Year: 2009
With a World Cup and a British and Irish Lions series victory under our belts, South Africa – now the undisputed heartland of rugby – is gearing up for another exciting Absa Currie Cup season.
Eight teams in the Absa Currie Cup Premier League will battle it out over the coming months in a series of gruelling encounters – set to ignite the most intense of rivalries among SA’s finest domestic teams.
We’ve decided to climb into the action, by dedicating the Absa Facebook page to all the rugby fans out there – and giving you the chance to enter exciting competitions and win fantastic prizes.
South Africa’s premier domestic rugby competition – the Absa Currie Cup, kicks off this Friday afternoon when the Boland Cavaliers host the Platinum Leopards in Wellington in the first match of the Premier Division.
Eight teams – Boland Cavaliers, GWK Griquas, Platinum Leopards, The Sharks, Vodacom Blue Bulls, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and Vodacom Western Province and the Xerox Lions, will battle it out for domestic rugby’s biggest prize in the Premier Division competition.
Click here to view the official website of the Absa Currie Cup
The British & Irish Lions recorded their third win out of three when they narrowly beat the Free State Cheetahs 26-24 in Bloemfontein.
Cheetahs 24 (14)
Tries: Danwel Demas, Wian du Preez, Corne Uys
Conversions: Jacques-Louis Potgieter (2), Louis Strydom
Penalty: Jacques-Louis Potgieter
Lions 26 (23)
Tries: Stephen Ferris, Keith Earls
Conversions: James Hook (2)
Penalties: James Hook (4)
The British & Irish Lions destroyed a pathetic Golden Lions outfit at Coca-Cola Park yesterday. The tourists scored 10 tries in the process.
Xerox Golden Lions (10)
Try: Shandre Frolick
Conversion: Andre Pretorius
Penalty: Andre Pretorius
British & Irish Lions (74)
Tries: Jamie Roberts (2), Brian O’Driscoll, Ugo Monye (2), Tom Croft, Tommy Bowe (2), James Hook, Stephen Ferris
Conversions: Stephen Jones (6), James Hook (3)
Penalties: Stephen Jones (2)
The 2009 Springbok squad to face the British and Irish Lions was named today:
Forwards:
Andries Bekker (Stormers)
Schalk Burger (Stormers)
Bismarck Du Plessis (Sharks)
Ryan Kankowski (Sharks)
Tendai Mtawarira (Sharks)
John Smit (c) (Sharks)
Juan Smith (Cheetahs)
Pierre Spies (Bulls)
Victor Matfield (vc) (Bulls)
Bakkies Botha (Bulls)
Danie Rossouw (Bulls)
Gurthrö Steenkamp (Bulls)
Deon Carstens (Sharks)
Backs:
Jean de Villiers (Stormers)
Fourie du Preez (Bulls)
Jaque Fourie (Lions)
Bryan Habana (Bulls)
Adrian Jacobs (Sharks)
Ricky Januarie (Stormers)
Odwa Ndungane (Sharks)
Jongi Nokwe (Cheetahs)
Wynand Olivier (Bulls)
Ruan Pienaar (Sharks)
JP Pietersen (Sharks)
Earl Rose (Lions)
Morne Steyn (Bulls)
Frans Steyn (Sharks)
The Emerging Boks side to play the Lions on 23 June was also announced:
Backs – Heini Adams, Bjorn Basson, Burton Francis, Zane Kirchner, Louis Ludik, Morgan Newman, Deon van Rensburg, Jano Vermaak, Luzuko Vulindlu.
Forwards – Jacques Botes, Jean Deysel, Wian du Preez, Werner Kruger, Tiaan Liebenberg, Bandise Maku, Dewald Pretorius, Wihelm Steenkamp, Steven Sykes, Franco van der Merwe, Duane Vermuelen.
Backs:
Mils Muliaina (captain)
Cory Jane
Joe Rokocoko
Rudi Wulf
Richard Kahui
Conrad Smith
Isaia Toeava
Ma’a Nonu
Stephen Donald
Piri Weepu
Jimmy Cowan
Brendon Leonard
Forwards:
Jerome Kaino
Tanerau Latimer
Adam Thomson
Liam Messam
Kieran Read
Brad Thorn
Ali Williams
Isaac Ross
John Afoa
Neemia Tialata
Tony Woodcock
Wyatt Crockett
Andrew Hore
Keven Mealamu
Players not considered due to injury:
Richie McCaw (knee)
Sitiveni Sivivatu (shoulder)
Anthony Boric (toe)
Andy Ellis (ribs)
Corey Flynn (forearm)
Scott Waldrom (back)
Daniel Carter (achilles)
Rodney So’oialo (neck)
The Blitz-Bokke reached the Cup quarter finals at the Edinburgh Sevens at Murrayfield to guarantee at least four Series points and confirm themselves as IRB Sevens World Series champions for the 2008/09 season.
The superb Bulls destroyed the Chiefs in the final of the 2009 Super 14.
Blue Bulls 61
Tries: Fourie du Preez (2), Bryan Habana (2), Victor Matfield, Wynand Olivier, Pierre Spies, Danie Rossouw.
Conversions: Morné Steyn (5), Burton Francis.
Penalties: Morné Steyn (2).
Drop goal: Morné Steyn.
Chiefs 17
Tries: Lelia Masaga, Mils Muliaina.
Conversions: Stephen Donald (2).
Penalty: Stephen Donald.
Man of the Match: Wynand Olivier.
Team Sheets:
Blue Bulls
15 Zane Kirchner
14 Akona Ndungane
13 Jaco Pretorius
12 Wynand Olivier
11 Bryan Habana
10 Morné Steyn
09 Fourie du Preez
08 Pierre Spies
07 Dewald Potgieter
06 Deon Stegmann
05 Victor Matfield (c)
04 Bakkies Botha
03 Werner Kruger
02 Derick Kuün
01 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
16 Chiliboy Ralepelle
17 Rayno Gerber
18 Danie Rossouw
19 Pedrie Wannenburg
20 Heini Adams
21 Burton Francis
22 Marius Delport
Chiefs
15 Mils Muliaina (c)
14 Lelia Masaga
13 Richard Kahui
12 Callum Bruce
11 Dwayne Sweeney
10 Stephen Donald
09 Toby Morland
08 Sione Lauaki
07 Tanerau Latimer
06 Liam Messam
05 Kevin O’Neill
04 Craig Clarke
03 James McGougan
02 Aled de Malmanche
01 Sona Taumalolo
16 Hika Elliot
17 Joe Savage
18 Toby Lynn
19 Serge Lilo
20 David Bason
21 Mike Delany
22 Sosene Anesi