Just in case you didn’t already know this, the Blue Bulls and Western Province will NOT be playing in this year’s Craven Week final. I guess this one brings the glass half full or half empty concept into play.For “Noord-Suid” rivals, the good news is chances are good that the Blue Bulls will play Western Province in the main game on match day 3 of Craven Week. It’s a game even many neutrals out there long to see. I seriously doubt either team can afford to take their opening day rivals in the form of the KwaZulu-Natal or the Pumas lightly but if the opposing powers from the “Noord” and the “Suid” play to their potential on Monday they should both win in the first round and leave the organisers with no other choice but to match them up in a semi-final of sorts on Wednesday.
The bad news is Wednesday’s Match Day 3 is 2 match days short Saturday’s televised final. It might seem a little more presumptuous to be placing either the Bulls or WP in that final given the form the likes of Free State, SWD, the Golden Lions, EP and the Valke are expected to bring to this year’s party, however seeing that the Bulls and WP have already squared off in this year’s under-13 Craven Week final and the under-16 Grant Khomo final, it is kind of a little disappointing that their under-18 boys aren’t at least afforded the chance by the organisers to make it 3 out of 3 finals. And with the Currie Cup under-19 and under-21 seasons about to kick off shortly, who knows this might have been a year for 5 out of 5 at age group level. Let’s also not forget that the senior teams will be at it on Newlands this coming Saturday as well.
@Rugbyman: I feel you guys have nothing to worry about. Your pack is solid, your wings are quick and your centres are devastating! They talk a lot about Linde but your inside centre looks top notch too. Your 10 channel is slighty weak perhaps on defense, but having said that, he had big, quick boys running that channel – perhaps he should defend at outside centre and then push your 12 to 10 on defense?
@Tjoppa:@beet: Ja tjop… I am also a bit concerned about the gameplan or lack thereof.
The Bulls waisted many opportunities with the scrumhalf playing to a non existent blind side with the touch line winning the battle inevitably… This happened quite a few times. They also seem a bit preoccupied with getting the ball to Linde ASAP, skipping one of their biggest attacking weapons in Franco Naude… He is devastating with the ball in hand…
My last point is their defence… Simply not up to standard, especially Jarmeel Warnick’s channel… Sharks ran through that channel like a turnstile…
If they can tighten up on the defence, slightly adjust the gameplan and be more patient with the ball in hand they will be a force to be reckoned with…
Dis nou natuurlik net my opinie…
@Tjoppa: Nou praat jy Tjops,….hou ons dop vandag!
Well the Noord – Suid semi-final is almost a certainty now.
@beet: Beet do not agree I personally feel the game plan or lack thereof will not be good enough at this level. I am not going to discuss any player nor coach but do feel this is a step too far for the Bulls.
@Tjoppa: @jakes: Dankie Jakes. Stem (bid) saam jou. Bulle / Valke finaal
The Blue Bulls and the Valke will be playing in the finals
Enige iemand wat belangstel in die ouderdomsgroep Curriebeker?
Sal interessant wees om te sien watter spelers WP en die Blou Bulle kies.
Wat die wyer spanne dalk soos sal lyk?
Western Province:
1 Justin Ackerman, Sti Sithole, Tshepo Motale (injured still?), Niel Oelofse
2 Stephan Coetzee, Freddie Kirsten, Michael Willemse
3 Oliver Kebble, Nicol Heyns, Entienne Swanepoel
4 Gerbrandt Grobler, Jean Kleyn, Lungelo Chonco
5 Ruan Botha, Andrew Becker, Myles Tucker
6 Justin Benn (moet hom begin?), Joshua Katzen, Eital Bredenkamp, Beyers de Villiers
7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Cobus Nel, Jurie van Vuuren
8 Rayn Smid, Carel du Preez
9 Jean Nel, Godlen Masimla, Dylon Frylinck
10 Timo Swiel, Dillyn Leyds
11 Devon Williams, JP Lewis, Dean Hammond
12 Kobus van Wyk, Johnny Kotze, Janco Gunther
13 Justin Geduld, Kyle Lombard, Dylan Sage, Edwin Sass
14 Tshotsho Mbovane, Selom Gavor, Werner Kok
15 Cheslin Kolbe (Senior CC?), Craig Barry
Blue Bulls:
1 Christoph Gouws, Justin Forwood, Andrew Beerwinkel, Du Toit Genis, Jan Enslin
2 Jason Thomas, Jaco Visagie, Theunis Reynolds – Ruan Steenkamp to hoooker where he belongs?
3 Hencus van Wyk, Neethling Fouché
4 Schalk van Heerden, Irne Herbst, Jannes Kirsten
5 Marvin Orie (injured?), Dennis Visser
6 Shaun Adendorff, Roelof Smit
7 Wiaan Liebenberg, Jacques du Plessis, Cloete Wessels, Leneve Damens, Clyde Davids
8 Ruan Steenkamp (hooker?), Nardus van der Walt, Victor Hechter, Paul Janse van Rensburg
9 Carlo Engelbrecht, Abrie Griesel, Rudi van Rooyen, Kefentse Mahlo
10 Tony Jantjies, Francois Tredoux, Clinton Swart
11 Travis Ismaiel, Ruwellyn Isbell
12 Rohan Janse van Rensburg (O19?), Burger Odendaal
13 Dries Swanepoel, William Small-Smith (injured?), Christopher Bosch, Jade Stighling
14 Daniel Kriel (op die vleuel? Of senter by O19’s?), Richard-Dean Gorrah
15 Jesse Kriel (O19?), Jacques Rossouw, Damian van Wyk
@Tjoppa: I still think the Bulls are favs to make it to Saturday’s main game. However the defeat to the Free State at Bondedag did sort of bring their chances back into perspective. It looks unlikely to be the one-way traffic of last season.
Kom maar net oor die 1ste hekkie, voor julle van finals begin praat.
Sorry Wolla nou moet die gunsteling vir die finaal WP teen SWD wees as ek die kaarte reg lees. Miskien beter so.