Vodacom Western Province VS Vodacom Blue Bulls

Saturday, 14 August 2010

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

Kick off: 17h05

Head to Head: Vodacom Western Province v Vodacom Blue Bulls (since 2005)

P: 12 W: 4 L: 8 D: 0 PF: 206 PA: 309
27/08/2005 WP 10 Blue Bulls 18 Newlands, Cape Town
17/09/2005 WP 3 Blue Bulls 39 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
08/07/2006 WP 15 Blue Bulls 10 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
01/09/2006 WP 23 Blue Bulls 12 Newlands, Cape Town
07/10/2006 WP 30 Blue Bulls 45 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (Semi-final)
21/07/2007 WP 17 Blue Bulls 26 Newlands, Cape Town
15/09/2007 WP 10 Blue Bulls 35 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
28/06/2008 WP 26 Blue Bulls 17 Newlands, Cape Town
29/08/2008 WP 6 Blue Bulls 37 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
18/07/2009 WP 22 Blue Bulls 30 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
05/09/2009 WP 25 Blue Bulls 19 Newlands, Cape Town
17/10/2009 WP 19 Blue Bulls 21 Newlands, Cape Town (Semi-final)

Vodacom Western Province’s recent form at home:

  • The hosts are currently the only undefeated side in this year’s competition and have secured victories over the Xerox Lions (32-0) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (54-13) in their only home games of the season thus far.

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

Vodacom Blue Bulls’ recent form on the road:

  • The defending champions secured one away victory over the Xerox Lions (32-18) in Johannesburg but also conceded one defeat on the road against The Sharks (34-28) in Week two 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:

  • The Vodacom Blue Bulls defeated Vodacom Western Province (21-19) during last year’s Absa Currie Cup semi-final clash at Newlands.
  • Vodacom WP flyhalf Willem de Waal has accumulated 1295 points in his Absa Currie Cup career – 259 points for the Platinum Leopards, 811 for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, and since joining WP in 2008, has notched up 225.
  • De Waal has twice scored 212 points in a season, back in 2006 and 2007, for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.
  • Vodacom Blue Bulls winger John Mametsa has played 134 games for the Pretoria side since 2002. He has scored 41 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career for the Loftus Versfeld team.
  • 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.
  • WP flanker Rynardt Elstadt and flyhalf Lionel Cronje both represented the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
  • 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.
  • Vodacom WP scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage represented the Baby Boks during the 2008 IRB Junior World Championships.

Referee: Marius Jonker (SARRA)

Assistant referees: M Mdashe (Valke), M van Zyl (WP)

TMO: S Veldsman (Boland)


Xerox Lions VS Vodacom Free State Cheetahs

Saturday, 14 August 2010

Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg

Kick off: 15h00

Head to Head: Xerox Lions v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (since 2005)

P: 11 W: 4 L: 7 PF:  253 PA: 316
10/09/2005 Lions 31 FS Cheetahs 20 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
01/10/2005 Lions 37 FS Cheetahs 36 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
08/07/2006 Lions 5 FS Cheetahs 59 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
01/09/2006 Lions 39 FS Cheetahs 28 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
21/07/2007 Lions 11 FS Cheetahs 27 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
15/09/2007 Lions 19 FS Cheetahs 24 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
27/10/2007 Lions 18 FS Cheetahs 20 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
28/06/2008 Lions 18 FS Cheetahs 22 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
22/08/2008 Lions 28 FS Cheetahs 38 Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
18/07/2009 Lions 31 FS Cheetahs 22 Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
05/09/2009 Lions 16 FS Cheetahs 20 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

Xerox Lions’ recent form at home:

  • The hosts suffered a 32-18 defeat against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their only home game of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup season.
  • The Xerox Lions conceded two defeats at Coca-Cola Park during last year’s competition against The Sharks (30-19) and the GWK Griquas (23-19).

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 victory 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 and a 45-30 win over the Barloworld Toyota Pumas during last weekend’s action in this year’s competition.

Player/match stats:

  • The Xerox Lions recorded a 31-22 victory over the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs when these sides last met at Coca-Cola Park in last year’s competition.

  • These sides competed in the 2007 Absa Currie Cup final in Bloemfontein where the hosts recorded a 20-18 victory over their Johannesburg opponents.

  • 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.
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom has played 104 Absa Currie Cup games and has scored 756 career points in the competition.
  • Centre Marius Delport (Xerox Lions) who previously represented the Vodacom Blue Bulls earned his SA Schools colours in 2003.
  • Springbok winger Jongi Nokwe has scored 43 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career.
  • 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 2009.
  • Robert Ebersohn (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs) captained the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs prop Coenie Oosthuizen represented the Baby Boks during the 2009 World Champs. He also competed for the SA Schools in 2007.

Referee: Sandile Mayende (SARRA)

Assistant referees: F Veldsman (Boland), M de Villiers (Lions)

TMO: J Meuwesen (EP)

Platinum Leopards VS The Sharks

Friday, 13 August 2010

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng

Kick off: 19h10

Head to Head: Platinum Leopards v The Sharks (since 2005)

P: 4 W: 0 L: 4 PF: 95 PA: 198
19/08/2005 Platinum Leopards 17 The Sharks 55 Absa Stadium, Durban
24/09/2005 Platinum Leopards 43 The Sharks 65 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng
07/08/2009 Platinum Leopards 15 The Sharks 44 Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng
25/09/2009 Platinum Leopards 20 The Sharks 34 Absa Stadium, Durban

Platinum Leopards’ recent form at home:

  • The hosts have already suffered three home defeats – against Vodacom Western Province (42-23), GWK Griquas (41-27) 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.

The Sharks’ recent form on the road:

  • The Durban side conceded one away defeat (40-34) against the GWK Griquas in Week one and secured one victory on the road against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-13) in 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:

  • The Sharks recorded victories over the Platinum Leopards in their last four consecutive games.
  • Flanker Jacques Botes earned his 100th Absa Currie Cup cap during his side’s 48-19 victory over the Xerox Lions in Durban. He made his debut in 2002 for the Pumas during a match against the Valke in Springs.
  • Botes has also scored 29 tries in the Absa Currie Cup. He added three five-pointers for the Pumas and has achieved 26 five-pointers for The Sharks.
  • The Platinum Leopards’ Philip Lemmer achieved his SA Colours in amateur wrestling.
  • Utility back Patrick Lambie represented the SA Under-20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina. He also won the Absa Currie Cup Player of the Month award for July.
  • Flyhalf Cecil Dumond (Platinum Leopards) is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.
  • 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.

Referee: Jaco Peyper (SARRA)

Assistant referees: F Groenewald (WP), C du Preez (EP)

TMO: G Coetzee (Free State)

GWK Griquas VS Barloworld Toyota Pumas

Friday, 13 August 2010

GWK Park, Kimberley

Kick off: 19h00

Head to Head: GWK Griquas v Barloworld Toyota Pumas (since 2005)

P: 3 W: 3 L: 0 PF: 146 PA: 62
08/07/2005 Griquas 26 Pumas 9 Puma Stadium, Witbank
01/07/2006 Griquas 60 Pumas 26 Absa Park, Kimberley
25/08/2006 Griquas 21 Pumas 27 Puma Stadium, Witbank

GWK Griquas’ recent form at home:

  • The hosts suffered their first home defeat in this season’s competition last Saturday following their 50-3 loss to Vodacom Western Province. They have recorded 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 mixed 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.

Barloworld Toyota Pumas’ recent form on the road:

  • The visitors have already conceded three defeats on the road during the 2010 Absa Currie Cup against the Vodacom Western Province (54-13), 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:

  • GWK Griquas flyhalf Naas Olivier has scored 607 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. The pivot has added 220 for Vodacom Western Province, 163 for the Platinum Leopards and 224 for his current side.

  • Winger Bjorn Basson (GWK Griquas) made his 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.
  • Barloworld Toyota 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.
  • Barloworld Toyota 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.

Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (SARRA)

Assistant referees: P Legoete (SARRA), D Haasbroek (Griquas)

TMO: n/a

Absa Currie Cup log (as at Wednesday, August 11, 2010)

P W D L PF PA PD B Pts
Vodacom Western Province 5 5 0 0 203 50 153 3 23
Sharks 5 4 0 1 168 117 51 5 21
Vodacom Blue Bulls 5 3 0 2 164 130 34 4 16
GWK Griquas 5 3 0 2 136 164 -28 3 15
Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 5 3 0 2 127 129 -2 2 14
Xerox Lions 5 1 0 3 100 151 -51 2 6
Barloworld Toyota Pumas 5 1 0 4 112 196 -84 1 5
Platinum Leopards 5 0 0 5 133 206 -73 4 4