I am so looking forward to saturdays rugby..... The AWESOME CHEETAHS are gonna show you all how to beat a WP side with a 11 SPRINGBOK players..... it's gonna be a super SAturday!
grab(1)
Although I'm a WP supporter, I'm sorry to say I think you may be right this time. Somehow I think the Cheetahs at home are going to be difficult to beat this Saturday.
Don't be sorry Bertie be positive......we can do it.......Prooooooooooooooooovvvvince.! image041
@ Mike S - Yes, I should be more positive, but my heart and my mind seems to be in a bit of a tangle! yesno
We can do it, yes, let's see if the kittens get to sleep in the litter box after this weekend!
@Bertie..... make no mistake, I am very nervous and am fully aware that this game can go either way....but HEck! it's gonna be a good game to watch....... :wow1:
From NEws24
"bersohn a Bok in the making
04/09/2008 22:29 - (SA)
Cape Town - Jean de Villiers, Springbok centre and captain of the Western Province rugby team, believes a young player that he will be crossing swords with on Saturday could possibly play for South Africa one day.
Robert Ebersohn (19) is one of the talented young players in this year's Currie Cup series and has caught even De Villiers's eye.
"I think Ebersohn is one of the outstanding players in this year's Currie Cup series and will play for the Boks one day," De Villiers said in the Mother City this week.
"He is a very impressive player. His defence is good and he also has experience in Sevens rugby.
"What more could you want than a player who is good at both attacking and defending"
"I remember attending a social event at Paul Roos Gymnasium during Craven Week. I chatted to all the centres, and young Ebersohn was there."
De Villiers and the experienced Gcobani Bobo will battle it out in the midfield against the Cheetahs' Ebersohn and Meyer Bosman.
While WP with their Boks appear on paper to be the strongest side, there are other factors that count heavily in the hosts' favour.
Still combine very smoothly
The fact that the only returning Boks are Juan Smith (flank) and Adriaan Strauss (hooker) means that the Cheetahs should still combine very smoothly as a team overall.
Besides, Naka Drotské's team have won their last five matches, and in this particular clash players will be very hungry to show their mettle against WP's big names.
"The Cheetahs play a good style of rugby and I am really impressed with what I've seen of them," De Villiers said.
For example, the Cheetahs will feel that their loose trio, Duane Vermeulen, Juan Smith and Hendro Scholtz, can hold their own against the likes of Luke Watson, Francois Louw and Schalk Burger.
While it has been widely reported that Vermeulen may play for the Stormers next season, for now he remains a key player in the Cheetahs' offensive to ensure that the Currie Cup stays in Bloemfontein.
The front row also promises to provide a few interesting duels, with Brian Mujati and Wian du Preez locking horns in the scrums.
WP hooker Schalk Brits has already said this week that he has nothing to prove. But it will undoubtedly have concerned him that he has had to make way for Adriaan Strauss in the Bok squad.
On the part of the Cheetahs, Bosman at inside centre and fullback Bevin Fortuin will also be geared up to show that their Bok days are far from over.
Bosman, who turned in good performances in the Super 14 series this year, was included in the initial Bok training squad of 42. However, owing to a hamstring injury he was not available for the Tests against Wales or Italy.
sobored yawn! yawn!
You children aren't going on about rugby again 23_146_26 ......THE all Ireland hurling final is on this Sunday - tickets are like gold dust...........The throw of the ball; the clash of the ash.........come on guys - get with a real sport!
Bah! Hurlings for Leprechauns!
23_146_26
That's for sure..............a game of skill; a skill that only a leprechaun has....... image 11
Maybe my English isn't so good, but does hurling have 2 meanings? One being a sport on ice, and the other a pastime after a very heavy night out and usually occurs in the bathroom? idontknow image281
I was thinking of some wisecrack to go with the other type of hurling, but I had other things on my mind....... image203
No wisecrack - you're getting slow oldman!
No ice Bertie - this is a game of skill - the fastest game in the land, 2 teams each player carrying a weapon (hurley) and a small hard ball.......for you lay people out there, the ball and the players are beat up and down the field at the speed of light.........plenty of cheering, drinking and craic - what a great day!
image203 image 11 image203 image 11 image203 image 11 image203
The pundits report:
"CHEETAHS vs WP, BLOEMFONTEIN, SATURDAY, 15.00
The Springboks are back on the domestic scene, and that puts a very different spin on proceedings. The Cheetahs welcome back Juan Smith and Adriaan Strauss, but WP see seven Boks returning from Tri-Nations duty.
Free State have the momentum, but they cannot match WP for personnel. The breakdown will be fiercely contested, but with Heinrich Brussow still making his comeback from the bench they may be lacking the fetching quality needed to best Luke Watson and Schalk Burger on the ground. Brian Mujati should hold Wian du Preez up front while the Cheetahs lineout, as competitive as they are, will be second to the combination of Andries Bekker and Adriaan Fondse.
The loss of pivot Chris Rossouw will be felt by the Cheetahs. Tewis de Bruyn has a steady boot but is still not as accurate as the first-choice flyhalf. Province also have the edge in terms of experience and firepower out wide. The Free Staters will put up a brave fight on home turf, but ultimately the class of the Bok-packed WP side will shine through.
Prediction: WP by 5.
Cheetahs – 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Wilton Pietersen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Fabian Juries, 10 Tewis de Bruyn, 9 Neil Powell, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Juan Smith (c), 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Subs: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Phillip Lemmer, 18 Nico Breedt, 19 Heinrich Brussow, 20 JW Jonker, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Kabamba Floors.
Western Province - 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Gcobani Bobo, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Subs: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 AJ Venter, 19 Nick Koster, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Joe Pietersen, 22 Wylie Human."
Drinking at a hurling match...how about some hurling at a hurling match?
woo_hoo
The hurling and scrapping is left to the boys on the field.........the drinking, cheering and craic is left to us supporters
Planet Rugby Pundits..go the other way...
"Free State Cheetahs v Western Province
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Western Province head to the 'City of Roses" without Percy Montgomery (who has a stomach bug) but with a busfull of Springboks. No less than eight Tri-Nations Boks have bolstered a team that counts twelve internationals in the starting XV.
The hosts are in position to take a huge step towards a home semi-final berth, considering that one of either the Blue Bulls and the Sharks will fall a a bit behind this weekend (barring a draw in Durban).
WP are clutching at straws in terms of play-off qualification and anything less than five points will equal a death-sentence to their hopes.
When the Cheetahs visited Cape Town two months ago, Western Province limped to a 9-3 win in a lifeless match at soggy at Newlands. There's little chance of the same happening this weekend - whoever wins, there are bound to be plenty of tries in the bone-dry Free State.
Fijian international Sireli Naqelevuki has been named on the win for WP. Naqelevuki last played two months ago at the Pacific Nations Cup where he had several impressive outings as an outside centre. However, he has been named on the left wing for Saturday's match.
Inside centre Jean de Villiers has taken over the captaincy from his midfield partner Gcobani Bobo. Springbok fly-half Peter Grant has returned to full health and will join up with Ricky Januarie as the starting half-backs.
The Free State Cheetahs have had to take the good with the bad as the return of Springboks Juan Smith and Adriaan Strauss has been tempered by the lose of fly half Chris Rossouw to injury.
Rossouw's late withdrawal is due to a head injury. Tewis de Bruyn will move from scrum-half to occupy the vacant number ten jersey meaning Neil Powell gets promoted from the bench and will feed the Cheetahs scrum.
Though De Bruyn has recent experience in the fly-half berth, his selection ahead of fit-again Jacques Louis Potgieter is a bit of a surprise.
Smith returns to the blindside and reclaims the captaincy from Hendro Scholtz. His presence as well as that of Strauss in the front row will add some vital firepower to the Cheetahs forwards, who face a WP pack flush with five Boks
Kabamba Floors and hooker Richardt Strauss make way for Smith and Adriaan Strauss respectively.
The only other new face in the matchday 22 that beat the Lions two weeks ago, is loose forward Heinrich Brussow, who has recovered from an ankle injury to take his place among the replacements at the expense of Schalk van der Merwe.
Prediction: On paper, the Stormers-look-alikes make for a formidable team. But their hosts have been playing together all season and getting a win in Bloem is like getting a Cheetahs supporter to trade his brandy and coke for a touch of chardonnay - high unlikely.
The Cheetahs by 5."
Saturday Morning.....Oranjemund Spar 11h00....the excitement mounts, a few sorry sould wandering around in their blue and white hoola hoop rugby jersey's....not sure if the are wearing it the right way around....as for Pete the Nut..... his jersey is ancient..... at least 20 odd years...... I reckon when he first wore that Jersey...Van Riebeeck was still docking in Table bay harbour....... image201
My brothers house will no doubt have the Province/Stormer flag flapping in the wind..... a sore sight for me when I do My Awesome ORANGE braai....
@ and half hours and then the fun will begin.....
The best dressed WP supporter was by far 'ol Pine Pienaar....hat socks and shoes.....
Nobody around here wearing orange today. Maybe they know something? Just got back from theater, now I can relax. Looking forward to the games. thumper
Hey Bertie, pop around to my place, come have a dop with Stennie and I....bit of braai and lotsa rugby.........
Oh I wish! 8 hours' drive, then a swim through the river to dodge the border patrol - don't think I'll make it! msn emoticon (68)
But enjoy the game! image18
Well, in the U/21 clash, the blue-and-white striped jerseys of the WP ran over the not so awesome Cheetahs... 36-32.
Let's see how the big boys do next.
Sorry Mike, final score.... somewhat ordinary Cheetahs 17 - Awesome WP 35.
woo_hoo
Well what can I say - my two favorite teams played and one had to go under.
Sorry Free State you cannot win a game by defending!
Well done WP your are still in the tournament!
Well done to Province... as much as it hurts....you won...the final score is the final score....... I however do not think you guys have what it makes to get to the semi's...thats just my opinion...and you still lag way behind in the log..... but rather you guys in a semi, than the bulls..... well done...Yes ...Pete the nut.... you can wear your jersey...... in SPAR 2morrow...(again)
:emot112_2:
Mike ~
If I didn't feel like reading all about Wee Pee's magnificent victory in tomorrow morning's papers, I would have rushed down to your house with hooters blaring, Province flags a-fluttering and a whole team of mates resplendent in their blue-and-white hopped jerseys! Never mind the semis, we have just taken out the Currie Cup's form team with 14 men (for the most part) and a referee who blew his whistle with such relish (the Sharks/Bulls game was far more entertaining, apart from the result) that he thought whistles were being banned from next week! Don't worry, Mike, you guys will pick yourselves up and I think you'll do well against the Valke and Griquas...
Wear that jersey with pride tomorrow, Pete! Show Mike what a winning team looks like!
Jokes aside, just spoke to the two Mikes, having a nice stukkie vleis en 'n biertjie. Boy, how I wish I could be there now! In stead, I'm still painting here at home. Boooooring!
Enjoy you guys, but don't give Michele the clean-up work! 3d smiles(281)
Its great to have our first team back from Springbok duty . Now we can see how rugby gets played as teams are now even .
I think pete might be taking the piss out of me, but my heads a bit groggy this morning to comprehend this..... But once again, well done to the Wp...it was lekker entertaining and full of tension....and thats whet we want..... I still think you guys have a long and difficult road ahead of you..... still 10 points shy of us.... we still stay 3rd after the weekend.... and above all it was great to see the Sharks take down the Bully blue bulls...... roll on next weekend.....
@Pete..... I'm not sure if your blue and white striped contingent would have made a difference..... I had a whole host of them hanging over Paul's fence......
Next time.....
There wont be a next time Mike PROVINCE is back old chap woo_hoo thumper Dont worry Bertie he is getting a load from me image19
Hahahahaha...... be careful....... be very careful..... if you lose to the Lions...then you're outta here.... woo_hoo
You mean you think you're going to klap the Sharks?????? ha ha 23_146_26
Yep..... we gonna claw them & rip their guts open!
After all - we are THE CHEETAHS
We are now officially the underdog for this game, with a flanker, Kabamba, playing on the wing...... the experts are laughing at our team.....but I for one...do not believe this is gonna be a pushover for the Sharks....... woo_hoo