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.”

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Springboks VS Wallabies

28 August 2010 17h00 [GMT+2]

Loftus Versfeld – Pretoria

Springboks: 15. Frans Steyn, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Juan Smith, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. John Smit (capt), 1. Gurthro Steenkamp

Reserves: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Danie Rossouw, 19. Ryan Kankowski, 20. Ricky Januarie, 21. Butch James, 22. Juan de Jongh

Wallabies: 15. Kurtley Beale, 14. James O’Connor, 13. Adam Ashley-Cooper, 12. Matt Giteau, 11. Drew Mitchell, 10. Quade Cooper, 9. Will Genia, 8. Richard Brown, 7. David Pocock, 6. Rocky Elsom (capt), 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. Dean Mumm, 3. Salesi Ma’afu, 2. Saia Faainga, 1. Benn Robinson.

Replacements: 16. Stephen Moore, 17. James Slipper, 18. Ben McCalman, 19. Scott Higginbotham, 20. Luke Burgess, 21. Berrick Barnes, 22. Anthony Faainga.

• Date: Saturday 28 August 2010
• Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
• Kick-off: 17h00 [GMT +2]
• Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland) 
• Assistant referees: Nigel Owens (Wales), Simon McDowell (Ireland) 
• TMO: Shaun Veldsman (South Africa)

A history of Australia VS South Africa in South Africa:

• This will be the 73^rd meeting between Australia and South Africa at all venues. Australia has won 28, including the two most recent meetings, and South Africa 43, while one match has been drawn.
• Just eight of Australia’s previous wins have been attained on South African soil, with the Springboks taking the other 29 matches that have been played.
• Australia has won just twice previously at high veldt venues – in 1933 at Bloemfontein and 1963 at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The Wallabies have been beaten on all four previous visits to Loftus Versfeld in 1963, 1997, 2001 and 2005.
• Australia’s most recent win on South African soil was a 27-15 win at Durban in 2008 which secured the Mandela Trophy. That success was the first achieved by the Wallabies in the Republic for eight years.
• Prior to South Africa’s readmission to international sport in 1992, Australia had won just seven of the 31 matches played.
• The scoreboard stands at 21 wins to Australia and 19 to South Africa, with one drawn, for the period since then.
• Loftus Versfeld, which is home to the Super 14 champion Bulls, has hosted 29 previous Tests featuring the Springboks, from which the home side has won 21 and lost eight.
• The ground, which houses 50,000 seats, hosted the 2009 Super 14 final where the Bulls beat the Chiefs.
• It was also used for six matches in the recent 2010 FIFA football World Cup which was held in South Africa.
• The ground was zoned for sport in 1914, with the first grandstand accommodating 2000 people built in 1923, and changing rooms and toilet facilities added in 1928, largely paid for out of the profits of that year’s All Black tour of South Africa.
• Known as the Eastern sports grounds until 1932, the grounds were re-named Loftus Versfeld to honour the memory of the founder of organised sport in Pretoria, who died that year.
• The Northern Transvaal Rugby Football Union (now Blue Bulls RFU) was established in 1938 after breaking away from the Johannesburg-based Transvaal RFU.
• Northern Transvaal won its first Currie Cup in 1946. That team included the immortal Springbok, (Dr) Danie Craven. Last year, when the team beat the Cheetahs in the final, the Blue Bulls clinched South African domestic supremacy for the 20^th time.
• The 1997 Tri Nations Test at the ground saw Australia concede its highest ever score against South Africa.
• South Africa has lost just two of its last 10 Tests at the ground since 2000, with both of those being won by the All Blacks, in 2003 and 2006. Qantas Wallabies head coach Robbie Deans was coaching co-ordinator for the 2003 All Blacks who, in beating South Africa 52-16 at Loftus, inflicted the heaviest ever home defeat on the Springboks.

With just over 3 weeks to go until the 2010 SAA national club champ competition, the current SAA national club champions Hamilton, of Western Province, will begin the defence of their title against Limpopo champions Noordelike in the main match on the opening day of the 2010 tournament.

This year’s Club Champs takes place at the University of Stellenbosch from Saturday 18 to Friday 24 September and, in addition to Hammies and Noordelike, will feature the country’s 14 provincial champions in a 16-team first-round draw.

Hammies’ heroics in the 2009 final, when they beat Pukke 36-34 at Loftus Versfeld, sees them seeded first after SARU’s competitions committee decided for the first this year to automatically invite the defending champions – even if they had not won their respective provincial title.

Pukke, as perennial Leopards champions, are seeded second, with last year’s losing semifinalist provinces KZN and Valke once again represented by College Rovers (for a fifth consecutive year) and Springs, who are ranked third and fourth respectively.

The full draw for the first round, with provincial seedings, is:

The eight first-round winners will qualify for the Premier quarter-finals on Monday 20 September. The eight losers will battle it out for the Plate, with semi-finals in both divisions taking place on Wednesday 22 September. The Premier and Plate finals will take place at the Danie Craven Stadium on the Heritage Day public holiday, with kickoff times to be confirmed.

The draw for the quarter-finals is as follows:

Premier:

• Winner A vs Winner H           (I)

• Winner B vs Winner G            (J)

• Winner C vs Winner F            (K)

• Winner D vs Winner E            (L)

Plate:

• Loser A vs Loser H                (M)

• Loser B vs Loser G                 (N)

• Loser C vs Loser F                 (O)

• Loser D vs Loser E                 (P)

The semi-final draw is as follows:

Premier:

• Winner I vs Winner L

• Winner J vs Winner K

Plate:

• Winner M vs Winner P

• Winner N vs Winner O

There are only a handful of provinces who have yet to confirm their champions.

The 13 teams confirmed so far are Kimberley Police (Griqualand West), Springs (Valke), Noordelike (Limpopo), Bethlehem Oud Skoliere (Griffons), Hamilton (WP), University of Johannesburg (Golden Lions), Tuks (Blue Bulls), Mossel Bay Barbarians (SWD), College Rovers (KZN), Middelburg (Mpumalanga), Maties (WP), Shimlas (Free State) and Pukke (Leopards).

The following from SARU: Victor Matfield will be confronted by 30 000 lookalikes when he runs out at his beloved Loftus Versfeld in a special tribute on his 100^th Test cap on his home ground on Saturday.

The South African Rugby Union has manufactured 30 000 Victor Matfield masks to be distributed at the turnstiles for fans wear in a show of support for one of Pretoria’s favourite sons. The hope is that all supporters will be wearing theirs when Matfield runs on to the field just before 17h00 on Saturday.

Tickets for the match are still available from Loftus Versfeld and at Computicket priced at R350 (South Stand and behind the posts) and R450 (Eastern Stand).

“It is a very special coincidence that Victor should win his 100^th cap on the ground where he has led the Vodacom Bulls to so many titles and we thought we had to mark the occasion with some significant gesture,” said Johan Prinsloo, CEO of the South African Rugby Union.

“This is a novel idea but I’m sure that the public of Pretoria and all Springboks fans will want to turn out in their numbers and join in this initiative to visibly demonstrate their appreciation for a modern great of the game.”

Matfield has run out for the Pretoria team in more than 150 matches and captained them in half of them as the team has enjoyed a modern golden age, claiming the Vodacom Super Rugby title on three occasions in the last four years.

In addition he has been part of three of the Bulls’ hear decade-long run of success in the Absa Currie Cup and even curtailed a spell in France to return to the Springboks and Bulls.

“This is a very proud day for Loftus and all our supporters,” said Barend van Graan, CEO of the Blue Bulls Company. “To have our captain win his 100^th cap for the Springboks on his home ground makes it an unbelievable occasion for us and we will be making our own special presentation to Victor in due course.

“I would urge all our very loyal supporters to join us at the field on the day to roar the Springboks to victory in only the way that a Pretoria crowd can, as well as being present to share one of the greatest days of his career with our captain.”

In another unique feature of the day, popular former player Toks van der Linde will become the first Springbok to be the on-field anthem singer.

The former prop will be joined by professional singer Karen Ferreira in a rendition of Nkosi sikelei’ iAfrika.

The following from SARU: Kyle Brown will captain the Springbok Sevens team announced by the South African Sports Commission and Olympic Confederation (Sascoc) earlier today that will participate at the Commonwealth Games in India in October.

Springbok Sevens coach Paul Treu recently met with representatives from Sascoc to finalise the team that will travel to Delhi for the Sevens competition, which takes place on 11 and 12 October.

Seven experienced SARU contracted players were named in the final squad of 12. Four players will be making their Sevens debut for South Africa. The new players in the squad are Free State’s Boom Prinsloo, who shone for Shimlas in this year’s FNB Varsity Cup, Bernardo Botha (Lions) and Lubabalo Mtembu and Sibusiso Sithole (both from The Sharks).

“With the injury to Frankie Horne, we decided to bring in Boom Prinsloo, who has impressed at our training camp. The three other new players in the squad can all make it to the top in Sevens and we see this as a superb opportunity to give them necessary experience,” said Treu.

“The core of our squad is very experienced. Kyle Brown, Chase Minnaar, Renfred Dazel, Ryno Benjamin and MJ Mentz were all part of the squad that won the IRB Sevens World Series in 2008/09, while Cecil Afrika, Chris Dry and Branco du Preez all featured for us in the 2009/10 season.

“We are going to India to win gold, but it won’t be easy, as most of the top nations will be there. Our first aim is to finish at the top of our pool and make it into the quarterfinals on the second day.”

South Africa, bronze medallists in 2002, head Pool B in India. Current IRB Rugby World Cup Sevens champions Wales, a resurgent Tonga team and the host nation, India, have been included in this group.

The Springbok Sevens team that will compete in the Commonwealth Games:

Boom Prinsloo (Free State), Chris Dry (SARU contracted), Kyle Brown (SARU contracted), Chase Minnaar (SARU contracted), Lubabalo Mtembu (Sharks), Cecil Africa (SARU contracted), Renfred Dazel (SARU contracted), Branco du Preez (Blue Bulls), Ryno Benjamin (SARU contracted), Sibusiso Sithole (Sharks), Bernardo Botha (Golden Lions), MJ Mentz (SARU contracted).

Springbok team to face Wallabies: Loftus – 28 August 2010:

Springboks: 15. Frans Steyn, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Jaque Fourie, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Morne Steyn, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Pierre Spies, 7. Juan Smith, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Victor Matfield, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. John Smit, 1. Gurthro Steenkamp

Reserves: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Danie Rossouw, 19. Ryan Kankowski, 20. Ricky Januarie, 21. Butch James, 22. Juan de Jongh

The thinking behind the selections:

Springbok coach Peter de Villiers says he had to make some tough choices when selecting the starting XV to face the Wallabies in a Vodacom Tri-Nations clash at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

The starting line-up shows two changes from the one that went down 22-29 against the All Blacks last week with Frans Steyn starting at fullback in place of Gio Aplon and Jaque Fourie returning to replace Juan de Jongh.

De Jongh moves to the bench, in place of Wynand Olivier, whilst Aplon falls out of the match 22.

“How do you tell a guy who has played well that he is not part of the team, or is on the bench?” De Villiers lamented at a press conference in Pretoria on Monday.

“But that is part and parcel on my job as coach that sometimes I must make unpopular decisions. The reality is that there are only 15 places in the starting line-up and I have to do what I believe is best for the team.

“Juan (de Jongh) will be a great one day but Jaque Fourie is one already. He has played 60 Tests and, with the exception of his yellow card in Brisbane, has done well for us all season,” De Villiers said.

“Gio did not do anything wrong but we have an opportunity to see Frans play. He also offers us another kicking option which will take some pressure off Morné Steyn.”

Frans Steyn last played a Test against Wales in Cardiff on 5 June and rejoined the squad this week after being unavailable for the All Blacks Test. Fourie, meanwhile, returns from a four-week suspension after he was yellow-carded in the opening minutes of the previous clash with the Wallabies in Brisbane last month.

Juan Smith, who was the only injury concern after the All Blacks game, has been cleared and is included in the run-on XV.

There is one change amongst the reserves with Ryan Kankowski, who joined the squad on Monday, preferred as loose forward cover ahead of Francois Louw. Kankowski looked sharp for the Sharks in their win over Vodacom Western Province in the Absa Currie Cup last weekend and his speed could be a factor if he is used from the bench at the weekend.

Meanwhile, it has been confirmed that Aplon, Olivier and Louw will be released to the provinces and will be available for Absa Currie Cup selection at the weekend.

Match facts and stats:

Victor Matfield will become only the third player to play 100 Tests for South Africa as the Springboks and Wallabies take each other on for the 70^th time since their first encounter in 1933 at Newlands.

Of the past 69 tests South Africa won 40, lost 28 and drawn one for a win percentage of 58%.

South Africa’s Vodacom Tri-Nations record against Australia is: Played 32; Won 17; Lost 14; Drawn 1. South Africa scored 62 tries and conceded 69.

Only four tests between the two rivals were played at this venue previously with South Africa triumphant on all four occasions. South Africa scored 117 and conceded 56 points for an average score of 29-14 at Loftus Versfeld.

Milestones and Record Watch:

• Victor Matfield will play his 100th test, only the third Springbok to achieve this milestone. This test will also be his 41st Vodacom Tri-Nations test, the joint second most capped player with George Smith of Australia. George Gregan is heading the list with 48 caps. He will also become the most capped Springbok against Australia in his 21^st test against the Aussies.
• John Smit will play in his 75^th test as captain. Should John score a try, he will equal the Springbok record for most tries in tests as a hooker. The current record is jointly held by James Dalton and Bismarck du Plessis with five career tries. John will be playing in his 27^th Vodacom Tri-Nations test as captain, the most capped captain in the tournament.
• Bryan Habana needs one try to become South Africa’s most prolific try scorer in tests. Bryan currently shares the record with Joost van der Westhuizen with 38 test tries. He needs two tries to equal Breyton Paulse’s career record of seven tries against Australia. Bryan is the most capped Springbok wing.
• Jaque Fourie will play in his 50^th test as centre, the first Springbok centre to achieve this milestone. He is also the top try scorer for the Springboks as a centre with 25 career tries.
• Frans Steyn needs one drop goal to become the sole Springbok record holder for most career drop goals against Australia. The current record is two, jointly held by Percy Montgomery, André Pretorius and Steyn.
• Morné Steyn is one of only eight players who scored more than 100 career points in the Vodacom Tri-Nations (134 in 10 appearances). Dan Carter tops the list with 426 points in 30 appearances. Morné needs one drop goal to equal André Pretorius’ tournament record of four career drop goals.
• Should CJ van der Linde score a try, he will equal the Springbok record for most tries in tests as a prop. The current record is jointly held by Chris Koch and Os du Randt with five career tries.
• Should Pierre Spies score a try, he will become the sole Springbok record holder for most tries in tests as an eighthman. The current record of six career tries is jointly held by Gary Teichmann, Joe van Niekerk, Bob Skinstad and Spies.
• The career record of tries scored in the Vodacom Tri-Nations is 16 by Christian Cullen. The most career tries by a Springbok are seven scored by Breyton Paulse, Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana. The most career tries for an Australian player in the tournament are nine by Stirling Mortlock.
• Alain Rolland of Ireland will officiate as referee in his 12^th test match involving South Africa. Only Paddy O’Brien from New Zealand officiated in 12 tests involving South Africa.

Other notable record holders are:

• Butch James: Most capped Springbok flyhalf – 34.
• John Smit: Most capped Springbok hooker – 85, most capped Springbok forward – 100.
• Victor Matfield: Most capped Springbok lock – 99.
• Schalk Burger: Most tries in tests as a flank – 12, also most capped Springbok flank – 59.

SANZAR today released a statement that they have apponted a CEO, and yip, you guessed it, he’s a New Zealander, shock, horror! I wonder if any South African candidates were considered. It’s not like South Africa is by far the biggest financial contributor or anything…

Current Hurricanes CEO Greg Peters to take up Sydney based role:

The three country SANZAR (South Africa, New Zealand, Australia Rugby) joint venture today moved another step forward in its evolution with the appointment of experienced rugby administrator Greg Peters as its CEO.

Mr Peters has been the CEO of the Hurricanes and Wellington Rugby Football Union since 2006, and has previously led the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union and worked for many years for the New Zealand Rugby Union.

He brings significant experience to the role including his time at the helm of the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, and his previous work on behalf of SANZAR in the role of Tournament Director and also managing broadcast contract negotiations in 2003 and 2004, while the SANZAR secretariat was managed by the NZRU.

Mr Peters first started with the NZRU in 1998 and held a variety of roles with the organisation over the next eight years before taking charge of the Wellington Rugby Football Union and Hurricanes.

Current SANZAR Chairman Mike Eagle said Mr Peters is a great fit for SANZAR given his previous roles and SANZAR experience, and with his insight as CEO of one of the participating franchises in Super Rugby.

“SANZAR is in the midst of its largest transformation since its foundation with the expansion to 15 teams and a new conference-based model for Super Rugby, and the inclusion of Argentina from 2012 in a revamped Tri Nations, so it’s a vital time to evolve the off-field structures,” he said.

“Greg brings a wealth of relevant experience and is well respected not only in New Zealand but in rugby circles across SANZAR so we believe he is the right person to lead us in this exciting growth phase for rugby in the southern hemisphere.”

Mr Peters said he was looking forward to starting in his new role in November, which would give him time to fulfill his responsibilities with Wellington rugby.

“I have really enjoyed my time with Wellington and the Hurricanes and it is always hard to leave a job that has been so rewarding and while there are still goals to achieve.

“However, it’s rare to have an opportunity such as this one to lead a major rugby organisation through a significant growth phase.

“I am sure there will be challenges but that’s what makes sport so compelling, and the strength of the SANZAR alliance and the major competitions speak for themselves. The Tri Nations features the three top-ranked teams in world rugby and we are about to welcome Argentina who finished third in Rugby World Cup 2007. In Super Rugby, we have the world’s most demanding cross-border provincial rugby competition and that intensity is set to increase with the new conference model, so there is no more exciting time to get involved.”

Mr Peters, who will be based in Sydney, will start in his new role on 1 November 2010.

The following from SANZAR: Springbok and Vodacom Cheetahs flank Heinrich Brüssow will undergo follow-up surgery to his knee which will delay his return to playing. The operation, set to be performed on Tuesday afternoon, means Brüssow will be unavailable for selection for the Springbok tour to Europe in November.

Brüssow was assessed during the recent Springbok training camp in Johannesburg and it has been agreed that a second operation is needed in order to ensure that he is 100% fit and available for the 2011 season, which includes the Rugby World Cup.

Brüssow had surgery earlier this year after sustaining a severe knee injury in a Vodacom Super 14 match. The player ruptured his Anterior Cruciate Ligament, tore both the lateral and medial meniscus,and tore the Medial Collateral Ligament and medial capsule.

Surgery on the major structures of the knee was successful but Springbok and Cheetahs medical staff have agreed that a follow-up operation is required to guarantee Brüssow’s long-term recovery, and to prevent further risk to damaging the successfully reconstructed cruciate ligament.

Thank the Lord! Now have the sense to play him!

Peter de Villiers seems to have made at least one good decision this year, as SARU announced the following today: Frans Steyn is back in the Springbok squad. The young fullback, who last featured in the Test against Wales in early June, rejoined the squad from Paris yesterday.

Steyn took part in the squad’s first practice session on Monday in advance of the Vodacom Tri-Nations clash with Australia at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.

Speaking at a press conference on Monday, Springbok coach Peter de Villiers said he was glad to have Steyn back in the squad. De Villiers added that the perceived “saga” around the player was “all a matter of miscommunication”.

Steyn was called up to a Springbok training camp two weeks ago but was not released by his club Racing Metro after being injured in a warm-up game.  On-going liaison between SARU and Racing  Metro as well as the French Rugby Federation has now enabled Steyn to be released for International duty. Steyn turned out for his club last Friday and showed no effects of injury during the Pretoria session on Monday morning.

De Villiers would not speculate on what Steyn’s role might be in the match against the Wallabies.

“It is great to have Frans here and he is a great addition to our squad but we have a player in the position who did not do badly last weekend. We will sit and look at what will be best for the team this weekend and make it known when we confirm our team on Tuesday”.

Meanwhile de Villiers has made it clear that he wants to take action to avoid problems in future with the release of overseas-based players.

“After the Tri-Nations myself and Andy (Marinos) will travel to Europe to sit down with Racing Metro and Frans and discuss the way forward. We also plan to meet with Butch James’ club (Bath) and BJ Botha’s club (Ulster) to make sure that all parties are on the same page when it comes to the release of players for international duty,” de Villiers said.

“We have to get our ducks in a row to avoid causing disruptions to both the team and the players”.

Steyn, meanwhile, slotted in well with his team-mates at the Monday session and looked in good shape. He struck the ball well during the kicking session too.

“It’s great to be back in the squad,” he said.

The following from SARU: Flanker Juan Smith is the only injury concern in the Springbok camp following the weekend’s last-gasp 22-29 loss to the All Blacks at the FNB Stadium.

Team doctor Craig Roberts reported at a press conference at Loftus Versfeld today that Smith has an abdominal muscle strain sustained in the first half of the Vodacom Tri-Nations match. Smith did not take part in the training session on Monday morning and is receiving treatment for the injury.

Roberts added that he was confident that Smith would recover in time to be considered for selection for this weekend’s clash with the Wallabies. The team will be announced tomorrow.

“There are a few guys with a bumps and bruises but that was expected after such a physical Test. We are fortunate that we have only one injury concern,” Roberts said. “There were reports that JP Pietersen had an injury but these are completely incorrect and he took part in the full session this morning,” he added.

Meanwhile, Sharks loose forward Ryan Kankowski joined the squad this morning as a precaution. Kankowski was released to his Province after the training camp two weeks ago and put in a solid performance at the weekend as the Sharks downed Western Province in the Absa Currie Cup.