S
stormer2010
Guest
2009 is coming to a close and what a year it was for South African rugby. This topic is concerned with happenings in the Currie cup and with the Springbok end of year tour.
Currie cup;
Two teams, in the Sharks and Western Province, are already assured of at least a spot in the semi's and with a relatively easy draw for the final two rounds and a decent lead they should finish in 1st and 2nd place. Province needing 1 more point to level scores and edge table topping Sharks on points differential. The Blue Bulls having edged the Cheetahs in a close game during the weekend have made live difficult for the Cheetahs and with their Boks' return one would imagine that they should finish 3rd. With the Lions' chances of making the semi's purely a mathematical one, that leaves the Griquas and the Cheetahs. Griquas are 8 points ahead on the log but face a nightmare close to the tournament in facing both the Sharks and the Bulls. Cheetahs on the other hand should run away in their next two fixtures against CC minnows Leopards and Boland. I would think that the Cheetahs should pick up the possible 10 points leaving Griquas needing to beat either the Sharks or Bulls as 2 bonus points for losing by less than 7 won't help with their poor points differential compared to that of the Cheetahs.
I guess Dawie Theron and Griqua supporters are hoping for rain in Wellington and crossing their fingers.
My prediction; well, I'm hoping for a WP vs Bulls final in Newlands.
Springbok end of year tour;
Apparently Peter de Villiers is taking a squad of 37 players along for the end of year tour. With the departure of Jean de Villiers and Francois Steyn to play European club rugby that creates a possibility of a considerable amount of new faces in the Bok squad. PdV tested his depth against the B & I Lions in the third test this year without success but I hope that some of these players don't pay for that as the Lions were a quality side and it was foolhardy to make wholesale change and expect victory. It would be a shame to not see the likes of Zane Kirschner not play for the Boks again based on that one match. I wonder if it is also the reason Olivier and Kankowski have hardly seen a game after the tour.
That said, the emerging Springboks and some show of form in the Curry cup makes me hopeful of South African rugby indeed having the depth to continue to go from strength to strength. Even barring PdV not reconsidering his policy on the non selection of overseas based players. The name Juan de Jongh springs to mind and he is an automatic inclusion in my opinion and it should be a battle between him and Wynand Olivier for the no12 jersey. The departure of Frans Steyn leaves the current Bok squad without a recognized fullback again and as I hope that PdV won't opt for Ruan Pienaar in that position again and with the best player in SA in Stefan Terblanche probably not going to get a call up due to age that probably leaves Zane Kirschner as PdV's likely choice. I do hope, though, that Griquas' Riaan Viljoen at leasts gets some consideration as I believe that he has been the best fullback in the Currie cup this season behind Terblanche.
Apart form that one would expect the usual suspects and probably some surprise selections. This is Peter de Villiers we are talking about. There have been rumors of the inclusion of winger Lionell Mapoe and Bok sevens player Mpho Mbiyozo. Both exciting players but they face tough competition, especially with SA's depth of talent in the loose forward dept. The names of Dewald Potgieter, Jean Deysel, Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts and Francois Louw should be mentioned. One can only hope that PdV does not continue to force the issue of Earl Rose. How any national coach can select a player that does not play for his province if the provincial coach can help it is beyond me. I would also hope that apart from young players getting some exposure, this tour gives regulars who have not shown their class this year a chance to validate their continued selection. Players like Schalk Burger, Ricky Januarie, Andries Bekker, Guthro Steenkamp, Adi Jacobs, Ryan Kankowski, Jannie de Beer, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies and Wynand Olivier have either not had game time or had not shown why they deserve game time. It would also be interesting how our scrum fairs against our Northern foes. I for one am still not convinced of the move of John Smit to prop but if it manages having both the best hooker currently playing and arguably the most inspirational test captain ever in the same front row line-up is probably worth the struggle.
My picks for a 37 man squad;
Backs;
Fourie du Preez, Jano Vermaak, Ruan Pienaar, Morne Steyn, Peter Grant, Morgan Newman, Jacque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Adrian Jacobs, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Joe Pietersen, Lionell Mapoe, Gerhard van der Heever, Zane Kirschner, Riaan Viljoen
Forwards;
Tendai Mtawarira, WP Nel, Brok Harris, John Smit, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Andries Bekker, Anton van Zyl, Steven Sykes, Heinrich Brussouw, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski
but I guess my selections show my WP biased
Currie cup;
Two teams, in the Sharks and Western Province, are already assured of at least a spot in the semi's and with a relatively easy draw for the final two rounds and a decent lead they should finish in 1st and 2nd place. Province needing 1 more point to level scores and edge table topping Sharks on points differential. The Blue Bulls having edged the Cheetahs in a close game during the weekend have made live difficult for the Cheetahs and with their Boks' return one would imagine that they should finish 3rd. With the Lions' chances of making the semi's purely a mathematical one, that leaves the Griquas and the Cheetahs. Griquas are 8 points ahead on the log but face a nightmare close to the tournament in facing both the Sharks and the Bulls. Cheetahs on the other hand should run away in their next two fixtures against CC minnows Leopards and Boland. I would think that the Cheetahs should pick up the possible 10 points leaving Griquas needing to beat either the Sharks or Bulls as 2 bonus points for losing by less than 7 won't help with their poor points differential compared to that of the Cheetahs.
I guess Dawie Theron and Griqua supporters are hoping for rain in Wellington and crossing their fingers.
My prediction; well, I'm hoping for a WP vs Bulls final in Newlands.
Springbok end of year tour;
Apparently Peter de Villiers is taking a squad of 37 players along for the end of year tour. With the departure of Jean de Villiers and Francois Steyn to play European club rugby that creates a possibility of a considerable amount of new faces in the Bok squad. PdV tested his depth against the B & I Lions in the third test this year without success but I hope that some of these players don't pay for that as the Lions were a quality side and it was foolhardy to make wholesale change and expect victory. It would be a shame to not see the likes of Zane Kirschner not play for the Boks again based on that one match. I wonder if it is also the reason Olivier and Kankowski have hardly seen a game after the tour.
That said, the emerging Springboks and some show of form in the Curry cup makes me hopeful of South African rugby indeed having the depth to continue to go from strength to strength. Even barring PdV not reconsidering his policy on the non selection of overseas based players. The name Juan de Jongh springs to mind and he is an automatic inclusion in my opinion and it should be a battle between him and Wynand Olivier for the no12 jersey. The departure of Frans Steyn leaves the current Bok squad without a recognized fullback again and as I hope that PdV won't opt for Ruan Pienaar in that position again and with the best player in SA in Stefan Terblanche probably not going to get a call up due to age that probably leaves Zane Kirschner as PdV's likely choice. I do hope, though, that Griquas' Riaan Viljoen at leasts gets some consideration as I believe that he has been the best fullback in the Currie cup this season behind Terblanche.
Apart form that one would expect the usual suspects and probably some surprise selections. This is Peter de Villiers we are talking about. There have been rumors of the inclusion of winger Lionell Mapoe and Bok sevens player Mpho Mbiyozo. Both exciting players but they face tough competition, especially with SA's depth of talent in the loose forward dept. The names of Dewald Potgieter, Jean Deysel, Duane Vermeulen, Willem Alberts and Francois Louw should be mentioned. One can only hope that PdV does not continue to force the issue of Earl Rose. How any national coach can select a player that does not play for his province if the provincial coach can help it is beyond me. I would also hope that apart from young players getting some exposure, this tour gives regulars who have not shown their class this year a chance to validate their continued selection. Players like Schalk Burger, Ricky Januarie, Andries Bekker, Guthro Steenkamp, Adi Jacobs, Ryan Kankowski, Jannie de Beer, Ruan Pienaar, Pierre Spies and Wynand Olivier have either not had game time or had not shown why they deserve game time. It would also be interesting how our scrum fairs against our Northern foes. I for one am still not convinced of the move of John Smit to prop but if it manages having both the best hooker currently playing and arguably the most inspirational test captain ever in the same front row line-up is probably worth the struggle.
My picks for a 37 man squad;
Backs;
Fourie du Preez, Jano Vermaak, Ruan Pienaar, Morne Steyn, Peter Grant, Morgan Newman, Jacque Fourie, Juan de Jongh, Adrian Jacobs, Wynand Olivier, Bryan Habana, JP Pietersen, Joe Pietersen, Lionell Mapoe, Gerhard van der Heever, Zane Kirschner, Riaan Viljoen
Forwards;
Tendai Mtawarira, WP Nel, Brok Harris, John Smit, Jannie du Plessis, Bismarck du Plessis, Adriaan Strauss, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Andries Bekker, Anton van Zyl, Steven Sykes, Heinrich Brussouw, Juan Smith, Schalk Burger, Dewald Potgieter, Francois Louw, Willem Alberts, Pierre Spies, Ryan Kankowski
but I guess my selections show my WP biased