The following from the GLRU: Golden Lions president Kevin de Klerk and CEO Manie Reyneke announced on Thursday that Mitchell had been released from the final year of his contract with the Western Force in Perth, thus allowing the former All Black loose forward to accept the offer of an extended stay with the Lions.

“Since John has been with us on a consultancy arrangement, we have been most impressed with his ability across our entire coaching structure,” said a delighted De Klerk.

“It has been no secret that we wanted to engage John Mitchell on a longer term basis, but we realised this was always going to be subject to the Western Force agreeing to provide him with a release. We are thankful and appreciative that the Western Force gave us the green light.”

“In John we are getting not only a man of high ethics who cherishes the history, culture and camaraderie of rugby but who boasts an exceptional coaching pedigree at the very highest level. We at the Lions are extremely excited at being able to pull this off and look forward to John building on the already very positive impact he has had on the Lions,” added the former Springbok lock.

De Klerk said Lions coach Dick Muir had been a part of and conversant with the process of contracting Mitchell. “Dick, who is obviously now involved with the Springboks, is still the Director of Rugby at the Lions with John as the Head Coach. Dick was instrumental in helping us secure the services of John and will play a role in our plans going forward.”

De Klerk said Mitchell would base himself in Johannesburg for the greater part of the year and be in charge of the Lions in both the Absa Currie Cup and the Vodacom Super 15.

Rugby WA (Western Australia) chairman Geoff Stooke said the Western Force and rugby in Western Australia owed a great deal to Mitchell who started with a blank sheet of paper on his arrival six years ago and built a strong foundation for long term success.

Mitchell will be succeeded at the Force by Richard Graham, presently the Wallabies’ skills coach.

A surprise appointee when he was named to coach the Lions in the Currie Cup on a temporary basis in the absence of Springbok assistant Dick Muir at the beginning of the season, Mitchell has instilled a new spirit in a Lions team who go into tomorrow night’s crucial Currie Cup match at Coca-Cola Park against traditional foes Western Province on the back of three successive victories.

Mitchell follows in the footsteps of another former All Black coach Laurie Mains who guided the composite Cats to Super 12 semi-finals in 2000 and 2001.

Mitchell has crossed swords with the Springboks on numerous occasions. In 1994 he captained a Waikato side against Francois Pienaar’s touring side that contained Warren Gatland, recently re-appointed as coach of Wales, and other All Blacks in Matthew Cooper, Duane Monkley and Mark Cooksley.

Mitchell’s “Mooloos” were defeated 38-17 by a Springboks side captained by Tiaan Strauss and containing a core of players who wore the red-and-white Lions jersey in their careers in James Small, Chester Williams, Japie Mulder, Hennie le Roux, Johan Roux, Rudolf Straeuli and Johan le Roux.

However as a coach of the All Blacks Mitchell tasted success against his country’s arch-rivals with a 100 percent record of seven wins in seven matches – including a 52-16 drubbing at Loftus Versfeld in 2003 and a comprehensive 29-9 defeat in the quarter-final of the Rugby World Cup in Melbourne in 2003.

“Mitch,” as he is known throughout the rugby world, ended up with an All Black coaching record of 23 test wins from 27 games – an 85% winning record, the highest of any All Black coach in the professional era. In addition he coached the All Blacks to five out of five wins in mid-week matches.

His vast coaching pedigree includes stints as Clive Woodward’s assistant with the England team from 1997 to 2000, the Waikato National Provincial Championship side, the Chiefs Super 12 side and most recently taking the difficult job of establishing the Western Force in the Super 14 and creating a rugby union culture in Perth.

As a player Mitchell gained All Black colours on the 1993 tour to Great Britain. He was not capped but played in six victorious mid-week games; captaining the All Blacks on three occasions.

In Waikato he was a legend, having played 134 times and captaining them a record 86 times, in a career highlighted by many other achievements.

“When I took over as president of the Lions I said I was only interested in leading a province of winners,” concluded De Klerk. “The appointment of a coach of John Mitchell’s stature confirms that goal.”

The Rugby Club brings us their latest installment of the hugely popular “Plays of the week” for 25/08/2010 – as always including some smoking hot footage of the Currie Cup cheerleaders! Nuff said, Boom! [BlogSpotRugby]

I’ll cheers to that…

Barloworld Toyota Pumas 22 VS 21 Vodacom Blue Bulls

The Barloworld Toyota Pumas on Friday achieved their second victory in this season’s Absa Currie Cup after they secured a 22-21 victory over the Vodacom Blue Bulls at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

The defeat for the defending champions was their fourth loss of the 2010 competition and ensured that they ended the weekend in fourth position on the log with 24 points.

2010 Absa Currie Cup Round 8: Pumas VS Blue Bulls [WRNrugbynews]

Vodacom Western Province 24 VS 29 Vodacom Free State Cheetahs

The Vodacom Blue Bulls were overtaken on the Absa Currie Cup log by the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs who handed Vodacom Western Province their first home defeat of the season during their 29-24 victory at Newlands on Friday evening.

The Bloemfontein outfit and the defending champions are both on 24 points. However the Free State side’s superior points differential (+25) over their Pretoria counterparts ensured that they ended week eight in third place.

Vodacom WP flyhalf Willem de Waal (115) who added nine points for the Cape side is still the leading points’ scorer in this season’s competition.

The Cape side still currently occupies second place on the log, but their second defeat in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup has meant that they are now seven points behind the log-leading The Sharks.

2010 Absa Currie Cup Round 8: WP VS Cheetahs [WRNrugbynews]

The Sharks 48 VS 30 GWK Griquas

The Sharks secured their seventh consecutive win in competition following their 48-30 victory over the GWK Griquas on Friday.

The defeat for the Kimberley side in Durban relegated them to fifth position on the 2010 Absa Currie Cup standings.  They are on 23 points, but only five points behind the second positioned Vodacom WP.

The victory for The Sharks ensured that they opened up a healthy points’ gap between the rest of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division chasing pack and themselves.

GWK Griquas winger Bjorn Basson scored four tries in this match and strengthens his lead at the top of the Absa Currie Cup Leading Try-scorers list with 13.  The Sharks’ winger Lwazi Mvovo who has scored seven five-pointers, is in second position after his eight games.

Xerox Lions 45 VS 22 Platinum Leopards

In Johannesburg, the Xerox Lions kept their semi-final aspirations alive after they recorded their fourth victory in the Absa Currie Cup following their 45-22 win over the Platinum Leopards at Coca-Cola Park on Friday.

The Xerox Lions though still occupies sixth position on the log with 20 points. However the defeat for the Platinum Leopards ensured that they continued their winless run in this season’s competition. The Platinum Leopards are at the bottom of the Absa Currie Cup log with four points

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)

“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.”

Read More >>

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)

Read More >>

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)

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)

Read More >>

No Frans Steyn...

Zane Kirchner is back at the Blue Bulls and will start his first Absa Currie Cup match of the season, when the defending champions take on Western Province at Newlands on Saturday.

Kirchner has been released by the Springboks to play in the country’s premier provincial competition on the weekend and will replace Jaco van der Westhuyzen in one of seven chances from the side that defeated the Leopards last weekend.

Regular captain, Gary Botha, is back at the helm after the rake was rested last weekend and replaces Chiliboy Ralepelle, who is on Springbok duty, as is Flip van der Merwe, who will be replaced by Wilhelm Steenkamp at lock.

Stalwart John Mametsa also reclaims his left wing berth at the expense of Hayden Groepes.

Dean Greyling, who recovered from a neck strain, is back at loose head in place of Jaco Engels, while Werner Kruger, who was also rested against the Leopards, replaces Bees Roux.

Van der Westhuyzen, Engels and Roux have all been included on the bench in a decision by coach Frans Ludeke to go with a bench of five forwards and two backs. Groepes, Stephan Dippenaar and Francois Brummer drop out of the match 22 altogether, with Brummer getting a rare start in the u.21 side.

“This is the best team for us for this game,” Ludeke said. “We expect the forward battle to be a fierce one, especially amongst the tight five. We therefore opted to pick two front rows in an effort to stay with the pace with fresh legs.”

Botha was confident that the changes will not impact on their momentum.

“We have a successful squad system going for a long time now, so it is no problem for any player coming back to slot in.  It showed at practice already.”

The Vodacom Blue Bulls team to play Western Province at Newlands:

Starting XV: Zane Kirchner,  Gerhard van den Heever, Jaco Pretorius, Stefan Watermeyer, John Mametsa, Jacques-Louis Potgieter, Ruan Snyman, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Dewald Potgieter, Derick Kuün, Wilhelm Steenkamp, Juandré Kruger, Werner Kruger, Gary Botha (c), Dean Greyling.

Replacements: Bandise Maku, Bees Roux, Mthunzi Mabeta, CJ Stander, Dustin Jinka, Jaco van der Westhuyzen, Jaco Engels.

• Does this mean Frans Steyn has been declared fit?

Vodacom Blue Bulls 43 VS 38 Platinum Leopards

The Vodacom Blue Bulls secured their third victory of the 2010 competition after they defeated a spirited Platinum Leopards outfit 43-38 at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.

Eleven (11) tries were scored this game. The defending champions ran in six five-pointers while their opponents added five.

Talented Vodacom Blue Bulls winger Gerhard van den Heever added a brace while flankers Dewald Potgieter and Derick Kuün; scrumhalf Francois Hougaard and centre Stefan Watermeyer were the other players to score tries for the hosts.

Vodacom Blue Bulls flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked five conversions and one penalty.

Platinum Leopards’ Michael Bondesio, who claimed the Absa Man of the Match award at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria for his solid performance at scrumhalf, scored a brace while Walter Venter, Ligtoring Landman and Dumisani Matyeshana added the other tries for the visitors.

Niell Jacobs (4) and Clayton Durand added the conversions for the Platinum Leopards. Jacobs also kicked one penalty.

The victory for the Vodacom Blue Bulls ensured that they ended week five of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup in third position on the log with 16 points. They are however still seven points behind the log-leading Vodacom WP.

2010 Currie Cup – Round 5: Blue Bulls 43 VS 38 Platinum Leopards [WRNRugbynews]

Scorecard:

Vodacom Blue Bulls

• Tries: Gerhard van den Heever (2), Dewald Potgieter, Derick Kuün, Francois Hougaard, Stefan Watermeyer
• Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (5)
• Penalty: Potgieter

Platinum Leopards

• Tries: Michael Bondesio (2), Walter Venter, Ligtoring Landman, Dumisani Matyeshana
• Conversions: Niell Jacobs (4), Clayton Durand (1)
• Penalty: Jacobs

GWK Griquas 3 VS 50 Vodacom Western Province

Vodacom Western Province continued their impressive undefeated run in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup and condemned the GWK Griquas to their first home loss of the season following their comprehensive 50-3 win in Kimberley on Saturday.

The Cape side outplayed their opponents in the second half at GWK Park and bagged maximum points from this game after scoring six tries in this fixture. All six five-pointers were scored in the final 40 minutes of the match.

Centre Juan de Jongh who claimed the Absa Man of the Match award in Kimberley for his outstanding performance in this fixture, flanker Pieter Louw, fullback Conrad Jantjies, winger Gio Aplon and reserve flyhalf Lionel Cronje and substitute hooker Deon Fourie were the try scorers for the visitors.

Vodacom Western Province flyhalf, Willem de Waal, who earned his 100th Absa Currie Cup cap at GWK Park, added 18 points with the boot by kicking four penalties and three conversions. Cronje converted his own try.

GWK Griquas’ only points were added thanks to one penalty kick by captain and flyhalf Naas Olivier. The hosts, who conceded their first home defeat of the season after securing victories over the Xerox Lions (26-20) and The Sharks (40-34), ended the weekend in fourth place on the log with 15 points while WP are still in pole position on 23.

2010 Currie Cup – Round 5: Griquas 3 vs 50 Western Province [WRNRugbynews]

Scorecard:

GWK Griquas:

• Penalty: Naas Olivier

Vodacom Western Province:

• Tries: Juan de Jongh, Pieter Louw, Conrad Jantjies, Gio Aplon, Lionel Cronje, Deon Fourie
• Penalties: Willem de Waal (4)
• Conversions: De Waal (3), Cronje.

Pumas 30 VS 45 Free State Cheetahs

The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ran in six tries as they defeated the Barloworld Toyota Pumas 45-30 in Witbank on Saturday.

Flanker Hendro Scholtz scored two tries while centres Robert Ebersohn and Meyer Bosman; winger Jongi Nokwe and fullback Hennie Daniller added the other five-pointers for the Bloemfontein side.

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom kicked one penalty and four conversions while utility back Sias Ebersohn added two conversions.

The Barloworld Toyota Pumas managed to score three tries which were added by Shaun Venter, Jacques Coetzee and Ashwin Scott.

Ricardo Coy kicked three penalties and a conversion while former Boland Cavaliers pivot Elgar Watts converted two tries scored by the Pumas.

The victory for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs ensured that they ended week five in fifth position on the Absa Currie Cup log with 14 points. The Pumas are in seventh place with five points.

• Highlights to follow when available.

Scorecard:

Barloworld Toyota Pumas:

• Tries: Shaun Venter, Jacques Coetzee, Ashwin Scott
• Conversions: Elgar Watts (2), Ricardo Croy
• Penalties: Croy (3). 

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs:

• Tries: Hendro Scholtz (2), Jongi Nokwe, Hennie Daniller, Robert Ebersohn, Meyer Bosman
• Conversions: Louis Strydom (4), Sias Ebersohn (2)
• Penalty: Strydom.

The Sharks 48 VS 19 Xerox Lions

The Sharks secured their fourth win of the competition following their 48-19 victory over the Xerox Lions on Saturday.

Flanker Jacques Botes celebrated his 100th Absa Currie Cup appearance in fine style as the Durban side achieved maxim points from this game after scoring five tries.

Patrick Lambie who claimed the Absa Currie Cup Player of the Month award for July kick-started his career at flyhalf for The Sharks by scoring 28 points. The SA Under-20 fullback added a try and kicked five penalties and four conversions.

The Sharks winger Lwazi Mvovo continued his impressive form in this season’s competition by scoring two five-pointers while hooker Craig Burden and Botes also added their names to the try-scoring sheet for the hosts.

While Lambie starred for The Sharks, his SA U20 teammate Elton Jantjies also excelled at pivot for the Xerox Lions. The Johannesburg flyhalf scored 14 points by kicking four penalties and a conversion. Winger Deon van Rensburg scored the Xerox Lions’ only try of the match.

• Highlights to follow when available.

Scorecard:

The Sharks:

• Tries: Lwazi Mvovo (2), Patrick Lambie, Jacques Botes, Craig Burden
• Penalties: Lambie (5)
• Conversions: Lambie (4).

Xerox Lions:

• Try: Deon van Rensburg
• Conversion: Elton Jantjies
• Penalties: Jantjies (4).

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)

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) Read More >>

WP must be kicking themselves after losing yet another young star

The following from the Blue Bulls camp: Former Boland and Western Province age groups player, Hayden Groepes and returning Springbok hooker, Chiliboy Ralepelle, will earn first starts in this year’s Absa Currie Cup competition when the Vodacom Blue Bulls face the Leopards at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Groepes, who joined the Blue Bulls on a short term contract earlier this year, will start on the left wing in place of John Mametsa, while Ralepelle will have a rare start, replacing Blue Bulls captain, Gary Botha, in the number two jersey.

Ralepelle played off the bench last week against the Lions and will relish the opportunity to stretch his legs.

Bees Roux, who started his provincial career at the Leopards, will also start for the first time in Currie Cup since moving from Griquas last year in place of Werner Kruger, while the return to fitness of Jaco Pretorius, will see the former Springbok midfielder start in his first game since the Vodacom Super 14 final in May, with Stephan Dippenaar moving down to the bench.

Derick Kuün will captain the side, who also have newcomers Frik Kirsten and Dustin Jinka on the bench.

Kirsten played in seven matches in 2009 before succumbing to a neck injury and has just returned to fitness, whilst Jinka also trekked north in recent times after picking up a contract at the Bulls.

Kruger, Botha and Mametsa drops out altogether.

“This was a good time for us to use our squad system and to give some of the regulars a rest. But for those one or two rested, this is the strongest squad I could pick. We are expecting a huge, physical battle from the Leopards and will have to be up for this game. The new guys in the team will make sure we front up as they can’t wait to have a run,” Ludeke said.

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 (c), 5. Juandré Kruger, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Bees Roux, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Jaco Engels.

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