2012 S15 SA Conference

[SuperGrover]

After much speculation, the Bulls poach another one.

Bulls sign 18-year-old Pollard

The Blue Bulls Company confirmed on Monday that Baby Boks fly-half Handrè Pollard has signed with the Blue Bulls.

The 18-year-old Paarl Gymnasium scholar was one of the stand-out players in the Baby Boks' successful Junior World Championship effort.

He scored 42 points, including 12 points in South Africa's 22-16 win over New Zealand in the final.

Blue Bulls Company chief Barend van Graan said Pollard had been on their radar for over two years.

"We encouraged, through our scouting process, a possible move to the Blue Bulls after his school studies way back in 2010, when Handrè played in the Grant Khomo Week for U16 players," he said.

"What impressed us then was his cool head under pressure and the maturity of his general play and decision making.

"His performance during the JWC confirmed that potential and we are excited to have him in our structures later this year."

http://planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_7860171,00.html

 

[PaarlBok]

Brutes now have some serious young stock, Serfontein, Pollard, Small Smith Adendorff. Problem is that still have some young old stock and they will somewhere or keep these youngsters back to grow on higher levels or have to get rid off some of their new Bokke.

 

[SuperGrover]

Part of the allure of young talented players is that they themselves will grow into players that positively contribute to the team on the field. However, an often overlooked part of having talented youngsters is to create competition within the squad to spur the development of those older players directly in their path to the first XV.

I don't much mind when these young players graduate to Super Rugby as long as the first XV is picked on form and Pollard, Serfontein and the like either force their way into calculations or are responsible for others working harder to keep them out.

 

[PaarlBok]

Sharks vs Brutes in Derbin on friday will be an epic battle for survival.
Brutes team already picked and ready to rumble
Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, JJ Engelbrecht, Wynand Olivier, Bjorn Basson, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies (capt), Jacques Potgieter, Dewald Potgieter, Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling.

Replacements: Willie Wepener, Frik Kirsten, Wilhelm Steenkamp, CJ Stander, Jano Vermaak, Louis Fouche, Francois Venter

While the Sharks struggle to get the likes of Lambie, Alberts and Botes ready in time for the clash. Frans Steyn will play his first match after his honeymoon for them.

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers also have been hitted by flu in the camp. Harris, Etsebet and Poolman is out while Ginga, Habana, Elstadt and Joe Pietersen will be back in action. The Stormers have the benefit that they will know exactly what they need to do to either to top the overall/SA log before kick off, that is if the Saders beat the Chiefs.

 

[Bardon]

Poolman has signed for Connacht on a 3 year contract from next season.

 

[PaarlBok]

Cheetahs:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Pieter van Zyl, 8 Justin Downey, 7 Lappies Labuschagné, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira/George Earle, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane

Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 George Earle/Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Philip Snyman

Stormers:

15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers (captain), 11. Bryan Habana, 10. Peter Grant, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage
8. Jebb Sinclair, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Siya Kolisi, 5. Andries Bekker, 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Frans Malherbe, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg, 17. Deon Carstens, 18. Quinn Roux, 19. Don Armand, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Burton Francis, 22. Gerhard van den Heever

Referee: Craig Joubert

 

[PaarlBok]

No Alberts, lampie

Sharks v Bulls, Durban - 19:10
Sharks:15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak,9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Anton Bresler, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.

Substitutes: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Jandre Marais, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Odwa Ndungane

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers retain their 2011 trophe, this year with even a bigger margin.

South African Conference
Pos Team P W D L PF PA PD TF TA BPts Pts
1 DHL Stormers 15 13 0 2 324 233 91 26 18 2 62
2 Vodacom Bulls 15 9 0 6 435 349 86 46 36 10 54
3 Sharks 15 9 0 6 402 333 69 43 31 10 54
4 Toyota Cheetahs 15 5 0 10 376 424 -48 35 43 10 38
5 MTN Lions 15 3 0 12 297 423 -126 28 48 5 25
Fixtures
14 DHL Stormers v Rebels DHL Newlands Stadium, Cape Town 15:00
14 Sharks v Toyota Cheetahs Mr Price Kings Park, Durban 17:05
14 Vodacom Bulls v MTN Lions Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria 19:10
Important last round for three teams. Holding tumbs that we'll see three SA teams in the top 6.

 

[PaarlBok]

Last roll of the dice
Teams:
Bulls:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Mornè Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Pierre Spies (captain), 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Jacques Potgieter, 5 Juandrè Kruger, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Deon Stegmann, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Louis Fouchè, 22 Francois Venter

Lions:
15 James Kamana, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Butch James, 11 Anthonie Volminck, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Grant Hattingh, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Etienne Oosthuizen, 19 Jaco Kriel, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 JR Esterhuizen, 22 Ruan Combrinck

Other news: Grant Hattingh signed at the Brutes.

 

[qwerty51]

Do you think there's a possibility the Sharks and Bulls might manipulate their games to finish 6th rather than 5th to face the Brumbies instead of the Crusaders?

 

[PaarlBok]

Sharks v Cheetahs, Durban - 17:05
Sharks:15. Pat Lambie 14. JP Pietersen 13. Tim Whitehead 12. Frans Steyn 11. Lwazi Mvovo 10. Frederic Michalak 9. Charl McLeod 8. Ryan Kankowski 7. Marcell Coetzee 6. Keegan Daniel (captain) 5. Anton Bresler 4. Jandre Marais 3. Jannie du Plessis 2. Craig Burden 1. Tendai Mtawarira

Substitutes: 16. Bismarck du Plessis 17. Wiehahn Herbst 18. Pieter-Steph du Toit / Jean Deysel19. Willem Alberts 20. Jacques Botes 21. Meyer Bosman/Paul Jordaan 22. Louis Ludik

Cheetahs:
15 Willie le Roux, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Philip Snyman, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Andries Ferreira, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Trevor Nyakane
Substitutes: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Marcel van der Merwe, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Ashley Johnson, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Andries Strauss

 

[PaarlBok]

Do you think there's a possibility the Sharks and Bulls might manipulate their games to finish 6th rather than 5th to face the Brumbies instead of the Crusaders?

They are very close, only 17 points init, throw in that they both might have to score 4 tries and it will be very difficult for the Brutes to try and do what they need to do to play the Brumbies iso the Saders. Bulls will be in the position to do this but they will be pressurise if they have to get 4 tries. These derbie matches aint easy and if you try funny shite it may bite your arse. We have seen in the past in this competition how teams n screwed up.

 

[PaarlBok]

Stormers vs Sharks semi final coming up. Stormers will have Vermeulen back and they will have to be up for this one against the high riding Sharks. Sharks the favourates and look like they are travel fit the way they delt with the Reds. Secret for the Stormers will be to stand up at the scrums & break downs and try to dominate the line outs. If they cant get this right it will be a long day on Newlands. This one can be settled within the first half.

 

[Braveheart81]

I love how you're claiming underdog status for the minor premiers with home ground advantage!

 

[PaarlBok]

I love how you're claiming underdog status for the minor premiers with home ground advantage!

for good reason. The Sharks were the only team that thumbed the Stormers with ease this year. They are in excellent form and they'll go in this one with a lot of confidense and self belief.

 

[SuperGrover]

Cheetahs confirm Sadie signing

The Cheetahs have confirmed that Bulls centre Johan Sadie will ply his trade in Bloemfontein after signing a two-year contract with them.

Sadie joined the Bulls from the Stormers for this year's Super Rugby season, but he has seen limited game time since moving to Pretoria.

He did not participate in the latter stages of the Bulls' 2012 campaign due to an ankle injury.

Rumours of Sadie leaving the Bulls has been around for some time but the Cheetahs have now put an end to this with their statement.

http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,25883,3824_7929883,00.html

Interesting that at the beginning of the season there was much angst among the Stormers fans that they had let Sadie slip through the net, and yet now he's ended up at the Cheetahs.

 

[PDivvy]

Interesting that at the beginning of the season there was much angst among the Stormers fans that they had let Sadie slip through the net, and yet now he's ended up at the Cheetahs.

Because the Bulls got all the money and are stockpiling up talent. They had 6 centers around the same age fighting for 2 positions. Those 6 are the the best of the crop and they sit with all of them. Bulls supporters obviously love it but they are not looking at the bigger picture which is SA rugby.

On the other hand they have been so busy signing up everything in a U/19 provincial back line that move that they have discarded their pack. The ones feared and all conquering Bulls pack is not dominating anymore and Steyn like most 10's struggle when that happens. He had a awful first half due to the Crusader pack bullying the Bulls forward. When Carter turns on the magic and he has time and space your forwards are being strangled.

 

[PaarlBok]

Because the Bulls got all the money and are stockpiling up talent. They had 6 centers around the same age fighting for 2 positions. Those 6 are the the best of the crop and they sit with all of them. Bulls supporters obviously love it but they are not looking at the bigger picture which is SA rugby.

On the other hand they have been so busy signing up everything in a U/19 provincial back line that move that they have discarded their pack. The ones feared and all conquering Bulls pack is not dominating anymore and Steyn like most 10's struggle when that happens. He had a awful first half due to the Crusader pack bullying the Bulls forward. When Carter turns on the magic and he has time and space your forwards are being strangled.

I knew a long time ago that Sadie would go. Dont blame him at all because the Brutes plays Meisiekind in 12 for some reason and no 13 will get ball from him. Meisieking however is on his way to Japan and a blessing for them. I can see the likes of Small Smith, Venter and Serfontein (all Grey Bloem schoolboy stars) to come through via this years CC. They also poached all the best current schoolboy stars.

Not at all worried about the Stormers backup coming through specially in midfield. We have JP du Plessis, Kobus van Wyk and Patrick Howard as young stock. We lost Pollard but poach Eksteen back from the Brutes in return.

 

[Blue]

I heard that Sadie was a bit of a prima donna and expected that his place in the side would be a given and he spent a lot of training sessions sulking.

He was injured for about two thirds of the season and then whinges about the "structure" not being to his liking? What, the bench he sat on while his shoulder and knee healed wasn't soft enough?

OK piss off then.

So he now probably expects the Cheetahs to drop Strauss and Ebersohn. I predict it won't be long until the Cheetahs "structures" don't suit him.

You earn starts. You don't deserve them.

Pity, he has all the talent but apparently not the attitude to go with it.