Springboks
I wrote about the importance of the breakdowns before and this weekend it was dominance at the breakdowns yet again that determined the outcome of at least one of the semifinals if not both. Continue reading
After going down 16-12 to the Sharks in the first Absa Currie Cup rugby semifinal in Durban on Saturday, Vodacom Blue Bulls’ coach Frans Ludeke admitted that his men were not accurate enough at the breakdowns against a side that took special care of retaining possession.
Western Province reached the Currie Cup final for the first time since 2001 following their awe-inspiring 31-7 win over the Free State Cheetahs in their Absa Currie Cup semi-final at a jam-packed Newlands Rugby Stadium on Saturday evening.
The Sharks ended the Blue Bulls’ reign as Currie Cup champions and secured a home final with a hard-fought 16-12 victory in atrocious conditions at Absa Stadium on Saturday.
WP (13) 31 / Cheetahs (0) 7 (Final Score)
Vodacom WP hosted Vodacom Free State Cheetahs at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 on Saturday 16 October 2010. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SSHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
A bit of a shaky start from the kickers on both sides eventually saw Willem de Waal regaining confidence and WP becoming stronger and stronger as the game progressed.
At halftime WP was already 13 / 0 in the lead which prompted them to run more freely and the tries came. Eventually with WP 31 / 0 ahead, a simple WP mistake saw Philip Snyman score a consolation try to avoid a nasty Cheetahs whitewash.
To rights the Cheetahs tried hard but there was always only one winner.
Final score WP 31 / 7.
Sharks (10) 16 / Blue Bulls (6) 12 (Final Score)
The Sharks hosted the Vodacom Blue Bulls at ABSA Stadium, Durban at 14:30 SA Time on 16 October 2010. This was the match thread for discussion of the game. The match is broadcast live on SuperSport 1, SSHD & M-Net on TV in SA.
With a first half where the Sharks absolutely controlled territory and possession, the Sharks laid the foundation for their 4-point win.
In a hard fought match and terrential rain deep in the second half, the Blue Bulls attacked hard but the resolute defence of the Sharks held.
Congratulations Sharks, the final will be in Durban.
SWD Eagles (9) 12 / EP Kings (10) 16 (Final Score)
The SWD Eagles hosted the Eastern Province Kings at Outeniqua Park, George in the Final of the Currie Cup 1st Division Final at 19:10 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Eastern Province Kings won a scrappy affair by 16 / 12 after leading by 10 / 9 at Halftime.
Saturday sees the 2 Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals, one between the Sharks vs Blue Bulls in Durban, the other between WP and the Free state Cheetahs at Newlands in Cape Town.
Here are the team sheets for the 2 clashes:
Let them carry on and God bless. This is the view of KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union (KZNRU) president Peter Hassard, who yesterday cocked a snook at some of the province’s black rugby officials who have threatened a breakaway union if their transformation and development concerns are ignored. Continue reading
Okay, so after all the chest beating and Yo-Mama insults, let’s get down to business and look who is set to play in the final of this year’s Currie Cup. Continue reading
The SWD Eagles will be aiming to secure their third Absa Currie Cup First Division title while the EP Kings will be out to achieve their maiden title on Friday when these sides go head to head in the final at Outeniqua Park at 19h10.
The Sharks coach, John Plumtree, has named his team to take on the might of the Blue Bulls in Durban for one of the 2 semi-finals of the Currie Cup.
A lot was said already and a lot more will be said in the psychological war of words this week. No one wants to be the favorite this week. It is quite funny how every team digs up stats to show that their opponent is the favorite.
The Free State Cheetahs will tackle Western Province in their Currie Cup semifinal on Saturday with a Springbok prop on the bench.
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke named an unchanged side for Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup semi-final clash against the Sharks in Durban.
Newlands will host three semi-final clashes on Saturday 16 October. The rugby action kicks off at 12h30, when Vodacom WP u19 take on the Leopards u19. The u21 semi-final between Vodacom WP and the Vodacom Cheetahs follows at 14h25.
From the Official Blue Buls site. Spies and Stegmann declared fit.
Front page allegations of racism at the KwaZulu-Natal Rugby Union have clouded the Sharks’ build-up to the Currie Cup semi-final against their perennial rivals, the resurgent Blue Bulls, on Saturday.
The strength of the situation the Sharks were in when they found themselves with an unassailable lead at the top of the Currie Cup log with one match to play was that they could use their final league match to ask the questions that needed answering.
Top South African referees Marius Jonker and Mark Lawrence have been handed this weekend’s crucial Absa Currie Cup semifinals.
Cape Town – Vodacom Western Province hooker Deon Fourie was on Monday found not guilty of foul play at a SARU judicial hearing held in Cape Town. Continue reading
The Western Province celebrations of their excellent 33-21 win over the Sharks in the final Absa Currie Cup league match have been tempered by the doubt hovering over the participation of the two Fouries, Jaque and Deon, in Saturday’s semifinal against the Cheetahs.
Vodacom Blue Bulls loose forwards Deon Stegmann and Pierre Spies will know on Tuesday whether they will be given the green light to play in Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup semifinal against the Sharks in Durban.
Western Province’s prospects of reaching their first Currie Cup Final in almost a decade may be dealt a crippling blow.It was confirmed on Sunday that hooker Deon Fourie will appear before a South African Rugby Union judicial hearing, after he was cited for foul play during the Premier Division game against the Sharks on Saturday.
The Lions’ Kiwi coach John Mitchell has become the latest international victim of the crime wave sweeping South Africa … and he is lucky to still be alive.
In a report that has already reverberated around the world, it was revealed that the former All Black coach, Mitchell, was stabbed in the leg and arm in his Hyde Park Apartment in South Africa on Sunday.
WP jou leka ding! That chant reverberated through Newlands on Saturday as Vodacom Western Province clinched a home semifinal in the Absa Currie Cup by beating the Natal Sharks 33-21. Continue reading
WP (20) 33 / Sharks (7) 21 (Final Score)
Vodacom Western Province hosted the Sharks at Newlands, Cape Town at 17:05 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & SuperSport HD & M-Net on TV in SA.
WP were clearly the hungrier team in this game and the Sharks played a strange lacklustre attacking game, with both teams scoring 3 tries each in the process.
With this last game in the regular Currie Cup season, the semi-finalists and where they will play is now determined, with the Sharks taking on the Blue Bulls in Durban and the WP taking on the Cheetahs in Cape Town.
The Final Currie Cup Log Standings list the top 4 as follows:
- Sharks 52
- WP 48
- Cheetahs 47
- Bulls 47
The VRYSTAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAT hammered the Leopards 78-7 to ensure 3rd spot on the Currie Cup Log. Continue reading
Griquas (15) 36 / Blue Bulls (22) 48 (Final Score)
The GWK Griquas hosted the Blue Bulls at GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 & M-Net on TV in SA.
The Blue Bulls started slowly as a spirited Griquas took the early initiative but the Blue Bulls ran in 7 tries against the 5 tries from Griquas, which included 2 pearlers by Bjorn Basson, the man who now holds the all time Currie Cup record for tries in a season with 21 tries.
Lions (17) 27 / Pumas (17) 34 (Final Score)
The Xerox Lions hosted the Barloworld Toyota Pumas at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg at 19:10 SA Time. This is the match thread for discussion of the game. The match was broadcast live on SuperSport 1 on DSTV in SA.
The Pumas showed guts and determination and a very good mauling and scrumming game to beat the Lions at Lions headquarters.
Final score Pumas 34 / 27.
Here are the Teams as anoounced.
The Lions were forced to make four late changes to their team that will face the Pumas in a Currie Cup clash in Johannesburg on Friday.
Centre Doppies la Grange, who pulled a hamstring early in last week’s 37-43 loss to the Cheetahs, has been ruled out – forcing a complete reshuffle in the backline.
Former Springbok training squad back Earl Rose will play rugby out of Kimberley from 2011 after he has agreed to join the Griquas on a one year deal.
Vodacom Blue Bulls hooker Gary Botha has been ruled out of the remainder of the season due to an ankle injury.
Botha underwent a procedure in Pretoria on Thursday and although there was no need for an operation to repair ligaments as expected, the player will be out of action for the next two months.