Falcons eye semis

Falcons eye semis

20 Jun 2006

The Vodacom Cup champions believe they can get their Absa Currie Cup campaign off to a winning start at Loftus Versfeld on Friday night.

Nevermind that close neighbours, the Blue Bulls, boast a whopping 21 titles to the Falcons’ zero, and the Pretoria team has been the dominant force in the Currie Cup for the past four years despite losing out to the Cheetahs in last year’s dramatic final.

The fact that the Bulls are missing 27 players gives the Falcons hope of an upset in the opening round. They are a team capable of rising to the occasion as witnessed in the Vodacom Cup final win over the Natal Wildebeest.

The Falcons, or Valke they prefer to be known, had a fantastic run in the Vodacom Cup, but were expected to be cannon-fodder for the rampant Wildebeest outfit in the final.

Fullback Jan Cloete says the confidence gained from that victory will hold them in good stead in the Currie Cup. “We are a lot more positive now and believe in ourselves. We are not here just to make up the numbers, our aim is to qualify for the semi-finals,” Cloete told keo.co.za.

The Falcons are targetting the Pumas and Griquas matches home and away to get maximum points and will be a difficult nut to crack on the hard field at the Bosman Stadium in Brakpan. Thus a win away against the Bulls in round one will be ideal.

“We know we have to beat one or two of the big teams and we have prepared well. We are going for the win on Friday.” Whatever the result on Friday, it is good to see one of the smaller unions putting themselves back on the map.

By Andrew Hollely


32 Comments

  • 1.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 11:55 am

    First

  • 2.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 11:59 am

    Hoop die valke doen goed maar die bulle bly bo! Ons sal hulle wen met 10+ punte sonder die 27 spelers!

    Hoop Valke wen die WP!

  • 3.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:06 pm

    Wont this be the funniest **** ever.

  • 4.Ig: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:09 pm

    Well the Valke are there based on performance, something i can’t say about Province !

  • 5.capeflatsboy: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:13 pm

    WP beat the Valke in Brakpan in Vodacom Cup. I think that was their only defeat there.
    Valke had their strongest team.
    WP will still beat them any given day.
    Sorry Naas and Guy

  • 6.steyn: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:18 pm

    The Valke talk a big game hope they prove that on the field of play….but i think the bulls will be to strong for them in the end at Loftus…the bulls by 15+

  • 7.JUSM: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:24 pm

    issit. semi’s nogal. good luck.

    PissAnt buddy it is more likely that we will be chuckling at the hooped jokers for losing to the valke at some point this season. thing is it wouldn’t be all that funny or a great surprise…

  • 8.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:39 pm

    cfb

    The bulls beat them there 55 something. Bulls won with more than 20 points! I’m not sure if WP beat them in Vcup but Bulls definately did!

  • 9.capeflatsboy: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:43 pm

    suparugby just for you

    The log-topping Medicover Valke suffered an unexpected defeat at the hands of Vodacom Western Province 27-21 (halftime (15-6) in a Vodacom Cup match in Brakpan on Friday.
    The Valke retained their position at the top of the log by virtue of the fact that the chasing Blue Bulls also lost (19-17) to the Leopards in Potchefstroom.

    However it opened up the intriguing prospect that the Griffons could go top of the log after five rounds if they beat the Mighty Elephants with a bonus point in Welkom on Saturday.

    The Valke’s first defeat was on the cards from the moment that David Hendricks put the visitors ahead in the 22nd minute.

    The flanker scored to put his side into a 10-6 lead with Sarel Potgieter adding the conversion to his earlier penalty.

    Hendricks’ back row partner Mpho Mbiyozo added a second try nine minutes before the break which Potgieter was unable to convert.

    The Valke had a second turn of fortune when the visitors’ eighthman Robbie Diack was sent off for a dangerous tackle six minute before the break.

    But he returned after the interval without any addition to the score and it wasn’t until he was back on the field that Pieter Spaumer closed the gap by three points with a penalty for the home side.

    But a try by Province flyhalf Joe Pietersen four minutes later put Province into an 11-point lead and although Sean Plaatjies scored a try for the Valke on the hour mark, Province put the game safe when wing Zahier Ryland struck back with a try four minutes later.

    Potgieter converted and although replacement Yannick Wombo scored for the Valke with ten minutes remaining, the visitors held on to inflict the Valke’s first defeat.

    Scorers

    Valke – Tries: Sean Plaatjies, Yannick Wombo. Conversion: Pieter Spaumer. Penalties: Pieter Spaumer (3). Western Province – Tries: David Hendricks, Joe Pietersen, Mpho Mbiyozo, Zahier Ryland. Conversions: Sarel Potgieter (2). Penalty: Potgieter.

    © MWP

  • 10.Windhoek.Lager: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:43 pm

    Well, I’ll certainly be rooting for the Falcons on Friday.

  • 11.ice01_wp: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 12:44 pm

    IG

    if province dont deserve to be there then the pussycats dont deserve to be in the vodacom cup

  • 12.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 13:09 pm

    CFB Just for you

    And your point is??? Read my post again! This time think it through! I said i don’t know if province did beat the Valke but the bulls certainly did! In you’re first post you said you think it’s their only defeat there – you are wrong! It wasn’t their only defeat there – bulls beat them 50 – 29 on 1st of April! (I just looked it up)

  • 13.PissAnt: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 13:16 pm

    Blue Bulls lost to the Leopards?! :shock:

  • 14.capeflatsboy: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 13:39 pm

    Suparugby dont really follow the Vodacom Cup
    Point is a weak WP team beat their 1st XV in Brakpan.
    So Valke will lose again come this Friday

  • 15.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 13:43 pm

    I’m glad you think they will lose, cause they are playing the BULLS!

  • 16.capeflatsboy: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 13:45 pm

    Valke is playing WP
    Bulls is playing Griquas

  • 17.Moaner: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:00 pm

    I only shout for 2 teams in the CC. PROVINCE and anyone that play’s against the bulls!

  • 18.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:13 pm

    CFB

    You are not the smartest crayon in the box are you? Pls read the first sentence on this thread! The thread is about the Valke kicking of their campaign against the Bulls! Rugbrekers are playing Pumas! If you still dont believe me, go to ccup fixtures on the home page! Say it:Valke vs Bulls. Valke vs Bulls.

  • 19.Stan: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:17 pm

    capeflats,
    14.
    When last did WP not have a weak team?

  • 20.Stan: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:21 pm

    Mona,
    Dis hoe al die Bulle ook oor die WP voel.

  • 21.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:24 pm

    Stan, kan verstaan hulle voel so, ek meen, dink net aan die afgelope 3 games. 75 – 14 :evil: 39 -3 :twisted: en 43 – 10 :oops:

  • 22.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:26 pm

    :oops:

  • 23.capeflatsboy: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:26 pm

    Sorry bru
    Im a Lions supporter
    Ek volg nie eintlik die WP nie.
    Bly maar in die Kaap en word maar gedwing om Nuweland toe te gaan

  • 24.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:29 pm

    CFB

    My innige meegevoel…

  • 25.Stan: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:32 pm

    Capeflatnose,
    As jy nog laer daal gaan jy vir die Oos Kaap Kriminele skree…
    ook bekend as die Okapi’s.

  • 26.suparugby: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:34 pm

    Eerstens oor jy n Cats ondersteuner is en nog meer omdat jy tussen die rugbreker moet rugby kyk…

    Hoop ou Loffie is die oplossing!

  • 27.Zinto: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:44 pm

    Anyone news on Frolick? Is he fit? Why wasn’t he included in the U21′s? Not good enough? How did he perform in Vodacom cup?

  • 28.Zinto: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 14:48 pm

    Vodacom WP say no to Puma tighthead
    Posted on 20 June 2006 at 13:39

    Argentenean tighthead prop Federico Peralta will not be offered a contract for the Currie Cup season by Vodacom Western Province.
    The Puma was on trial with Province and played against Boland in a training match on Thursday, but failed to impress.

    According to forwards coach Jerome Paarwater it was difficult to assess Peralta’s potential. “He definitely is not fit to play Currie Cup rugby now though.

    “He maybe has potential, but from what we’ve seen it is going to take him a while to get to match fitness.”

    Paarwater said WP are still interested in signing another Puma tighthead, Eusebio Guinazu, who is currently on tour with Argentina “A” in Portugal.

    “We are waiting for him to finish that tour. We will be talking to his agent with the eye on getting him here for a trial.”

    Province will not consider new signing Brock Harris for Friday night’s Currie Cup opening match against the Pumas at Witbank yet.

    “He is still under-21, but he is big enough and in good shape. However, we will not consider him for Friday night.”

    Paarwater was happy with the outcome of Thursday night’s training match. “I was happy, especially with the way the guys performed in the positions we thought we would have problems.”

    He singled out Corné Uys at outside centre, Peter Grant at inside centre and Naas Olivier at flyhalf for special praise. The former WP flank also had warm words for Robbie Diack, who did well at No 8. “He is a youngster who played in our Vodacom Cup team and he looked good on Thursday.”

    Paarwater is satisfied that the tighthead props at his disposal would be able to do the job on Friday night. “We have enought tightheads, but we are just worried about the impact of an injury now. Attie Winter did reasonably well at tighthead, and so did Brock and Riaan Vermeulen.

    “It was difficult to make a call because it wasn’t a real game, but the scrums were live and one could see if the guys have potential.”

    The Vodacom WP side will be announced on Wednesday.

  • 29.capeflatsboy: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 15:11 pm

    Ja ek hoop maar ons Leeus gaan my plesier verskaf.

  • 30.benvk: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 16:30 pm

    Die valke behoort nie te swak te vaar nie en kan dalk die semis of finaal haal. Dit hang net af wanneer hulle teen die bulle gaan verloor.

  • 31.RedCard: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 16:31 pm

    Hope the Falcons have a good optomitrist. They gonna be too fat off to see the semi’s.

  • 32.Bluecap: Reply to this comment
    20 Jun 2006, 16:50 pm

    “We know we have to beat one or two of the big teams and we have prepared well.” Ja well no fine, but it won’t be the Bulls.

Keo.co.za has always promoted uncensored views, but has never tolerated racist or crass outbursts. Come on guys and girls. If you can't moderate yourselves or each other then I am going to be forced to regulate the posts and enforce a registration process for comments. The choice is yours.

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