SA Rugby matters

[Moses]

Of the 22 players playing for the Blue Bulls on Saturday, three were born and raised in the land of the Blue Bull.

They are the best three players though, Matfield, Du Preez and Spies

 

[PaarlBok]

Matfield aint a all Brute product tho, he start his CC career with Griquas.

Just to illustatre the importance the small provinces play in SA nursering the young talent , here is the list of players that started their CC careers with them

Blue Bulls:

Zane Kirchner (Griquas), Victor Matfield (Griquas), Bakkies Botha (Falcons), Heini Adams (Boland),

Free State Cheetahs:

Hennie Daniller (Boland), Danwel Demas (Boland), JP Joubert (Boland), Ashley Johnson (Griffons), Nico Breedt (SWD), WP Nel (Boland), Izak van der Westhuizen (Griquas), Kabamba Floors (SWD), Louis Strydom (Griffons), Fabian Juries (Boland)

 

[PaarlBok]

The Cheetahs idea of the new Bok Logo

 

[BillyWebb]

Matfield aint a all Brute product tho, he start his CC career with Griquas.

If memory serves though Paarl, Matfield was a northern transvaal boy through and through and only went to Griquas early in his career because he couldn't crack the Bulls squad at the time.

 

[PaarlBok]

Thats what I mean, I try to explain on the other threads the importance of the small provinces in our rugby, Matfield one of them that had to go to Griquas to start his career.

 

[Moses]

I guess that scenario would be pretty common with the promotion/relegation system in the top two levels of CC, more likely for a young player to be picked up by the second division teams with smaller chequebooks

 

[PaarlBok]

I guess that scenario would be pretty common with the promotion/relegation system in the top two levels of CC, more likely for a young player to be picked up by the second division teams with smaller chequebooks

Quite right Moses. Rassie (WP coach) and Dawie Theron (Griquas coach) have a deal now going with extra player stock from WP U21s going out of contract. Three of that players are going to Griquas next year. Its all about player budgets and Griquas losing a few players to the Bulls and Lions with their bigger cheque books. Dawie did exceptionally well with his small cheque book and good for the young players to start at Griquas. Much better then playing for Maties Varsity Cup and the perfect platform to get good coaching and launch their professional careers.

 

[Blue]

Matfield aint a all Brute product tho, he start his CC career with Griquas.

If memory serves though Paarl, Matfield was a northern transvaal boy through and through and only went to Griquas early in his career because he couldn't crack the Bulls squad at the time.

That's right. He was told he was too skinny. Then he proceeded to steal lineout ball for a season and the Bulls brought him back and put him on a diet.

True what Paarl says. If there was no proper second tier players like him would have had no chance to break through.

 

[PaarlBok]

Congrats to Blue and the Brutes for winning the CC. :yay Was a good final and the Cheetahs gave it their best shot. Well the Cheetahs at least taking the two youth CC's U19 &U21s and sure look like they will be a big factor for years to come.

 

[Blue]

Thanks Paarl.

Just finished watching the game now and what a match. Fatastic intensity and almost a big comeback from the Cheetahs.

Exellent skills, great intensity and tons of mongrel both sides.

Bulls composure is what carried them to victory. Amazing how they don't panic.

Spies was bloody fantastic.

Happiness. :yay

 

[Ash]

Thoroughly enjoyed that final as well - was a good game of rugby to watch. Bulls deserved their victory - they won it in the first 20 really, then held off a few Cheetahs fightbacks by keeping their own score ticking over.

I was thinking back to the first Currie Cup games I watched a few years ago on Fox (or whenever it was), and was thinking that the standard now (in the few games I saw) is much better. But the sample size is pretty low, so this may just be coincidental.

 

[PaarlBok]

If I go back to the semis and finals I think our rugby is on a better level ever compare to the past. The fact that Snor let the top players play CC again may have a big role in this. We had packed stadiums in the semis (maybe the Tank not 100% full) but Loftus in the final and Newlands in the semis was sold outs. Also think both WP and Cheetahs gave the Bulls Bokke more handbags and hard work they havent had all year. A player like FdP surprisingly now in his 50th CC match just show the unjustice Jake White did to our local CC , not letting the Bokke play in this competition.

 

[PaarlBok]

Pretty sad to see Boland losing out heavily against the Pumas 40-3 on friday night. The Leaopards just got through by the skin of their neck. This mean the Lions S14 franchise will have three provinces playing top level CC next year.

 

[PaarlBok]

and the Oscar goes to:

The full list of awards winners is:

SA Rugby Player of the Year – Fourie du Preez (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

Players’ Player of the Year – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

SA Rugby Young Player of the Year – Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

Test player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Blue Bulls)

Provincial player of the Castle South Africa 2009 Lions Series – Heinrich Brüssow (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

SA Rugby Team of the Year – The Springboks

Absa Coach of the Year – Peter de Villiers

Vodacom Super 14 Player of the Year – Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls)

Absa Curie Cup Premier Division Player of the Year – Luke Watson (Vodacom Western Province)

Absa Curie Cup First Division Player of the Year – Allistair Kettledas (Pumas)

SuperSport Try of the Year – Jaque Fourie, 2nd Test v British & Irish Lions (Loftus Versfeld)

Sasol Sevens Player of the Year – Frankie Horne

SA Under-20 Player of the Year – Lionel Cronjé (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs)

Vodacom Cup Player of the Year – Jonathan Mokuena (GWK Griquas)

SAA Club Champs Player of the Year – Dustin Jinka (Hamilton)

SA Rugby Women’s Rugby Achiever of the Year – Saloma Booysen (Eastern Province)

Marriott Refereeing Achievement of the Year – Jonathan Kaplan

Coca-Cola Craven Week Player of the Tournament – Andile Jho (Border)

Lionel Cronje will play for the Stormers in the S14.

 

[PaarlBok]

Latest on the Kings. Pressure coming from the politicians on Saru.
News24

Deadline for Southern Kings
2009-11-11 08:15Email | Print

Southern Kings logo (File)

Lizel Steenkamp

Cape Town - The South African Rugby Union (SARU) has been given two weeks to say when the Southern Kings will start playing Super Rugby.

Butana Komphela, chairperson of the parliamentary portfolio committee on sport, insisted on Tuesday that SARU should commit itself to a date as there has been an undertaking for three years to get the Kings – a combination of Eastern Province, Border and South Western Districts – competing.

SARU president Oregan Hoskins said after appearing in front of the committee that rugby’s governing body could not commit itself to a date.

Hoskins and four other members of SARU’s top brass have to inform Komphela of the date in a closed meeting in two weeks’ time.

ANC MPs, in particular, insisted on Tuesday that the Kings have to get off the ground as it will help transform the Springbok side. Most black rugby players play for clubs in the Eastern Cape.

Hoskins told committee members that SARU are committed to establishing the Kings, “but it may not happen as quickly as some people would like”.

SARU had to fork out R12 million to pay the debt of the three provincial teams and also had to assist with their management. There is also not a co-operation agreement between the three unions, said Hoskins.

SANZAR will decide this week whether the 15th franchise should be given to the Southern and Eastern Cape or to Melbourne to become part of an enlarged Super Rugby tournament in two years’ time.

 

[BillyWebb]

I see CJ vd Linde is making noises about a possible return to SA.
He has 2 years left on his contract with leinster, but apparently has an escape clause in May next year.

Interesting, he is ruling out a return to the Cheetah's who he say already has a great frontrow (agreed!)

But, and this should get Oom Paarl pretty excited... he is talking about heading to Western province and the Stormers.
Be fantastic if it actually happens.

 

[PaarlBok]

I w3atch Boots & All last night and they ask Snor the question about the overseas players selection. If things goes wrong we might see Jean back sooner then later even maybe before the Irish test.

 

[PaarlBok]

But, and this should get Oom Paarl pretty excited... he is talking about heading to Western province and the Stormers.
Be fantastic if it actually happens.

Ja sure I heard that one long time ago. For some reason I always thought CJ is a LH prop, watching his stats he plays TH most of the time and only a few LH. Os play LH so I dont understand what gave me that thought.

 

[BillyWebb]

I get the logic about being reluctant to pick overseas players.
But I think it makes sense to call on the European based players - when the need arises - for the EOYT games, so I would applaud that kind of move.

 

[PaarlBok]

I get the logic about being reluctant to pick overseas players.
But I think it makes sense to call on the European based players - when the need arises - for the EOYT games, so I would applaud that kind of move.

Now that we have a surplus of Super Rugby players it make sense. Should have been great if we could have Daan Human, Jouba & Sowerby for the Boks tonight, Jean against Ierland, he have a account to settle with BoD, ect.