AWESOME CHEETAHS vs WP

[Michael Alexander]

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!

[Bertie Horak]

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.

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Don't be sorry Bertie be positive......we can do it.......Prooooooooooooooooovvvvince.!     

[Bertie Horak]

@ Mike S - Yes, I should be more positive, but my heart and my mind seems to be in a bit of a tangle!
We can do it, yes, let's see if the kittens get to sleep in the litter box after this weekend!

[Michael Alexander]

@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....... 

[Michael Alexander]

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.

[Rhona]

    yawn! yawn!
You children aren't going on about rugby again  ......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!

[Michael Alexander]

Bah! Hurlings for Leprechauns!

[Rhona]

That's for sure..............a game of skill; a skill that only a leprechaun has....... 

[Bertie Horak]

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?

[Michael Alexander]

I was thinking of some wisecrack to go with the other type of hurling, but I had other things on my mind.......   

[Rhona]

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!
             

[Michael Alexander]

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."

[Michael Alexander]

Drinking at a hurling match...how about some hurling at a hurling match?

[Rhona]

The hurling and scrapping is left to the boys on the field.........the drinking, cheering and craic is left to us supporters