Preview: Vodacom Cup Round Two
Thu, 04 Mar 2010 16:12
Round Two of the Vodacom Cup will be played this weekend and while the established players get their chance on the big stage in the Super 14, the best of rest of the players in South Africa get their opportunity to impress in this competition.
Students who shine in the Varsity Cup get brought into the Vodacom Cup, which ensures that the most talented youngsters in South African rugby are selected for their provinces.
The Border Bulldogs will be aiming to break a two-year home drought when they take on neighbouring Eastern Province in Queenstown on Saturday. Eastern Province on the other hand, who played to a 27-27 draw with the Pampas XV from Argentina last Friday, have not won a game away from home in two years.
Western Province will be hoping to bounce back to winning ways on Saturday when they host the Sharks XV at Newlands in the main curtain-raiser to the Stormers vs Highlanders match. Western Province conceded a 28-37 defeat to their neighbours, the Boland Kavaliers, in Bredasdorp last Saturday.
The Griffons have never defeated Griquas in the Vodacom Cup and will be hoping to end their seven year drought over their Kimberley opponents on Friday.
The SWD Eagles will also be aiming to secure their first win of the Vodacom Cup when they host the Argentinian Pampas XV on Saturday while the Blue Bulls will be looking to continue their successful record in the Vodacom Cup at Loftus Versfeld when they host the Pumas on Saturday. The hosts have lost only one out of their last ten matches at home.
The Welwitschias of Namibia will also be in action this weekend. They take on the Leopards at Olen Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.
SWD Eagles v Pampas XV
This will be the first game played between these two teams.
In 2009 the SWD Eagles lost only one home game, against the Leopards in the quarter-finals of the Vodacom Cup, but they conceded a home defeat against the Free State (13-22) last Saturday. The Pampas XV secured a 27-27 draw with the Eastern Province last weekend in their first Vodacom Cup match.
The only Springbok in action will be Bevin Fortuin, who has played two Tests for South Africa, while SWD Eagles’ Juandre Blom has represented SA at Sevens level. Isak Saayman will make his 97th appearance for the Eagles.
Date: Saturday, March 6
Venue: D' Almeida Stadium, Mossel Bay
Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Cobus Wessels
Free State v Boland Kavaliers
The game takes place in Bloemfontein, where the Free State have won five of their last eight games. Boland have lost four of their last seven games on the road.
Free State defeated the Boland Cavaliers 30-29 the last time these sides met in the Vodacom Cup.
The Boland Kavaliers team includes three players who have represented the Springboks: Bolla Conradie, Hottie Louw and Hilton Lobberts.
Date: Saturday, March 6
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Referee: Joey Salmans
Assistant referees: Rasta Rashivenga, Marlize Jordaan
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
Western Province v Sharks XV
This is a home game for Western Province. They went through the 2008 season unbeaten at home and they've lost only two of their last nine games in Cape Town, but their season got off to a miserable start last weekend when they lost to Boland Kavaliers.
The Sharks won all three of their away games during the last season’s Vodacom Cup, but in clashes with WP, the Sharks have won only two of the last five encounters.
Players who have experience at Super 14 level are Alistair Hargreaves, Charl McLeod, Monty Dumond, Luzuko Vulindlu, Louis Ludik and Ross Cronje of the Sharks, and in the WP team, JD Moller, Dylan des Fountain, Willem de Waal, Fabian Juries and Frikkie Welsh.
Date: Saturday, March 6
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Lusanda Jam, Marc van Zyl
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Border v Eastern Province
Border have won six of their last nine games against Eastern Province, but their last home win in the Vodacom Cup was in 2007 - that's a full two years without victory at home.
Among the players are Solly Tyibilika, who represented the Springboks in eight Tests, while Lonwabo Mtimka played 101 games for the Boland Kavaliers
The referee will be Jason Jaftha, who has refereed six Vodacom Cup games and also represented SA at the Dubai and George IRB World Sevens Series tournaments. He is particulary highly rated as a young referee of great potential.
Date: Saturday, March 6
Venue: Sandringham SG, Queenstown
Kick-off: 15.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Dilbert November, Fakumile Yamile
Blue Bulls v Pumas
The hosts boast a formidable record at home, having lost only two of their last ten matches in Pretoria. And the last time the Pumas beat the Bulls was in March 2001 - nine years ago, almost to the day.
Among the players who may catch the eye are Blue Bulls Deon Helberg, who represents the Springbok Sevens in the IRB World Sevens Series, and Francois Brummer, who was the top points’ scorer in the 2009 Vodacom Cup with 158. Allistair Kettledas scored six tries in six games for the Pumas in last year’s competition.
Referee Stuart Berry is another on the way up. He handled the Cup final at the recent IRB World Series Sevens tournament in Las Vegas.
Date: Saturday, March 6
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Sewes Terblanche
Griffons v Griquas
The Griffons have won only one out of their last six Vodacom Cup matches at home, while Griquas have lost only two of their last seven matches in this competition on the road. The Griffons have never beaten the Free State at Vodacom Cup level, home or away.
The veteran players in the game are Eddie Fredericks, with 105 games for the Free State Cheetahs, and Sarel Louw, who has played 108 games for the Griffons.
Griquas have won the Vodacom Cup four times - in 1998, 2005, 2007 and again last year.
Refereeing the game will be Jonathan Kaplan, the world's most capped Test referee with 55 international matches to his credit.
Date: Friday, 5 March
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Tiaan Jonker, Local
Valke v Golden Lions
The Golden Lions failed to win a single match away from home during the 2009 Vodacom Cup, but they have won 10 of their 14 games against the Valke.
Golden Lions wing Henno Mentz has played Super Rugby for the Lions and the Sharks and played two Tests for the Springboks in 2004.
Two veterans of the provincial scene in Sout Africa will be in action - Chris Jonck represented Eastern Province in 121 matches before moving to the Golden Lions, while Nico Luus has played 134 games for the Valke.
Date: Saturday, 6 March
Venue: John Vorster Stadium, Nigel
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Bongani Maloni, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: André Watson
Leopards v Welwitschias
In their three home games last year, the Leopards won one, lost one and drew one. The Leopards and Welwitschias have played three times previously, with each winning one game in 1999 and the Leopards winning in 2000.
The Namibian Rugby team has qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.
Chaka Willemse is coaching the Leopards for the fourth successive season in this year’s Vodacom Cup, while referee Pro Legoete has officiated in two Super 14 matches this season.
Date: Friday, 5 March 2010
Venue:
Olen Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 18.30 (16.30 GMT)
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Willie Killian
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