Currie Cup preview (Round 10)

Currie Cup preview (Round 10)

GARETH DUNCAN previews this weekend’s action and predicts who will face off in the semi-finals.

SHARKS vs GRIQUAS, DURBAN, FRI 19:10

While Griquas earned a 22-15 win over the Sharks in Kimberley, the Northern Cape minnows will come up against a stronger outfit on Friday night.

John Plumtree has gained significant reinforcements in recents weeks, with players returning from injury and Springbok duty.

Wing JP Pietersen still has his hot Super Rugby form despite spending several weeks on the sidelines because of a broken thumb. The speedster played a key role in the 37-30 win over the Cheetahs in Free State last weekend.

Tim Whitehead’s return from injury sees him partner Paul Jordaan in the midfield. The duo create an exciting centre pairing, and will expose any weaknesses in the opposition defence. To think this is their second-choice centre combination as Frans Steyn will be back next season.

Pat Lambie might still be aching from all the splinters he picked up on the bench during the Rugby Championship, but he’ll be raring to start at flyhalf and prove his worth in the run-on XV.

Skipper Keagan Daniel has been in good form in the Currie Cup since being dropped from the Springbok squad, and he’ll lead a pack that has impressed over the last fortnight.

The Sharks will also have four Boks to call on from the bench in the second half.

Griquas shocked the Lions with a second-half comeback in Kimberley, but they’ll struggle to stay afloat at the Shark Tank against a side that boasts plenty of quality.

The Sharks will cruise to victory and the top spot on the log.

FORM
Sharks WWLWLWLWW
Griquas LLLWWWLW

Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Jandré Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Peet Marais, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.

Griquas – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jannie Boshoff, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Rynard Landman, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes (c), 1 Steph Roberts.
Subs: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Ivann Espag, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Wesley Wilkins, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Richard Lawson.

Gareth’s prediction: Sharks by 15

WP vs FREE STATE CHEETAHS, CAPE TOWN, SAT 17:05

A young WP outfit were outplayed by the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, but their returning Springboks have boosted the Cape side tremendously.

Where there was once a lack of experience, Province now have the likes of inside centre Jean de Villiers, wing Bryan Habana, No 8 Duane Vermeulen, lock Andries Bekker and hooker Tiaan Liebenberg playing leadership roles. Outside centre Juan de Jongh and lock Eben Etzebeth will also make telling contributions.

Free State have benefited from Bok hooker Adriaan Strauss and prop Coenie Oosthuizen’s availability, but injuries will still see the Cheetahs struggle at Newlands.

They’ll miss flyhalf Johan Goosen (knee) as Sias Ebersohn has been inconsistent in the No 10 jersey. Free State will also have a weakened second row and loose trio, which should see them struggle in the forwards battle.

Without regular front foot momentum, the Cheetahs’ backline will be restricted. They’ll depend on outside centre Robert Ebersohn and wing Raymond Rhule to create some magic, but that won’t be enough.

WP will be too strong for the visitors, and a win will see them avoid the unlikely threat of relegation and seal their semi-final place.

This will see Free State finish last on the log. Without a win, the Cheetahs will need two bonus points to secure safety. However, this will be highly unlikely against South Africa’s best defensive unit. First Division league winners the EP Kings will be waiting for the Bloemfontein team in the promotion-relegation play-offs.

FORM
WP LWLWWLWLL
Cheetahs LWWLLLLWW

WP – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Brok Harris, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache, 22 Gio Aplon.

Free State Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Ryno Benjamin.

Gareth’s prediction: WP by 12

GOLDEN LIONS vs BLUE BULLS, JOHANNESBURG, SAT 19:10

The Golden Lions have made this an easier challenge for the visiting Blue Bulls.

While Johan Ackermann hasn’t picked an out-and-out second string side, it’s still a weakened team. With the Lions already guaranteed a home semi-final, they can afford to rest utility back Jaco Taute and prop JC Janse van Rensburg, and bench the likes of lock Franco van der Merwe, flyhalf Elton Jantjies and speedster Lionel Mapoe.

Springbok props Pat Cilliers and CJ van der Linde will give the Lions a quality front row, but the Bulls have a strong team to match and outclass the hosts in most positional match-ups.

The Pretoria union will start six of its returning Springboks (to the rejoices of under-fire head coach Pine Pienaar). The Bulls have reportedly struggled without 22 first-choice players for most of their campaign, but will field a near Super Rugby-strength line-up at Ellis Park on Saturday.

The major returns are flyhalf Morne Steyn and the Bok lock combination of Juandre Kruger and Flip van der Merwe. They’ll play key roles during the Bulls’ pursuit for victory.

The forwards battle will be a close one. The Lions’ success in the Currie Cup this season has come through their ability to poach ball regularly and dominate the set-pieces. The Bulls need to secure the ascendancy up front if they want to win this one. The respective loose trios will be huge in this regard.

The Lions are weakened, but will still be competitive. However, the Bulls have more than enough firepower to earn the win that will save them from relegation and sneak them into the play-offs.

FORM
Bulls WLWLLLWLW
Lions WLWLWWWWL

Golden Lions – 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Butch James (c), 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Whestley Moolman, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Lionel Mapoe.

Blue Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter (c), 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morne Mellett.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Dean Greyling.

Gareth’s prediction: Blue Bulls by 8

SEMI-FINALS (NEXT WEEKEND):
Sharks vs Blue Bulls
Golden Lions vs WP

PROMOTION-RELEGATION PLAY-OFFS:
Free State Cheetahs vs EP Kings


146 Comments

Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All

  • 1.Predawn: Reply to this comment

    Not sure Province Proteas can do the business.

  • 2.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    do it free state

    do it

  • 3.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment

    Cheetahs will get 2 bonus points … Bulls will win, WP will win, Sharks will beat Griquas by 30+ …. EP vs Griquas in play offs ….. EP KINGS will play Currie Cup Rugby next year ….. oh & Super Rugby …. ohhhhh RL its trueeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee!!!! EP KINGS on the RISE!!!!!!!!!

  • 4.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment

    Go Lions!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Oh, how I would love for Jacques Potgieter to score the winning try in the playoffs…

  • 5.Rhys7: Reply to this comment

    Taute to Stormers woooooooo

  • 6.katman: Reply to this comment

    Coetzee pretty much admitted that he doesn’t completely trust either Aplon or Pietersen with the fullback position, so it makes sense. He’ll be back with the Lions for after the 2013 SR season.

  • 7.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @Rhys7-5: Ja saw that. Apparently he was “guaranteed” the starting 15 spot. Not sure i agree with that personally.

    Nice to have him here though.

  • 8.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    It’s bad news if you are Gerhard Van der Heever or any other up and coming winger/fullback.

    Also doesn’t make sense if you think that it’s a temporary loan and not a long term signing, although I would bet good money on him staying there.

  • 9.katman: Reply to this comment

    And Ackerman has admitted (on News24) that he’s resting a bunch of players because he can’t see the Griquas beating the Sharks, so the Lions have almost no realistic chance of overtaking the Sharks to end number one. So he’s happy to end second, with a home semi, and then possibly an away final in Durban. A victory for the Bulls would also see them make the semis and avoid relegation. Having said that, I still see this one going down to the wire.

  • 10.katman: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-8: Two things: First, you don’t have good money. And second, he has a contract with the Lions that resumes after the 2013 Super Rugby competition. Other than that, your post makes a lot of sense.

  • 11.Robzim: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-8:

    Once he experiences CT he will not go back.
    It happened to many people
    Like Duane Vermeulen, Bryan Habana, Peter Grant, Katman…etc

  • 12.rangerman: Reply to this comment

    sharks pedigree showing through again.

    could be two finals in the year again.

    i luv dem sharks, i do.

  • 13.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @katman-10: LOL sonofabitch.

    When does his contract expire? Do you know?

    And just because I make my money off the yoke of the oppressed man doesn’t make it good money!

  • 14.foxpox: Reply to this comment

    Another shambles in South African Rugby, with the effective undermining of the Lions Rugby Union in terms of the Super 15 !

    THE KEO CONNECTION

    Highbury Safika Media (HSM) is a publishing house boasting a portfolio of over 30 magazine titles and numerous online publications. Amongst these are SA Rugby Magazine and Keo.co.za – the website of Mark Keohane and other SA Rugby writers such as Ryan Vrede and Jon Cardinelli.

    Keohane has been a public figure since his days as Springbok Communications Manager under the ill-fated reigns of both Harry Viljoen and Rudolph Streauli, until he resigned in protest over SARFU’s handling of the Geo Cronjé racism debacle involving Quinton Davids. Keohane went on to publish a book about the episode and the state of the Springboks in general, and was widely criticized by Springbok players (most notably Corné Krige) as deliberately attempting to sow division within their ranks and to undermine SA Rugby in general.

    In recent times Keohane has been busying himself in the extensive business interests of HSM, as well as media relations of other entities, such as Jake White’s Winning Ways – a business partnership which ended in a heated law suit, kept hushed away out of the public sphere. Even more recently, however, HSM -and Mark Keohane in particular – were awarded the contract to manage the media, marketing and public relations of the South African Sports Confederation and Olympic Committee (SASCOC). The awarding of this contract was never put up for tender, as is standard government procedure, but was rather awarded directly to HSM (although Keohane states that normal application took place, the fact remains it should have gone to tender).

    And this is where the Keo connection begins to reveal itself.

    During his time at SA Rugby, Mark Keohane worked alongside the likes of Rian Oberholzer (President of SARFU), Songezo Nayo (Managing Director), Gary Grant (Marketing Director) and the current president of SASCOC – Gideon Sam (Springbok Team Manager).

    All four names mentioned above are currently directors of sports marketing company Accelerate Sports, with Gideon Sam being appointed as Chairman. Gideon Sam also serves on the Lotto Distribution Board, but excused himself when dealing with the funding grant to SA Cycling, a grant from which Accelerate Sport received commission to the tune of R 26 million – a blatant conflict of interest.

    Accelerate Sport, through their subsidiary Access Facilities and Leisure Management (AFLM), were also awarded the contract as operations manager of the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. It is reported that this contract brings in a whopping R 600 000 a month to the coffers of Accelerate. It is the duty of AFLM to source events to be staged at the stadium to generate revenue and keep the stadium sustainable.

    And here the connection between rugby and Accelerate begins to become clear.

    The contract between AFLM and the Nelson Mandela Bay Metro states that, above the R 600 000 a month, AFLM are to be awarded performance bonuses based on the revenue they generate, providing this amount exceeds R 12,5 million a year. The structure of this bonus is as follows:

    The Operator will be paid 10% of any amount above R12.5 million but less than R15 million, and then:

    • 12.5% of any amount in excess of R15 million but less than R20 million;

    • 15% of any amount in excess of R20 million but less than R25 million; and

    • 20% of any amount in excess of R25 million.

    It is thus blatantly clear that it is in the best interests of Accelerate to find events which will draw spectators, such as concerts etc.

    But what better way to ensure constant revenue, week after week, than playing host to a top tier sports team. If only the Eastern Cape had one.

    But wait, Accelerate have strong ties to SARU, they do after all boast an ex-president in their ranks. Would it at this point seem ludicrous to suggest that Oberholzer, Sam, Grant and Nayo used their previous connections to SARU to, excuse the pun, accelerate the Kings’ inclusion in Super Rugby so as to ensure that their business interest was being looked after, leading to SARU’s shock announcement at the Heyneke Meyer press conference about the Kings’ guaranteed inclusion in Super Rugby for 2013? Surely not.

    So where does Mark Keohane fit into all this?

    Keohane has recently stepped up his anti – Lions rhetoric in his articles, and while not directly naming the Kings in his most recent one, it is clear where his views emanate from. The vested interest he has in servicing his ex-colleagues at SARU (SASCOC contracts etc.) has clearly skewed the views of an already overly opinionated man.

    But wait, there’s more.

    After the establishment of the Kings, the son of Cheeky Watson – president of the Eastern Province Rugby Union (under which the Kings operate) – Luke, was brought back from Bath to play for the Kings. In May 2011 HSM (with Mark Keohane again at the forefront) announced that it had decided to enter into the field of player management, a first for the publishing company. Furthermore it was announced that their first client would be none other than Luke Watson. Queue the Mark Keohane propaganda machine.

    The cover of the very next SA Rugby magazine was adorned by – yes, you guessed it – Luke Watson, with the rather flattering caption “Return of the King”. This was to be only the start of the Keohane marketing hype surrounding Watson and the Kings.

    At the same press conference where SARU dropped the Kings bombshell on an unsuspecting audience, Ryan Vrede, a HSM journalist, asked Heyneke Meyer if Luke Watson – a player languishing in the second tier of SA Rugby and who hasn’t been in Bok contention since mid-2008 – was a contender for the position of Springbok captain. These blatant attempts by Keohane to force the name of Luke Watson into mainstream media while he has done nothing to get it there serves to illustrate the hidden agenda and inherent corrupt nature of a man who has lived off the rise and fall of others for far too long.

    Not only has the media machine being rolling for Luke Watson, but others being managed under yet another Accelerate Sport company – In-Site Athlete Management – have been enjoying a rise in publicity in SA Rugby magazine as well. Willem Alberts received some ego stroking in May 2011, as did another In-Site managed player -Joe van Niekerk – in March 2012, with the article stating that he is playing the best rugby of his career at Toulon. Buttering him up for a big money move back to SA perhaps?

    It is clear that Keo’s connection into Accelerate stretches deep, with an “I’ll scratch your back you scratch mine” policy which benefits both sides. Gideon Sam made sure he looked after Mark with the awarding of the SASCOC account, Mark in turn ensures that the business interests of Accelerate Sport and its stakeholders remains in the mainstream media, and they all walk away happy.

    The reason why Keo has gone on a Lions bashing campaign of late should come as no surprise when taking the above into account. Mark Keohane is no longer a journalist; he hasn’t been for quite a while. He is a businessman with a platform to promote his interests and those of others close to him, a platform which he uses selflessly and without shame.

    He is a wolf in sheep’s clothing. He is the worm in the apple, and the rot starts with him.

  • 15.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @Robzim-11: Thats what I was thinking.

    But at least katters will have some players to support next year.

  • 16.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @foxpox-14: Ummm…….where have you been for the past year???

    You sound suspiciously like another “one time blogger” that was on here a week or so ago.

    Keo bashing is reserved for long standing posters only. mmmmkaaay???

  • 17.rangerman: Reply to this comment

    @Robzim-11: seems like lance is a cheatie cheat worse than cheatie mccheat could ever be.

    give them all drugs and lets see who makes it down the mountain quickest.

    sure there will be injuries but the ratings will go through the roof.

  • 18.Robzim: Reply to this comment

    @rangerman-12:

    It could be. Lets hope it’s not another 6-37 against dem Sharks should they make the finals. There is something about winning finals that dem sharks must still master. They are a bit like the Protea cricket team. If I was a supporter of dem sharks I would have been worried of another BOOM during finals time :)

  • 19.katman: Reply to this comment

    @Robzim-11: You missed a trick there. Your sentence “It happened to many people” was the ideal opportunity to use the phrase “…many good men” in its correct context.

  • 20.rangerman: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-16: ja exactly.

    we have had to put up with the dwarfs k u k articles and kazakhi hosted web server for years so we have earned it the hard way.

    (i was going to say “props” to us but i was afraid rugbystudent would call me out for speaking blackinese)

  • 21.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @Robzim-18: We are not out of it yet, although a couple of key injuries, like Elstadt will make a bog difference IMO.

  • 22.rangerman: Reply to this comment

    @Robzim-18: haha, how many finals have wp lost in the last decade?

    oh ja, not so many. they simply dont usually get that far :lol:

    dem sharks dem sharks dem black sharks dem sharks demsharks dem white sharks dem sharks dem sharks dem winning sharks join the sharie sharks.

  • 23.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @rangerman-20: :D

  • 24.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment

    just 2 questions :

    1. Did Keo turn a Multi Million Strong Lions union into one who now can’t even afford vaseline for Elton’s hair?

    2. Did Keo make the Lions play kak in the last 3/4 years of Super Rugby? being the whipping boys and the joke of Super Rugby??

    Just answer my questions ….

  • 25.katman: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-13: “And just because I make my money off the yoke of the oppressed man doesn’t make it good money!”

    Precisely. The State rests.

  • 26.foxpox: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-16: Just reminding everyone in case they forgot

  • 27.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @rangerman-22: This year is totally going to be our year boet ;)

  • 28.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    Hendrik Cronjé, Volksblad

    Pienaar, ’n voormalige Bok-heelagter, sê hy weet nie of hy al ooit meer belowende rou talent as die 19-jarige Rhule gesien het nie.

    “Hy is een van die beste spelers wat ek al gesien het. Wat my veral opgewonde maak, is dat hy ruimte, en nie die teenstanders nie, op die veld aanval. Dít is ’n teken van ’n speler met visie,” sê Pienaar.

    Rhule het vanjaar danksy beserings aan ander spelers drie kanse as ’n plaasvervanger gekry en sodanig beïndruk in wedstryde vir die Shimlas, Jong Bokkies en Cheetahs dat hy nou volgens Pienaar in berekening vir die Bok-span móét wees.

    “As ek die Bok-keurders was, sou ek hom oorweeg het (vir die einde van die jaar se toer na Europa). Hy is sterk en baie fisiek. As hy só aanhou speel, gaan hy nog diep spore in Bok-rugby trap.”

  • 29.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @katman-25: Isn’t that how all great fortunes are made??

    Just saying.

  • 30.Robzim: Reply to this comment

    @rangerman-17:

    Ja, fark, I have been such a fan of Lance… its not nice to read the latest… I guess I “knew” it all the time but was somehow hoping its not true.

    I still reckon he is the greatest TdF rider in history- he certainly did not win the 7 yellows because of cheating only- the other top riders probably all cheated as well- the man has many other elusive qualities that only the greatest of champions posess.

    But it does not take away from the fact that he most likely doped as much as the others.

  • 31.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment

    Rhule to small for international rugby ….. finish & klaar

  • 32.Transformation: Reply to this comment

    @BrumbiesBoy-4: does he play for the Brumbies? :???:

  • 33.foxpox: Reply to this comment

    @suffer_guy-24: No he didnt , but he didnt didnt win them last years Currie Cup either. Superrugby must be careful it doesnt go the IPL route , too many teams , too many games and if this year was anything to go by , a marked drop in standards and quality of the games.

  • 34.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-28: Im a big fan of Rhule. I’d play him in the end of year tour, alongside one or tow other newcomers.

    Not too many, but he would be one for sure.

  • 35.katman: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-29: I was trying to point out that you missed a negative in that sentence.

    Reminds me of the English professor who was discussing how two negatives can infer a positive, but two positives can never make a negative. Upon which a student piped up from the back, “Yeah right.”

  • 36.John Galt: Reply to this comment

    Frikkin raining in Durban. Again.

    Havent seen the sun in 2 farking months.

    Hopefully itll clear up for the rugby later.

  • 37.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @Robzim-30: Ja exactly., I bet you cannot find a TDF winner after Indurain who hasn’t had a positive at some stage of career, which throws all his rides into doubt.

  • 38.londonshark: Reply to this comment

    @suffer_guy-24:

    Agreed.

    I am 100% behind the Kings.

    The Lions don’t deserve their spot in Super Rugby. It’s time to give someone else a chance. And don’t say ‘they must earn it’, because currently none of the 5 teams earn the right to play. It’s given to them as well. Technically speaking. In fact the last time it had to be ‘earned’, WP got the boot.

    The Lions do well in Currie Cup, so that’s where they must stay,

  • 39.katman: Reply to this comment

    @suffer_guy-31: Yawn.

  • 40.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @katman-35:Ah yes, I see what you did there. It may have been a Freudian slip on my part.

    Actually, oppressed man aside, I’m starting to make some money off that other segment of the population that is always getting shafted: pensioners. (or pre-pensioners).

    Although in this my conscience is clear, I’m saving them a great deal more than i make off them,

  • 41.londonshark: Reply to this comment

    @suffer_guy-31:

    Oh kak man.

  • 42.londonshark: Reply to this comment

    @John Galt-36:

    Lol, I was moaning about the same thing.

    So tired of watching a free running team playing in a swimming pool.

  • 43.John Galt: Reply to this comment

    @londonshark-42:
    Yeah, not quite as torrential as the previous 2 games but its just enough to make the ball slipery.

    Might not be as free flowing a game as we hoped this evening.

  • 44.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @londonshark-38: I personally think that the top 5 teams in the CC each year should play Super Rugby the next year.

  • 45.Robzim: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-37:

    Ja, there are very few tour winners who were never either convicted or paid money in terms of some legal arrangement to stop investigations against them.

    The situation is improving a bit lately- there are indications that the watts per kilogram and the climbing times of the top riders have been dropping over the last few years. The current Tour champ (Bradley Wiggins ) for example is apparently as clean as a whistle.

    There will be more scandals though- it’s human nature and the stakes and financial incentives are just incredibly high.

  • 46.BrumbiesBoy: Reply to this comment

    @Robzim-11: Good one!

  • 47.Mr Black: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-37:

    Cycling is a farce. You cant call it a sport anymore.

    And what really makes me angry is the way Lance is trying to dismiss the reality as fairytales.

    He is not only a cheat but a coward as well.

  • 48.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @stormersboy-44: have an 8 team CC, with the top 5 (or less preferably) playing in a (shortened) super comp the next year.

    If the kings want it let them earn it. They would have a fair shot then with no problems politically.

  • 49.stormersboy: Reply to this comment

    @Robzim-45: Correct, this year was hopefully one of the cleanest in recent times.

  • 50.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment

    @Transformation-28:
    he’s certainly got the goods.
    just needs to keep plugging away at all the aspects of his game which needs work.
    also perhaps weight but thats a tricky issue, too much and player loses his pace too little and he gets targeted/turned.

Pages: [1] 2 3 » Show All

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.

Have your say

You must be logged in to post a comment.