Western Province and the Blue Bulls produced the least impressive performance of the big guns as the teams finished off their pre-season Currie Cup build-up with a series of friendly matches at the weekend.

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While the Free State Cheetahs and Griquas easily disposed of their opponents in the final weekend of compulsory friendlies, and even the Lions managed their first win of the year, Province laboured to an unimpressive win over the Griffons and the Bulls were equally unimpressive against the Eastern Province Elephants.

The Cheetahs smashed the Border Bulldogs 43-7, John Mitchell’s term as Lions coach started with a 45-29 win over the Boland Cavaliers and Griquas reached a half-century in smashing the SWD Eagles 50-12.

However, WP managed only a 29-5 win over the Griffons and the Bulls’ 13-point (24-11) winning margin was also not much to write home about.

rugby365.com takes a look at the weekend’s action!

SWD Eagles 12-50 Griquas

University of Cape Town Varsity Cup star Matthew Rosslee marked his provincial debut for Griquas with a try and starred for the men from Kimberley as they easily disposed of the hapless Eagles at the D’Almeida Stadium in Mossel Bay.

While the performance of Rosslee will be celebrated, the flipside was the injury of Griquas’ star scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, who took a knock to the leg and will be in a race against time to be fit for the opening round of the Currie Cup next week.

Springbok win Bjorn Basson scored twice as he showed the finishing power that earned him his international call-up this year.

Scorers:

For the SWD Eagles:
Tries: McBean, Potts
Con: Blom

For Griquas:
Tries: Basson 2, Viljoen, Rosslee, Wilkins, Barnes, Spies, Malgas
Cons: Olivier 5

Teams:

SWD Eagles: 15 Bobby Joubert, 14 Baldwin McBean, 13 Senithemba Zweni, 12 Bevin Fortuin (captain), 11 Joe Breytenbach, 10 Ambrose Barends, 9 Dougie Hellmuth, 8 Jacques Engelbrecht, 7 Christo du Plessis, 6 Danzel Manuel, 5 Henry Grimes, 4 Giant Mtyanda, 3 Tiaan de Kock, 2 Wayne Bennett, 1 Jaco Terblanché.
Replacements: 16 Jandré de Beer, 17 Beyers Bekker, 18 Phillip Spies, 19 Lyndon Hartnich, 20 Jandré Blom, 21 Marchall Potts, 22 Cedric Ryneveld.

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Dewald Pretorius, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Matt Rosslee, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier (captain), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Wesley Wilkens, 5 Cecil Kemp, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Albertus Buckle, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Was Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Gerhard Human, 20 Warren Malgas, 21 Richard Lawson, 22 Rudi Vogt.

Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Bongani Maloni, Cobus Wessels

Griffons 5-29 Western Province

Although flank Pieter Louw scored a hat-trick for Western Province against the Griffons, a second-half slump in their only pre-season fixture would have left the WP coaching staff with lots to ponder.

The visitors raced into a 24-0 lead at half-time, but were deadlocked at 5-all in the second 40.

Louw scored two of his three tries in the first half, the other coming from captain Anton van Zyl.

After the break Louw scored the team’s fourth try, but the Griffons managed to hold out against the giants from the south – leaving the coaching staff with more questions than answers.

Scorers:

For the Griffons:
Try: Schultz

For Western Province:
Tries: Louw 3, Van Zyl
Cons: De Waal 3
Pen: De Waal

Teams:

Griffons: 15 Jiffy Lamprecht, 14 Darryl Coeries, 13 Werner Griesel, 12 Thabang Molefe, 11 Eddie Fredericks, 10 Jannie Myburgh, 9 Enrico Schultz, 8 Nicky Steyn (captain), 7 Marnes Briedenhann, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Joubert Horn, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Sarel Louw, 2 Derick van Heerden, 1 Petros Methula.
Replacements: 16 Herschol Johnson, 17 Kevin Stevens, 18 Sewes Oosthuizen/Gert Greyling, 19 Windpomp van Rooyen, 20 Willie Britz, 21 Tertius Maarman, 22 Charl Weideman.

Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Fabian Juries, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Marcel Brache, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynardt Elstadt, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (captain), 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements – from: Deon Fourie, JD Moller, JC Kritzinger, Martin Muller, Pieter Myburgh, Conrad Hoffmann, Lionel Cronje, Morgan Newman.

Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Mlungiseli Mdashe

Border Bulldogs 7-43 Free State Cheetahs

The Free State Cheetahs, beaten finalists last year, showed they will again be a force in 2010 – outscoring the home side by seven tries to one at the Buffalo City Stadium in East London.

The Bulldogs did well to hold the impressive Cheetahs team to a 17-7 lead at halftime, but 26 unanswered points at the break showed the men from Bloemfontein will be a good bet for the play-offs again this year.

Prop Coenie Oosthuizen and replacement loose forward Kabamba Floors scored two tries each, while Springbok Jongi Nokwe marked his return from injury with a touchdown as well.

Scorers:

For the Border Bulldogs:
Try: Meslane
Con: Gqobo

For the Free State Cheetahs:
Tries: Oosthuizen 2, Uys, Nokwe, Floors 2, Carse
Cons: Strydom 4

Teams:

Border: 15 Andisa Gqobo, 14 Sinovuyo Ganto, 13 Chumani Booi, 12 Divan van Zyl, 11 Royden Kennedy, 10 Thembani Mkokeli, 9 Yongama Mkaza, 8, 7 Dumisani Meslane, 6 Nomani Tonga, 5 Samora Fihlani, 4 Ben Venter, 3 Marius Visser, 2 Matthew Taljard, 1 Lonwabo Mtimka.
Replacements: 16 Kwezilokusa Mkhafu, 17 Armon Fourie, 18 Sokhana Mkona, 19 Ross Doneghan, 20 Ntando Kebe, 21 Byron Mcguigan, 22 Charl Kennedy.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 JW Jonker, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tertius Carse, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 PW van Vuuren, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Hans Grobler, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Corné Uys, 22 Sias Ebersohn.

Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistant referees: Pro Legoete, Fakumile Yamile

Boland Cavaliers 29-45 Lions

John Mitchell started his term as Lions coach with an impressive win at Boland Park in Wellington – which is the first win for the Lions his year, after they lost a record 13 successive defeats.

The Lions scored seven exciting tries, but one of their biggest disease resurfaced – poor defence – as they conceded five tries against the relegated Cavaliers outfit now being coached by former Lions mentor Eugene Eloff.

The win, however, may do a lot of good for the Lions’ psyche ahead of their opening Currie Cup match – against the Leopard next Friday.

After taking an impressive 28-5 lead – with four tries to one – at halftime, the Lions were outscored by four tries to three by the Cavaliers after the break. The second half score was 24-17 in favour of the home team.

What will be even more concerning for the Lions coaching staff is that they face a badly depleted Cavaliers team – which missed players like Bolla Conradie, Hilton Lobberts, Hyron Thysse, Jeremy Plaatjies and Neil Papier.

Scorers:

For the Boland Cavaliers:
Tries: April, Hendricks, Pieterse 2, Cornelius
Cons: Jansen 2

For the Golden Lions:
Tries: Minnie, Van der Merwe, Taute, Van Rensburg, Killian 2, Chavhanga

Teams:

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Jaquin Jansen, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 Petrus Vermeulen, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Dane Johnson, 10 Chris Micklewood, 9 Alex Kok, 8 Zandre Jordaan, 7 Braam Immelman, 6 Franzel September, 5 Hottie Louw, 4 Roderick Labuschagne, 3 Rossouw Kruger, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Ashton Constant, 17 Charl du Plessis, 18 Nikolai Blignaut, 19 Grant le Roux, 20 Willie le Roux, 21 Junius Pieterse, 22 Lionel Cornelius.

Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Jonathan Mokuena, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Derek Minnie, 5 David Bulbring, 4 George Earle, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements – from: Martin Bezuidenhout, Wayne Swart, Warren Whiteley, Robert Kruger, Chris Jonck, Elton Jantjies, Deon van Rensburg, Alwyn Hollenbach.

Referee: Joey Salmans
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Linston Manuels

Eastern Province Elephants 11-24 Blue Bulls

The Blue Bulls managed to outscore the Elephants, who have thankfully replaced the ‘Mighty’ tag in their name, by three tries to one.

However, it was not the festival of rugby that was hoped in the last ever match at the EPRU Stadium, formerly known as Boet Erasmus, before the Elephants move their home base to Port Elizabeth’s impressive new Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

Teams:

Eastern Province Elephants: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Milo Nqoro, 13 Wayne Stevens, 12 De Wet Barry (captain), 11 Norman Nelson, 10 Matthew Tyler-Smith, 9 Donald Stevens, 8 Darron Nell, 7 Zolani Mofu, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Lungelo Payi, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 Riaan Vermeulen, 2 Sangoni Mxoli, 1 Pumlani Nodikita.
Replacements – from: Bobby Dyer, Raoul Larson, Sphephelo Mayaba, Brendon Snyman, JJ Gagiano, Morné Hanekom, Marlon Lewis, Jaco van Schalkwyk, Mzwandile Stick, Paul Perez.

Blue Bulls: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Vainon Willis, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Hayden Groepes, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Derick Kuün, 6 Okkie Kruger, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Fudge Mabeta, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Jeandré Kruger, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Danie Faasen, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Clayton Blommetjies.

Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Francois Veldsman, Phillip Bosch