Vodacom Cup Preview – The Final

The Vodacom Blue Bulls have only suffered one defeat in 10 games to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in the Vodacom Cup and will be hoping to defend this record as they contest a record eighth final when these sides meet up at Loftus Versfeld at 16h00. The Pretoria outfit will start as red hot favourites as they are unbeaten at home in this year’s competition and have lost only two home games in the last three years; against GWK Griquas (19-28) in last year’s final and against Vodacom Western Province (35-37) in 2008. Seven Vodacom Blue Bulls players that will compete in this year’s final were members of the victorious squad that competed in the 2008 final against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs while there are eight survivors of the 2009 final that will participate in Friday’s game.   The 2008 survivors who were involved in the 25-21 victory are Dean Greyling, Ockie Kruger, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Fudge Mabeta and John Mametsa, along with Stefan Watermeyer and Ruan Snyman who warmed the bench. Sias Ebersohn, Philip Snyman, Hercu Liebenberg and Ashley Johnson were part of the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs side that went down to the Vodacom Blue Bulls on that day and will have another chance on Friday afternoon to claim the R 1 million grand prize sponsored by SARU and Vodacom. The victorious team will receive R 500 000 while their provincial union will receive R 500 000 for rugby development in their region. However the Free State side has never defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Pretoria in the Vodacom Cup. Besides winning the Vodacom Cup final in 2008, the Pretoria outfit has twice defeated the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in semi-final games played between these sides. In 2004 the Bloemfontein side suffered a 20-24 defeat to the Vodacom Blue Bulls and in 2001 the hosts recorded a 39-38 win in Pretoria. The hosts will be playing in their eighth Vodacom Cup final – the most by any team. The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs will be competing in their third. GWK Griquas, who have won the competition on four occasions along with the Golden Lions, have competed in six finals. The Vodacom Blue Bulls will also be competing in their fourth consecutive final on Friday afternoon. This will be the second time the hosts have played in four consecutive finals. The Pretoria outfit competed in Vodacom Cup finals from 2001 to 2004. Nico Serfontein has coached the Loftus side in the 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Vodacom Cup competitions and the Pretoria side has played in the Vodacom Cup final in each year that he has been in charge of the Loftus outfit. Vodacom Blue Bulls v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs Friday, 7 May 2010. Kick off: 16h00 (Live on SuperSport 1) Venue: Loftus Versfeld B Field, Pretoria Referee: Jason Jaftha (SARU) Assistant Referees: Tiaan Jonker, Stefan Breytenbach TMO: Shaun Veldsman (SARU) Head to Head: Vodacom Blue Bulls v Vodacom Free State Cheetahs P: 10   W: 9   D: 0   L: 1   PF:  385   PA: 290 21-Apr-01    Blue Bulls 43    Free State 36    Pretoria 12-May-01    Blue Bulls 39    Free State 38    Pretoria (Vodacom Cup Semi-final) 19-Apr-02    Blue Bulls 42    Free State 36    Bloemfontein 12-Apr-03    Blue Bulls 39    Free State 18    Pretoria 10-Apr-04    Blue Bulls 23    Free State 50    Bloemfontein 07-May-04    Blue Bulls 24    Free State 20    Bloemfontein (Vodacom Cup Semi-final) 20-Apr-05    Blue Bulls 46    Free State 41    Bloemfontein 10-Feb-06    Blue Bulls 36    Free State 08    Bloemfontein 29-Mar-08    Blue Bulls 68    Free State 22    Petrusburg 16-May-08    Blue Bulls 25    Free State 21    Pretoria (Vodacom Cup final) Vodacom Blue Bulls recent form at home: •    The hosts are the only undefeated team in the 2010 Vodacom Cup. •    The Vodacom Blue Bulls have also conceded only two home defeats in the last three years in the Vodacom Cup. •    In 2009 the Pretoria outfit suffered a 19-28 loss against the GWK Griquas in the final of the competition and in 2008 they went down to Vodacom Western Province by 35-37 at Loftus Versfeld. •    The Vodacom Blue Bulls recorded home victories over the Pumas (29-15), Platinum Leopards (25-15), Griffons (40-26), Vodacom WP (17-6) and the Sharks XVs (33-3) in this year’s competition. Vodacom Blue Bulls’ road to the Vodacom Cup Final: •    GWK Griquas 17                        Vodacom Blue Bulls 22 •    Vodacom Blue Bulls 29              Pumas 15 •    Golden Lions 22                          Vodacom Blue Bulls 27 •    Vodacom Blue Bulls 25             Platinum Leopards 15 •    Valke 5                                        Vodacom Blue Bulls 70 •    Welwitschias 34                          Vodacom Blue Bulls 58 •    Vodacom Blue Bulls 40              Griffons 26 •    Vodacom Blue Bulls 17              Vodacom Western Province 6 (Quarterfinal) •    Vodacom Blue Bulls 33    The Sharks XV 3 (Semi-final) Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ recent form on the road: •    The Free Staters conceded only two defeats on the road during the last two years in the Vodacom Cup. •    Both defeats were conceded this year against the Sharks XVs (17-26) in Durban and against the Pampas XVs (24-36) in Cape Town. •    The visitors recorded four away wins in this year’s competition against the Boland Kavaliers (22-14), Golden Lions (30-20), Border Bulldogs (50-18) and the SWD Eagles (22-13). Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ road to the Vodacom Cup Final:   •    SWD Eagles 13                                      Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 22 •    Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 37         Boland Kavaliers 29 •    The Sharks XV 26                                  Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 17 •    Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 25         Eastern Province 16 •    Border Bulldogs 18                                Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 50 •    Pampas XV 36                                       Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 24 •    Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 20         Vodacom Western Province 12 •    Golden Lions 20         Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 30 (Quarterfinal) •    Boland Kavaliers 14    Vodacom Free State Cheetahs 22 (Semi-final) Player/match stats: •    The Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs last met in the Vodacom Cup in Pretoria in the final of the 2008 competition. The hosts recorded a 25-21 win. •    The hosts will be playing in their eighth Vodacom Cup final. They competed in the 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008 and 2009 finals. •    The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs will be playing in their third Vodacom Cup final. They participated in the 2000 and 2008 finals. •    The Bloemfontein side won the Vodacom Cup in 2000. •    This will be third consecutive Vodacom Cup final that will be played in Pretoria. •    The Vodacom Blue Bulls will be playing in their fourth consecutive Vodacom Cup final on Friday afternoon. •    This will be the second time the hosts have played in four consecutive finals. The Pretoria outfit competed in Vodacom Cup finals during 2001 – 2004. •    The Vodacom Bulls have won the Vodacom Cup on two occasions, in 2001 and 2008. •    Vodacom Blue Bulls winger John Mametsa could make his sixth Vodacom Cup final appearance on Friday. •    Mametsa along with fellow teammates Dean Greyling, Fudge Mabeta, Ockie Kruger, Gerrit-Jan van Velze, Ruan Snyman, Vincent Gwavu and Francois Brummer all competed in last year’s Vodacom Cup final against GWK Griquas at Loftus Versfeld. The Kimberley side recorded a 28-19 win in Pretoria. •    Greyling, Kruger, Van Velze, Mabeta and Mametsa also played in the 2008 Vodacom Cup final. Stefan Watermeyer and Snyman were also part of the match day 22 for the Vodacom Blue Bulls but did not participate in the match against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs. •    Vodacom Blue Bulls centre Deon Helberg has represented the SA Sevens side in the 2009/2010 IRB Sevens World Series.   •    The Free State side’s Chris Dry, Philip Snyman and JW Jonker have also competed for the Springbok Sevens team.      •    Vodacom Free State Cheetahs No 8 Ashley Johnson captained the Bloemfontein side in the 2008 Vodacom Cup final. •    Sias Ebersohn, Philip Snyman and Hercu Liebenberg also participated in the 2008 Vodacom Cup final. •    Hercu is the brother of the Vodacom Stormers hooker Tiaan Liebenberg and Sias is the twin brother of the Vodacom Cheetahs centre Robert Ebersohn. •    Philip Snyman, Barry Goodes and PW van Vuuren played in eight Vodacom Cup games for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs this season. •    The Vodacom Blue Bulls’ Francois Brummer and Morne Mellett, and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ Ebersohn represented the SA Under-20s during last year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Japan. •    Vodacom Free State Cheetahs coach Pine Pienaar has been in charge of the Bloemfontein side for the last three years. •    Nico Serfontein has coached the Vodacom Blue Bulls in the 2002, 2008, 2009 and 2010 Vodacom Cup competitions. The Pretoria side has played in the Vodacom Cup finals in each year he has been in charge of the Loftus outfit. •    Vodacom Blue Bulls hooker Chiliboy Ralepelle has played in eight Tests for the Springboks. •     Referee Jason Jaftha will handle his first Vodacom Cup final on Friday afternoon. Vodacom Cup Final – Additional stats Vodacom Cup Winners: 1998 -    Griquas 1999 -    Golden Lions 2000 -    Free State Cheetahs 2001 -    Blue Bulls 2002 -    Golden Lions 2003 -    Golden Lions 2004 -    Golden Lions 2005 -    Griquas 2006 -    Valke 2007 -    Griquas 2008 -    Blue Bulls 2009 -    Griquas Results of Vodacom Cup Finals: 1998    Griquas    57    Golden Lions    0    Kimberley 1999    Golden Lions    73    Griquas    7    Johannesburg 2000    Free State    44    Griquas    24    Bloemfontein 2001    Blue Bulls    42    Boland Kavaliers    24    Pretoria 2002    Lions    54    Blue Bulls    38    Johannesburg 2003    Blue Bulls    17    Golden Lions    26    Pretoria 2004    Golden Lions    35    Blue Bulls    16    Johannesburg 2005    Griquas    27    Leopards    25    Kimberley 2006    Valke    25    Wildebeest    17    Brakpan 2007    Griquas    33    Blue Bulls    29    Kimberley 2008    Blue Bulls    25    Free State    21    Pretoria 2009    Blue Bulls    19    Griquas    28    Pretoria Vodacom Cup Final – Referees: 1998 -    Jonathan Kaplan 1999 -    Tappe Henning 2000 -    Carl Spannenberg 2001 -    Mark Lawrence 2002 -    Eugene Daniels 2003 -    Andy Turner 2004 -    Shaun Veldsman 2005 -    Linston Manuels 2006 -    Johann Meuwesen 2007 -    Jaco Peyper 2008 -    Francois Veldsman 2009 -    Phillip Bosch 2010 -    Jason Jaftha Issued by SARU Communications