Currie Cup 2009!

[Mike Voden (RIP)]

Watch the Lions go this season, they will be the team to beat..............

[Bertie Horak]

I'm afraid WP messed up. Disappointing.   

[Dalene Steenkamp (Coetzee)]

I am going to loose myself in alchol if the Cheetahs continue to play the way they do !!!     Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr  !!!!

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Currie Cup
Sharks win tough battle
2009-07-24 20:36

Durban - The Blue Bulls lost their first match in this season's Currie Cup competition as the Sharks ran out deserved 19-13 winners on Friday night in a match that saw the home side overshadow the visitors at breakdown and play the more direct rugby.

Even three yellow cards did not deter the Sharks.

The final result of the hard-fought forward battle was a single very good try by the Sharks which took the score to 19-6 and took the match away from the Blue Bulls who scored a minute after the final hooter to get a bonus point after the conversion by flyhalf Francois Brummer.

The result saw Griquas remain at the top of the log, with a match in hand.

Overall, the Sharks were good value for the win. They had more possession, and varied their play more than the Blue Bulls who drove up most of their possession until near the end of the match.

The first half belonged to the home team. They controlled the breakdowns, took it wide when possible and with Stefan Terblanche always prominent, often stretched the Blue Bulls' defence.

The first half was not great fare for those who expected try after try, but it certainly was real confrontational stuff as the two packs hit into one another with the Blue Bulls opting for driving play rather than spinning it wide.

Jean Deysel was at the forefront of the Sharks' effective drives in the tight-loose with Springbok Deon Carstens not far behind. And while they drove and Keegan Daniel foraged, the Bulls were on the back foot more often than not.

The Sharks were more than good value for their halftime 9-3 lead. They controlled the one threatening lineout maul by the Blue Bulls well, and turned around a number of balls on the ground.

Unsure handling when it counted, an injudicious kick or two and the yellow-carding of Albert van den Berg with his team in total control, which saw the cancellation of a try, helped the Blue Bulls to stay in contention.

Van den Berg struck an opponent with an elbow some 40 metres back in a move that saw Monty Dumont go over next to the posts - to no avail.

Up front Jacques Burger was good on the drive and always on hand to take it further. And it was his drive that saw that Jacques Botes being yellow-carded for a side entry shoulder-charge.

The Blue Bulls, with reserves aplenty on the field and taking four Sharks lineouts to the one own throw they conceded, suddenly and briefly looked more dangerous halfway in the third quarter, but didn't capitalise when on the attack and gave the Sharks the opportunity to come back.

They had the better of the next 20 minutes and Rory Kockott, who did some good things and some average, stretched the lead to 12-3 after 68 minutes - with no side having come close to scoring a try if the disallowed effort by Dumont is discounted.

But just two minutes later Skipper Badenhorst, after some great interplay where Daniel and Odwa were prominent, went over and with the successful conversion it became a 13-point lead for the Sharks at 19-6.

A third yellow-card a minute later to Badenhorst didn't help the Bulls who had to score two goals in seven minutes to win the match. But a promising drive from a lineout saw a penalty awarded to the Sharks three metres from their own line, and that was the ball game.

Right on time, following a series of good rucks and mauls, Blue Bulls' Dewald Potgieter scored next to the posts for Brummer to convert and get a single point for the Blue Bulls from the match.

Scorers:

Sharks: Try: Skipper Bandenhorst. Conversion: Rory Kockott. Penalties: Kockott (3), Drop goal: Riaan Swanepoel.

Blue Bulls: Try: Dewald Potgieter. Conversion: Francois Brummer. Penalty: Brummer (2).

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Currie Cup
Cheetahs woes continue
2009-07-24 21:36

Cape Town - Western Province consigned the Free State Cheetahs to a third consecutive Currie Cup defeat with a 19-13 (halftime 12-6) victory at Newlands on Friday.

The home side dominated the encounter, pinching five Cheetahs lineouts and affecting more than half a dozen turnovers as they moved into the top four on the standings with a second win in three matches.

Despite the early stage of the season Free State are already in danger of missing out on a semi-final place after a poor start to their campaign that has seen them previously lose to Griquas and the Golden Lions.

The Free Staters are only missing two players – flanks Juan Smith and Heinrich Brussow – to Springbok duty. If they continue to lose at this stage, they will have some serious problems later in the campaign when the likes of the Blue Bulls, Natal Sharks and WP are bolstered by the return of their Boks.

WP flyhalf Willem de Waal scored 14 points from four penalties and a conversion against his former team-mates.

The home side initially struggled to break down the Free State defence but De Waal’s steady boot ensured they kept the scoreboard ticking over.

He landed four first half penalties while his opposite number, Jacques-Louis Potgieter slotted two penalties in the same period.

The visitors had their problems but their defence was largely rock solid as they faced a massive possession deficit. But no side can defend indefinitely and eventually the cracks had to widen.

WP finally scored a try in the 55th minute when Fijian wing Sireli Naqelevuki answered some of his critics with a well-taken try after a simple training ground move.

From a five-metre scrum on the left touchline, No 8 Luke Watson picked up off the back, fed scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage who then slipped a well-timed pass to the flying wing cutting in off the flank.

The Cheetahs, to their credit, never gave up and slowly started to work their way back into the match by controlling possession in the latter stages of the encounter.

The pressure eventually told on WP, who were unable to stop a Free State surge close to the line that saw replacement hooker Richardt Strauss crash over for his 14th try in his relatively short Currie Cup career.

Potgieter landed the touchline conversion to bring with visitors within six points of the lead with five minutes to play.

Despite a late rally the WP defence held firm as they claimed another four log points while the Cheetahs earned their first points of the season with a solitary bonus point.

Scorers:

Western Province – Try: Sireli Naqelevuki. Conversion: Willem de Waal. Penalties: De Waal (4).

Free State – Try: Richardt Strauss. Conversion: Jacques-Louis Potgieter. Penalties: Potgieter (2)

[Ricky Barron (RIP)]

Super 14
Craven week
Under 21
Currie Cup

Wat gaan aan Vrystaat?

[Mike Stenson (RIP)]

Currie Cup
Cheetahs romp to first win
2009-08-07 21:15

Bloemfontein - The winless Free State Cheetahs overcame the overwhelming pre-match odds to deservedly beat the Blue Bulls 24-15 in a Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Friday night and, in doing so, scored three good tries to none.

The victory was built on a solid performance by the home side pack and some excellent tactical play by the former Blue Bulls scrumhalf JP Joubert who controlled the game and used the forward dominance of his pack well.

Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke's pre-match respect for the Free State side's forwards was well-founded. Their physical approach to the breakdown, in particular, seemed to unsettle the Blue Bulls in the first quarter - and with the Free State's good scrum giving as good as they got the home side also put pressure on the Bulls in this facet.

The brief turnabout by the Blue Bulls before the break was not enough to deny the home side who dominated territory and possession after the break and ran in three good tries to clinch their first win.

The Blue Bulls were under the cosh for a little more than the first quarter, but the scoreboard was on their side as Free State flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter struggled to find the target with his penalty attempts and left his side with a mere drop for their three points at the break when the Blue Bulls led 12-3.

Slowly the visitors regained the upper hand after 30 minutes or so, aided by some good work from Deon Stegmann and centre Stefan Watermeyer with two good runs. Pedrie Wannenburg's presence and experience were also noticeable.

The first try of the match, however, came from Man of the Match, Free State prop WP Nel, in the 48th minute, following some excellent work from the two Springboks Kabamba Floors and Jongi Nokwe.

They combined with their international Sevens skills to set up the score, which was all the more impressive as it was achieved during the absence of yellow-carded Robert Ebersohn.

The conversion by Potgieter saw the Free State draw closer on the scoreboard (12-10).

But, despite the Free State having a near 70 percent territorial advantage in the first quarter of the second half, the Blue Bulls, somewhat fortuitously, scored next when Francois Brummer kicked his fifth penalty from five attempts (15-10).

The Cheetahs were getting on top and, not to be outdone, quite deservedly scored in the 60th minute from a tap penalty by the former
Blue Bull scrumhalf who drew the defence perfectly before sending Frans Viljoen over.

This time Potgieter converted from the corner to put his team 17-15 ahead.

The Blue Bulls' earlier fortunes seemed to change as Brummer missed his first from six a minute later - just for Potgieter to miss another relatively easy one.

A great 40 metres run by Nel, who was brought down on the Blue Bulls tryline, resulted in a try for their captain Adriaan Strauss and with the conversion it became 24-15 with 11 minutes remaining and no change to the score.

Scorers:

Free State Cheetahs: Tries: WP Nel, Frans Viljoen, Adriaan Strauss. Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (3). Drop goal: Potgieter.

Blue Bulls: Penalties; Francois Brummer (5).

[Bertie Horak]

Mike - Congratulations on your Cheetahs mauling the Leopards 71-17 last night!

[Michael Alexander]

Mmmh! Ja!...... Why so late in the blerrie season do they wake up?

 

[Michael Alexander]

Go Boks!
Go Cheetahs!
GO Province!

There's my teams for this Saturdays.....rugger!

[Stevie]

I  support   that   choice   of   teams  to  win  this   weekend .
If  all  3   teams   win and  Bulls   loose  then   it will be   a   perfect  weekend for  SA Rugby

[Michael Alexander]

Deel graag met julle rugby365 se prediction:



When these two teams met in Bloemfontein the Free State's victory was part of their revival but now they are at Loftus Versfeld and seven Springboks are back again in the light blue jerseys of home. It is a serious clash - must-win for Griquas, victory preferable for the Blue Bulls.

The Blue Bulls have back Victor Matfield, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Chiliboy Ralepelle, who is on the bench, Morné Steyn, Wynand Olivier and Gürthro Steenkamp. And if they could have picked Fourie du Preez and Bryan Habana, they would have.

But have a look at Free State. They are not going to say After you. They have the ability to attack with Hennie Daniller back and excellent wings in speedy Fabien Juries and impressive Lionel Mapoe. They have a front row that can whack the Blue Bulls whose scrumming has been rickety, and then they have Heinrich Rossouw.

rugby365 Prediction: Free State have often been the Blue Bulls' nemesis and we think that, desperation-driven, they will do it again - just.

[Stevie]

Its   gonna be   a   great   weekend   off  rugby  . Two   games   to   watch   , WP - Griquas    and   Cheetahs   - Bulls  . Hope  Cheetahs   can   keep their hopes  alive . WP can secure   a   home   semi  withh  a   win   this  weekend .

[Michael Alexander]

Ha.... even though we lost , by 3 little points, I am soooo proud of our team, was'nt Fabian Juries, awesome, sidestepping 9 players, including 5 springboks to score a try.... to lose at Loftus bu 3, I' will take it..... should be an easy 10 points for us over the next 2 weeks......

My side is on the up...... woe betide the team who meet us in the semi's.....(if we sneak in via the backdoor)


Well done boys........

[Michael Alexander]

Looking forward to the last log game in the Currie Cup this year....Saturday is gonna be a real cliffhanger if you are a cheetah or Griekwas supporter ..... who will go through to the semi's.....

HAAK VRYSTAAAAAAT!