Preview: Vodacom Cup, semifinals
Fri, 02 May 2008 00:26
The Blue Bulls and Griquas play one another at Loftus in one Vodacom Cup semifinal on Saturday in a repeat of last year's memorable Final that went right down to the wire, while Western province face Free State at Newlands.
The play-off stages are always difficult to predict as it hinges on a single win or loss, but the form of the Blue Bulls last weekend in the quarterfinals, when they swamped the Lions 51-7, must make them favourites.
They have a blend of youngsters and a few old hands. After their shaky start to the season, the side has matured into an impressive outfit.
But they will be without Fudge Mabeta, whose line-out work will be sorely missed against a side that consists mostly of players with Currie Cup experience and who have been together for some time.
Griquas can be expected to try to tie the younger Blue Bulls up with their forwards.
Bulls coach Nico Serfontein expects a physical onslaught from the Griquas.
"I'm sure they will try to bully our young players and in their position I would have done the same," he said but warned that his side would be up for the challenge.
Both teams are experienced semifinal contenders, Griquas having reached the last four on eight previous occasions and the Blue Bulls six times.
In their nine previous Vodacom Cup meetings Griquas have won five and the Blue Bulls four.
However, the visitors last won at Loftus in 2005, and home advantage and youthful exuberance with a classy flyhalf star of the future in Burton Francis and experienced scrumhalf JP Joubert could sway matters the Blue Bulls' way.
At Newlands, an experienced Western Province would have been favourites against the Free State Cheetahs.
However, injuries in the Stormers' ranks has seen their coach Rassie Erasmus draw three players from the Vodacom Cup side, and that could have an effect in a match that comes at the right time for the Free State.
They started well, stuttered with two 50-pointers against them and then recovered in their last few matches including the quarterfinal against the tough Boland Cavaliers.
Western Province flyhalf Isma-eel Dollie, who is a point-scorer of note, but does not always convince with his all-round play against the tougher opponents, will be a key player.
Pressure on him could nullify the dangerous WP backline against a side that will also take the ball wide when possible.
Both sides have struggled in previous semifinals. The Free State Cheetahs have won only one of their four attempts to reach the Final, and the home side have lost three of their four semifinals.
WP will go into the match as favourites but will do well not to underestimate their opponents.
Teams:
Saturday, May 3:
Blue Bulls v Griquas
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - 12.15 (10.15
GMT)
Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 John Mametsa, 13 Braam Gerber, 12 Ruan Boshoff, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Burton Francis, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Carel Hoffman (captain), 7 Vincent Gwavu, 6 Okkie Kruger, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Dean Greyling, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Rassie Van Vuuren.
Replacements: 16 Henri Bantjes, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Hilton Lobberts, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Stefan Watermeyer, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.
Griquas squad: Riaan Viljoen, Bjorn Basson, Lafras Uys, Barry Geel, Gavin Passens, Tobie Botes, Sarel Pretorius, Heinrich Stride, Rohan Kitshoff, Stefan Gerber, Cilliers Coetzer, Albertus Buckle, Bees van Dyk, Dean Hopp, Brendon Snyman, Wayne van Heerden, Dougie Helmuth, Herkie Kruger/Siviwe Magaba, Jeremy Plaatjies.
Western Province v Free State Cheetahs
Newlands, Cape Town - 14.00 (12.00 GMT)
Western
Province: 15 Hayden Groepies, 14 Terry Jacobs, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Morgan Newman, 11 Zhahier Ryland, 10 Isma-eel Dollie, 9 Allister Siegelaar, 8 Justin Melck, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Tyrone Holmes, 5 Rito Hlungwani, 4 Francois van der Merwe, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Hanyani Shimange (captain), 1 Michael De Neully Rice.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 George Earle, 19 Nico Du Plessis, 20 Paul Delport, 21 Ricardo Croy, 22 Dabeon Draghoender.
Free State Cheetahs: TBC
