The new year kicks off with some interesting pre-season friendlies that could show if the Stormers, Sharks and Force have made progress since this years Super14.
Three teams that should be strong contenders for a place in next year’s Super14, will get a chance early in the New Year to prepare and get their systems and combinations working.
The Sharks, the Stormers and the Western Force of Perth in Australia will participate early in January 2010 in a triangular tournament which will be played in Cape Town, this will be in preparation for the Super14 tournament which starts two weeks later.
The Stormers and the Force will tackle each other on the 23rd January, whilst the Sharks will play the Force on the 26th of January.
Thereafter on the 29th of January the Sharks will play the Stormers in the final match.
This tournament is an ideal chance for these teams that did not end in the top 4 in the Super 14 played earlier this year, they should all however have their new signings available to them, with former Lions and Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius that could be making his debut for the Force.
The Stormers will have the services of former Lions and current Springbok center, Jaque Fourie, as well as the speedy Bryan Habana from the Bulls to select from, with the Sharks having for the first time the services of former Lions players Louis Ludick (fullback), Willem Alberts(eigthman) and the lock Gerhard Mostert.
Mostert is already training with the Sharks, and still await the outcome of the contractual circus that is delaying these players to join and start training in Durban. The sharks are also trying to schedule another pre season friendly before they start their first Super14 match which starts on the 13th of February in Durban.
Hope they will broadcast this. Doubt it though.
Anyway, i think it would have been really cool if instead of the Sharks they got a team like Toulouse to come and play. That would really show the teams where their standards are, cause Toulouse has a potent team and will be at the end of a good season where they would have gelled together nicely.
Hope it doesn’t burn the players out. Sharks and Stormers should rest their top guys.
Op grond van wat is die spanne ” three teams that should be strong contenders…”.
Nie een van hulle was in die top 4 hierdie jaar nie….?
As dit oor die Currie beker gaan moet die Cheetahs ook MOESA contenders wees en ons almal het al gesien sukses in die CC spoel nie noodwendig oor na die S14 nie…
Just hope no early injuries there.
Sharky, Wonder where Stefan will play if Ludick is playing with the Sharks? Think we must now start with Ludick at FB. Stefan had a good season and never let the Sharks down but is slowing down now.
Nee wat, hierdie pre season games beteken fokkol. Die Stormers het vir ‘n paar jaar pre season teen die Bulls gespeel en altyd gewen, net om in die ware kompetisie goed op hul moer te kry!
En weet julle hoe flippen warm is dit is dit innie Kaap in Januarie? Geen mens sal 80min alles kan gee nie.
Het wel ‘n voeltjie hoor fluit dat die games gebruik gaan word om die nuwe Groenpunt stadion uit te try, alhoewel ek dink dis’n liegstorie. Daar is nie ‘n kans hulle gaan rugby speel op 2maande oue gras nie!!
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