2020/21 Carling Currie Cup

[OomStruisbaai]

I get the reason behind the Franchinse Cup - to keep the players fit and playing - but I just don't like meaningless tournaments. Even the way they blended the end of the SR competition with Currie Cup was weird. And now to kick out two teams which have actually been good value to watch.

When the SR competition started the planing was that the Springbokke would play in the RC. Thar did not realized because the government kept the lock down longer and the players could not had enough conditioning and match practice.

Why are you so short on memory?

[assfly]

When the SR competition started the planing was that the Springbokke would play in the RC. Thar did not realized because the government kept the lock down longer and the players could not had enough conditioning and match practice.

Why are you so short on memory?

I know all of that. My point remains. It's a meaningless competition where we're going to see the same teams play each other again and again and again.

I would have like to have seen some matches with some NH teams. If we're joining the Rainbow Cup in April then it would be ideal for us to head up there and play some matches there. Saracens have talked about coming down for some games, it would be great to see some other teams do the same.

[handyman]

When the SR competition started the planing was that the Springbokke would play in the RC. Thar did not realized because the government kept the lock down longer and the players could not had enough conditioning and match practice.

Why are you so short on memory?

I know all of that. My point remains. It's a meaningless competition where we're going to see the same teams play each other again and again and again.

I would have like to have seen some matches with some NH teams. If we're joining the Rainbow Cup in April then it would be ideal for us to head up there and play some matches there. Saracens have talked about coming down for some games, it would be great to see some other teams do the same.

Borders just closed down boet. We have to be honest with ourselves, teams are not standing in line to come and play in SA right at this moment, they have their own tournaments and Covid issues.

I think all that Rassie wants is for our players to play, even if it's the same teams. We need the fitness and more than that, we need to improve, the level of play atm is a worry.

[assfly]

Borders just closed down boet. We have to be honest with ourselves, teams are not standing in line to come and play in SA right at this moment, they have their own tournaments and Covid issues.

I think all that Rassie wants is for our players to play, even if it's the same teams. We need the fitness and more than that, we need to improve, the level of play atm is a worry.

Land borders have closed. Nothing stopping flights.

I get the need to play. That's why I'd suggest we go up north and play a couple of games there. We need to start getting used to conditions there.

[Sandstorm]

When the SR competition started the planing was that the Springbokke would play in the RC. Thar did not realized because the government kept the lock down longer and the players could not had enough conditioning and match practice.

Why are you so short on memory?

I know all of that. My point remains. It's a meaningless competition where we're going to see the same teams play each other again and again and again.

I would have like to have seen some matches with some NH teams. If we're joining the Rainbow Cup in April then it would be ideal for us to head up there and play some matches there. Saracens have talked about coming down for some games, it would be great to see some other teams do the same.

Celtic Football went to Dubai recently during lockdown for a training session and the UK population went ballistic! Don’t expect Sharks to get invited back to Twickers any time soon.

[Blake]

I wonder if the idea to ship our top 5 teams (150 players) over to Aus/NZ, quarantine them for 14 days or whatever, and have them stay there for a couple of months until things have settled down here have been considered?

They can all get match fit there, play their games in small stadiums (more fans than here anyway) and then play some proper matches in Super Rugby and TRC...if they'll host us for that long.

With the second wave rampant in SA and Europe I can't see any tournaments being sustainable when one team or another has an outbreak every other week.

[OomStruisbaai]

Blake how much will that cost?

Rugby struggle everywhere.

[handyman]

I wonder if the idea to ship our top 5 teams (150 players) over to Aus/NZ, quarantine them for 14 days or whatever, and have them stay there for a couple of months until things have settled down here have been considered?

They can all get match fit there, play their games in small stadiums (more fans than here anyway) and then play some proper matches in Super Rugby and TRC...if they'll host us for that long.

With the second wave rampant in SA and Europe I can't see any tournaments being sustainable when one team or another has an outbreak every other week.

Sounds extremely expensive tho.

[Sandstorm]

I wonder if the idea to ship our top 5 teams (150 players) over to Aus/NZ, quarantine them for 14 days or whatever, and have them stay there for a couple of months until things have settled down here have been considered?

They can all get match fit there, play their games in small stadiums (more fans than here anyway) and then play some proper matches in Super Rugby and TRC...if they'll host us for that long.

With the second wave rampant in SA and Europe I can't see any tournaments being sustainable when one team or another has an outbreak every other week.

We’ve left the ANZACS, forget going back there outside Test window.

[Blake]

Blake how much will that cost?

Rugby struggle everywhere.

Probably a fortune...especially with the exchange rate. But this play-stop-play-stop situation added with the uncertainty of where, when and if our players will be able to play internationally is also problematic.

Maybe then don't send over 150 players, send over the top 50 and have them play as an exhibition team...SA A, or SA Invitational or SA Barbarians or something.

[OomStruisbaai]

Blake no one will watch that. No TV revenue

[handyman]

Blake no one will watch that. No TV revenue

Agreed. There's nothing on the table except our own teams playing against each other. We just have to up the quality.

[OomStruisbaai]

Blake no one will watch that. No TV revenue

Agreed. There's nothing on the table except our own teams playing against each other. We just have to up the quality.

Our provincial teams is the best seller for DStv who sponsor NZ Aus rugby for many years. We need to get into the 6 Nations and tour to and from the All Blacks. Thats the golden goose.

[Blake]

Blake no one will watch that. No TV revenue

Agreed. There's nothing on the table except our own teams playing against each other. We just have to up the quality.

Our provincial teams is the best seller for DStv who sponsor NZ Aus rugby for many years. We need to get into the 6 Nations and tour to and from the All Blacks. Thats the golden goose.

Medium to long term I agree with you guys 100%.

We need a short term solution for the next 8-12 months. The reality is that NZ and Aus are the only "safezones" until the vaccine can be rolled out broadly.
We are likely to be the major rugby power that gets there last so we need to have some plans in place to keep our players playing.

The only other option (and it's one I am hoping fore) is that there will be an over-supply of vaccines soon. Then corporate entities (like SARU or SARPU) and health insurers (like Discovery) will be able to buy them up in parallel with governments, and administer them to their employees and clients and have them "jump the queue"...because as it stands now, rugby players are last on the vaccine roll-out plan...just like most of us.

[FalseBayFC]

Mallett, Swys concerned over SA's rugby product: 'It sadly doesn't make for good viewing' | Sport
https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curr ... g-20210112

Tend to agree with Mallet and Swys here. There have been glimpses of flair, but I thought the same thing about the u21 competition too. Kids who looked full of flair at schoolboy level just didn't display much.

Part of it I believe is due to the interruption in coaching and practice. Skill levels and team cohesion dropping off. I also believe the box kick, up and under so beloved of our teams is no longer effective, competing for the high ball now not really allowed. The international and top level teams will also easily deal with the rolling maul corner kick tactic. This currie cup has seen lots of fatties at first receiver making a few metres or none, phase after fucking phase.

[Sards]

Mallett, Swys concerned over SA's rugby product: 'It sadly doesn't make for good viewing' | Sport
https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/curr ... g-20210112

Tend to agree with Mallet and Swys here. There have been glimpses of flair, but I thought the same thing about the u21 competition too. Kids who looked full of flair at schoolboy level just didn't display much.

Part of it I believe is due to the interruption in coaching and practice. Skill levels and team cohesion dropping off. I also believe the box kick, up and under so beloved of our teams is no longer effective, competing for the high ball now not really allowed. The international and top level teams will also easily deal with the rolling maul corner kick tactic. This currie cup has seen lots of fatties at first receiver making a few metres or none, phase after fucking phase.

The up and under is Rassies favorite tactic...if you want a look in at the Boks thats what you must do unfortunately for the game...

Wev'e got the Sharks kicking up and unders and the Stormers scrumming everything....to death....ugly rugby...Rassie rugby...

I would like Rassie as the DOR to weigh in on this matter and explain what he is after for the Boks.....

[Chilli]

There could be a way to peak a bit of interest in domestic Rugby.
What about a "State of Origin" type tournament?
Current players playing is SA split into 6 teams of where they matriculated?
Home and away games played over 12 weeks top 4 in semis then a final?

[FalseBayFC]

There could be a way to peak a bit of interest in domestic Rugby.
What about a "State of Origin" type tournament?
Current players playing is SA split into 6 teams of where they matriculated?
Home and away games played over 12 weeks top 4 in semis then a final?

Boland would win. Paul Roos, Paarl schools etc.

[Sandstorm]

There could be a way to peak a bit of interest in domestic Rugby.
What about a "State of Origin" type tournament?
Current players playing is SA split into 6 teams of where they matriculated?
Home and away games played over 12 weeks top 4 in semis then a final?

Shush Bruce

[Chilli]

There could be a way to peak a bit of interest in domestic Rugby.
What about a "State of Origin" type tournament?
Current players playing is SA split into 6 teams of where they matriculated?
Home and away games played over 12 weeks top 4 in semis then a final?

Shush Bruce

All right Cobber

[Chilli]

There could be a way to peak a bit of interest in domestic Rugby.
What about a "State of Origin" type tournament?
Current players playing is SA split into 6 teams of where they matriculated?
Home and away games played over 12 weeks top 4 in semis then a final?

Boland would win. Paul Roos, Paarl schools etc.

Freestate would be competitive.

Sharks fucked

[FalseBayFC]

There could be a way to peak a bit of interest in domestic Rugby.
What about a "State of Origin" type tournament?
Current players playing is SA split into 6 teams of where they matriculated?
Home and away games played over 12 weeks top 4 in semis then a final?

Boland would win. Paul Roos, Paarl schools etc.

Freestate would be competitive.

Sharks fucked

Nah, our bursary boys from Border/Eastern Cape would make us pretty competitive. We've done fairly well in the last few Craven Weeks.

[OomStruisbaai]

Current players playing is SA split into 6 teams of where they matriculated?

Paul Roos and Grey College will beat everyone.

2019 WC Squad
Paul Roos Gymnasium
Schalk Brits (Empangeni)
Steven Kitshoff (Somerset West)
Willie le Roux (Cape Town)
Herschel Jantjies (Stellenbosch)
Damian Willemse (Strand)

Grey College
Cobus Reinach (Bloemfontein)
François Steyn (Aliwal North)

Hugenote Hoërskool/Highschool
Vincent Koch (Empangeni)

Hugenote – Springs
Lood de Jager (Alberton)

ADVERTISEMENT

Affies
RG Snyman (Potchefstroom)

Ben Vorster
Trevor Nyakane (Bushbuck Ridge)

Bethlehem Voortrekker
Bongi Mbonambi (Bethlehem)

Bishops
Francois Louw (Cape Town)

Brackenfell
Cheslin Kolbe (Kraaifontein)

Brits High
Franco Mostert (Bloemfontein)

De Vos Malan
Lukhanyo Am (King William’s Town)

Florida Hoërskool
Elton Jantjies (Graaff-Reinet)

Grey High
Siya Kolisi (Port Elizabeth)

HTS Middelburg
Kwagga Smith (Alberton)

Jeppe
Sibusiso Nkosi (Barberton)

Jim Mvabaza High
Makazole Mapimpi (Mdantsane)

King Edward VII (School (KES)
Malcolm Marx (Germiston)

Maritzburg College
Jesse Kriel (Cape Town)

Milnerton
Damian de Allende (Cape Town)

Nelspruit
Duane Vermeulen (Nelspruit)

Outeniqua
Warrick Gelant (Knysna)

Paarl Boys’ High
Frans Malherbe (Paarl)

Paarl Gim
Handré Pollard (Somerset West)

Peterhouse, Zimbabwe
Tendai Mtawarira (Harare)

Swartland
Pieter-Steph du Toit (Cape Town)

Tygerberg
Eben Etzebeth (Cape Town)

Waterkloof
Faf de Klerk (Nelspruit)

[Chilli]

The WP would claim the Bolands players

[Sandstorm]

The WP would claim the Bolands players

There's a winning backline already:


9.Herschel Jantjies (Stellenbosch)
10. Handré Pollard (Somerset West)
11. Francois Lowe (Cape Town)
12. Damian de Allende (Cape Town)
13. Jesse Kriel (Cape Town)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Kraaifontein)
15. Willie le Roux (Cape Town)

22. Damian Willemse (Strand)
23. Tim Swiel (Cape Town)

[OomStruisbaai]

The WP would claim the Bolands players

Boland delivers the quality Springbokke.

[FalseBayFC]

Jesse Kriel is the only KZN matriculated Bok currently.

[OomStruisbaai]

The WP would claim the Bolands players

There's a winning backline already:


9.Herschel Jantjies (Stellenbosch)
10. Handré Pollard (Somerset West)
11. Francois Lowe (Cape Town)
12. Damian de Allende (Cape Town)
13. Jesse Kriel (Cape Town)
14. Cheslin Kolbe (Kraaifontein)
15. Willie le Roux (Cape Town)

22. Damian Willemse (Strand)
23. Tim Swiel (Cape Town)

Francois Louw on the wing? Willie le Roux to replace him with Willemse in 15

[Chilli]

Steyn, Kitshoff dominate Carling Currie Cup stats

Rugby World Cup-winning Springboks Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) and Steven Kitshoff (DHL Western Province) showed why they are rated amongst the best players in the world by dominating the overall stats at the completion of this year’s regulation matches in the Carling Currie Cup.

Steyn (73 points) not only scored the most points after the league matches were done, he also made 40 ball carries, topping the list with Kitshoff, as well as another experienced campaigner, Willem Alberts from the Xerox Lions.

Steyn also held sway in kicking accuracy, with a 93.55% success rate in slotting his 29 penalty goals and conversions from 31 attempts at goal during the Carling Currie Cup.

Kitshoff yet again underlined his value at the breakdown, with the Springbok prop ranking in the top five amongst tackles made and ball steals.

Eduan Keyter crosses the tryline for Tafel Lager Griquas
Eduan Keyter crosses the tryline for Tafel Lager Griquas

Eduan Keyter (Tafel Lager Griquas) topped the try-scoring list with four tries, while Ali Mgijima of the Phakisa Pumas and the Toyota Cheetahs’ Jeandre Rudolph topped the list for tackles made with 62 apiece.

Rudolph, who joined the Free Staters earlier this season, also topped the lists for ball steals and breakdown turnovers.

The semi-finals of the Carling Currie Cup will be played next weekend and it remains to be seen whether any player will attempt a drop goal, as none of them were scored in regulation play.

Carling Currie Cup stats summaries (provided by Stratus):

Most points
73: Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) – 15 pg, 14 conv
63: Tiaan Swanepoel (Xerox Lions) – 3 tries, 16 pg
56: Curwin Bosch (Cell C Sharks) – 10 pg, 13 conv
44: Tim Swiel (DHL Western Province) – 12 pg, 4 conv
40: Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls) – 10 pg, 5 conv

Kicking accuracy
Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs) 93.55%
Morné Steyn (Vodacom Bulls) 88.24%
Tiaan Swanepoel (Xerox Lions) 84.21%
Curwin Bosch (Cell C Sharks) 82.14%
Ginter Smuts (Phakisa Pumas) 80.00%

Most tries
4: Eduan Keyter (Tafel Lager Griquas)
3: Tiaan Swanepoel (Xerox Lions)
3: Gideon van der Merwe (Tafel Lager Griquas)
3: Daniel Maartens (Phakisa Pumas)
3: Marco van Staden (Vodacom Bulls)
3: Willie Engelbrecht (Phakisa Pumas)
3: Bongi Mbonambi (DHL Western Province)
3: Yaw Penxe (Cell C Sharks)
3: Courtnall Skosan (Xerox Lions)
3: Marnus van der Merwe (Toyota Cheetahs)

Ball carries
40: Steven Kitshoff (DHL Western Province)
40: Willem Alberts (Xerox Lions)
40: Frans Steyn (Toyota Cheetahs)
39: Clayton Blommetjies (Toyota Cheetahs)
38: Tiaan Swanepoel (Xerox Lions)
35: Darrien Landsberg (Phakisa Pumas)
34: Marvin Orie (Xerox Lions)

Linebreaks
3: Ali Mgijima (Phakisa Pumas)
3: Berton Klaasen (Tafel Lager Griquas)
3: Siya Kolisi (DHL Western Province)

Offloads
8: Luther Obi (Phakisa Pumas)
7: Damian Willemse (DHL Western Province)
7: Rikus Pretorius (DHL Western Province)
7: Clayton Blommetjies (Toyota Cheetahs)

Most tackles made
62: Ali Mgijima (Phakisa Pumas)
62: Jeandre Rudolph (Toyota Cheetahs)
60: Daniel Maartens (Phakisa Pumas)
55: Steven Kitshoff (DHL Western Province)
53: Andisa Ntsila (Toyota Cheetahs)

Total ball steals
4: Jeandre Rudolph (Toyota Cheetahs)
3: Gideon van der Merwe (Tafel Lager Griquas)
3: Steven Kitshoff (DHL Western Province)
3: Daniel Maartens (Phakisa Pumas)
2: Ox Nche (Cell C Sharks)

Breakdown turnovers
9: Jeandre Rudolph (Toyota Cheetahs)
8: Gideon van der Merwe (Tafel Lager Griquas)
5: Steven Kitshoff (DHL Western Province)
4: Daniel Maartens (Phakisa Pumas)
4: Jaco Visagie (Xerox Lions)

Carling Currie Cup

Kitshoff, Steyn and Rudolph the best 3 players.

[handyman]

Oom, what school did your children go to?

[Kiap]

Oom, what school did your children go to?

Paarl Gim, cobber.

[handyman]

Oom, what school did your children go to?

Paarl Gim, cobber.

Cheers.

[assfly]

Kitshoff, Steyn and Rudolph the best 3 players.

The most linebreaks by a player: 3

[Chilli]

Kitshoff, Steyn and Rudolph the best 3 players.

The most linebreaks by a player: 3

And 1 of them is future Sharks Captain who only played 1 or 2 games.

[Blake]

Oom, what school did your children go to?

Paarl Gim, cobber.

Cheers.

I could be wrong, but I think his youngest went to Paul Roos because they had a better hokey setup.
I seem to recall something like that.

[average joe]

Kitshoff, Steyn and Rudolph the best 3 players.

The most linebreaks by a player: 3

How do they figure that? I'm sure Specman had more than that in half a game.

[OomStruisbaai]

Paarl Gim, cobber.

Cheers.

I could be wrong, but I think his youngest went to Paul Roos because they had a better hokey setup.
I seem to recall something like that.

[handyman]

Kitshoff, Steyn and Rudolph the best 3 players.

The most linebreaks by a player: 3

How do they figure that? I'm sure Specman had more than that in half a game.

Sevens is Spekkies se game.

[OomStruisbaai]

Paul Roos current players. Sure can get a decent team out of them.

[Chilli]

Paul Roos current players. Sure can get a decent team out of them.

The Freestate will beat this team of superstars