AWESOME CHEETAHS vs WP

[Michael Alexander]

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."

[Michael Alexander]

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.......   

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.....

[Bertie Horak]

Nobody around here wearing orange today.  Maybe they know something?  Just got back from theater, now I can relax. Looking forward to the games.

[Michael Alexander]

Hey Bertie, pop around to my place, come have a dop with Stennie and I....bit of braai and lotsa rugby.........

[Bertie Horak]

Oh I wish!  8 hours' drive, then a swim through the river to dodge the border patrol - don't think I'll make it!
But enjoy the game!

[Bertie Horak]

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.

[Bertie Horak]

Sorry Mike,  final score....  somewhat ordinary Cheetahs 17  -  Awesome WP 35.

[Richard Opperman]

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!

[Michael Alexander]

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)

[Pete (RIP)]

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...   

[Bertie Horak]

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!

[Stevie]

Its great   to have   our   first   team   back  from  Springbok   duty . Now   we   can   see   how  rugby  gets   played as teams   are   now   even .

[Michael Alexander]

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.....

[Adriaan Van Rooyen]

There wont be a next time Mike PROVINCE is back old chap Dont worry Bertie he is getting a load from me

[Michael Alexander]

Hahahahaha...... be careful....... be very careful..... if you lose to the Lions...then you're outta here....