Currie Cup

[FalseBayFC]

Should be a good game. Lots of youngsters. I'm hoping for some improvement from the Sharks CC team tomorrow. They've been disappointing so far.

[FalseBayFC]

Keep an eye on Mpilo Gumede. A DHS boy with a big future. I rate him very highly. He's a bigger faster version of Phepsi Buthelezi who's been progressing very nicely. Born and raised in Zululand which is fast becoming a source of quality players.

[OomStruisbaai]

I like Neethling Fouche.

[OomStruisbaai]

This is why I love WeePee.

[OomStruisbaai]

Xaba for Springbokke!!!

[OomStruisbaai]

[assfly]

That's very funny

[FalseBayFC]

Bulls playing a young side this weekend with only a couple of the URC Bench players in the side. Also have the Tuks winger Mokoena in the team. Juan Mostert gets his start at flyhalf.

Vodacom Bulls: James Verity-Amm, David Kriel, Stedman Gans, Marco Jansen van Vuren , Kabelo Mokoena, Juan Mostert, Keagan Johannes; Muller Uys, Reinhardt Ludwig, Jaco Labuschagne, Janko Swanepoel, Raynard Roets, Dylan Smith, Bismarck du Plessis, Lizo Gqoboka (captain)

Replacements: Sidney Tobias, Cebo Dlamini, Francois Kloppers, Ruan Delport, Stephan Smith ; Bernard van der Linde, Diego Appollis, Richard Kriel

Looking forward to see how Juan Mostert goes. He's a Beauden Barrett type flyhalf. Plenty of gas and very elusive.

[OomStruisbaai]

Spec Magic

[OomStruisbaai]

The crowd is over the street at Grey College

[OomStruisbaai]

Cheetahs 24-10 . Bonus point tries bagged.

[OomStruisbaai]

Sharks have seriously depth problems. Maties will beat their CC team.

[OomStruisbaai]

Cheetahs 44-15 Sharks

[Sards]

Coach is out of his depth.
But Cheetahs were sublime.
Specman is unbelievable. Absolute class

[Chilli]

VRYSTAAT
Tough one $harks.

[FalseBayFC]

VRYSTAAT
Tough one $harks.

The real heart of rugby in South Africa. Money can't buy that. Loving the Free State no.10.

[Sards]

VRYSTAAT
Tough one $harks.

The real heart of rugby in South Africa. Money can't buy that. Loving the Free State no.10.

Loving everything about them. Although that's their first team.

[Chilli]

VRYSTAAT
Tough one $harks.

The real heart of rugby in South Africa. Money can't buy that. Loving the Free State no.10.

Loving everything about them. Although that's their first team.

Only team.

[Sards]

Specman or Senatla

[OomStruisbaai]

Log:
1. Bulls Played 10 - 42 pts
2. Cheetahs Played 9 - 41 pts
3. Sharks Played 10 - 24 pts
4. Griquas Played 9 - 21 pts
5. Pumas Played 9 - 20 pts
6. WP Played 9 - 13 pts
7 Lions Played Played 10 - 5 pts

3 Rounds left

R12
Bulls Pumas
Griquas Cheetahs
Lions WP
R13
Cheetahs Pumas
WP Griquas
Sharks Lions
R14
Pumas Griquas
Cheetahs Bulls
WP Sharks

[OomStruisbaai]

Xaba for Springbokke!!!

R365

South Africa is well-stocked with quality loose forwards – the skilful carriers, powerful defenders, those who add value in the line-outs and the bruisers.

Then there are the breakdown specialist – the poachers or fetchers.

Kuyenzeka Xaba, affectionately known as Nama, is one such player – a man with a bright future, someone who is earmarked for higher honours.

Described as a “very good leader” on and off the field, Xaba currently captains the Western Province Currie Cup team.

Born in Durban and schooled at Glenwood High, before moving to Cape Town, he is the inspiration behind WP’s recovery from a seven-match losing streak to beat the Pumas in a Round 11 match at the weekend.

Xaba produced a breakdown masterclass in Nelspruit at the weekend, when WP dented the Pumas’ hopes of reaching the Currie Cup playoffs.

Province, in a drama-filled encounter at the Mbombela Stadium, won 23-17.

It was to be expected that there would be plaudits for the inspirational WP skipper.

“He has a good work ethic,” WP coach Jerome Paarwater told @rugby365com, when asked about the ambitious 24-year-old flank.

“It doesn’t just happen. He will spend an hour after every practice doing work on his own – work on his breakdown skills.

“In the past referees were penalising him for coming in from the side and he worked on it.

“He is the only player I give freedom to go and poach the ball.

“He is a class player, who played Under-21 with me for two years.

“He is putting Deon Fourie under pressure [in the United Rugby Championship team].

“That is what the Stormers coaches want, for our guys [Currie Cup players] to put them [URC players] under pressure.”

[OomStruisbaai]

WP vs Lions
Western Province – 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 10 Timothy Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Junior Pokomela, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (c), 5 Adre Smith, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Subs: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

[FalseBayFC]

WP vs Lions
Western Province – 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 10 Timothy Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Junior Pokomela, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (c), 5 Adre Smith, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Subs: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

Our Wynberg tank Ebenezer at no.11. He is such a great kid. He'll go far.
Here he is as an 18 year old last year at 'berg.

[OomStruisbaai]

Thanks for that. WP are fortunate having such a great schoolboy rugby factory. I like that Hartzenberg kid from UCT. Wonder why they haven't contracted him.

[OomStruisbaai]

Bulls: 15 James Verity-Am, 14 David Kriel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Marco Janse van Vuren, 11 Richard Kriel, 10 Morne' Steyn, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain).
Replacements: 16 Sidney Tobias, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Kloppers, 19 Raynard Roetz, 20 Stephan Smith, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Tharquinn Manuel

Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Alwayno Visagie, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Francois Kleinhans, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Aliqhayiya Mgijima, 23 Jade Stighling.

Date: Friday, May 27
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Paul Mente, Local appointment
TMO: Quinton Immelman

[OomStruisbaai]

Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Alex-Zander Du Plessis, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Sibabalo Qoma, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Carl Els, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Christopher Hollis.

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies , 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Siyabonga Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Cohen Jasper.

Date: Saturday, May 28
Venue: Griquas Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 14.30 (12.30 GMT)
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Phumzile Mbewu, Local
TMO: Christie du Preez

[OomStruisbaai]

Saterdag 28 Mei op Ellispark, afskop 17:00

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant Referees: Ashleigh Murray-Pretorius, Local
Television Match Official: Marius van der Westhuizen

WP vs Lions
Western Province – 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 10 Timothy Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Junior Pokomela, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (c), 5 Adre Smith, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Subs: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Henco Van Wyk, 12 Matt More, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanual Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Morne Brandon, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 PJ Steenkamp, 20 Jarod Cairns, 21 Morne Van den Berg, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 James Tedder.

[OomStruisbaai]

WP need to win a full strength Lions team and hope for the Bulls and Cheetahs win to get into striking distance of the semi contenders.

Will require a massive effort like against the Pumas

[OomStruisbaai]

Pumas playing well with 14 men

[bok_viking]

2nd yellow for the Pumas was a bit harsh, even though I can see what the ref says. Bulls are a bit lucky tonight. This team also looks very rusty after not playing for a few weeks. I really hope next season we will not see all these gaps big gaps between games. 1 week of here and there is ok, but these 2-3-4 week gaps we are having must be tough on the consistency of players/team. I can definitely see why Jake kept on playing URC players in the Currie Cup during those breaks.

Tough luck for the Pumas tonight, they seem to want this a lot more, ill discipline is costing them again, same as against the WP last time out.

[OomStruisbaai]

Pumas playing with 13, deserve a win here

[bok_viking]

Pumas playing with 13, deserve a win here

Yeah tough one for the Pumas, i am sure if they did not get that red that they most likely would have won this game, the Bulls were not in it for large parts of the game. They have become quite a tough team to beat over last few seasons considering how many players they lose every season. They are my 2nd team as my father played for them many years ago in the old SE Transvaal and I did Craven week for them.

[OomStruisbaai]

That 2 points are valuable for them.

[FalseBayFC]

Youtube Supersport Schools are showing 3 live games from the Currie Cup 1st Div today. For those interested, there are 3 overseas teams playing in this league. The Georgian Black Lions, Zimbabwe Goshawks and Kenya Simbas. The coverage is not great technically but its good to support the development effort and I like to watch a bit and give them a click and a like.

The Goshawks game is being played at City Park in Athlone Cape Town. Some of the games are being played at local club venues as double headers with club games. This is a great way to put some extra bums on seats and earn a bit of extra pub, grub, hosting and entrance fees for these clubs and venues.

[OomStruisbaai]

Cheetahs back to their usual.

[FalseBayFC]

Griquas and Pumas do really well with the resources they have. Jimmy Stonehouse must surely be ready for a gig in the big leagues. Pieter Bergh at Griquas is also doing really well.

[FalseBayFC]

Watching the Lions - WP. Emmanuel Tsthituka is ridiculously athletic! He's going to be as good as Vincent. The grapevine whispers I hear suggest they're committed to the Boks and are not far away from getting passports. The brothers went to Northcliff and talk with lekker Joburg accents. They've lived for more than half there life here and its a travesty that they have to fight so hard for citizenship.

[FalseBayFC]

Watching the Lions - WP. Emmanuel Tsthituka is ridiculously athletic! He's going to be as good as Vincent. The grapevine whispers I hear suggest they're committed to the Boks and are not far away from getting passports. The brothers went to Northcliff and talk with lekker Joburg accents. They've lived for more than half there life here and its a travesty that they have to fight so hard for citizenship.

[OomStruisbaai]

Lions all over WP. As good as they were so clueless are they tonight.

Griquas played outstandingly today with lots of passion.

[FalseBayFC]

Lions all over WP. As good as they were so clueless are they tonight.

Griquas played outstandingly today with lots of passion.

Rhule and Leyds are playing very well for La Rochelle in the final.