Currie Cup latest – WP bring back Boks
13 Oct 2011
Keo.co.za brings you news from the Currie Cup.
WP bring back Boks – Allister Coetzee has named all six of WP’s returning Springboks in his match 22 to face the Pumas at Newlands this weekend.
Inside centre Jean de Villiers skippers the team, that has fullback Gio Aplon, outside centre Juan de Jongh and wing Bryan Habana in the starting line-up. Flanker Schalk Burger and outside centre Jaque Fourie have been named on the bench.
WP - 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Jean De Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Adriaan Fondse, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 JC Kritzinger.
Subs: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Tertius Daniller, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Conrad Jantjes.
64 Comments
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13 Oct 2011, 09:45 am
Not bad, not bad at all…
A possible semi vs the Lions is looking veeeery good at the moment.
Mustnt underestimate the Lions though, they have been doing it for the whole season….
But we beat them twice in the Super Rugby season, so there’s no way why Province shouldnt be in a CC final again this year…
Against Sharks or Cheetahs??
13 Oct 2011, 09:54 am
Fok ! Why bring Schalk and Fourie on ? They played a lot of rugby recently and to be honest its not fair. Little disappointed
13 Oct 2011, 09:54 am
this is gonna end very badly for the lions…even though they’re playing the pumas…
13 Oct 2011, 09:55 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-2:
maybe schalk and jaque asked to brought on?
13 Oct 2011, 09:59 am
@once more just take a break on the beach, dear springboks, once more…(i_love_u_bakkiesbotha)-3: ??? Lions play the Sharks and WP are playing the Pumas… jot sure what you are getting at – am I reading it wrong?
Lions will need to really up the tempo with the Boks back for the other big unions… It’s a shame for the smaller unions, especially Griquas who have scalped some of the big boys and will probably resign themselves to watching the semis from their couches.
13 Oct 2011, 10:11 am
@NicG(NicG)-5:
yes, you are reading it wrong.
wp are going to have a good run out against pumas and hit their straps with their bok players back in the team. this might give them a good momentum build for the semi’s.
lions are resting thier team for the sharks fixture and could end up lacking match fitness. we’ve seen it happen to teams before, just look at the ab’s final against the wallabies in the 3n.
this will then in fact be the lions pain.
yip, too bad for the smaller unions, they really played with heart for the most part.
13 Oct 2011, 10:25 am
Looks like a final against the Cheetahs (if they bring back Brussow) or the Sharks.
13 Oct 2011, 10:30 am
Man, there is still alot of talent, even with Engelbrecht, Sadie and Cronje and the Boks leaving next year.
13 Oct 2011, 10:55 am
@RugbyStudent(RugbyStudent)-8:
Boks leaving? Who?
Think Jaque Fourie is the only one who might be packing his bags, and that should hopefully be solved by employing a suitable Springbok coach.
13 Oct 2011, 10:59 am
This looks like a pretty good team… Well done to all the Boks for sticking up their hands… well done to the laaitjies for getting us this far… against my expectations anyway…
a semi looking very possible now… and (IF) will be against the lions at ellis park… that will be an interesting game…
13 Oct 2011, 11:01 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-2:
not fair…???
13 Oct 2011, 11:03 am
This team is going to tear the Pumas a new one. Disgruntled Boks to take their World Cup frustations out on the hapless Pumas. Habana to score 4!
13 Oct 2011, 11:08 am
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-9: Are you sure? I remember last year a few of the senior Boks at WP sat down with Rassie and commited till 2013. I am not sure if Jaque was included in that group.
13 Oct 2011, 11:13 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-13:
i had heard that all the WP boks had committed to next year in cape town…
but there was a report about JF going to japan… i hope he doesn’t… but JDJ is a great replacement… so no real worries either way….
13 Oct 2011, 11:20 am
@ufo(ufo)-14: Ja it will be a huge blow if Jaque goes. I would like to see JdJ start in the 12 jersey next season. Let JDV play a versatility role. Have him on the bench to cover 12, 13, 11, 14.
13 Oct 2011, 11:22 am
@ufo(ufo)-11: Too much rugby for some of the players ! Also what about the guys that got us so far ? I would understand a semi or a final but we playing the Puma’s at home and these guys played in NZ on Sunday playing in the WC ! We complain in S15 when we have to travel back and play.
Personally I would have picked only Aplon and Juan as they had very limited game time in NZ. What happens next year when we find ourselves short of backup players again without experience ? Will we fly in Schalk Britz ? I would not have Habana , Schalk , Jean or Fourie in the 22 for this weekends game.
Jean maybe could have been on the bench , but I would also not give him the Captaincy , Deon Fourie and Tiaan did a very capable job and it shows lack of faith in them.
13 Oct 2011, 11:24 am
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-15:
yeah… don’t know how pleased JDV will be on the bench…. but i think attrition and injuries will take care of the problem…
also JDV would be better option on the wing than poolman…
13 Oct 2011, 11:27 am
@sparticus(sparticus)-16:
cool bud… thanks… just wondering from which perspective you were saying it was unfair…
yes… we should beat the pumas and rest the boks… but this is a must-win game and i can understand taking no chances…
as well as the youngster have performed… they imploded against the lions and we can’t take the chance they do the same against the pumas… however unlikely it is…
13 Oct 2011, 11:29 am
Oh boy – I feel sorry for those teams who have succeeded so far because of WP, Bulls and Sharks being devoid of their Boks. Luckily for some, the Bulls seem to have missed the playoffs – otherwise, the fat lady has not even started warming up yet.
8 players available to the Sharks that have not been up until now: Lambie, Pietersen, Alberts, Jannie Du Plessis, Bismark Du Plessis, Ryan Kankowski, Craig Burden, Beast Mtwarira.
6 Boks for WP…..
Methinks the Currie Cup is far from over….
13 Oct 2011, 11:29 am
@Dusky(Dusky)-19: I forgot John Smit….
13 Oct 2011, 11:32 am
@ufo(ufo)-17: JDV knows he is getting old….he might relish the opportunity to be the go to guy on the bench.
13 Oct 2011, 11:38 am
Can you imagine if the Bulls had snuck in, and could field a team with Matfield, Fourie Du Preez, Morne Steyn, Francois Hougaard, Pierre Spies, Danie Rossouw, Guthro Steenkamp….
The fact that the Bulls with those quality players just a week too late – will miss the playoffs just shows, the Currie Cup has definitely become the Bokless tournament where certain teams will have to always play with their B or even C side.
It’s no longer strength vs. strength rugby and that is a cancer for any tournament.
13 Oct 2011, 11:39 am
@ufo(ufo)-18: Jaa I understand the importance but we really should have more faith , what if its S15 semi’s ? We saw how we failed last season in the semi’s by bringing over Schalk Britz to cover the loose forward position. I feel we not preparing enough for S15 , we are short sighted. To be honest the CC is simply a breeding ground for Super rugby and the goals of the team should reflect that , I rather we dont make the semi’s and groom new players for next year than we win the CC but come short next year.
Difficult I agree and i sure am glad I am not the one to make those decisions.
13 Oct 2011, 11:39 am
Anyone know how many games or minutes a player has to have played to qualify to play in semi-finals?? Will Springboks who have hardly played Currie cup be eligible for playoff stages?
I remember Province having to give Matt Toomua a few games and half games at the end of the tournament in 2009 to ensure he could feature in semi’s.
13 Oct 2011, 11:41 am
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-24: Good point.
13 Oct 2011, 12:02 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-24: Is that rule in place for the Currie Cup, or is it only for Super rugby ? You might have a point. Will be interesting to see if that is the ruling.
It wont be the first year that Boks have returned just prior to the playoffs, and there has never been a restriction before. Last year wasn’t much different, although I cant remember with how many games remaining the Boks returned. Could have been more than now.
If the Sharks and WP are allowed to field their Boks, and those Boks hit the ground running, it could be a tough 3 weeks for the Lions first facing almost a full strength Stormers side in the semi-final and then possibly a full strength Sharks team in the final (assuming that the Sharks beat the Lions this weekend, and then don’t blow it against the Cheetahs in the semi), but should the Lions weather the storm and make it – I will be the first to tip my hat to them.
Interesting times ahead in this years Currie Cup…..
13 Oct 2011, 12:04 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-24:
It used to be playing a part (doesn’t matter how long) in at least 3 games… but I think those rules don’t apply to returning Springboks. Reasons being match attendance & interest increases with Springboks playing etc.
It definitely applies to younger players wanting to return to play for their U19 or U21 teams. Taute won’t be allowed to go play for the Lions U21′s for example… (not that they would drop him)
13 Oct 2011, 12:05 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-22: The CC without the Springboks allow us to guage the new talent coming through. Without the CC guys like Sadie do net get their chances because JDV, JF and JdJ are there, he isn’t likely to get a go.
The same applies for a number of other players. Youngsters are given an opportunity and if they take it they could become the boks in a few years…
Removing 30 players from 5 times doesn’t mean that they’re suddenly playing with C teams…
13 Oct 2011, 12:05 pm
@wp_boytjie(wp_boytjie)-24: Surely if that was the case, they shouldn’t allow the Boks to play this weekend in matches that could determine home semi-finals ?
13 Oct 2011, 12:06 pm
Doesn’t really matter having the Springboks return anyway…
With no EOYT, they get an extra months rest already, minimum.
Guys like Pierre Spies & Francois Hougaard get even more
13 Oct 2011, 12:08 pm
@Dusky(Dusky)-26: Maybe the rules are different for the Boks. Yes the currie cup just hotter up now. That WP side looks good.
13 Oct 2011, 12:09 pm
I don’t see rest being a problem. Most of the senior players had a long rest before they played their first 3N games. So it’s 6 games in a row… not THAT much.
13 Oct 2011, 12:11 pm
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-30: Yes the guys should have decent rest and put in a good pre-season. The next season is going to be Huge! Superugby, England touring Boks, Four Nations, EOYT.
BTW does the tours work for the EOYT as well?
If Yes who will the Boks play three times on their EOYT?
13 Oct 2011, 12:12 pm
Is it true that Argentina will be playing there home games in the Four Nations in S.A?
13 Oct 2011, 12:13 pm
@lepel(lepel)-28: What ? I get what you say about the Currie Cup being a development opportunity, but come now…the Sharks for one have been struggling all season with their front row. All of a sudden, they have 4 Boks and very possibly the first choice Springbok front row to take the field. We wont even begin with the individual value of being able to field guys like Willem Alberts or Patrick Lambie.
Same would count for WP in their center pair. The difference between a pairing of De Villiers and Fourie with De Jongh backing up compared with what WP have had to make do with all season is vast. And what about the influence it has on their loose forwards, you cant compare any loose forward trio that they have had to play with recently to having Schalk Burger and Francois Louw available to play in tandem.
If the Bulls had made it, to be able to field Victor Matfield in the lineouts and a pivot pairing of Fourie Du Preez (or Hougaard for that matter) and Morne Steyn makes a huge difference. And we wont even begin to mention the effect the presence of Guthro Steenkamp, Danie Rossouw and Pierre Spies would have.
Perhaps C level is an over exaggeration, but I am sorry – certain teams are forced to play the majority of the Currie Cup in the absence of their first choice players in certain pivotal positions where their traditional strengths lie. That at least makes for a B level rating. Its a fact.
13 Oct 2011, 12:20 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-33:
Someone posted our opponents elsewhere.
We play England once, Ireland once & Scotland once.
Hopefully they try get Wales as well, and turn it into a grand-slam tour.
If they pull all the Springboks out of the Currie Cup completely, they will actually not be playing that many games.
Think they should cap it at 14 games MAXIMUM in either S15 or CC rugby.
13 Oct 2011, 12:21 pm
The Currie Cup will start the week after the S15 final in 2012.
It will finish at the same time as it does now because of there only being 6 teams. 10 rounds instead of 14.
13 Oct 2011, 14:09 pm
Im happy to see the best players in a WP shirt… we dont see enough of the boks in the currie cup and we may not in future years so its nice to see them there before the play offs…. especially against a team like the pumas where they could have been rested… last years currie cup ending and tri nations was my favourite rugby period of that year… i love the currie cup and cant wait for more knock out rugby after the end of the rugby world cup…. oh and for the weekend come on WP and go Wales!
13 Oct 2011, 14:34 pm
Jaque sounds like it is a done deal. Will still be available for Super Rugby ala Peter Grant though
Springboks Jaque Fourie and Bryan Habana may be the next big profile names to jet off to Japan after it was confirmed they were in negotiations with top Japanese team Kobe Steelers.
Both players are yet to conclude negotiations with Western Province and the Stormers and can earn big money in Japan where they will join Rugby World Cup teammates Danie Rossouw and Fourie du Preez, both of whom have signed for Suntory Sungoliath for the next two years.
Fourie confirmed his negotiations to Western Province after arriving home from the World Cup earlier this week while Habana has been in talks with the Steelers for a few weeks now. The club confirmed both players were in negotiations with them.
While it seems almost certain that Fourie will move to Japan, with club sources saying the deal is close to being signed, Habana appears to be “just in talks” for the moment, and could well end up renewing his contract with WP rather than heading overseas.
Earlier SuperSport.com reported that Habana had been turned down by French superclub Toulon for wanting R21-million over three years rather than the R18-million they were offering him. According to sources in Europe, Habana’s name is still being mentioned there, but it seems he has decided to stay in Cape Town, unless the Japanese can convince him.
The Kobe Steelers already have one South African player in Peter Grant and it seems the lure of the Yen and a lower intensity of games are an attractive combination at the moment, with many New Zealand and Australian players opting for the Far East.
It will also be interesting to see the reaction in Cape Town if Fourie does decide to head East, as the Bulls snapped up Johan Sadie because Province could not guarantee him game time in the Super Rugby series as they already have three Springbok midfielders in Fourie, Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh.
WP CEO Rob Wagner confirmed earlier this week to Sport24 that Fourie had been speaking to Japanese clubs.
“Jaque let us know immediately that a quite a few Japanese clubs spoke to him,” said Wagner.
“It is always the case that clubs put their feelers out to big players who have not lengthened their contracts for the next season.”
“Jaque let us know that he does not want to make any decision until he has spoken to us and because he had to focus on the World Cup, we did not want to speak to him on the phone every single day,” insisted Wagner.
Province may opt for an arrangement similar to Grant’s, where he returns midway through the Super Rugby season.
13 Oct 2011, 14:43 pm
Damn what overkill here.
It is only the Pumas(not Argies) and at Newlands.
13 Oct 2011, 14:45 pm
Are these ‘Boks so desperate for any trophy that they last saw 4 years ago?
13 Oct 2011, 14:46 pm
@Sasuke(Sasuke)-39:
They should not allow him to play in Japan and still have a contract with him.
It’s one or the other.
Why the heck would he want to anyway? He’s surely making alright money playing for the Springboks as well as Stormers… and unless the coach is a complete tool, his spot isn’t in any danger. Sign a contract with SARU.
He’s only 28. Wait a couple of years.
13 Oct 2011, 14:51 pm
Not Fourie!!! WHY??? He is so young!!! damn these Japanese Dragons!!!
13 Oct 2011, 14:55 pm
wp / stormers seem incapable of attracting or retaining players….
We have lost F LOuw….Sadie, engelbrecht….cj……now seems we losing Habana and J Fourie.
Rassie/ AC…WTF is going on there?
We also not attracting anyone either…
vok man!
13 Oct 2011, 15:00 pm
All good. From what’s been said JP du Plessis looks the real deal at the moment.
Will make a good understudy to Juan de Jongh, who I’m guessing isn’t going anywhere.
13 Oct 2011, 15:02 pm
add whithead to that list as well
13 Oct 2011, 15:04 pm
@grant10(grant10)-44: joe pieterson
13 Oct 2011, 15:05 pm
@grant10(grant10)-46:
Talk of him going to the Sharks.
13 Oct 2011, 15:07 pm
@Transformation(Transformation)-47: exactly my man
@hendrikp(hendrikp)-48: more than talk from what I hear…..
Dont know wassup at Newlands….but we in farken freefall by the looks of things
Lionel Cronje as well to Bulls!
13 Oct 2011, 15:11 pm
Hope The Sharks Boks come back soon. They’re floundering at the moment.
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