Vodacom Free State Cheetahs VS The Sharks

Saturday, 31 July 2010

Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

Kick off: 15h00

Head to Head: Vodacom Free State Cheetahs v The Sharks (since 2005)

P: 12 W: 9 L: 3 PF: 300 PA: 231
03/09/2005 Free State 29 Sharks 18 The Absa Stadium, Durban
08/10/2005 Free State 17 Sharks 3 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
29/07/2006 Free State 31 Sharks 19 The Absa Stadium, Durban
23/09/2006 Free State 37 Sharks 35 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
07/10/2006 Free State 30 Sharks 14 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
04/08/2007 Free State 42 Sharks 22 The Absa Stadium, Durban
29/09/2007 Free State 25 Sharks 23 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
19/07/2008 Free State 31 Sharks 9 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
13/09/2008 Free State 10 Sharks 22 The Absa Stadium, Durban
31/07/2009 Free State 12 Sharks 21 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
19/09/2009 Free State 13 Sharks 24 The Absa Stadium, Durban
17/10/2009 Free State 23 Sharks 21 The Absa Stadium, Durban

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ recent form at home:

  • The hosts secured one home victory (33-26) against the GWK Griquas, but have also conceded one home defeat (25-11) against Vodacom Western Province in this season’s competition.

  • The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs suffered two home defeats during last year’s competition against the GWK Griquas and The Sharks.

The Sharks’ recent form on the road:

  • The Durban side conceded one away defeat (40-34) against the GWK Griquas in Week 1 of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.
  • The Sharks only suffered one defeat on the road during the 2009 Absa Currie Cup against Vodacom Western Province. They were also the only team to defeat the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld during last year’s competition.

Player/match stats:

  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom has played 102 Absa Currie Cup games and has scored 737 career points in the competition.
  • The Sharks’ flanker Jacques Botes will play in his 99th Absa Currie Cup on Saturday. He has scored 28 tries in his career in this competition.
  • Springbok winger Jongi Nokwe has scored 20 Absa Currie Cup tries for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.
  • Utility back Patrick Lambie represented the SA Under-20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flanker Hendro Scholtz will earn his 90 Absa Currie Cup cap this weekend.
  • The Sharks prop Beast Mtawarira has played in 22 Tests for the Springboks.
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs captain Juan Smith and prop CJ van der Linde have both represented the Springboks in 62 Tests respectively.
  • The Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel scored a hat-trick of tries during his side’s 27-17 victory over the Pumas in Week 3 of the 2010 Absa Currie cup.
  • Sias Ebersohn who kicked the winning conversion during his side’s victory over the Vodacom Blue Bulls represented the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan. He is also the twin brother of centre Robert Ebersohn.
  • Robert Ebersohn captained the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs prop Coenie Oosthuizen played for the SA Schools in 2007 and competed for the SA Under-20s in 2009.
  • Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves made his international Test debut for the Springboks earlier this year.
  • SARRA referee Mark Lawrence will handle this game between the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and The Sharks.

Match Officials:
Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARRA)
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse (Blue Bulls), F Yamile (EP)
TMO: JC Fortuin (WP)

Xerox Lions VS Vodacom Blue Bulls

Saturday, 31 July 2010

Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg

Kick off: 17h05

Head to Head: Xerox Lions v Vodacom Blue Bulls (since 2005)

P: 10 W: 5 L: 5 PF: 220 PA: 231
13/08/2005 Golden Lions 46 Blue Bulls 17 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
15/10/2005 Golden Lions 23 Blue Bulls 31 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
01/07/2006 Golden Lions 24 Blue Bulls 39 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
12/08/2006 Golden Lions 19 Blue Bulls 17 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
07/07/2007 Golden Lions 11 Blue Bulls 25 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
08/09/2007 Golden Lions 27 Blue Bulls 22 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
21/06/2008 Golden Lions 7 Blue Bulls 21 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
08/08/2008 Golden Lions 30 Blue Bulls 27 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
11/07/2009 Golden Lions 13 Blue Bulls 19 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
29/08/2009 Golden Lions 20 Blue Bulls 13 Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg

Xerox Lions’ recent form at home:

  • The hosts who are at home for the first time in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup conceded two defeats at Coca-Cola Park during last year’s competition against The Sharks (30-19) and the GWK Griquas (23-19).

Vodacom Blue Bulls’ recent form on the road:

  • The defending champions suffered one away defeat against The Sharks (34-28) in Week 2 of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.
  • The Vodacom Blue Bulls conceded four defeats on the road during last year’s competition against Vodacom Western Province, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, The Sharks and the Xerox Lions. The visitors though defeated WP in their 2009 Absa Currie Cup semi-final clash at Newlands.

Player/match stats:

  • Xerox Lions winger Michael Killian could make his 50th Absa Currie Cup appearance on Saturday. He previously played 31 games for Eastern Province.
  • John Mametsa has played 133 games for the Vodacom Blue Bulls since 2002 and has scored 41 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career for the Loftus Versfeld side. He added 14 tries for the Vodacom Blue Bulls during the 2007 season.
  • Scrumhalf Chris Jonck (Xerox Lions) will play in his 90th Absa Currie Cup at Coca-Cola Park. He earned 72 previous caps for Eastern Province.
  • Gerrit-Jan van Velze captained the successful Vodacom Blue Bulls side who claimed the 2010 Vodacom Cup. He also previously captained the SA Under-20s in 2008.
  • The Vodacom Blue Bulls flanker Dewald Potgieter who captained the SA Schools in 2005 has six international Test caps for the Springboks.
  • The Xerox Lions fullback Jaco Taute and reserve flyhalf Elton Jantjies both represented the Baby Boks at this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.
  • The Vodacom Blue Bulls hooker Mandisa Maku made his international Test debut for the Springboks against Italy earlier this year. He was also a member of the Emerging Springboks side in 2009.
  • Xerox Lions centre who previously represented the Vodacom Blue Bulls earned his SA Schools colours in 2003.
  • Vodacom Blue Bulls loose forward CJ Stander captained the SA U20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina and was a member of the Baby Boks’ squad of 2009 in Japan. He also captained the SA Schools team in 2008.
  • The Xerox Lions’ Edgar Marutlulle earned his SA Schools colours in 2005, competed for the SA U19s in 2006 and played for the SA Students in 2008 and 2008.
  • Vodacom Blue Bulls reserve flyhalf Francois Brummer and winger Gerhard van den Heever both competed at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan for the SA Under-20s.
  • SARRA referee Marius Jonker will handle this game featuring the Xerox Lions and the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

Match Officials:
Referee: Marius Jonker (SARRA)
Assistant referees: F Groenewald (WP) R Rossouw (Natal)
TMO: J Meuwesen (EP)

Vodacom Western Province v Barloworld Toyota Pumas

Friday, 30 July 2010

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

Kick off: 19h10

Head to Head: Vodacom Western Province v Pumas (since 2005)

P: 3 W: 3 L: 0 PF: 105 PA: 47
22/07/2005 Western Province 37 Pumas 19 Puma Stadium, Witbank
23/06/2006 Western Province 25 Pumas 18 Puma Stadium, Witbank
19/08/2006 Western Province 43 Pumas 10 Newlands, Cape Town

Vodacom Western Province’s recent form at home:

  • The hosts are the only undefeated side in this year’s competition and recorded a convincing 32-0 win over the Xerox Lions in their only home game of the season thus far.

  • Vodacom WP only conceded one home defeat (a 21-19 semi-final loss to the Vodacom Blue Bulls) during last year’s Absa Currie Cup.

Barloworld Toyota Pumas’ recent form on the road:

  • The visitors have already conceded two defeats on the road during the 2010 Absa Currie Cup against the Vodacom Blue Bulls (38-15) and The Sharks (27-17).
  • The Barloworld Toyota Pumas won all five of their away games during last year’s Absa Currie Cup First Division.

Player/match stats:

  • Vodacom Western Province flyhalf Willem de Waal has scored 1262 Absa Currie Cup points in his career. He previously added 259 for the Platinum Leopards, 811 for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and has accumulated 192 thus far for WP.
  • De Waal will also play in his 99th Absa Currie Cup game on Friday evening.

  • Former SA Sevens star Fabian Juries has scored 50 tries in the Absa Currie Cup. He previously added 39 for Eastern Province, seven for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and four for the Griffons.

  • Vodacom WP’s Gio Aplon who made his international Test debut for the Springboks earlier this year previously represented the SA Sevens side during 2007 – 2009.

  • WP flanker Rynardt Elstadt and flyhalf Lionel Cronje both represented the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
  • Vodacom Western Province centre Juan de Jongh and flanker Francois Louw both made their international Test debuts for the Springboks this year.
  • Pumas winger Allistair Kettledas scored 18 tries in the 2009 Absa Currie Cup First Division, just one short of Colin Lloyd’s record of 19 in 2006.
  • The Pumas’ Shaun Venter represented the Springbok Sevens during the 2009/ 2010 IRB Sevens World Series.
  • Pumas flyhalf Ricardo Croy is the son of former Western Province League scrumhalf Richard Croy.
  • The Pumas’ Hannes Franklin and Jacques Coetzee represented the Auto & General Lions during the 2010 Vodacom Super 14.
  • SARRA referee Pro Legoete who handled last weekend’s game between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in Pretoria will take charge of this clash at Newlands on Friday evening.

Match Officials:
Referee: Pro Legoete (SARRA)
Assistant referees: S Berry (SARRA), E Daniels (WP)
TMO: S Veldsman (Boland)

Platinum Leopards VS GWK Griquas

Friday, 30 July 2010

Profert Olien Park, Potchefstroom

Kick off: 19h10

Head to Head: Platinum Leopards v GWK Griquas (since 2005)

P: 3 W: 1 L: 2 PF: 70 PA: 94
05/08/2005 Leopards 26 Griquas 24 Olen Park, Potchefstroom
18/07/2009 Leopards 11 Griquas 36 GWK Park, Kimberley
04/09/2009 Leopards 33 Griquas 34 Olen Park, Potchefstroom

Platinum Leopards’ recent form at home:

  • The hosts have already suffered two home defeats – against Vodacom Western Province (42-23) and the Xerox Lions (43-13) in this season’s competition.
  • The Platinum Leopards won only one home game during last year’s Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, a 50-16 victory over the Boland Cavaliers.

GWK Griquas’ recent form on the road:

  • The Kimberley side conceded a 33-26 away defeat against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in Week 2 of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.
  • During the 2009 competition, the GWK Griquas achieved victories on the road against the Boland Cavaliers, Platinum Leopards, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and the Xerox Lions.

Player/match stats:

  • GWK flyhalf Naas Olivier has scored 583 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. The pivot has added 220 for Vodacom Western Province, 163 for the Platinum Leopards and 200 for his current side.

  • Winger Bjorn Basson (GWK Griquas) made his international Test debut for the Springboks against Wales earlier this year.
  • Elrich Linde will be playing in his 49th Absa Currie Cup game for the Platinum Leopards on Friday evening.
  • GWK Griquas flanker Davon Raubenheimer represented the SA U21s in 2005.
  • Lock Hendrik Roodt (GWK Griquas), who represented the NSW Waratahs during this year’s Vodacom Super 14, represented the SA Schools in 2005.
  • The Platinum Leopards’ Cecil Dumond is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.
  • GWK Griquas loose forward Gerhard Human is the son of former Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pote Human.
  • The Platinum Leopards’ Philip Lemmer achieved his SA Colours in amateur wrestling.
  • SARRA referee Jason Jaftha will handle this game between the Platinum Leopards and the GWK Griquas in Potchefstroom.

Match Officials:
Referee: Jason Jaftha (SARRA)
Assistant referees: L van der Merwe (SARRA), P Bosch (EP)
TMO: n/a

Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Log (latest):

Team P W D L PF PA PD B Pts
Vodacom Western Province 3 3 0 0 99 34 65 1 13
Sharks 3 2 0 1 95 85 10 4 12
GWK Griquas 3 2 0 1 92 87 5 2 10
Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 3 2 0 1 69 74 -5 1 9
Vodacom Blue Bulls 3 1 0 2 89 74 15 3 7
Xerox Lions 3 1 0 2 63 71 -8 2 6
Barloworld Toyota Pumas 3 1 0 2 69 97 -28 1 5
Platinum Leopards 3 0 0 3 68 122 -54 2 2