds away to bring the Tahs back in the Aus one.

 

[PaarlBok]

Vodacom Super Rugby | LOGS
Australian Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 Reds 6 5 0 1 182 111 71 19 12 2 26
2 Waratahs 6 4 0 2 146 100 46 18 7 2 22
3 Melbourne Rebels 7 3 0 4 138 242 -104 15 31 3 15
4 Brumbies 6 1 0 5 129 183 -54 14 16 5 13
5 Western Force 6 1 1 4 122 174 -52 8 17 2 12

New Zealand Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 Crusaders 6 4 1 1 195 93 102 22 12 4 26
2 Blues 7 5 1 1 185 154 31 19 15 3 25
3 Highlanders 6 4 0 2 117 132 -15 11 13 1 21
4 Chiefs 7 2 0 5 141 138 3 14 11 4 12
5 Hurricanes 6 1 1 4 94 149 -55 8 16 2 12

South African Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 6 6 0 0 148 72 76 9 4 1 29
2 Vodacom Bulls 6 4 0 2 146 138 8 13 14 1 21
3 Sharks 7 4 0 3 166 140 26 17 10 4 20
4 MTN Lions 7 1 0 6 156 191 -35 15 17 5 9
5 Toyota Cheetahs 7 1 0 6 120 168 -48 10 17 4 8

Combined Log
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 6 6 0 0 148 72 76 9 4 1 29
2 Crusaders 6 4 1 1 195 93 102 22 12 4 26
3 Reds 6 5 0 1 182 111 71 19 12 2 26
4 Blues 7 5 1 1 185 154 31 19 15 3 25
5 Waratahs 6 4 0 2 146 100 46 18 7 2 22
6 Vodacom Bulls 6 4 0 2 146 138 8 13 14 1 21
7 Highlanders 6 4 0 2 117 132 -15 11 13 1 21
8 Sharks 7 4 0 3 166 140 26 17 10 4 20
9 Melbourne Rebels 7 3 0 4 138 242 -104 15 31 3 15
10 Brumbies 6 1 0 5 129 183 -54 14 16 5 13
11 Chiefs 7 2 0 5 141 138 3 14 11 4 12
12 Western Force 6 1 1 4 122 174 -52 8 17 2 12
13 Hurricanes 6 1 1 4 94 149 -55 8 16 2 12
14 MTN Lions 7 1 0 6 156 191 -35 15 17 5 9
15 Toyota Cheetahs 7 1 0 6 120 168 -48 10 17 4 8

This weekend some big fixtures.
Stormers vs Reds Newlands,
Brutes vs Crusaders Nelson,
Cheetahs vs Highlanders Dunedin
Sharks vs Lions Durban.

 

[PaarlBok]

Finally saw the Stormers clicked in their top of the table clash vs the Sharks on Newlands. Schalkie knocked out the Doep broers stone cold sum it up. Jean de Villiers was simply at his very best and looking forward to this weekend clash vs the Saders. The Stormers Bok midfield battle against Sonny Wonderboy Williams sure something to look forward to. Newlands simply a cookpot with his 45,000 packed faithfull and sure next saturday will be the same aswell. Stormers opened up a nice 8 point lead with this win over their nearest SA oppo and still have a lot to do. Sharks struggled in midfield and at the breakdowns. Once we met them in the physical exchanges it was game , set and match and nearly put up a 40 score against them.

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers losing to the Chiefs, Tin Ears beating the fancy Saders , Lions sweeped in Canberra and Brutes back makes the SA conferense wide open and going into an exciting final sprint.

SA Log:
Pos Team P W D L B PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 11 8 0 3 2 256 172 84 19 11 4 44
2 Sharks 11 7 0 4 2 279 215 64 30 17 7 43
3 Vodacom Bulls 11 6 0 5 2 287 267 20 29 28 4 36
4 Toyota Cheetahs 12 4 0 8 1 321 317 4 30 36 9 29
5 MTN Lions 12 2 0 10 1 256 358 -102 26 36 7 19

Overall
Pos Team P W D L B PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 Reds 12 10 0 2 1 355 239 116 38 26 6 50
2 Blues 12 9 1 2 1 319 252 67 35 26 7 49
3 DHL Stormers 11 8 0 3 2 256 172 84 19 11 4 44
4 Crusaders 12 8 1 3 1 356 212 144 40 22 6 44
5 Sharks 11 7 0 4 2 279 215 64 30 17 7 43
6 Waratahs 11 7 0 4 2 257 177 80 30 13 4 40
-------------------------------------------
7 Highlanders 12 8 0 4 1 237 230 7 26 22 3 39
8 Vodacom Bulls 11 6 0 5 2 287 267 20 29 28 4 36
9 Chiefs 12 5 0 7 1 268 275 -7 28 25 5 29
10 Toyota Cheetahs 12 4 0 8 1 321 317 4 30 36 9 29
11 Hurricanes 12 3 1 8 1 229 309 -80 22 32 7 25
12 Western Force 11 3 1 7 2 223 307 -84 14 31 3 25
13 Brumbies 11 2 0 9 2 237 336 -99 24 32 6 22
14 Melbourne Rebels 12 3 0 9 1 216 430 -214 23 57 3 19
15 MTN Lions 12 2 0 10 1 256 358 -102 26 36 7 19

Tin Ears had a nice jump up the ladder and deservely so.

Fixtures:
Stormers:Blues(A),Brumbies(A),Rebels(A),Brutes(H),Tin Ears (A)
Sharks:Brutes(H),Tahs(H),Tin Ears(A),Lions(A),Brutes(A)
Brutes:Sharks(A),Tin Ears(H),Tahs(H),Stormers(A),Sharks(H)
Tin Ears:Rebels(H),Brutes(A),Sharks(H),Stormers(H)

The Waratahs poised in 6th position overall look like spicing up things nicely with their SA tour. The Tin Ears the form SA team at the moment and a lot of SA battles still to be won in the SA S15 war.

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers opened up a bit of breathing space with their unexpected win over the Bluesers. The Brutes however right back in it after their won over the Sharks and the Tin Ears catch up every week been on a history making winning streak. This make the SA conferense exciting till the very last round and only the Lions out of it. Throw in the Waratahs touring SA , who also is desperate to at least get in the top 6 and we in for a real treat this final stretch of the S15 marathon.

South African Conference
Pos Team P W D L B PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 12 9 0 3 2 284 198 86 22 13 4 48
2 Sharks 12 7 0 5 2 302 247 55 32 19 7 43
3 Vodacom Bulls 12 7 0 5 2 319 290 29 31 30 4 40
4 Toyota Cheetahs 13 5 0 8 1 362 338 24 35 39 10 34
5 MTN Lions 13 2 0 11 1 268 387 -119 28 41 7 19

Combined Log
Pos Team P W D L B PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 Reds 12 10 0 2 2 355 239 116 38 26 6 54
2 Blues 13 9 1 3 1 345 280 65 37 29 8 50
3 DHL Stormers 12 9 0 3 2 284 198 86 22 13 4 48
4 Crusaders 13 9 1 3 1 381 231 150 41 23 6 48
5 Waratahs 12 8 0 4 2 286 189 97 35 15 5 45
6 Highlanders 12 8 0 4 2 237 230 7 26 22 3 43
7 Sharks 12 7 0 5 2 302 247 55 32 19 7 43
8 Vodacom Bulls 12 7 0 5 2 319 290 29 31 30 4 40
9 Toyota Cheetahs 13 5 0 8 1 362 338 24 35 39 10 34
10 Chiefs 13 5 0 8 1 287 300 -13 29 26 6 30
11 Hurricanes 12 3 1 8 2 229 309 -80 22 32 7 29
12 Western Force 12 3 2 7 2 236 320 -84 15 32 3 27
13 Brumbies 12 2 1 9 2 250 349 -99 25 33 6 24
14 Melbourne Rebels 13 3 0 10 1 237 471 -234 26 62 3 19
15 MTN Lions 13 2 0 11 1 268 387 -119 28 41 7 19


Stormers:
Current position: South African conference - first; global standings - third
Best possible finish: South African conference - first; global standings - first
Worst possible finish: South African conference - fourth; global standings - ninth
Remaining fixtures:
28 May: v Brumbies, away
3 June: v Rebels, away
11 June: v Bulls, home
18 June: v Cheetahs, away


Waratahs:
Current position: Aus conference - second; global standings - fifth
Best possible finish: Aus conference - first; global standings - first
Worst possible finish: Aus conference - third; global standings - 10th
Remaining fixtures:
28 May: v Sharks, away
3 June: v Bulls, away
11 June: v Highlanders, home
18 June: v Brumbies, home


Sharks:
Current position: SA conference - second; global standings - seventh
Best possible finish: SA conference - first; global standings - first
Worst possible finish: SA conference - fourth; global standings - 13th
Remaining fixtures:
28 May: v Waratahs, home
4 June: v Cheetahs, away
11 June: v Lions, away
18 June: v Bulls, away

Bulls:
Current position: SA conference - third; global standings - eighth
Best possible finish: SA conference - first; global standings - first
Worst possible finish: SA conference - fourth; global standings - 13th
Remaining fixtures:
28 May: v Cheetahs, home
3 June: v Waratahs, home
11 June: v Stormers, away
18 June: v Sharks, home

Tin Ears:
Current position: SA conference - fourth; global standings - ninth
Best possible finish: SA conference - first; global standings - third
Worst possible finish: SA conference - fourth; global standings - 13th
Remaining fixtures:
28 May: v Bulls, away
4 June: v Sharks, home
10/11 June: Bye
18 June: v Stormers, home

Lions:
Current position: SA conference - fifth; global standings - 15th
Best possible finish: SA conference - fifth; global standings - 10th
Worst possible finish: SA conference - fifth; global standings - 15th
Remaining fixtures:
28 May: v Highlanders, away
4 June: v Hurricanes, away
11 June: v Sharks, home
17/18 June: Bye

My game of round 15 will be the Brutes vs Tin Ears clash in the Ring. Blood , sweet and snot coming up.

 

[Bowside]

Cheetas are like the reds of a couple of seasons ago, team to watch over the next few seasons. They need to build more depth though with the longer seasons.

 

[PaarlBok]

Cheetas are like the reds of a couple of seasons ago, team to watch over the next few seasons. They need to build more depth though with the longer seasons.

They have two very good CC sides and plenty of depth. Have no idea what will happen after the WC, thats when the new players cycle usually starts but they use Griquas much better compare to the past. Griquas now have first option into WPs younger stock while the Cheetah CC team have their own Academy and starting to produce young talent to the top. Ebersohn Twins the example. They know very well if they can hold on the best Grey Bloem schoolboy lot, they will be tops.

 

[whatty]

Problem is as soon as the Cheetahs raise there head above mediocrity it gets chopped of by other provinces poaching

I just wonder what they could have done with a regular Brussow and a fit Jaun Smith. Always been my second team.

 

[PaarlBok]

The Stormers have won 3/6 against overseas sides, but 6/6 against Saffa sides
The Bulls have won 3/7 against overseas sides, but 4/5 against Saffa sides.
The Sharks have won 5/7 against overseas sides, but 2/5 against Saffa sides .
The Cheetahs have won 4/8 against overseas sides, but 1/5 against Saffa sides.
The Lions have won 1/6 against overseas sides, but 1/7 against Saffa sides.

 

[Ruggo]

I don't know what to make out of those stats Paarl. Getting the win over the Blues is one thing but comming from behind like that adds a ne dimension to the Stormers game which must be encouraging for their supporters.

 

[PaarlBok]

I don't know what to make out of those stats Paarl. Getting the win over the Blues is one thing but comming from behind like that adds a ne dimension to the Stormers game which must be encouraging for their supporters.

I am still hammering in the unfairness of the competition. Its suppose to be conferense driven but not all the teams play the same overseas opposition.

 

[qwerty51]

I am still hammering in the unfairness of the competition. Its suppose to be conferense driven but not all the teams play the same overseas opposition.

It is a bit of a joke that some teams miss some teams but that's only in WC years I believe. Guess we have to live with it. I will say SA derbies are much more physical then ours on average.

 

[Blue]

It is a bit of a joke that some teams miss some teams but that's only in WC years I believe. Guess we have to live with it. I will say SA derbies are much more physical then ours on average.

Which is a worry at this stage of the year. The Bulls and Sharks beat seven colors of shit out of each other with the Bulls losing Fourie du Preez and the Sharks Jannie Doep.

And there will no doubt be more casualties...

 

[qwerty51]

Which is a worry at this stage of the year. The Bulls and Sharks beat seven colors of shit out of each other with the Bulls losing Fourie du Preez and the Sharks Jannie Doep.

And there will no doubt be more casualties...

Well it was in the Aus derbies that Mitchell, Elsom, TPN, Palu were all inured in.

 

[REDinCPT]

Problem is as soon as the Cheetahs raise there head above mediocrity it gets chopped of by other provinces poaching

I just wonder what they could have done with a regular Brussow and a fit Jaun Smith. Always been my second team.

i'm thinking (hoping) that the cheetahs will hang onto a few more players this time round. see how they go in the final 4 rounds, but it's amazing what winning a few games does for sponsorship dollars which should equal more finances for player retention.

 

[whatty]

but that's only in WC years I believe.

That would be good if it is true?

 

[PaarlBok]

Brutes vs Tin Ears teams
Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16 Gary Botha, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Danie Rossouw, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Gerhard van den Heever

Cheetahs:
15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corné Uys, 11 Philip Snyman, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Kabamba Floors, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen/Hendrik Roodt, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Hennie Daniller

 

[qwerty51]

Anyone watch the Bulls/Cheetahs game?

There have been literally 7+ bombed tries. Cheetahs 5 of them.

Awesome game however. Great rugby.

 

[PaarlBok]

All the SA teams had a big weekend. Even the Tin Ears despite losing scoring some breath taking tries. Want to mention Ashley Johnson here. He sure look like Bok material at the moment. The Tin Ears lost all their lineout jumpers and it hurt them against Bakkies and Matfield, but they sure dominate the turn overs time and again and running from everywhere. The SA conferense is very tight at the moment and cant remember watching a rugby game and the teams try their outmost best to keep the ball alive even with 3/4 minutes into injury time just to try and get a vital log point. In the end the Brutes succeeded but hats of to them Tin Ears, they were simply awesome and will play a big part in the faith of the SA conferense with Osfontein games against the Sharks and Stormers coming up.