The 2011 tournament opens on September 9, 2011 when hosts New Zealand take on Tonga at Eden Park in Auckland. Two days later the Springboks begin their campaign against Wales in Wellington. The tournament concludes six weeks later back at Eden Park for the final (October 23).

It will be the Springboks’ fifth tilt at the title and, having won the title twice already, they will be chasing the added distinction of becoming the first nation to successfully defend the Webb Ellis Cup.

“It may seem a long way away of after such disappointing results in the Vodacom Tri-Nations, but the lesson of history is that the Springboks have every chance of retaining the Rugby World Cup,” said Mr Oregan Hoskins, president of the South African Rugby Union (SARU).

“Four years ago results were probably even more concerning but a year later John Smit lifted the trophy and l’m sure South Africans will unite behind the team as they did four years ago.

“The soccer World Cup saw the country unite behind Bafana Bafana and we want them to keep the flag flying for the Springboks over the next 12 months and then all the way to the final.”

The Unite campaign will gather momentum nearer kick off but, for now, Springbok supporters can unite the behind the team by going to www.unite2011.co.za, registering their support and earning the chance to win some special prizes.

The first winner drawn from those registering will win a trip for two to Dublin to watch the Springboks’ Test against Ireland at the new Aviva Stadium on November 6.

Rugby World Cup Factfile:

• The Springboks have eight remaining Tests (and a match against the Barbarians) between now and kick off in the 2011 Rugby World Cup.
• South Africa have been drawn in Pool D together with Wales, Fiji, Samoa and Namibia.
• It is the fourth time in five tournaments that South Africa have been pooled with Samoa.
• South Africa have never met Wales at a Rugby World Cup tournament.
• As well as winning the 1995 and 2007 tournaments, South Africa finished 3rd at the 1999 event.
• The Springboks have won 21 out of 24 RWC finals matches for a winning percentage of 87.5%.
• Should South Africa top Pool D then they will play the runner up in Pool C – most likely to be one of Italy, Australia or Ireland in the quarter final.
• Should the seedings go to expectation the Springboks will meet New Zealand in the semi finals.

Issued by SARU Communications

Cruden has won five caps as a substitute but he replaces Dan Carter, who is recovering from ankle surgery.

Israel Dagg will start on the left wing in place of Joe Rokocoko and Piri Weepu replaces Jimmy Cowan at scrum-half.

Owen Franks replaces brother Ben at tighthead prop and Victor Vito replaces Jerome Kaino at blind-side flanker.

The All Blacks secured their seventh Tri-Nations crown in 10 years when they beat South Africa 29-22 in Johannesburg last month, but still have plenty to play for in the final match of the series.

Flanker Richie McCaw will captain the side for a national record 52nd time and the team are looking for a record 10th straight win over their neighbours.

If they manage to earn the victory, it would be their 15th consecutive win in all Tests, and they would become the first team to win all six matches in a Tri-Nations season.

In addition, they have already scored a record 20 tries this season and stand only 18 points short of their own record for a team in a Tri-Nations series, having scored 179 points in the 2006 series.

New Zealand: Muliaina, Jane, Smith, Nonu, Dagg, Cruden, Weepu; Woodcock Mealamu, Franks, Donnelly, Thorn, Vito, McCaw, Read. Replacements: Flynn, Afoa, Boric, Kaino, Cowan, Slade, Ranger.

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Head to Head: Barloworld Toyota Pumas v The Sharks (since 2005)

P: 3 W: 0 L: 3 D: 0 PF: 47 PA: 143

07/07/2006 Pumas 16 The Sharks 34 The Absa Stadium, Durban
01/09/2006 Pumas 14 The Sharks 82 Puma Stadium, Witbank
23/07/2010 Pumas 17 The Sharks 27 The Absa Stadium, Durban

Barloworld Toyota Pumas’ recent form at home:

• The Barloworld Toyota Pumas defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls (22-21) at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit in week eight and secured a 37-32 win over the Platinum Leopards 37-32 in week two of this season’s Absa Currie Cup.

• They but went down to the Xerox Lions (33-30) during week seven and conceded a 45-30 loss to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in week five of this year’s competition.

• The hosts were undefeated at home during last year’s Absa Currie Cup First Division competition.
The Sharks’ recent form on the road:

• The Durban side conceded two away defeats against the Vodacom Blue Bulls (40-34) during last weekend’s action and also suffered a 40-34 loss to the GWK Griquas in the opening weekend of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

• The Sharks though secured victories on the road against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-13) and Platinum Leopards (51-6) in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

• The Sharks suffered one defeat on the road during the 2009 Absa Currie Cup against Vodacom Western Province. They were also the only team to defeat the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Loftus Versfeld during last year’s competition.

Additional information:

• The Sharks flyhalf Patrick Lambie is currently the leading points’ scorer in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup with 132.

• Lambie represented the SA Under-20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina. He also won the Absa Currie Cup Player of the Month award for July.
• Barloworld Toyota Pumas winger Allistair Kettledas scored 18 tries in the 2009 Absa Currie Cup First Division, just one short of Colin Lloyd’s record of 19 in 2006.

• The Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel scored a hat-trick of tries during his side’s 27-17 victory over the Barloworld Toyota Pumas in week three of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.

• The Pumas’ Hannes Franklin and Jacques Coetzee represented the Auto & General Lions during the 2010 Vodacom Super 14.

• SARRA referee Lourens van der Merwe will handle this game between The Sharks and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas in Witbank.

Head to Head: Vodacom Western Province v Platinum Leopards (since 2005)

P: 2 W: 3 L: 0 PF: 127 PA: 33

31/07/2009 WP 48 Platinum Leopards 7 Newlands, Cape Town
18/09/2009 WP 37 Platinum Leopards 3 Profert Olen Park, Potchefstroom
23/07/2010 WP 42 Platinum Leopards 23 Profert Olen Park, Potchefstroom

Vodacom Western Province’s recent form at home:

• The hosts suffered their first home defeat of the 2010 season in week eight after the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs recorded a 29-24 victory at Newlands.

• Vodacom WP though secured home wins over the Vodacom Blue Bulls (15-12), Xerox Lions (32-0) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (54-13).

• Province conceded one home defeat (a 21-19 semi-final loss to the Vodacom Blue Bulls) during last year’s Absa Currie Cup.

Platinum Leopards’ recent form on the road:

• The Platinum Leopards lost all seven of their Absa Currie Cup Premier Division matches during last year’s competition.

• The visitors are yet to record a victory at home and have also not won a game on the road during this season’s competition.

Additional information:

• Vodacom Western Province flyhalf Willem de Waal has accumulated 1341 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. He added 259 points for the Platinum Leopards, 811 for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, and since joining Province in 2008, has notched up 271.

• De Waal has twice scored 212 points in a season, back in 2006 and 2007, for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

• Vodacom WP scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage represented the Baby Boks during the 2008 IRB Junior World Championships.

• The Platinum Leopards’ Philip Lemmer achieved his SA Colours in amateur wrestling.

• Vodacom WP flyhalf Lionel Cronje represented the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.

• Flyhalf Cecil Dumond (Platinum Leopards) is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.

• SARRA referee Sandile Mayende will handle the game between the Platinum Leopards and Vodacom Western Province on Saturday evening.

Head to Head: Xerox Lions v GWK Griquas (since 2005)

P: 11 W: 7 L: 4 D: 0 PF: 363 PA: 259

20/08/2005 Golden Lions 53 Griquas 11 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
24/09/2005 Golden Lions 33 Griquas 28 Absa Park, Kimberley
22/07/2006 Golden Lions 23 Griquas 27 Absa Park, Kimberley
16/09/2006 Golden Lions 34 Griquas 32 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
04/08/2007 Golden Lions 45 Griquas 24 Ellis Park, Johannesburg
29/09/2007 Golden Lions 28 Griquas 0 Absa Park, Kimberley
19/07/2008 Golden Lions 36 Griquas 32 Absa Park, Kimberley
13/09/2008 Golden Lions 41 Griquas 20 Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
31/07/2009 Golden Lions 19 Griquas 23 Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
19/09/2009 Golden Lions 31 Griquas 36 Diamantveld HS, Kimberley
24/07/2010 Golden Lions 20 Griquas 26 GWK Park, Kimberley

Xerox Lions’ recent form at home:

• The hosts secured a stunning 46-28 victory over Vodacom Western Province during last weekend’s action. They also recorded wins over the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (30-26) in week six and the Platinum Leopards (45-22) at Coca-Cola Park.

• The Xerox Lions suffered a 32-18 defeat against the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their other home game of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup season.

• The Johannesburg side conceded two defeats at Coca-Cola Park during last year’s competition against The Sharks (30-19) and the GWK Griquas (23-19).

GWK Griquas’ recent form on the road:

• The Kimberley side conceded defeats on the road against the Vodacom Blue Bulls (39-38) in Pretoria, against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (33-26) in Bloemfontein and The Sharks (48-30) in Durban.

• The GWK Griquas however defeated the Platinum Leopards (41-27) in Potchefstroom during week four’s action of this season’s Absa Currie Cup.

• During the 2009 competition, they achieved victories on the road against the Boland Cavaliers, Platinum Leopards, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and the Xerox Lions.

Additional information:

• GWK flyhalf Naas Olivier has scored 668 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. The pivot has added 220 for Vodacom Western Province, 163 for the Platinum Leopards and 285 for his current side.

• The Xerox Lions’ Edgar Marutlulle earned his SA Schools colours in 2005, competed for the SA U19s in 2006 and played for the SA Students in 2008 and 2009.

• Winger Bjorn Basson (GWK Griquas) made his international Test debut for the Springboks against Wales earlier this year and is the leading try-scorer in this season’s Absa Currie Cup with 13.

• The Xerox Lions fullback Jaco Taute and reserve flyhalf Elton Jantjies both represented the Baby Boks at this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina.

• Lock Hendrik Roodt (GWK Griquas), who represented the NSW Waratahs during this year’s Vodacom Super 14, represented the SA Schools in 2005.

• SARRA referee Jaco Peyper will handle the game between the Xerox Lions and the GWK Griquas on Saturday afternoon.

Head to Head: Vodacom Free State Cheetahs v Vodacom Blue Bulls (since 2005)

P: 16 W: 6 L: 9 D: 1 PF: 369 PA: 400

20/08/2005 FS Cheetahs 16 Blue Bulls 26 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
24/09/2005 FS Cheetahs 22 Blue Bulls 26 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
22/10/2005 FS Cheetahs 29 Blue Bulls 25 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Absa Currie Cup Final
05/08/2006 FS Cheetahs 12 Blue Bulls 24 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
30/09/2006 FS Cheetahs 31 Blue Bulls 41 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
14/10/2006 FS Cheetahs 28 Blue Bulls 28 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein Absa Currie Cup Final
11/08/2007 FS Cheetahs 44 Blue Bulls 18 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
05/10/2007 FS Cheetahs 29 Blue Bulls 17 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
13/10/2007 FS Cheetahs 11 Blue Bulls 6 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
12/07/2008 FS Cheetahs 23 Blue Bulls 31 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
20/09/2008 FS Cheetahs 5 Blue Bulls 23 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
11/10/2008 FS Cheetahs 19 Blue Bulls 31 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
07/08/2009 FS Cheetahs 24 Blue Bulls 15 Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
26/09/2009 FS Cheetahs 27 Blue Bulls 30 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
31/10/2009 FS Cheetahs 24 Blue Bulls 36 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria Absa Currie Cup Final
24/07/2010 FS Cheetahs 25 Blue Bulls 23 Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs’ recent form at home:

• The hosts secured two home victories against the GWK Griquas (33-26) and the Platinum Leopards (57-0), but have also conceded two home defeats against The Sharks (25-13) and Vodacom Western Province (25-11) in this season’s competition.

• The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs suffered two home defeats during last year’s competition against the GWK Griquas and The Sharks.

Vodacom Blue Bulls’ recent form on the road:

• The defending champions secured one away victory over the Xerox Lions (32-18) in Johannesburg but conceded three defeats on the road against the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (22-21), Vodacom Western Province (15-12) and The Sharks (34-28) in this season’s Absa Currie Cup.

• The Vodacom Blue Bulls conceded four defeats on the road during last year’s competition against Vodacom Western Province, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, The Sharks and the Xerox Lions. The visitors though defeated WP in their 2009 Absa Currie Cup semi-final clash at Newlands.

Additional information:

• The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and the Vodacom Blue Bulls have competed against each other in three Absa Currie Cup finals since 2005.

• Prop Jaco Engels has played a combined total of 92 Absa Currie Cup games for the Vodacom Blue Bulls, Boland Cavaliers and the Platinum Leopards.

• Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom has played 108 Absa Currie Cup games and has scored 804 career points in the competition.

• Vodacom Blue Bulls winger Mametsa has played 136 games for the Pretoria side since 2002. He has scored 43 tries in his 70 Absa Currie Cup appearances for the Loftus Versfeld team.

• Springbok winger Jongi Nokwe has scored 44 Absa Currie Cup tries in his career.

• Vodacom Blue Bulls loose forward CJ Stander captained the SA U20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina and was a member of the Baby Boks’ squad of 2009 in Japan. He also captained the SA Schools team in 2008.
• Robert Ebersohn (Vodacom Free State Cheetahs) captained the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.

• Vodacom Blue Bulls reserve flyhalf Francois Brummer and winger Gerhard van den Heever both competed at the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan for the SA Under-20s.

• SARRA referee Jason Jaftha will handle this game between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and The Sharks at Loftus Versfeld.

Absa Under-21 Championship (A) fixtures:

Saturday: Xerox Lions v Boland Cavaliers – Coca-Cola Park (12h50)

Free State v Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Park (15h00)

Vodacom Western Province v Platinum Leopards (14h45)

Absa Under-19 Championship (A) fixtures:

Friday: Griffons v The Sharks – North West Stadium (16h30)

Saturday: Free State v Vodacom Blue Bulls – Vodacom Park (13h00)

Vodacom Western Province v Platinum Leopards – Newlands (13h00)

Louis Strydom in photo by Gerhard Steenkamp

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs flyhalf Louis Strydom has succeeded with his last 24 kicks at goal and will be hoping that this form continues when his side hosts the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday at 17h05.

Strydom, who has scored 96 points after nine games, has enjoyed a 84 percent kicking record in this season’s Absa Currie Cup with only Vodacom Western Province’s Willem de Waal (85.7) and the Xerox Lions’ Elton Jantjies (84.3) boasting a better conversion rate at goal during the 2010 competition.

De Waal, who was relegated to the WP bench this week, is currently in third position on the leading points’ scorer’s sheet with 128 and is one point behind the GWK Griquas pivot Naas Olivier, who has enjoyed 81 percent kicking record.

Olivier achieved the first “full house” in this season’s Absa Currie Cup during his side’s 33-28 defeat against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in Kimberley last Friday. The GWK Griquas flyhalf scored a try, converted two of his side’s five-pointers and kicked two penalties and a drop goal to end the game with a personal points haul of 18.

Jacques-Louis Potgieter, who will be wearing the No 10 jersey for the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein on Saturday evening, has achieved a 77 percent kicking record this season and will be hoping to improve his overall kicking record as his side aims to secure their sixth victory of the competition when they take on the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.

While De Waal has enjoyed an 85.7 percent conversion rate at attempts at goal, his side has conceded consecutive defeats in their last three matches against The Sharks, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs and the Xerox Lions.

The other place-kicker currently enjoying a kicking record of more than 80 percent is Barloworld Toyota Pumas flyhalf Ricardo Croy. The former SWD Eagles pivot has an 81 percent kicking record this season.

The Barloworld Toyota Pumas will be in action this weekend when they host The Sharks in Witbank on Friday at 19h10.

In the other Absa Currie Cup game of the weekend, all eyes will once again be on the former SA Under-20 flyhalf Jantjies when his Xerox Lions side host the GWK Griquas in Johannesburg on Saturday at 15h00.

Jantjies who boasts the second best kicking record in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup, achieved 31 points for his side during their victory over Vodacom Western Province last Saturday.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls travel to Bloemfontein where they will face the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in the second round of matches of the ABSA Currie Cup.

The Blue Bulls are out to return the favour in Bloem after the FS Cheetahs snatched victory in the dying seconds at Loftus Versfeld some weeks ago to record a 25-23 away win.

The Blue Bulls received a boost with three of their star players returning from Bok duty and another former Bok returning from injury.

Springbok stars Francois Hougaard, Chilliboy Ralepele and Flip van der Merwe all make their return to the starting lineup with Ruan Snyman, Bandise Maku and Fudge Mabeta all dropping out out the match 22, Hooker Gary Botha also recovered from an injury and will be warming the bench.

Other changes to the side that beat the Sharks at Loftus include: Stefan Watermeyer in for Wynand Olivier(Bok conditioning), CJ Stander in for Dewald Potgieter(injury) and Werner Kruger replacing Frik Kirsten.

Coach Frans Ludeke said it is great having some of his international players back.

“All three will have to make a significant contribution to our effort and we are keen to have them back in the team. Matches against the Cheetahs are always very tight and we will focus on the small battles. If we dominate that, we will put ourselves in a good position to win the match.”

The two teams are:

Blue Bulls:

15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7. CJ Stander, 6. Derick Kuün (Captain), 5. Juandré Kruger, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1. Dean Greyling

Replacements: 16. Gary Botha, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Jaco Engels, 19. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 20. Okkie Kruger, 21. Dustin Jinka, 22. Stephan Dippenaar

Free State Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Jongi Nokwe, 10. Louis Strydom, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Christoffel Philippus Van der Walt, 6. Hendro Scholtz, 5. Waltie Vermeulen, 4. Francois Uys, 3. Kobus Calldo, 2. Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen

Replacements: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. Willem Petrus (WP) Nel, 18. Izak van der Westhuizen, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Tertius Carse, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Corné Uys

Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Mlungiseli Mdashe & Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Date: 11 September 2010

Kick-off: 17h05

Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein

[james@rugby15.co.za]

]]> http://www.rugby15.co.za/2010/09/blue-bulls-welcome-back-stars/feed/ 0 http://www.rugby15.co.za/2010/09/vodacom-wp-team-to-play-the-leopards-at-newlands-announced/ http://www.rugby15.co.za/2010/09/vodacom-wp-team-to-play-the-leopards-at-newlands-announced/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 12:19:58 +0000 Johan Jonck http://www.rugby15.co.za/?p=2927 Vodacom WP coach Allister Coetzee today announced his team to take on the Platinum Leopards at Newlands on Saturday 11 September 2010. Kick-off is at 17h00, and the game is NOT televised.

Having lost against a much improved Lions side at Coca-Cola Park last weekend, Vodacom WP will be looking to re-establish the early season winning momentum. They are still in second place on a now congested log and will look to capitalise on the return of the non-contracted Boks to bolster the team and earn valuable log points.

A full afternoon of rugby is scheduled for Newlands, with the Vodacom WP u19 side playing the Leopards u19 at 13h00 and the u21’s doing battle at 14h45.

Tickets are on sale and can also be purchased from Computicket, Shoprite Checkers and Checkers Hyperstores nationwide or via the Computicket Credit Card booking line on 083 915 8000 or on www.computicket.com. The Newlands Box Office is also open for ticket sales.

The team is as follows:

15. Conrad Hoffmann
14. Conrad Jantjes
13. Juan De Jongh
12. Jean De Villiers
11. Gio Aplon
10. Lionel Cronje
9. Dewaldt Duvenage
8. Duane Vermeulen
7. Nick Koster
6. Francois Louw
5. Anton van Zyl (Captain)
4. Adriaan Fondse
3. JC Kritzinger
2. Deon Fourie
1. JD Moller

Reserves:
16. Callie Visagie
17. Wicus Blaauw
18. Brok Harris
19. De Kock Steenkamp
20. Yaya Hartzenberg
21. Willem De Waal
22. Paul Bosch

Ends.