Vodacom Blue Bulls VS Platinum Leopards

Friday 6 August 2010

Loftus Versfeld – Pretoria

Kick off: 19h10

Head to Head: Vodacom Blue Bulls v Platinum Leopards (since 2005)

P: 4 W: 4 L: 0 PF: 235 PA: 69
02/09/2005	Blue Bulls 69	Leopards 24	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
07/10/2005	Blue Bulls 61	Leopards 10	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng
21/08/2009	Blue Bulls 44	Leopards 11	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
09/10/2009	Blue Bulls 61	Leopards 24	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng

Vodacom Blue Bulls’ recent form at home:

• The defending champions have lost only three Absa Currie Cup games in the last two seasons at Loftus Versfeld.
• The Vodacom Blue Bulls suffered a 25-23 defeat to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in week three, conceded a 29-23 loss to The Sharks in Pretoria last year and also conceded a 30-27 home defeat to the Lions in 2008.

Platinum Leopards’ recent form on the road:

• The Platinum Leopards lost all seven of their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division matches during last year’s competition.
• The visitors are yet to record a victory at home or on the road in this season’s competition.

Player/match stats:

• John Mametsa has played 134 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.
• 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 Test caps for the Springboks.
• The Vodacom Blue Bulls hooker Bandise Maku made his Test debut for the Springboks against Italy earlier this year. He was also a member of the Emerging Springboks side in 2009.
• 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.
• 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.
• The Platinum Leopards’ Philip Lemmer achieved his SA Colours in amateur wrestling.

Teamsheets:

Blue Bulls: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Hayden Groepes, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün (captain), 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Jaco Engels.

Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.

Leopards: 15 Danie Dames, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Dumisane Matyeshana, 10 Niell Jacobs, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Riaan Swanepoel/RW Kember, 7 Palm Koch (captain), 6 Danie Crous, 5 Draad Linde, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Os van der Walt, 2 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1 Divan Kotze.

Replacements: 16 Gavin Williamson, 17 Aranos Coetzee, 18 Brad Mockford, 19 Swanepoel/Kember, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Jan van Zyl.

• Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARRA)
• Assistant referees: M Mdashe (Valke), S Breytenbach (Pumas)
• TMO: n/a

GWK Griquas VS Vodacom Western Province

Saturday 07 August 2010

GWK Park – Kimberley

Kick off: 15h00

Head to Head: GWK Griquas VS Vodacom WP (since 2005)

P: 9 W: 2 L: 7 PF: 163 PA: 316
29/07/2005	Griquas 16	WP 42	Newlands, Cape Town
05/08/2006	Griquas 23	WP 27	Absa Park, Kimberley
30/09/2006	Griquas 17	WP 55	Newlands, Cape Town
11/08/2007	Griquas 25	WP 30	Absa Park, Kimberley
06/10/2007	Griquas 7	WP 37	Newlands, Cape Town
12/07/2008	Griquas 21	WP 20	Absa Park, Kimberley
19/09/2008	Griquas 18	WP 30	Newlands, Cape Town
07/08/2009	Griquas 33	WP 32	GWK Park, Kimberley
26/09/2009	Griquas 3	WP 43	Newlands, Cape Town

GWK Griquas’ recent form at home:

• The hosts have recorded two home wins – over The Sharks (40-34) in week one and the Xerox Lions (26-20) in week three – in this year’s Absa Currie Cup.
• The GWK Griquas had a mix season in terms of results in Kimberley during last year’s competition. They recorded four wins and three defeats at GWK Park including victories over semi-finalists Vodacom Western Province and finalists Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.
• The Kimberley side however suffered home defeats against the Xerox Lions and the Vodacom Blue Bulls last year.

Vodacom Western Province’s recent form on the road:

• The Cape side has secured two wins on the road during this season’s competition against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-11) in week 1 and against the Platinum Leopards (42-23) in week three of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup. They also achieved three away victories against the Boland Kavaliers, Platinum Leopards and The Sharks in last year’s Absa Currie Cup.
• In 2008, Vodacom Western Province recorded two wins on the road against the Boland Kavaliers and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

Player/match stats:

• Vodacom WP flyhalf Willem de Waal will earn his 100^th Absa Currie Cup cap on Saturday. He made his debut for the Platinum Leopards back in July 2002.The WP flyhalf has accumulated 1287 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. He added 259 points for the Platinum Leopards, 811 for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, and since joining WP in 2008, has notched up a further 207 points.De Waal has twice scored 212 points in a season, back in 2006 and 2007, for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.
• Vodacom WP’s Gio Aplon who made his Test debut for the Springboks earlier this year previously represented the SA Sevens side from 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 Test debuts for the Springboks this year.
• GWK flyhalf Naas Olivier has scored 604 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. The pivot has added 220 for Vodacom Western Province, 163 for the Platinum Leopards and 221 for his current side.
• Winger Bjorn Basson (GWK Griquas) made his international Test debut for the Springboks against Wales earlier this year.
• Lock Hendrik Roodt (GWK Griquas), who represented the NSW Waratahs during this year’s Vodacom Super 14, represented the SA Schools in 2005.

Teamsheets:

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier (captain), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Burger Schoeman, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Johan van Deventer, 5 Cecil Kemp, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jean Botha, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Albertus Buckle.

Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Gerhard Human, 19 Michael Passaportis/Leon Karemaker, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Matthew Rosslee, 22 Rocco Jansen.

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Frikkie Welsh, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (captain), 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JD Moller.

Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Wicus Blaauw, 18 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 19 De Kock Steenkamp, 20 Nick Koster, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Lionel Cronjé.

• Referee: Sandile Mayende (SARRA)
• Assistant referees: F Veldsman (Boland), D Haasbroek (Griquas)
• TMO: Shaun Veldsman (Boland)

Barloworld Toyota Pumas v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs

Saturday 7 August 2010

Pumas Stadium – Witbank

Kick off: 15h00

Head to Head: Barloworld Toyota Pumas v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (since 2005)

P: 3 W: 0 L: 3 PF: 42 PA: 160
15/07/2005	Pumas 3	Free State 50	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
22/07/2006	Pumas 27	Free State 42	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
15/09/2006	Pumas 12	Free State 68	Puma Stadium, Witbank

Barloworld Toyota Pumas’ recent form at home:

• The hosts were undefeated at home during last year’s Absa Currie Cup First Division competition.
• The Barloworld Toyota Pumas defeated the Platinum Leopards 37-32 in week two of this season’s Absa Currie Cup.

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ recent form on the road:

• The visitors won four games on the road during last year’s Absa Currie Cup including their semi-final win over The Sharks in Durban.
• The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs recorded a 25-23 victory over the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld in week three of this year’s competition.

Player/match stats:

• Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom has played 102 Absa Currie Cup games and has scored 745 career points in the competition.
• Springbok winger Jongi Nokwe has scored 20 Absa Currie Cup tries for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.
• Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flanker Hendro Scholtz will earn his 91^st Absa Currie Cup cap this weekend.
• Vodacom Free State Cheetahs captain Juan Smith and prop CJ van der Linde have both represented the Springboks in 62 Tests respectively.
• Robert Ebersohn (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs) captained the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
• 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.

Teamsheets:

Pumas: 15 Elgar Watts, 14 Ashwin Scott, 13 Tiaan Marx, 12 Siviwe Magaba, 11 Shaun Venter, 10 Ricardo Croy, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Alwyn Bester, 6 Corné Steenkamp (captain), 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Andries Kruger, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Dawie Steyn.

Replacements: 16 Hannes Franklin, 17 Dee-Jay Terblanche, 18 Willem Serfontein, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Carl Bezuidenhout, 22 Roelof Steyn.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.

Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 JW Jonker.

• Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARRA)
• Assistant referees: M Mdashe (Valke), S Breytenbach (Pumas)
• TMO: n/a

The Sharks VS Xerox Lions

Saturday 7 August 2010

The Absa Stadium – Durban

Kick off: 17h05

Head to Head: The Sharks v Xerox Lion (since 2005)

P: 11 W: 8 L: 3 PF: 244 PA: 177
16/07/2005	Sharks 22	Lions 16	Absa Stadium, Durban
23/06/2006	Sharks 33	Lions 22	Absa Stadium, Durban
19/08/2006	Sharks 21	Lions 22	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
30/06/2007	Sharks 07	Lions 14	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
01/09/2007	Sharks 21	Lions 3	Absa Stadium, Durban
13/10/2007	Sharks 12	Lions 19	Absa Stadium, Durban
26/07/2008	Sharks 16	Lions 11	Absa Stadium, Durban
27/09/2008	Sharks 34	Lions 20	Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
11/10/2008	Sharks 29	Lions 14	Absa Stadium, Durban
15/08/2009	Sharks 30	Lions 19	Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
03/10/2009	Sharks 19	Lions 17	Absa Stadium, Durban

The Sharks’ recent form at home:

• The hosts, who have recorded two home victories over the Vodacom Blue Bulls (34-28) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (27-17) in this season’s competition, have conceded only two home defeats during the last two seasons in the Absa Currie Cup.
• Both defeats occurred last season, against Vodacom Western Province and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (semi-final).

Xerox Lions’ recent form on the road:

• The Xerox Lions have already conceded two away defeats in this season’s competition against Vodacom Western Province (32-0) and the GWK Griquas (26-20).
• The visitors though achieved two away wins against the Platinum Leopards and the Boland Cavaliers in the 2009 Absa Currie Cup.

Player/match stats:

• The Sharks flanker Jacques Botes will make his 100^th appearance in the Absa Currie Cup. He made his debut in 2002 for the Pumas during a match against the Valke in Springs. The Sharks flanker will be playing in his 77^th game for the Durban side after he represented the Pumas in 23 matches.
• Botes has also scored 28 tries in the Absa Currie Cup. He added three five-pointers for the Pumas and has achieved 25 five-pointers for The Sharks.
• Utility back Patrick Lambie represented the SA Under-20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.
• The Sharks prop Beast Mtawarira has played in 22 Tests for the Springboks.
• 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.
• Sharks lock Alistair Hargreaves made his Test debut for the Springboks earlier this year.
• The Xerox Lions fullback Jaco Taute and flyhalf Elton Jantjies both represented the Baby Boks at this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.
• Xerox Lions centre Marius Delport who previously represented the Vodacom Blue Bulls earned his SA Schools colours in 2003.
• 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.

Teamsheets:

Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Patrick Lambie, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Jacques Botes, 21 Rory Kockott, 22 Riaan Swanepoel

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon Van Rensburg, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Doppies La Grange, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Trevor Hall, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco Van der Merwe (captain), 4 George Earle, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.

Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Ronaldo Bothma, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Carlos Spencer, 22 Marius Delport.

• Referee: Jason Jaftha (SARRA)
• Assistant referees: B Crouse (Blue Bulls), R Rossouw (Natal)
• TMO: JC Fortuin (WP)