Cheetahs
FS Cheetahs (10) 22 / 7 (7) Blue Bulls (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Vodacom Blue Bulls did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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What a final round of Currie Cup rugby this is turning out to be. At one end of the table we have the Sharks and Western Province battling each other for the number one spot and at the other end we have the Free State Cheetahs and the Blue Bulls playing for the final semi final spot.
The Golden Lions are also by no means safe. If they lose to the Griquas and do not score any bonus points and the Blue Bulls manage a win, then the Golden Lions could find themselves in 5th place. This does not seem likely, taking current form into account.
This is the last weekend of the pool stages and it is turning into a quasi-play-off weekend, with the top two teams battling for 1st place and 3 teams competing for the last two semi final spots. What more can we ask for.
Toyota Cheetahs Assistant Coach Hawies Fourie has been confirmed as the new coach of GWK Griquas.
He replaces Pote Human, who is leaving after the Currie Cup to coach Tukkies in the Varsity Cup.
The appointment is regarded as a strategic move to strengthen the Toyota Cheetahs Super Rugby Franchise.
As the Toyota Cheetahs backline coach, he is well aware of the strategies, and types of players required, he will likely continue in this role during the Super Rugby season.
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar included Springboks JJ Engelbrecht and Jan Serfontein in his backline and promoted loose forward Jacques Engelbrecht to his starting pack for Saturday’s do-or-die Absa Currie Cup clash against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
The Bok midfield duo will play for the Vodacom Blue Bulls for the first time this season and will replace William Small-Smith and Francois Venter respectively. Small-Smith will move to the Under-21’s and Venter to the bench.
With The Rugby Championship now done and dusted, the Springbok players involved look set to be returning to their Provincial Unions and respective overseas Clubs to continue plying their trade.
This of course leaves Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer a worried man and wishing he was in the fortunate situation which the All Blacks coach finds himself, where the All Black players will rest some more before the November Internationals start (of course there is still the matter of a Bledisloe Cup encounter between the All Blacks and Wallabies to consider on 18 October).
Griquas (7) 21 / 52 (14) FS Cheetahs (Final Score)
GWK Griquas and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division at
GWK Park, Kimberley at 14:00 SA Time (12:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 2, SH2 & CSN on TV in SA.
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As we enter Round 9 of the Currie Cup Premier Division of 2013, the Sharks and WP find themselves topping the Log with 28 points each. The closest rival here is the Golden Lions who are on 21 points. With WP and the Sharks playing each other next weekend in the final match before the semi-finals, this weekend is a must win weekend end for both sides at the top.
The Blue Bulls, who are facing the Sharks, is in a must win situation for them if they would like to keep their semi-final hopes alive, as a win for the Free State Cheetahs this weekend could see an end to their Currie Cup season, if they lose.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made some subtle changes to his team selections after the loss to DHL Western Province last weekend and ahead of the Round 9 Currie Cup match against GWK Griquas at GWK Park in Kimberley.
The Sharks and DHL Western Province this weekend cemented their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division semifinal spots and set themselves in good stead for home semifinals, while the Vodacom Blue Bulls reignited their semifinal chances.
In a weekend of away wins, the Sharks fought their way to a 31-25 victory against the MTN Golden Lions in Johannesburg, DHL Western Province pipped the Toyota Free State Cheetahs 29-27 in Bloemfontein and the Vodacom Blue Bulls thumped GWK Griquas 52-10 in Kimberley.
FS Cheetahs (17) 27 / 29 (13) WP (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and DHL Western Province did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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As we enter Round 8 of the 2013 Currie Cup, the Sharks and Western Province are setting the pace at the top of the Log, with 24 Log points each. The Griquas find themselves in last place with only 10 Log points.
With only 2 rounds remaining after this weekend the Sharks and Western Province have probably already booked their places in the semi-finals. The Blue Bulls find themselves in a must win scenario this weekend as a loss this weekend could see them end last on the Log and totally miss out in the race for a semi final place, they now already find themselves 5 Log points behind the 4th placed Free State Cheetahs.
Springbok tourist Raymond Rhule is one of four players who felt the wrath of Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské axe.
The Cheetahs host defending champions Western Province in a crucial Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Springbok Johan Goosen’s hopes of a comeback for the year-end tour has been dashed.
The 21-year-old has undergone surgery to remove an inflamed appendix.
Sharks (26) 50 / 26 (16) FS Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Sharks and Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division at
Kings Park, Durban at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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As we enter Round 7 of the 2013 Currie Cup, WP is setting the pace at the top of the Log, with 20 Log points. The Griquas find themselves in last place with 9 Log points.
A win for the Shark and Western Province this weekend could almost assure them of a semi final spot, in this scenario the Free State Cheetahs, Golden Lions and Blue Bulls are still fighting for the last two spots. A loss for the Griquas this weekend could see them remain in last position.
Cheetahs lock Lood de Jager has recovered from a concussion to take his place in the team to face the Sharks in Durban on Saturday.
The young De Jager, who made a big impression in Super Rugby this year, replaces Teboho Mohoje in the only change to the side that beat the Golden Lions last week.
FS Cheetahs (23) 26 / 23 (3) Golden Lions (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and MTN Golden Lions did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Two of the Free State Cheetahs’ key forwards have been ruled out of their Currie Cup crunch match with the Golden Lions in Bloemfontein on Friday.
No.8 Philip van der Walt (shoulder) and lock Lodewyk de Jager (concussion) have both succumb to their respective injuries.
DHL Western Province this weekend reclaimed the top spot on the Log in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division as the competition reached the halfway mark, establishing themselves as one of the favourites in the competition.
But with 5 rounds of matches remaining and only 6 points separating the Cape side from the 5th-placed Blue Bulls on the standings, the competition remained wide open.
Western Province delivered a fine performance to defeat the Sharks 25 / 19 in Cape Town, while the Vodacom Blue Bulls registered a 26 / 10 victory against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Pretoria and the MTN Golden Lions beat GWK Griquas 38 / 32 in Kimberley.
Blue Bulls (3) 26 / 10 (5) FS Cheetahs (Final Score)
The Vodacom Blue Bulls and The Toyota Free State Cheetahs did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division at
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria at 17:05 SA Time (15:05 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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As we enter Round 5 of the 2013 Currie Cup, there is still no clear indication as to who is the favourite team to win it this year.
The Sharks currently set the pace with 14 Log points, but they are closely followed by 2nd place Free State Cheetahs and 3rd place Western Province both on 12.
Can Western Province take the crown two years in a row and / or can the Blue Bulls still make a great comeback. Only time will tell!
Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské named an unchanged team for their crucial Currie Cup encounter Blue Bulls in Pretoria on Saturday.
Following his team’s demolition of Griquas last week Drotské opted to stick with a winning formula for a match that could see them overtake the Sharks at the top of the standings.
The Sharks and Toyota Free State Cheetahs this weekend climbed into the top two spots on the log table in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division as favourable results pushed them ahead of DHL Western Province on the standings.
In an entertaining round, the Sharks thumped the Vodacom Blue Bulls 34-18 at GrowthPoint Kings Park, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs defeated GWK Griquas 40-20 in Bloemfontein, and the MTN Golden Lions and DHL Western Province played to a 31-31 draw at Ellis Park.
Western Province’s draw forced them two spots down on the log into third place, while the Sharks moved into the top spot for the first time and the Cheetahs moved into second place on points’ difference.
Rugby World Cup winning South African forward Juan Smith has signed a one year deal with Top 14 Rugby club Toulon.
FS Cheetahs (22) 40 / 20 (6) Griquas (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and GWK Griquas did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 15:00 SA Time (13:00 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
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Livewire Bulls blindside flanker Jean Cook has also returned to his roots. The Cheetahs were keen to retain the young star back in 2011, but were unable to do so, due to financial constraints. The Cheetahs on field performances, have positively impacted on their financial resources too, which has enabled the contracting of more players.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské made one change to his starting line-up for their Currie Cup encounter against the Griquas at the Free State Stadium on Saturday.
Tighthead prop Rossouw de Klerk will replace Caylib Oosthuizen following the Cheetahs’ 18-15 defeat to the Sharks in Bloemfontein last Friday.
The Free State Cheetahs suffered a cruel blow ahead of their Currie Cup crunch match against Griquas in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Prop Caylib Oosthuizen is a doubtful starter for the Round Four encounter after injuring his shoulder in a freak training ground mishap on Monday.
Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie confirmed to this website that the injury is a “big worry” and that the powerful prop is going for scans to determine the full extent of the damaged.
FS Cheetahs (15) 15 / 18 (13) Sharks (Final Score)
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs and Sharks did battle in the Currie Cup Premier Division at
Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein at 19:10 SA Time (17:10 GMT).
This was the live match discussion Article.
The match was broadcast LIVE on SuperSport 1, SHD & CSN on TV in SA.
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Springbok flank Juan Smith is set to make his return to the rugby field after passing a medical at French club, Toulon.
Smith, 32, earlier this year retired from rugby after an ongoing Achilles injury which plagued him since the start of 2011, but – as reported earlier this week – he left for France on Sunday with the aim of reviving his career.
Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has included Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane for the team’s first Absa Currie Cup home game against the Sharks in Bloemfontein on Friday.
The Sharks have secured the services of Griquas prop Lourens Adriaanse from next season.
Willie du Plessis, the University of Pretoria flyhalf, could make his Currie Cup debut for the Free State Cheetahs at Newlands on Saturday.
The inclusion the Varsity Cup star on the bench is the only change to the team that will face defending champions Western Province in a Round Two match on Saturday.
Facing a looming wing crisis, coach Naka Drotske has called in some favours. In the past the Cheetahs have often released players for Bok Sevens duty. Now the shoe is on the other foot, with the Sevens team helping the Cheetahs out of a bind.
The Free State Cheetahs could be without the services of their only specialist fullback for a while, with Hennie Daniller struggling with a suspected hand fracture.