Close quarter-final matches expected

April 21 - The traditional north-south derby featuring the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Vodacom Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday (12h30) spices up the action in the 2010 Vodacom Cup as the competition enters its knock-out stages this weekend. Vodacom WP have lost four of their last five matches against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Pretoria. The Cape side though has managed to score 88 points in their last three matches against the Loftus outfit at an average of over 29 points per match. In 2008, the Cape side snatched a 37-35 win over their northern rivals.   However the Vodacom Blue Bulls, who are also the only undefeated team in this season’s Vodacom Cup, have easily seen off the other previous challenges of WP in Pretoria. The hosts recorded victories in 2009 (36-16), 2006 (45-35), 2005 (35-11) and in 2002 (60-33). History proves that there will be little to choose from when the Boland Kavaliers and the Platinum Leopards meet in a Vodacom Cup quarterfinal clash at the Boland Stadium in Wellington on Saturday at 16h00. The hosts have won three of their five games over the Leopards in the Vodacom Cup. However the Potchefstroom outfit has tasted success in Wellington. They defeated the Kavaliers 37-28 in Wellington back in April 2005. The GWK Griquas will be hoping that their good fortunes continue at The Absa Stadium Durban when they take on the Sharks XV in another Vodacom Cup quarterfinal match on Saturday at 14h00. The defending champions recorded a 36-25 win during last year’s semi-final clash in Durban. The GWK Griquas have also won two of their three away matches against the Sharks XV in the Vodacom Cup. While the hosts snatched a 23-20 win in 2008, their Kimberley opponents recorded a 21-10 win in 2005. In the other Vodacom Cup quarterfinal match of the weekend the Golden Lions host the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs at the Johannesburg Stadium on Friday afternoon at 15h30. The hosts ended the North section log in second position, equal on 26 log points with the GWK Griquas. However a superior points’ differential for the Golden Lions ensured that they secured home advantage for their quarterfinal match later this week. The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs though will be confident of doing the business in Johannesburg after they have managed to win two of their last three away matches against the Golden Lions. The Bloemfontein side also defeated Vodacom Western Province 20-12 in Petrusburg last Saturday. Note: A winner in the Vodacom Cup quarterfinals fixtures must be determined, therefore, Paragraph 2.1 of the General Rules – TO DETERMINE A WINNER IN SEMI-FINALS will apply for the four (4) quarterfinal matches of the Vodacom Cup competition to be played this weekend. The following will apply: “If scores are level after the scheduled time, the team that will proceed to the semi-finals will be determined as follows: 2.1.1    the team scoring the most points within a 20 (twenty) minute extra time (10 minutes each way with a one (1) minute break); and if still level 2.1.2    the team scoring the most tries in the quarterfinal, including extra time; and if still level 2.1.3    the team with the highest log position immediately prior to the quarterfinal match.” Golden Lions v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs Friday, 23 April 2010. Kick off: 15h45 Venue: Johannesburg Stadium, Johannesburg Referee: Francois Veldsman Head to Head: Golden Lions v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs P: 9   W: 3   D: 0   L: 6   PF: 259   PA: 334 15-Apr-00    Golden Lions 21    Free State 47    Bloemfontein 16-Mar-01    Golden Lions 27    Free State 45    Bloemfontein 15-Mar-02    Golden Lions 36    Free State 35    Johannesburg 19-Apr-03    Golden Lions 26    Free State 38    Bloemfontein 09-May-03    Golden Lions 20    Free State 16    Bloemfontein 03-Apr-04    Golden Lions 38    Free State 23    Johannesburg 23-Apr-05    Golden Lions 38    Free State 46    Johannesburg 28-Apr-06    Golden Lions 17    Free State 42    Johannesburg 22-Feb-08    Golden Lions 36    Free State 42    Bloemfontein Golden Lions’ recent form at home: W, W, L, W, W, W, L, W, W, L •    The hosts have only conceded one defeat in the 2010 Vodacom Cup - against the Vodacom Blue Bulls (22-27) at the Raiders Rugby Club in Johannesburg. •    Golden Lions though have recorded home victories over the Welwitschias (51-20), GWK Griquas (45-5) and the Platinum Leopards (27-22) this season. Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ recent form on the road: L, W, L, W, W, W, W, L •    The Free Staters have secured two away victories over the SWD Eagles (13-22) and the Border Bulldogs (50-18), but also suffered two away defeats against the Pampas XVs (36-24) and the Sharks XVs (26-17) in the 2010 Vodacom Cup South section. Player/match stats: •    The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs have won six of their last nine games against the Auto & General Lions. •    The Bloemfontein side recorded a 42-36 win over their Johannesburg opponents when these sides last met in a Vodacom Cup match in 2008. •    When these sides last met in Johannesburg back in 2006, the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs secured a 42-17 victory over the hosts. •    Golden Lions winger Henno Mentz has played in two Tests for the Springboks. •    Jonathan Mokuena (Golden Lions) has also represented the SA Sevens in the IRB World Sevens Series. •    The Golden Lions’ Rudy Page and David Bullbring were both part of the SA Under-20 squad that participated in the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan. •    Prop Lawrence Sephaka played in 24 Tests for the Springboks. •    Golden Lions were the Vodacom Cup champions of 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004. •    The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs won the 2000 Vodacom Cup title. The Sharks XV v GWK Griquas Saturday, 24 April 2010. Kick off: 14h00 Venue: The Absa Stadium Durban Referee: Jason Jaftha Head to Head: The Sharks XV v GWK Griquas P: 6   W: 2   D: 0   L: 4   PF: 138   PA: 165 25-May-98    Sharks XV 28    Griquas 47    Kimberley 05-May-01    Sharks XV 12    Griquas 19    Kimberley 09-Apr-05    Sharks XV 10    Griquas 21    Durban 11-Mar-06    Sharks XV 40    Griquas 22    Kimberley 08-Mar-08    Sharks XV 23    Griquas 20    Durban 02-May-09    Sharks XV 25    Griquas 36    Durban The Sharks XVs’ recent form at home: W, W, W, W, L, W, W, W, W, L •    The hosts are undefeated at home in this season’s competition and have recorded victories over the Pampas XVs (24-19), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (26-17), Boland Kavaliers (35-20) and the Border Bulldogs (69-8). •    The Sharks XVs lost only one home in 2009, going down by 36-25 to the GWK Griquas in last year’s Vodacom Cup semi-final match played in Durban. GWK Griquas’ recent form on the road: W, L, W, W, W, W, W, L, W, L •    The defending champions recorded three away wins during the 2010 Vodacom Cup North section after defeating the Valke (60-12), Welwitschias (29-27) and the Griffons (59-31). •    The GWK Griquas though suffered one away defeat – against the Golden Lions (45-5) in Johannesburg. Player/match stats: •    The GWK Griquas have won four of their last six matches against the Sharks XVs in the Vodacom Cup. •    This will be the first time that these sides will meet in the Vodacom Cup quarterfinals.  They have however competed in two semi-finals in this competition in 2009 and 1998. On both occasions, Griquas prevailed as winners. •     Ross Cronje, Jandre Marais and Kyle (Sharks XVs) all represented the SA Under-20s at last year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Japan. •    The Sharks XVs, who competed in the 2008 and 2009 quarterfinals, were the losing finalists in the 2006 Vodacom Cup final against the Valke. •    Bjorn Basson and Albertus Buckle have both scored six tries for the GWK Griquas in the 2010 Vodacom Cup. •    Logan Basson, who made his debut for the Kimberley side two weeks ago, is the brother of Bjorn. •    GWK Griquas won the Vodacom Cup in 1998, 2005, 2007 and 2009. They also competed in the 1999 and 2000 finals. Vodacom Blue Bulls v Vodacom Western Province Saturday, 24 April 2010. Kick off: 12h30 Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Referee: Tiaan Jonker Head to Head: Vodacom Blue Bulls v Vodacom WP P: 7   W: 5   D: 2   L: 2   PF:  273   PA: 178 15-Apr-00    Blue Bulls 21    WP 36    Cape Town 03-Mar-01    Blue Bulls 41    WP 10    Cape Town 30-Mar-02    Blue Bulls 60    WP 33    Pretoria 11-Mar-05    Blue Bulls 35    WP 11    Pretoria 29-Apr-06    Blue Bulls 45    WP 35    Pretoria 05-Apr-08    Blue Bulls 35    WP 37    Pretoria 25-Apr-09    Blue Bulls 36    WP 16    Pretoria Vodacom Blue Bulls’ recent form at home: W, W, W, L, W, W, W, W, W, W •    The hosts are the only unbeaten team in this year’s Vodacom Cup. They have recorded home wins over the Pumas (29-15), Platinum Leopards (25-15) and against the Griffons (40-26). •    The Vodacom Blue Bulls also lost only one home game during the 2009 Vodacom Cup, against the GWK Griquas in the competition’s finale at Loftus Versfeld. Vodacom Western Province’s recent form on the road: L, W, L, L, L, L, W, W, W, W •    The Capetonians have enjoyed a mix season on the road after they suffered two defeats against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (20-12) and the Boland Kavaliers (37-28). •    Vodacom WP though managed to secure two away wins over the Pampas XVs (16-19) and Eastern Province (28-23). Player/match stats: •    The Vodacom Blue Bulls are the only unbeaten team in this year’s Vodacom Cup. •    Vodacom Western Province has won only two of their last seven games against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the history of the Vodacom Cup. •    The hosts recorded a 36-16 win over WP in Pretoria when these sides last met in the competition in 2009. •    Vodacom WP however recorded a 37-35 win over the Vodacom Blue Bulls during the 2008 competition at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. •    Utility back Deon Helberg has represented the SA Sevens team on the IRB World Sevens Series. •    Morne Mellett and Zane Botha of the Vodacom Blue Bulls were both members of the SA Under-20 squad that participated in the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan. •    WP hooker Hanyani Shimange played in nine Tests for the Springboks. •    Vodacom WP’s Yaasir Hartzenberg, Johann Sadie and Lionel Cronje were also part of the Baby Boks’ squad that competed in the IRB Junior World Championship last year. •    Cronje was voted the 2009 SA Under-20 Player of the Year.     Boland Kavaliers v Platinum Leopards Saturday, 24 April 2010. Kick off: 16h00 Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington Referee: Mlungiseli Mdashe Head to Head: Boland Kavaliers v Platinum Leopards P: 5   W: 3   D: 0   L: 2   PF: 136   PA: 120 13-Apr-02    Boland 26    Leopards 10    Potchefstroom 17-Apr-03    Boland 14    Leopards 23    Potchefstroom 22-Apr-05    Boland 28    Leopards 37    Wellington 01-Apr-06    Boland 39    Leopards 25    Wellington 01-Mar-08    Boland 29    Leopards 25    Potchefstroom Boland Kavaliers’ recent form at home: W, W, W, W, L, L, L, W, L, W, W •    The Kavaliers are undefeated at home during the 2010 Vodacom Cup after recording victories over the Vodacom WP (37-28), Eastern Province (36-10), SWD Eagles (25-24) and the Pampas XVs (26-13). •    The Boland Kavaliers did not win a single home game during last season’s competition. Platinum Leopards’ recent form on the road: L, L, L, L, W, W, W, W, L, W, W •    The visitors have not won an away game during the 2010 competition. •    The Platinum Leopards have conceded away defeats against the Vodacom Blue Bulls (25-15), the Golden Lions (27-22) and the GWK Griquas (51-21). Player/match stats: •    The Kavaliers have won three of their last five Vodacom Cup matches against the Platinum Leopards. •    The hosts recorded a 29-25 win in 2008 and a 39-25 victory over the Leopards in their last two matches. •    The Kavaliers’ Hilton Lobberts (2), Hottie Louw (3) and Bolla Conradie (18) have all played Tests for the Springboks. •    Boland Kavaliers played in the 2001 Vodacom Cup final – losing to the Vodacom Blue Bulls. •    The Platinum Leopards competed in the 2007, 2008 and 2009 quarterfinals of the Vodacom Cup.   How the 2010 Vodacom Cup logs ended: North section: P    W    D    L    PD    B    Pts Vodacom Blue Bulls (N1)    7    7    0    0    115    4    32 Golden Lions (N2)    7    5    0    2    120    6    26 GWK Griquas (N3)    7    5    0    2    79    6    26 Platinum Leopards (N4)     7    4    0    3    81    5    21 Pumas    7    4    0    3    77    5    21 Griffons    7    2    0    5    -125    3    11 Welwitschias    7    1    0    6    -106    3    7 Valke    7    0    0    7    -241    2    2 South section: P    W    D    L    PD    B    Pts Boland Kavaliers (S1)    7    5    0    2    46    4    24 Sharks XV (S2)    7    5    0    2    83    3    23 Vodacom Free State (S3)    7    5    0    2    45    3    23 Vodacom WP (S4)    7    5    0    2    29    2    22 Pampas XV    7    3    1    3    69    6    20 Eastern Province    7    2    1    4    -35    3    13 SWD Eagles    7    2    0    5    -25    4    12 Border Bulldogs    7    0    0    7    -212    3    3 Issued by SARU Communications