The Sharks vs Vodacom Western Province

Saturday, 21 August 2010

The Absa Stadium Durban

Kick off: 19h10

The Absa Currie Cup’s best attacking and defensive sides for 2010 goes head-to-head in Durban on Saturday evening when The Sharks host Vodacom Western Province in this top of the table clash at 19h10.

Province boast’s the best defensive record of all eight teams competing in the Premier Division and like their Durban opponents, have been one of the form teams this season. The Cape side has conceded 62 points which includes only six tries.

However The Sharks, who accumulated 219 points after six games which includes 29 tries, have been the best attacking team this season. The hosts are also undefeated at home this season after they secured victories over the Vodacom Blue Bulls (34-28), Xerox Lions (48-19) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (27-17). The Durban side scored 14 tries from their three home games in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

Vodacom Western Province though have been impressive on the road as they achieved away wins over the GWK Griquas (50-3) in Kimberley, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-11) in Bloemfontein and the Platinum Leopards (42-23) in Potchefstroom. The visitors have also only conceded four tries during these three games.

The hosts will have the chance to end the Cape side’s undefeated run in this season’s competition and claim pole position on the log. Province though will be aiming to stretch their lead at the top of the standings by securing their seventh consecutive victory of the season.

Head to Head: The Sharks v Vodacom Western Province (since 2005)

P: 10 W: 5 L: 5 PF: 219 PA: 246
10/09/2005 Sharks 19 WP 47 Newlands, Cape Town
01/10/2005 Sharks 21 WP 45 The Absa Stadium, Durban
01/07/2006 Sharks 28 WP 25 Newlands, Cape Town
25/08/2006 Sharks 16 WP 6 The Absa Stadium, Durban
06/07/2007 Sharks 32 WP 16 The Absa Stadium, Durban
08/09/2007 Sharks 19 WP 22 Newlands, Cape Town
20/06/2008 Sharks 28 WP 25 The Absa Stadium, Durban
08/08/2008 Sharks 32 WP 10 Newlands, Cape Town
11/07/2009 Sharks 15 WP 29 Newlands, Cape Town
29/08/2009 Sharks 9 WP 21 The Absa Stadium, Durban

The Sharks’ recent form at home:

  • The hosts, who have recorded three home victories over the Xerox Lions (48-19), 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).

Vodacom Western Province’s recent form on the road:

  • The Cape side has secured three wins on the road during this season’s competition against the GWK Griquas (50-3), 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.
  • Vodacom WP achieved three away victories against the Boland Kavaliers, Platinum Leopards and The Sharks in last year’s Absa Currie Cup.
  • In 2008, they recorded two wins on the road against the Boland Kavaliers and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

Player/ match stats:

  • Vodacom Western Province recorded a 21-9 victory over The Sharks when these sides last met in an Absa Currie Cup game in Durban in 2009.

  • Flyhalf Willem de Waal (WP) has accumulated 1310 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 Province in 2008, has notched up 240.
  • De Waal has twice scored 212 points in a season, back in 2006 and 2007, for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.
  • The Sharks centre 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.
  • Vodacom WP scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage represented the Baby Boks during the 2008 IRB Junior World Championships.
  • 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.
  • WP flyhalf Lionel Cronje represented the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
  • Flyhalf Cecil Dumond (Platinum Leopards) is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.
  • Referee Lourens van der Merwe will take charge of this top of the table clash between The Sharks and Vodacom Western Province.

Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (SARRA)

Assistant referees: D November (SWD Eagles), R Rossouw (Natal)

TMO: JC Fortuin (WP)

Vodacom Blue Bulls vs GWK Griquas

Friday, 20 August 2010

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick off: 19h10

The Vodacom Blue Bulls will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways after they conceded a narrow 15-12 defeat against WP at Newlands last Saturday when they host the GWK Griquas at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday at 19h10.

The defending champions will be without their inspirational captain Gary Botha who has been ruled out for four weeks after suffering medial ligament damage in the first half during his side’s match against Province.

The Pretoria side are currently in fourth position on the Absa Currie Cup log and are 10 points behind the log-leading Vodacom WP. The hosts have secured two victories at home against the Platinum Leopards (43-38) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (38-15), but have also conceded one defeat against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-23) in week three of this season’s competition.

GWK Griquas will also have the chance of maintaining the pressure of the Absa Currie Cup log-leaders should they secure a victory at Loftus Versfeld on Friday evening. The visitors have not defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their last five visits to Pretoria.

The side from Kimberley have only played two games outside their base at GWK Park and secured a 41-27 win over the Platinum Leopards but also suffered a 33-26 defeat to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein in week two.

Head to Head: Vodacom Blue Bulls v GWK Griquas (since 2005)

P: 10 W: 9 L: 1 D: 0 PF: 456 PA: 186
10/09/2005 Blue Bulls 49 Griquas 30 Absa Park, Kimberley
30/09/2005 Blue Bulls 59 Griquas 0 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
29/07/2006 Blue Bulls 39 Griquas 20 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
23/09/2006 Blue Bulls 60 Griquas 22 Absa Park, Kimberley
30/06/2007 Blue Bulls 18 Griquas 26 Absa Park, Kimberley
01/09/2007 Blue Bulls 46 Griquas 3 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
15/08/2008 Blue Bulls 41 Griquas 12 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
26/09/2008 Blue Bulls 58 Griquas 22 Absa Park, Kimberley
15/08/2009 Blue Bulls 25 Griquas 24 Absa Park, Kimberley
03/10/2009 Blue Bulls 61 Griquas 27 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

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.
  • The hosts though have secured victories over the Platinum Leopards (43-28) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (38-15) at Loftus Versfeld this year.

GWK Griquas’ recent form on the road:

  • The Kimberley side conceded a 33-26 away defeat against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in week two of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup, but defeated the Platinum Leopards (41-27) in Potchefstroom in week four.
  • 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:

  • The Vodacom Blue Bulls secured a 61-27 victory over the GWK Griquas when these sides last met in an Absa Currie Cup match played at Loftus Versfeld in 2009.

  • Vodacom Blue Bulls winger John Mametsa has played 135 games for the Pretoria side since 2002. He has scored 41 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career for the Loftus Versfeld team.

  • GWK flyhalf Naas Olivier has scored 625 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. The pivot has added 220 for Vodacom Western Province, 163 for the Platinum Leopards and 242 for his current side.

  • Winger Bjorn Basson (GWK Griquas) made his international Test debut for the Springboks against Wales earlier this year.
  • 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.
  • Lock Hendrik Roodt (GWK Griquas), who represented the NSW Waratahs during this year’s Vodacom Super 14, represented the SA Schools in 2005.
  • 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.
  • Referee Mark Lawrence will handle this game at Loftus Versfeld between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the GWK Griquas.

Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARRA)

Assistant referees: T Jonker (Lions), A Buitendach (Blue Bulls)

TMO: n/a

Barloworld Toyota Pumas vs Xerox Lions

Friday, 20 August 2010

Pumas Stadium, Witbank

Kick off: 19h10

The Xerox Lions will have the opportunity to notch up their third win in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup on Friday evening when they travel to Witbank for their game against the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (19h10).

The hosts have only achieved one home win over the Platinum Leopards (37-32) in week two of this year’s competition while their Johannesburg opponents will also be out to secure their second win on the road.

The Xerox Lions secured a 43-13 victory over the Platinum Leopards in their first Absa Currie Cup game of the season.

Head to Head: Barloworld Toyota Pumas v Xerox Lions (since 2005)

P: 2 W: 0 L: 2 PF:  25 PA: 163
05/08/2006 Pumas 15 Lions 74 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
29/09/2006 Pumas 10 Lions 89 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 but went down to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (45-30) in week five of this season’s competition.

Xerox Lions’ recent form on the road:

  • The Xerox Lions have already conceded three away defeats in this season’s competition against The Sharks (48-19), 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 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 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.
  • 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’ Hannes Franklin and Jacques Coetzee represented the Auto & General Lions during the 2010 Vodacom Super 14.

  • Centre Marius Delport (Xerox Lions) who previously represented the Vodacom Blue Bulls earned his SA Schools colours in 2003.
  • 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.
  • Referee Joey Salmans will handle this game between the Barloworld Toyota Pumas and the Xerox Lions in Witbank on Friday evening.

Referee: Joey Salmans (SARRA)

Assistant referees: S Berry (SARRA), S Breytenbach (Pumas)

TMO: G Coetzee (Free State)

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs vs Platinum Leopards

Friday, 20 August 2010

Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

Kick off: 19h00

The other Absa Currie Cup game of the weekend the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs hosts the Platinum Leopards at Vodacom Park on Friday at 19h00.

The hosts have struggled during their games in Bloemfontein this season after they suffered two home defeats to Vodacom Western Province (25-11) and The Sharks (25-13) early in the competition. The visitors on the other hand are the only side in the Premier Division who are yet to win a game this season.

Head to Head: Vodacom Free State Cheetahs v Platinum Leopards (since 2005)

P: 3 W: 3 L: 0 PF: 185 PA: 34
02/07/2005 Free State 54 Leopards 0 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
14/08/2009 Free State 71 Leopards 17 Olen Park, Potchefstroom
02/10/2009 Free State 60 Leopards 17 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ recent form at home:

  • The hosts secured one home victory (33-26) against the GWK Griquas, but already conceded two home defeats against The Sharks (25-13) and Vodacom Western Province (25-11) 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.

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:

  • The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs secured a 60-17 victory over the Platinum Leopards during last year’s Absa Currie Cup game that was played in Bloemfontein.
  • Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom has played 104 Absa Currie Cup games and has scored 756 career points in the competition.
  • The Platinum Leopards’ Philip Lemmer achieved his SA Colours in amateur wrestling.
  • Springbok winger Jongi Nokwe has scored 43 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career.
  • Flyhalf Cecil Dumond (Platinum Leopards) is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.
  • 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 Jason Jaftha will handle the game between the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and the Platinum Leopards in Bloemfontein.

Referee: Jason Jaftha (SARRA)

Assistant referees: B Crouse (Blue Bulls), M van Zyl (WP)

TMO: n/a

Absa Currie Cup log:

Team P W D L PF PA PD B Pts
Vodacom Western Province 6 6 0 0 218 62 156 3 27
Sharks 6 5 0 1 219 123 96 6 26
GWK Griquas 6 4 0 2 194 189 5 4 20
Vodacom Blue Bulls 6 3 0 3 176 145 31 5 17
Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 6 3 0 3 153 159 -6 3 15
Xerox Lions 6 2 0 4 130 177 -47 2 10
Barloworld Toyota Pumas 6 1 0 5 137 254 -117 1 5
Platinum Leopards 6 0 0 6 139 257 118 4 4