SA Conferense and Derbies

[PaarlBok]

South African Conference
Pos Team P W D L B PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 13 10 0 3 2 300 201 99 23 13 4 52
2 Sharks 13 8 0 5 2 328 268 60 34 21 7 47
3 Vodacom Bulls 13 8 0 5 2 351 311 40 35 33 5 45
4 Toyota Cheetahs 14 5 0 9 1 383 370 13 38 43 10 34
5 MTN Lions 14 3 0 11 1 294 409 -115 30 42 7 23

Combined Log
Pos Team P W D L B PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 Reds 13 11 0 2 2 372 255 117 40 27 6 58
2 Blues 13 9 1 3 2 345 280 65 37 29 8 54
3 DHL Stormers 13 10 0 3 2 300 201 99 23 13 4 52
4 Crusaders 14 9 1 4 1 397 248 149 42 25 7 49
5 Sharks 13 8 0 5 2 328 268 60 34 21 7 47
6 Waratahs 13 8 0 5 2 307 215 92 37 17 6 46
-------------------------------------------
7 Vodacom Bulls 13 8 0 5 2 351 311 40 35 33 5 45
8 Highlanders 13 8 0 5 2 259 256 3 27 24 4 44
9 Toyota Cheetahs 14 5 0 9 1 383 370 13 38 43 10 34
10 Chiefs 13 5 0 8 2 287 300 -13 29 26 6 34
11 Hurricanes 13 4 1 8 2 263 337 -74 26 35 8 34
12 Western Force 13 3 2 8 2 264 354 -90 18 36 4 28
13 Brumbies 13 2 1 10 2 253 365 -112 25 34 6 24
14 MTN Lions 14 3 0 11 1 294 409 -115 30 42 7 23
15 Melbourne Rebels 13 3 0 10 2 237 471 -234 26 62 3 23


Stormers:
3 June: v Rebels, away
11 June: v Bulls, home
18 June: v Cheetahs, away

Sharks:
Remaining fixtures:
4 June: v Cheetahs, away
11 June: v Lions, away
18 June: v Bulls, away

Bulls:
Remaining fixtures:
3 June: v Waratahs, home
11 June: v Stormers, away
18 June: v Sharks, home

Cheetahs:
Remaining fixtures:
4 June: v Sharks, home
10/11 June: Bye
18 June: v Stormers, home

Lions:
Remaining fixtures:
4 June: v Hurricanes, away
11 June: v Sharks, home
17/18 June: Bye


In the SA Conferense all roads lead to Newlands in two weeks time. The winner in that game will decide the conferense.

 

[qwerty51]

It's a travesty there aren't more comments on this thread. I hope other people watch some of the SA derbies this year. I've found them to be great games. Especially ones with the Cheetahs, most exciting team for sure, some of their backline play this year has been outstanding.

The Bulls/Cheetahs game was a top 5 game for me.

 

[tigerland12]

Cheetahs have become one of my favourite sides to watch. The fact they are performing like they are without Brussouw, Smith and Nowkie is amazing, considering how much the used to rely on them. I really hope players like Ashley Johnson, Sarel Pretorious and the Ebersohn twins get a Springbok look in

 

[Blue]

Cheetahs have become one of my favourite sides to watch. The fact they are performing like they are without Brussouw, Smith and Nowkie is amazing, considering how much the used to rely on them. I really hope players like Ashley Johnson, Sarel Pretorious and the Ebersohn twins get a Springbok look in

I thjink of the ones you mention, only Ashley will really get a shot but I don't see him becoming a regular. He will be seen to be too short at 6 and 8. I think he will make an excellent impact player and would love to see him on the bench ahead of people like Kankowski who has been average.

The others are no chance because the coaches will feel they have too big an investment in their current squad. 9's going to the RWC will be FdP and yes, Januarie (no he should not but he will). Pienaar and Hougaard provide utility backup and may even be ahead of Januarie.

Ebersohn in 10 - no chance. Steyn, Butch, Lambie and Pienaar will all be in the squad. At 13 we have Fourie and Juan de Jongh with F Steyn an injury backup,

Last year all our 13's went down and Kirchner played there in 2 tests so it's great to know they have Ebersohn coming through. Definitely next cab off the rank.

Barring injuries, PdV will bring almost no new faces into the squad.

Moral of the story? Sign Sarel Pretorius at an Aus franchise and in time he will be eligible for the Wallabies (what better backup for Genia?). He ain't going to get picked for the Boks any time soon unless a new coach next year has love for him.

 

[tigerland12]

The others are no chance because the coaches will feel they have too big an investment in their current squad. 9's going to the RWC will be FdP and yes, Januarie (no he should not but he will). Pienaar and Hougaard provide utility backup and may even be ahead of Januarie.

Man Ricky Jaunuarie is a joke, I've been shocked everytime I've seen him named in a springbok side. PdV would give me the shits if I was a South African, some of his selections are stupid. No doubt John Smit will be starting, and old slow Bakkies will as well. An out of form Bryan Habana will be picked as well. There is so many capable players that just won't get picked.

 

[PaarlBok]

I thjink of the ones you mention, only Ashley will really get a shot but I don't see him becoming a regular. He will be seen to be too short at 6 and 8. I think he will make an excellent impact player and would love to see him on the bench ahead of people like Kankowski who has been average.

The others are no chance because the coaches will feel they have too big an investment in their current squad. 9's going to the RWC will be FdP and yes, Januarie (no he should not but he will). Pienaar and Hougaard provide utility backup and may even be ahead of Januarie.

Ebersohn in 10 - no chance. Steyn, Butch, Lambie and Pienaar will all be in the squad. At 13 we have Fourie and Juan de Jongh with F Steyn an injury backup,

Last year all our 13's went down and Kirchner played there in 2 tests so it's great to know they have Ebersohn coming through. Definitely next cab off the rank.

Barring injuries, PdV will bring almost no new faces into the squad.

Moral of the story? Sign Sarel Pretorius at an Aus franchise and in time he will be eligible for the Wallabies (what better backup for Genia?). He ain't going to get picked for the Boks any time soon unless a new coach next year has love for him.

You are right, cant see many changes going to the WC but then we do know you dont want to go in the WC with newbies. The WC 2007 brough success with a Bok team building around the Brutes Bokke like Habana, FdP, Matfield and Bakkies with a spice of Sharks Bokke like John Smit, Battleship, exct. These Brutes start to show their real mettle just about now and surely building towards the real thing not to far away.

Regarding the S100 tournament we got one benefit. It test the S100 squads depth and we start to see some young talent coming through in SA. Good to see players like
15 Jaco Taute (his preferred position is 10 and can play midfield aswell)
Midfield: Robert Ebersohn, Johan Sadie. Robert this year start to show his real talent. Sadie has always been in his shadow in the SA youth team but sure is a huge talent. Both of them can easily slot in 12 and 13.
10 This is a position we struggled in the past and all of a sudden we get talent produce from all our franchise. Lampie (Sharks) can slot in 12 and 15 with ease. Jantjies (Lions) still very wet behind the ears but look like a real talent. Sias Ebersohn have to get credit the way the Tin Ears backline plays. The Stormers depth test like no other franchise and produced Gary van Aswegen and Lionel Cronje who can slot in 15 aswell.
9 I saw them since 2004 up against each other on schoolboy level. Hougaardt (Paul Roos), Dewaldt Duvenhage (Paarl Gym) and Conrad Hoffman (Paarl Boys High) now doing it against each other on S15 level.
Loosies Koster sure got the talent and look like he will step up. Elstadt preffered position is 7 and made the Stormers lock jersey his own.
Lock: Elstadt came from nowhere and Wilhelm Steenkamp. The Brutes have all the good young ones and Wilhelm had to go to the Tin Ears , captaining them with success and played his heart out. His younger Boet De Kock just waiting to get his change, Karroo meat stock this two.
TH: They dont come young but I know Rossouw de Klerk (Brutes) have all the ingredients to become a Bok. Herbst (Sharks) and it wont be long before we see young Frans Malherbe , a 124kgs and 190cm Paarl Boys High giant.
2 Myself think getting playtime and we see for the first time Chilliboy's real value. Feel like he has been here for ages. Bandisu Maku sure going well for the Lions aswell.
LH. Lots of talent. Coenie Oosthuizen first in line, Fatty with a goose step, the Brutes Dean Greyling, strong like a Bull and the Stormers Ginga, 19 year old not at all out of place on S15 level.

Not much talking about the 7s (Midgets) That unbelieveable win on sunday against the Aussies show there are not only talent in that group but also giant heart and gees. Cant wait to see Sithole getting his change in 15s, Boom Prinsloo made his mark in the Varsity Cup for Osfomtein Uni and Cecil Afrika sure as hell will make a good 10. He is from the Griffins, pretty sure many dont know where this SA CC provinces is. Red School vs Blue School up there in Kroonstad deliver some excellent rivalries over many a year.

Many of these havent taste CC rugby yet on senior level but the S100 marathon have pushed them into the big time for many years to come.

 

[Blue]

Man Ricky Jaunuarie is a joke, I've been shocked everytime I've seen him named in a springbok side. PdV would give me the shits if I was a South African, some of his selections are stupid. No doubt John Smit will be starting, and old slow Bakkies will as well. An out of form Bryan Habana will be picked as well. There is so many capable players that just won't get picked.

Have you watched the last three Bulls games? I was one who thought Bakkies' days are over but he has been very good of late. Right now there is definitely no better option at 4 in SA for hard test matches. He should be used sparingly though.

The likes of Januarie, Habana and Spies will all be there. For very different reasons.

 

[tigerland12]

Have you watched the last three Bulls games? I was one who thought Bakkies' days are over but he has been very good of late. Right now there is definitely no better option at 4 in SA for hard test matches. He should be used sparingly though.

To be honest last couple of weeks i haven't haha, but surely Bekker is a better player, and I think Danie Roussouw is the most underrated player in SA, no matter if he plays 4,7,8

 

[Blue]

To be honest last couple of weeks i haven't haha, but surely Bekker is a better player, and I think Danie Roussouw is the most underrated player in SA, no matter if he plays 4,7,8

The problem is that the coaches have never wanted to play Bakker at 4 and I think they never will. There is a belief that he is too similar to Vick. Personally I think they should trial them together in the 3N but that's unlikely. We will see Vic and Bekker being rotated instead.

As for Danie, a good dilemma to have. When he is form, no more versatile international forward exists today. He can play 4,5,7 and 8 at international standard.

He was injured early in the season, then got time off to get married but back on form now. He came on and took the game away from the Cheetahs.

 

[whatty]

He came on and took the game away from the Cheetahs.

That was simply stunning play. He looked quick for once.

 

[tigerland12]

I think Danie is a must in the Springbok 22. Such a great impact player, which I think has hindered his career, because he has never been a specialist Lock or Backrower.

 

[PaarlBok]

Big clash in Osfontein. Sharkies visiting and another brusher coming up.

Tin Ears: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corne Uys, 11 Philip Snyman, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Ashley Johnson, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (capt), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen. Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Lourens Adriaanse, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Naas Olivier, 22 Riaan Smit.

Kambamba injured. Glad to see Daniller starting. He had a great game last week and I like the look of Johan Wessels, another Brussouw type. Also Piet Myburgh (played in the WP youth teams with Francois and Pieter Louw) back from PomLand. I always rated him as a good flanker and Biltong Land the perfect place to get his SA career back on track.

Saw Freddie Michalack is back in Sharks country.

 

[PaarlBok]

Sharks:
15. Louis Ludik, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Stefan Terblanche, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Gerhard Mostert, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Eugene van Staden, 2. Bismarck du Plessis, 1. John Smit (captain)

Substitutes: 16. Tendai Mtawarira, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Alistair Hargreaves, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Frederic Michalak, 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22. Adrian Jacobs

 

[PaarlBok]

The SA conferense is ending in a three horse race.

South African Conference
Pos Team P W D L B PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 14 11 0 3 2 340 204 136 28 13 5 57
2 Sharks 14 9 0 5 2 351 286 65 36 23 7 51
3 Vodacom Bulls 14 9 0 5 2 374 328 46 37 34 5 49
4 Toyota Cheetahs 15 5 0 10 1 401 393 8 40 45 11 35
5 MTN Lions 15 3 0 12 1 321 447 -126 33 46 7 23

Combined Log
Pos Team P W D L B PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 Reds 14 11 0 3 2 386 277 109 41 28 6 58
2 DHL Stormers 14 11 0 3 2 340 204 136 28 13 5 57
3 Blues 14 9 1 4 2 356 296 60 38 30 9 55
4 Crusaders 14 9 1 4 2 397 248 149 42 25 7 53
5 Sharks 14 9 0 5 2 351 286 65 36 23 7 51
6 Vodacom Bulls 14 9 0 5 2 374 328 46 37 34 5 49
----------------------------------------------
7 Waratahs 14 8 0 6 2 324 238 86 38 19 7 47
8 Highlanders 14 8 0 6 2 273 277 -4 28 26 5 45
9 Hurricanes 14 5 1 8 2 301 364 -63 30 38 9 39
10 Chiefs 14 6 0 8 2 303 311 -8 30 27 6 38
11 Toyota Cheetahs 15 5 0 10 1 401 393 8 40 45 11 35
12 Western Force 14 4 2 8 2 285 368 -83 20 37 4 32
13 Brumbies 14 3 1 10 2 275 379 -104 26 35 6 28
14 MTN Lions 15 3 0 12 1 321 447 -126 33 46 7 23
15 Melbourne Rebels 14 3 0 11 2 240 511 -271 26 67 3 23


Stormers:
11 June: v Bulls, home
18 June: v Cheetahs, away

Sharks:
Remaining fixtures:
11 June: v Lions, away
18 June: v Bulls, away

Bulls:
Remaining fixtures:
11 June: v Stormers, away
18 June: v Sharks, home

Cheetahs:
Remaining fixtures:
10/11 June: Bye
18 June: v Stormers, home

Lions:
Remaining fixtures:
11 June: v Sharks, home
17/18 June: Bye

 

[PaarlBok]

Newlands a sell out last week teusday already and an all mighty clash all lined up. My SA part wants the Brutes to win to book them a place in the top 6 but my Stormers part wants the Stormers to nail them on saturday, so we can end in the Top 2. You never want to play these Brutes when they have their backs against the wall, different kettle of animal.

They look pretty kak on friday night and if they play like that the Stormers will simply mureder them in a pack Newlands. The Sharks also dont have it easy with the Lions trying to build on their tour performance and wanting their season to end on a high.

 

[Blue]

Newlands a sell out last week teusday already and an all mighty clash all lined up. My SA part wants the Brutes to win to book them a place in the top 6 but my Stormers part wants the Stormers to nail them on saturday, so we can end in the Top 2. You never want to play these Brutes when they have their backs against the wall, different kettle of animal.

They look pretty kak on friday night and if they play like that the Stormers will simply mureder them in a pack Newlands. The Sharks also dont have it easy with the Lions trying to build on their tour performance and wanting their season to end on a high.

Agreed. Our pack was soft on Friday but you and I know when we travel to Cape Town we get mad.

 

[PaarlBok]

Agreed. Our pack was soft on Friday but you and I know when we travel to Cape Town we get mad.

Yep know that feeling to well. See Bakkies , Gary Botha and Kirschner have some niggles. The Stormers hope to have Grant/Dewaldt/CJ back. I am not to worried about Grant/CJ but Dewaldt need to start this one. He'll give Coleman much more space and was impressed with his performance against the Rebels.

 

[PaarlBok]

Also not that worried about the amount of travelling the Stormers had to make. They were at home before the Brutes vs Tahs match, so should be all rested for this one. Kaplan will take the whistle.

 

[rugbysmartarse]

Tough ending to this conference. I can see the stormers picking up both wins, leaving the sharks and bulls with one each. Bonus points (particularly losing ones) will be key.

Of course if the tahs fuck up and blow their games it won't matter

*sigh*

 

[PaarlBok]

Tough ending to this conference. I can see the stormers picking up both wins, leaving the sharks and bulls with one each. Bonus points (particularly losing ones) will be key.

Of course if the tahs fuck up and blow their games it won't matter

*sigh*

Hope to see the Tahs vs Stormers. At least one missing game back.

Tahs vs Highlanders/Brumbies at home. If they drop them they sure dont deserve to be in the business end.