Vodacom Western Province vs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs

Friday, 27 August 2010

Newlands Stadium, Cape Town

Kick off: 19h30

History suggests that there will be very little separating the Vodacom Western Province and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs  when these side meet up in the Absa Currie Cup at Newlands on Friday at 19h30.

Since 2005, Vodacom WP achieved six victories against their Bloemfontein opponents who have also managed to secure five wins during their last 11 games.

The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs have enjoyed success over Province in Bloemfontein where they have won four of their last six games played at Vodacom Park. However at Newlands, it is Vodacom WP who won four of their last five games against the Free State outfit.

Province, who welcomes back their Springbok duo of winger Gio Aplon and flanker Francois Louw, conceded a 27-16 defeat to The Sharks in Durban last Saturday and are currently in second position on the log. Their opponents, who are in fifth place, will however be brimming with confidence following their 57-0 home victory over the Platinum Leopards.

The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ran in nine tries against the Platinum Leopards in their game played in Bloemfontein last Friday night. But scoring tries against WP won’t be easy as the hosts have conceded only eight tries during the 2010 Absa Currie Cup which include two five-pointers that were conceded at Newlands.

Head to Head: Vodacom Western Province v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (since 2005)

P: 11 W: 6 L: 5 PF:  232 PA:  224
24/06/2005	WP 22	FS Cheetahs 25	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
15/10/2005	WP 11	FS Cheetahs 16	Newlands, Cape Town
15/07/2006	WP 20	FS Cheetahs 13	Newlands, Cape Town
08/09/2006	WP 13	FS Cheetahs 28	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
28/07/2007	WP 13	FS Cheetahs 45	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
22/09/2007	WP 34	FS Cheetahs 20	Newlands, Cape Town
05/07/2008	WP 9	FS Cheetahs 3	Newlands, Cape Town
06/09/2008	WP 35	FS Cheetahs 17	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
24/07/2009	WP 19	FS Cheetahs 13	Newlands, Cape Town
12/09/2009	WP 31	FS Cheetahs 33	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
10/07/2010	WP 25	FS Cheetahs 11	Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

“Vodacom WP flyhalf Willem de Waal scored 20 points as the Cape side recorded their first away win of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup when these side’s last met during week one’s action at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein.”

Vodacom Western Province’s recent form at home:

• The hosts are currently undefeated at Newlands and have secured victories over the Vodacom Blue Bulls (15-12), 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 Free State Cheetahs’ recent form on the road:

• 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. They however conceded a 30-26 defeat against the Xerox Lions in week six’s action of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

• 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.

Additional information:

• Vodacom Western Province flyhalf Willem de Waal has accumulated 1319 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 249.

• De Waal has twice scored 212 points in a season, back in 2006 and 2007, for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

• Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom has played 106 Absa Currie Cup games and has scored 770 career points in the competition.

• Vodacom WP scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage represented the Baby Boks during the 2008 IRB Junior World Championships.

• Springbok winger Jongi Nokwe has scored 43 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career.

• WP flyhalf Lionel Cronje represented the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.

• 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.

• Pro Legoete will referee this game between the Vodacom Western Province and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

Referee: Pro Legoete (SARRA)

Assistant referees: R Rashivenga (AR 1), E Daniels (AR2)

TMO: JC Fortuin

Barloworld Toyota Pumas vs Vodacom Blue Bulls

Friday, 27 August 2010

Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Kick off: 19h10

Meanwhile the Barloworld Toyota Pumas will be hosting the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their Absa Currie Cup game which will be played at the newly built Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday at 19h10. This venue played host to four games during the recent 2010 Fifa World Cup in South Africa.

The hosts are currently in seventh position on the log with seven points and are three points clear of the Platinum Leopards who are at the bottom of the log. The defending champions on the other hand are in third place (22) and are five behind the second-placed Vodacom WP.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls have also welcomed back some of their Springbok stars from Vodacom Tri-Nations duty for Friday evening’s clash. Centre Wynand Olivier, flanker Dewald Potgieter and fullback Zane Kirchner have all been drafted back into the side after the Pretoria outfit held on to record a 39-38 win over the GWK Griquas at Loftus Versfeld last Friday.

CJ Stander who captained the SA Under-20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina earns another start at flank, while 2009 SAA Club Champs Player of the Year Dustin Jinka will wear the scrumhalf jersey in place of Ruan Snyman.

The Barloworld Toyota Pumas have secured only one victory in this season’s competition, a 37-32 win over the Platinum Leopards in Witbank during week two’s action.

Head to Head: Barloworld Toyota Pumas v Vodacom Blue Bulls (since 2005)

P: 3 W: 0 L: 3 PF:  35 PA: 152
15/07/2006	Pumas 17	Blue Bulls 48	Puma Stadium, Witbank
08/09/2006	Pumas 3	Blue Bulls 66	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
09/07/2010	Pumas 15	Blue Bulls 38	Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

“The Vodacom Blue Bulls secured their bonus point for scoring four tries within the first 20 minutes of play before they recorded a 38-15 win in Pretoria. The defending champions ran in six tries with winger John Mametsa adding a brace.”

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 Xerox Lions (33-30) during week seven and conceded a 45-30 loss to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in week five of this season’s competition.

Vodacom Blue Bulls’ recent form on the road:

• The defending champions secured one away victory over the Xerox Lions (32-18) in Johannesburg but conceded two defeats on the road against Vodacom Western Province (15-12) and The Sharks (34-28) in this season’s 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.

Additional information:

• Vodacom Blue Bulls winger Mametsa has played 136 games for the Pretoria side since 2002. He has scored 43 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career for the Loftus Versfeld team.

• 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.

• 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 Pumas’ Hannes Franklin and Jacques Coetzee represented the Auto & General Lions during the 2010 Vodacom Super 14.

• 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 Pumas’ Shaun Venter represented the Springbok Sevens during the 2009/ 2010 IRB Sevens World Series.

• Stuart Berry will referee this game between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas.

Referee: Stuart Berry (SARRA)

Assistant Referees: Q Immelman (AR 1), S Breytenbach (AR 2)

TMO: n/a

Xerox Lions vs Platinum Leopards

Friday, 27 August 2010

Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg

Kick off: 19h00

In the other Absa Currie Cup game of the weekend, the Xerox Lions host the Platinum Leopards in Johannesburg at the Coca-Cola Stadium on Friday at 19h00.

The visitors are the only side in this season’s competition that are still in search of their first win of the season. The hosts on the other hand will be aiming to keep their semi-final aspirations alive by securing their fourth victory of the Absa Currie Cup.

The Xerox Lions defeated the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 30-26 in Johannesburg but also conceded a 32-18 loss against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Coca-Cola Park this season.

Head to Head: Xerox Lions v Platinum Leopards (since 2005)

P: 5 W: 5 L: 0 PF:  195 PA: 93
26/08/2005	Lions 37	Leopards 21	Olen Park, Potchefstroom
16/09/2005	Lions 44	Leopards 27	Ellis Park, Johannesburg
25/07/2009	Lions 40	Leopards 19	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng
11/09/2009	Lions 31	Leopards 13	Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
09/07/2010	Lions 43	Leopards 13	Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng

“The Xerox Lions ran in five tries which included a brace by scrumhalf Jano Vermaak as they outclassed the Platinum Leopards (43-13) at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng during the opening round of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.”

Xerox Lions’ recent form at home:

• The hosts secured a 30-26 win over the Xerox Lions in week six at Coca-Cola Park but suffered a 32-18 defeat against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their other 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).

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.

Additional information:

• 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.
• The Platinum Leopards’ Philip Lemmer achieved his SA Colours in amateur wrestling.

• 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.

• Flyhalf Cecil Dumond (Platinum Leopards) is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.
• Referee Craig Joubert will handle this Absa Currie Cup match featuring the Platinum Leopards and the Xerox Lions.

Referee: Craig Joubert (SARRA)

Assistant referees: L Burger (AR 1), C du Preez (AR 2)

TMO: n/a

The Sharks vs GWK Griquas

Friday, 27 August 2010

The Absa Stadium, Durban

Kick off: 19h00

The GWK Griquas will be hoping to erase last Friday’s heartache in Pretoria when they travel to Durban to take on the log-leading The Sharks on Friday at 19h00.

Captain and flyhalf Naas Olivier failed to convert a try scored by winger Bjorn Basson in the final minute of play which would have handed his side their fifth victory of the 2010 competition.

GWK Griquas though will be confident of achieving a positive result in Durban after they managed to defeat The Sharks 40-34 in their most recent Absa Currie Cup game which was played at GWK Park.

The hosts are currently the leading try-scoring side (31) in the 2010 competition and have also been the most attacking side to date. GWK Griquas has accumulated 26 tries from their seven games.

Head to Head: The Sharks v GWK Griquas (since 2005)

P: 11 W: 9 L: 2 PF: 436 PA: 205
27/08/2005	Sharks 28	Griquas 27	Absa Park, Kimberley
17/09/2005	Sharks 29	Griquas 10	The Absa Stadium, Durban
15/07/2006	Sharks 22	Griquas 23	Absa Park, Kimberley
08/09/2006	Sharks 60	Griquas 8	The Absa Stadium, Durban
14/07/2007	Sharks 43	Griquas 20	The Absa Stadium, Durban
18/08/2007	Sharks 24	Griquas 14	Absa Park, Kimberley
02/08/2008	Sharks 44	Griquas 15	Absa Park, Kimberley
04/10/2008	Sharks 66	Griquas 12	The Absa Stadium, Durban
22/08/2009	Sharks 41	Griquas 6	The Absa Stadium, Durban
10/10/2009	Sharks 45	Griquas 30	GWK Park, Kimberley
10/07/2010	Sharks 34	Griquas 40	GWK Park, Kimberley

“GWK Griquas handed The Sharks their first and only defeat in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup following their 40-34 win at GWK Park. The Kimberley side ran in five tries with winger Bjorn Basson scoring a brace.”

The Sharks’ recent form at home:

• The hosts, who have recorded four home victories over Vodacom Western Province (27-16), 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).

GWK Griquas’ recent form on the road:

• The Kimberley side conceded a 39-38 defeat against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last Friday and also conceded a 33-26 away loss to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in week two of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup. They 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.

Additional information:

• GWK flyhalf Naas Olivier has scored 643 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. The pivot has added 220 for Vodacom Western Province, 163 for the Platinum Leopards and 260 for his current side.

• 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.
• Winger Bjorn Basson (GWK Griquas) made his international Test debut for the Springboks against Wales earlier this year and is the leading try-scorer in this season’s Absa Currie Cup with nine.

• 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.

• Lock Hendrik Roodt (GWK Griquas), who represented the NSW Waratahs during this year’s Vodacom Super 14, represented the SA Schools in 2005.

• Flyhalf Cecil Dumond (Platinum Leopards) is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.

• Referee Jonathan Kaplan will handle this game between the GWK Griquas and The Sharks.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SARRA)

Assistant referees: L van der Merwe (AR 1), R Rossouw (AR 2)

TMO: n/a

Absa Currie Cup log :

	P	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	B	Pts
The Sharks	7	6	0	1	246	139	107	6	30
Vodacom Western Province	7	6	0	1	234	89	145	3	27
Vodacom Blue Bulls	7	4	0	3	215	183	32	6	22
GWK Griquas	7	4	0	3	232	228	4	6	22
Vodacom Free State Cheetahs	7	4	0	3	210	159	51	4	20
Xerox Lions	7	3	0	4	163	207	-44	3	15
Barloworld Toyota Pumas	7	1	0	6	167	287	-120	3	7
Platinum Leopards	7	0	0	7	139	314	-175	4	4

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Leading points’ scores:

		T	C	P	D	Pts
Willem de Waal	Vodacom Western Province	0	11	28	0	106
Naas Olivier	GWK Griquas	1	21	19	0	104
Jacques-Louis Potgieter	Vodacom Blue Bulls	1	18	19	0	98
Patrick Lambie	The Sharks	3	15	15	0	90
Louis Strydom	Vodacom Free State Cheetahs	0	10	14	0	62
Elgar Watts	Barloworld Toyota Pumas	5	9	6	0	61
Bjorn Basson	GWK Griquas	9	0	0	0	45
Elton Jantjies	Xerox Lions	1	5	9	0	42
Lwazi Mvovo	The Sharks	7	0	0	0	35
Herkie Kruger	Xerox Lions	0	5	6	0	28

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Leading try-scorers:

Bjorn Basson	GWK Griquas	9
Lwazi Mvovo	Sharks	7
Elgar Watts	Barloworld Toyota Pumas	5
Keegan Daniel	The Sharks	5
Pieter Louw	Vodacom Western Province	5
Coenie Oosthuizen	Vodacom Free State Cheetahs	5
Michael Bondesio	Platinum Leopards	5