OORB

TdF Fantasy League

2008-07-01T11:28:00.000+02:00

I've joined Eurosport Fantasy Tour de France game at
http://fantasy.tour-de-france.eurosport.com

and I bet that my team, G Rad, will beat any team you can put together!

I challenge you to join my mini league. Go to the game ( at http://fantasy.tour-de-france.eurosport.com/?page=register ), pick your team then use the ‘mini league admin' option to join my mini league.

The details you need are:
League Name:
Global Rad
League password:
nodopejustHOPE

It's not hard and it doesn't cost anything – plus there are some great prizes to win, so unless you're afraid of getting beaten I'm looking forward to seeing you in my league soon!

CURRIE CUP 2008: ROUND 2

2008-07-01T09:34:00.000+02:00

The Cheetahs hosted the Lions in Blingfontyn and with the history of the two teams, well another hard fought Derby was to be expected.

Both teams were guilty of too many basic errors and based on the performance of Saturday- no one has booked a playoff spot as yet, come Oktober- which is still lOOking rather colourless.

The Cheetahs did play with alot of commitment, but if Kobus Calldo is injured and the locks do not play with more aggression, it is going to be a huge struggle against the physical teams of this competition.

The defence has improved remarkable since the S14 and with ball in hand the Cheetahs lOOked dangerous. Two possible tries were not awarded due to - flat passes - one very dubious - but that is life.

The play of Niel Powell and Chris Rossouw was the highlight of the day from the Cheetahs side.

The backline looks capable of scoring tries from wherever on the field and the lOOse trio are very mobile HUSARIA- style. They contested the breakdown well, but might be a bit light when the Percheron ploDDers from up North stages the breakdown close to the setpieces.

The lineouts were a disaster- maybe because the Lions had 4 jumpers but eish- not used to my team struGGling there.

LuftwaFFe- go BIG boet!

All in all - a solid win - nothing to be overjoyed about!

CURRIE CUP 2008: Round 1

2008-06-22T16:21:00.002+02:00

A almost surreal weekend of rugby!

The Bulls are scoring outside tries!

amazing!

Congrats to John Mametsa- 100 games on the wing for the Tswanepoele and 3 tries to bOOt!

Great stuFF!

Cheetahs stuck out against the OutbackOnyons- and glady so, retaining the interOutback braGGing rights and the O FM Cup,

photo by Servaas De Kock for OFM Sport

and Province nearly got a draw in Deben.

Match commentaries to be posted as "posts" under this thread!

CURRIE CUP 2008: anuDDer Preview!

2008-06-22T16:19:00.000+02:00

South African Rugby: 2008 and beyond

2008-06-22T16:18:00.000+02:00

Another would be - could be article

S14 2008: Cheetahs Disappoints!

2008-06-22T16:11:00.000+02:00

Will write arti later- just getting the Chronological order- well, in order.

wiLLem

RWC CHAMPS 2007

2008-06-22T16:08:00.001+02:00

BOKKE !

Thanks CoachWhite

Despite all the crap- you delivered- the "liTTle yeLLow Cup"*!

Much Obliged!

* Graham henry is a "plonker of Note"

CHEETAHS- CC CHAMPS 2007!

2008-06-22T16:04:00.000+02:00

OKTOBER IS ORANJE!

2007-10-14T13:41:00.000+02:00

In the Oranje Outback, rain is always welcome. Being relatively far from the sea and quite high above sea level, constant rain in the Outback is not a guaranteed event. But as in California- when it rains it pours!

No better example than last night- when massive cloud formations were swinging in from the Northwest and "inclement weather" delayed the kickoff of the semifinal twice between the Vodacom Cheetahs and the Vodacom Bulls, in order to determine who will meet the Lions in the 2007 Currie Cup Final.

A visibly excited Joost vd Westhuizen was exclaiming that the wet conditions will bring "parity" to the Bulls attempt to stay in the competition. A valid point, as it would surely hamper the Cheetah's ability to speed up the game in the second half and basically forcing mistakes by the opponents on which the Cheetahs will pounce with ruthless perfection.

The wet conditions was however a known situation to both coaches as both coaches Drotsky & Human named a 5-2 split on the bench. Tight dominating forward play is also the Bulls strongest point so things were looking less bleak for the Bulls than most of their Tshwane based supporters have given them credit for. Apparently the Blue Bulls Rugby Union requested 3000 tickets , but when only 3 were sold on the first day and 25 on the second, the rest were returned to Bloem, hopefully the Currie Cup will follow the same route later!

The conditions were not really enabling the players to play fest rugby, but I seriously doubted whether fest rugby would have been displayed anyway by any team for the largest part of the game - as this match was scripted as a hard slugged out affair upfront from the beginning. What was interesting was that the veteran no skyblue 9, Niel Powell, was preffered over JP Joubert.

One of my concerns going into the game was a post made earlier the week by fellow Cheetah Blogger Private Ryan on Ruggaworld. In it he said the only thing the Cheetahs had to do was to hoist up and unders on Roets and that he will inevitably kick it back. This statement had put some degree of fear into me as Johan Roets had earlier announced his retirement - which I thought was somewhat premature - but I just had a feeling that the Johan Roets that I saw since 2003 had punted as a gOOde option for Green 14 in NH conditions (and Vodacompark did resemble the very best that MudviLLe could have offered) might come to upstage my OranjeOktober party.

One prediction from vAAndrig was however spot on. It was not a case if JP Nel would get a yellow, but when.

After he had already applied the - now castless - forearm against the Cheetahs a couple of times, he was warned by Craig Joubert. A couple of minutes later he clobbered a Cheetah with a forearm that would have made any Fidjian green with envy and which might get him a WWE contract. Because that is where he belongs, as the play-acting of not knowing why he was sinbinned would be much appreciated by the crowd following the farce that is the leading light in sports entertainment, the WWE.

JP Nel must really be rated as one of the dumbest rugby players ever!

That said- the Cheetahs were unable to capitalise on his absence and the Bulls streched the lead with another Bulls penalty. The Loftus Liefling was however not really on song and whenever he missed, Liefling was played on the Vodacompark Sound system, much to the delight of the Vodacom Park partisan crowd, who were reasonably vocal, despite the conditions.

Both kickers struggled with the wet underfoot and made a couple of mistakes that had no effect on the scoreboard.

The Bulls were able to put the pressure more effectively on the Cheetahs and also won the kicking for distance contest. Only gOOde counterrucking and effective first time tackling ensured that the Cheetahs stayed in the game. Corniel van Zyl was back to his best and poached a couple of Bulls throws- sometimes at crucial points. The Cheetah scrum was also dominant while Calldo was on but later on in the second half the Bulls were the stronger scrummagers. The introduction of Bands did have an effect on the scrum but it did not influence the result of the game.

The game was a thrilling contest but the only real moment from the Cheetah side came when the Bulls were attacking for six minutes on the Cheetah line- the ball was turned over- Duanne Vermeulen carried it forward, brilliantly put Eddie Fredericks away who converted the opportunity.

The other magical moment of the game was the line break of Johan Roets but since the pass was forward, the try was not awarded. Must have been a heartbreaking moment for the celebrating SkyBlue 15. Soon afterwards the Orange glow of the setting sun was visible in the stadium, which turned out to be a gOOde omen for blikOOr supporters.

After a farcical display of TMO application, the game was slugged out till the 80th minute and when the time was up, the Cheetahs were in the lead!

gOOde enough for me to celebrate another OranjeOktober!

Well done to the Cheetahs and the Coaching staff, you are deserving of my unconditional respect and support!

60 points out of a possible 70, a homefinal, for sure a very successful Currie Cup campaign!

I am further of the opinion that the 2007 Cheetah CC squad would have beaten the 2007 Cheetah S 14 squad 9 out of ten games and most of the wins with a healthy margin! Again, well done!

That said, let me pay tribute to the Bulls and $hark$ Rugby Unions, their respective coaches, players and of course their supporters.

In a year where the Bulk (no, we provided the bulk- you provided the majority of players! :smile: ) of the BoKKe is coming from your sides, plus we have a more than adequate opportunity to bring the RWC home, your Currie Cup squads had played really well and deserves your and my respect!
You guys will reap the benefits of this exposure next year. I am also of the belief that if the BoKKe win the RWC, the William Web Ellis can be exhibited for quite lenghty spells at Loftus and Kingspark, to pay tribute to the role that those two Unions played. Yes, the four Cheetahs in the RWC squad is for sure in the match 22, but the CC team would not have been able to perform to this level, if we had provide 9 or 11 players to the RWC squad, respectively.

Now for the final against a very dangerous side in two weeks time!

MATCH REPORT: CHEETAHS v GRIQUAS

2007-07-08T06:35:00.000+02:00

Again I was unable to attend because we celebrated my dad's 75th birthday - congrats dad- hope its another gOOde roundtrip around the sun for you and thanks for the life that you and me mum has given me!- but eish totally unaware of that family celebrations of Haus Orakel- the Cheetahs did rock up in a mOOd for playing the traditional Outback game stopped the "smaller" country couzins for making it "two victories in a row in one week over the incumbent CC Champions" :-))).

Back to me dad

He had the priviledge to meet Paul Roos, Danie Craven and an english speaking Bok captain from East London- whose name I just cannot remeber and I am not going to wake up the olde guy just for that at this hour. Still need to write something about that.

This match report is a copy & past job from www.rugby365.com

Cheetahs race away from Griquas
Saturday 07th July 2007

The Free State Cheetahs raced clear at the top of the Currie Cup standings when they outclassed Griquas 51-10 in their Round Three match in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

After holding a narrow 14-7 (two tries to one) lead at half-time, the Cheetahs simply upped the pace and intensity after the break and scored another five tries for their third successive full-house of log points.

In three games they have now scored 187 points and conceded just 24, scored 25 tries and conceded just two.

Griquas started out well, showing the form that saw them beat the Blue Bulls last week.

In the early stages the visitors from Kimberley defended superbly, running hard and taking the game to the Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs, at first taken aback by the ferocity of the Griquas onslaught, recovered to open the scoring in the 25th minute - with Marius Joubert slipping a tackle and sending a flying Jonathan Mokuena over for the five points.

It was inevitable that the game would turn though as the Cheetahs capitalized on the majority of possession they enjoyed.

Griquas simply couldn't build any momentum through their forwards and soon conceded the second try, as their defence fell apart and Heinrich Brussouw crashed over in the corner for the Cheetahs' second five-pointer.

Fly-half Willem de Waal had slotted both conversions and the Cheetahs were ahead 14-0 in the 33rd minute.

Griquas kept on trying gamely and a brilliant piece of opportunism saw fullback Zane Kirchener racing over after two Cheetahs backs - Philip Burger and Giscard Pieters, thinking Kirschner's kick ahead would go into touch - let the ball bounce. The fullback collected, raced clear and the cover was too late to stop him as he crashed over for what would be Griquas' only try of the afternoon.

Conrad Barnard's conversion made it 14-7 for the Cheetahs at the break.

The Griquas persistently ran at the Cheetahs, but a rock solid defensive line saw their efforts come to nothing at the end of the first half.

After the break the Cheetahs stepped up the pace, with Burger the spark.

It started with a a fine drop-goal just 29 seconds into the second half.

Griquas were not yet ready to give up the fight and some great pressure saw Marius Joubert in trouble and conceding a penalty - which Barnard slotted for what turned out to be the last points Griquas scored.

Soon afterwards Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské made two changes, bringing on Oliie le Roux and Darron Nell.

But it was that man Burger that sparked the rout, as he created space for himself in the centre with a neat chip and recovery. He then threw a great pass to hooker Richardt Strauss, who crashed over.

De Waal pushed the conversion wide, but redeemed himself in the 50th minute when he slotted a penalty to bring his side up to 25 points.

The Cheetahs' fourth try came soon after as Burger picked up the ball off the back of the scrum, turned on the gas and slipped through to dot down with a typical Burger-sommersault at the posts. De Waal made no mistakes, 32-10 .

The Cheetahs continued to dominate, not allowing the Griquas anything at the breakdown and controlling both the scrums and line-outs. The efforts of the forwards certainly paid off as their backs kept the Griquas on the back foot constantly.

The Cheetah simply could not be stopped though and after MJ Mentz was sent off the Cheetahs took the opportunity to score another three tries in the last 11 minutes to go past 50 points and complete the rout.

Man of the match: You can look at a number of the Cheetahs and even one or two Griquas players, but our award goes to the flying Cheetahs fullback Philip Burger - who sparked the Cheetahs' rout and created a number of their scoring opportunities, along with a great score of his own.

The scorers:

For the Free State Cheetahs:
Tries: Mokuena, Brüssow 2, Strauss, Burger, De Bruyn, Hollenbach
Cons: De Waal 3, De Bruyn 2
Pen: De Waal
DG: Burger

For Griquas:
Try: Kirchener
Con: Barnard
Pen: Barnard

Yellow card: MJ Mentz (Griquas, 71 - professional foul, playing player without the ball)

Teams:

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Philip Burger, 14 Giscard Pieters, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Hendrik Meyer, 11 Gavin Passens, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Jonathan Mokuena, 7 Duanne Vermeulen, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Ollie le Roux, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Darron Nell, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Alwyn Hollenbach.

Griquas: 15 Zane Kirchener, 14 Baldwin McBean, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Danie de Beer, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Gareth Krause (c), 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Ockie van Zyl, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Regardt Dreyer.
Replacements: 16 Louwtjie Louw, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Cilliers Coetzer/Evan Botha, 19 Wayne van Heerden, 20 Eben Olivier, 21 Tiger Mangweni/Darryl Coeries, 22 Lafras Uys.

Referee: JC Fortuin (SARU)
Touch judges: Pro Legoete (SARU), Fakumile Yamile (Eastern Province)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (Eastern Province)
Assessor: Lusanda Menze

Log after week 2 CC 007

2007-06-30T07:50:00.000+02:00

Teams P W L D BP TP
Cheetahs 2 2 0 0 2 10
Bulls 1 1 0 0 1 5
WP 1 1 0 0 0 4
Lions 1 0 1 0 0 1
Sharks 0 0 0 0 0 0
Griquas 0 0 0 0 0 0
Valke 2 0 2 0 0 0
Cavaliers 1 0 1 0 0 0

No use to see tOO much in he future right now but points difference did give the Cheetahs the edge when it mattered last season!

NO DAMDUIKING @ BRAKKENJANPAN

2007-06-29T23:03:00.000+02:00

Well in the past, the Cheetahs have managed to lOOse these games!

Kind of a relief then!

MATCH REPORT COPIED FROM www.rugby365.com

Cheetahs clip the Falcons' wings
Friday 29th June 2007

The Cheetahs continued their impressive early season form when they smashed the Falcons by 45-11 in their Currie Cup Round Two match in Brakpan on Friday.

At a bitterly cold Bosman Stadium the Cheetahs scored six tries to go with the 12 they got in their 91-3 opening win over the Boland Cavaliers last week - ensuring the joint defending champions, the Cheetahs, stay at the top of the standings.

If you had snuggled into an easy chair, warm fire on your left and good food and wine inside you, you would have missed a lively, enterprising Currie Cup match. If you had wrapped up warmly and braved the Brakpan cold, you would have enjoyed a bracing Currie Cup match.

It was cold all right, but there was a refreshing warmth to the rugby as both sides ran and ran on the frost burnt surface. Because the surface was burnt almost to white, the lines were, innovatively, painted in blue.

There was cold comfort for the Valke in Brakpan and scant reward for their creative efforts. They were lively, they eschewed kicks at goal in search of tries, they ran out of deep defence and ended on the wrong end of a big hiding. It just did not seem just.

For the Cheetahs there was the satisfaction of another convincing win and another bonus point. In two matches they have now scored 136 points, conceding just 14. They are looking good, a well-balanced team.

The Cheetahs won the line-outs hands down, taking seven off the Valke. They were stronger in the scrums, better organised on defence, stronger and more cohesive in the maul and enjoying quicker ball at the tackle/ruck. The downside was the number of penalties they conceded 13 in a match of 23 penalties. Of those 23 penalties no fewer than 19 were for infringements at the tackle, in accordance with recent instructions to referees to ensure a fair and legal contest at the tackle.

The Valke were forced to make a late change when Mark Harris was injured in the changing room, which necessitated a shuffle amongst the backs.

Two mauls set up the first Cheetah try. They stole the very first ball the Valke threw into a line-out and drove their maul ahead at speed. Gunder Williamson was penalised and the Cheetahs kicked the penalty out for a five-metre line-out from which young Heinrich Brüssow scored far out. Willem de Waal converted as he did unerringly for each of the Cheetahs' six tries. He also kicked a penalty, missing only a drop-goal attempt.

The Valke went through phases and gave Len Olivier the chance to make the score 7-6 after nine minutes when first Darron Nell and then Brüssow were penalised at tackles.

When the Valke bungled passes near their own line the Cheetahs had a five-metre scrum well in from touch and simply went right to Phillip Burger who darted over for a try far out. That was it for the Valke. They were destined not to be close again.

The Cheetahs won a Valke throw at the line-out on their left and went right to Eddie Fredericks. He raced ahead and then turned the ball back inside. Meyer Bosman got a clever pass behind the back of Nico Luus to Richardt Strauss and the eager hooker scurried over for a try at the posts.

A penalty against Callie Wannenburg for a deliberate knock-on made the half-time score 24-6 to the Cheetahs.

They scored early in the second half. They went right but left a poor pass to bobble about near Fredericks who got the ball and stumbled past to defenders to fall down for a try in the corner. That try gave the Cheetahs a bonus point, and they did not score another try for the next 23 minutes, and when they did it was off a Valke error.

The Valke got their try when they kicked ahead down the right and the Highveld sent the ball bouncing high. They got it, handled and cleared well until Wannenburg was able to force his way over on the left.

Cheetahs' captain Rory Duncan spent some time in the sin bin for a tackle high and dangerous but his absence did not change the score.

The Valke tried to run out of deep defence and Riaan Viljoen threw a long skip pass. Fredericks stretched high, caught it and dawdled over for the try at the posts.

Their last try also came as the Valke tried to run out of trouble but Michael Vermaak's pass went astray and Bosman sent replacement Ryno van der Merwe over for the try.

Man of the Match: It was probably a choice between innovative, slightly eccentric Phillip Burger and bustling, earnest Richardt Strauss. Our choice is Richardt Strauss.

The scorers:

For the Falcons:
Try: Wannenburg
Pens: Olivier 2

For the Free State Cheetahs:
Tries: Brüssow, Burger, Strauss, Fredericks 2, Van der Merwe
Cons: De Waal 6
Pen: De Waal

Yellow card: Rory Duncan (Free State Cheetahs, 53 - foul play, dangerous tackle)

Teams:

Falcons: 15 Willem Slabbert, 14 Riaan Viljoen,13 Bertus Swanepoel, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Mpho Matsaung, 10 Len Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Michael Vermaak, 7 Callie Wannenburg, 6 Piet Krause (captain), 5 Nico Luus 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 Phillip Lemmer, 2 David Brits, 1 Gavin Whittingham.
Replacements: 16 Zane Killian, 17 Gunder Williamson, 18 Hein Potgieter, 19 Marius Coetzer, 20 Morné Adams, 21 Jacques Schutte, 22 Nicky Kritzinger.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Philip Burger, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Gavin Passens, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Darron Nell, 7 Duanne Vermeulen, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Rory Duncan (c), 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Ollie le Roux, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Ryno van der Merwe, 20 Jonathan Mokuena, 21 Jandré Blom, 22 JW Jonker.

Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU)
Touch judges: Pro Legoete (SARU), Johan Greeff (Blue Bulls)
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen (Eastern Province)
Assessor: Dennis Immelman

A GOODE START!

2007-06-23T22:01:00.000+02:00

Always gOOde to start the season with a win. Although not tOO much must be read into this, congratulations to the new coaching staff and the players for getting a gOOde points difference going!

Match report copied from www.rugby365.com

*********************

Cheetahs start with 12-try rout
Friday 22nd June 2007

The Free State Cheetahs showed exactly why they are the joint Currie Cup champions and early favourites to feature in the play-offs again come October, when they started their 2007 campaign with a 12-try rout (91-3) of newcomers Boland Cavaliers in Bloemfontein on Friday.

For the Cavaliers, who qualified to play in the top echelon by virtue of two easy victories over the Pumas recently, it was a timely wake-up call.

With the loss of most of their top stars through the Fidentia scandal (their sponsor went under curatorship) it is clear they simply don't have the depth or strength to compete at this level.

You suspect they might be on the wrong end of few more such hidings.

After a relatively slow start - considering the end result - the Cheetahs raced to a 49-3 lead at half-time.

Free State played some excellent running rugby with Philip Burger (fullback), Gavin Passens (wing) and Eddie Fredericks (wing) the star performers.

Forgotten Springbok Marius Joubert (centre) also showed that at this level he is a cut above most.

Heinrich Brussouw (flank), Richardt Strauss (hooker) and Corniel van Zyl (lock) also had too much class for their opponents.

Strauss, one of two players who scored a hat-trick, was without doubt the player of the match.

The other hat-trick came from Passens.

For Boland it was an uphill battle in the scrums and line-outs.

Stormers scrum-half JP Joubert was the best in the visiting side and one of the few players from Boland who could match the class of the Bloemfontein outfit.

Such was the Cheetahs' dominance that replacement scrum-half Tewis de Bruyn took over at fly-half in the final 20 minutes and calmly slotted five conversions.

The scorers:

For the Free State Cheetahs:
Tries: Passens 3, Fredericks 2, Strauss 3, Nell, Burger, Du Preez, De Villiers
Cons: De Waal 6, De Bruyn 5
Pens: De Waal 3

For the Boland Cavaliers:
Pen: Peach

Teams:

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Phillip Burger, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Hendrik Meyer, 11 Gavin Passens, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Rudolph van der Merwe, 7 Daniel Vermeulen, 6 Heinrich Brussouw, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Rory Duncan (captain), 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 R Strauss, 1 W du Preez
Replacements: 16 Ollie Le Roux, 17 Herculaas Liebenberg, 18 David De Villiers, 19 Darron Nell, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Barry Goodes, 22 Alwyn Hollenbach.

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Renfred Danzel, 14 John Daniels, 13 Piet van Zyl, 12 Hennie Daniller, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Isma-eel Dollie, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Francois Prinsloo, 7 Chris Potgieter, 6 Juan Mofu, 5 Kollie Basson, 4 Randell Julies, 3 Andries Human, 2 Conrad Burke (captain), 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Wiun, 17 Ruan du Preez, 18 Gert Schoombie, 19 Angelo Brinkhuis, 20 Dewald Duvenhage, 21 Lionel Cornelius, 22 Antonius van Verhoeven.

Referee: Deon van Blommestein (SARU)
Touch judges: Fakumile Yamile (Eastern Province). Johan Greeff (Blue Bulls)

*********************

ITS HAPPENING

2007-06-01T17:34:00.000+02:00

NEWS RELEASE

Contact: General Manager
Phone: (044) 382 3244 or (044) 382 3249
Cell: 076 025 9833

- FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE -
SUPPORTERS UNION LAUNCHED
June the 1st will see the first phase in the establishment of the new South African Rugby Supporters Union (SARSU) with the launch of the SARSU Website. The initiative brings together South African supporters of rugby worldwide, across a broad profile of backgrounds, united in their passion for the game.
SARSU will endeavour to bring together like-minded South African who share their desire to spread that passion and see the game prosper, as a sport, amongst all South Africans.
The website, which goes live on June 1st is at www.sarsu.org and contains, amongst other things, the SARSU Constitution, Code of Conduct and Vision and Mission Statement.
This will be followed on the 12th of June by a formal media launch in Johannesburg where further details on SARSU's positioning and vision will be announced and be open for questions and discussion.
- END -

SA RUGBY LAUNCH BOKTOWN

2007-05-26T08:55:00.000+02:00

from www.sarugby.co.za

24 May 2007 (Posted: 12:47)

SA Rugby and Absa have joined forces to stage the popular rugby fan park Boktown during the 2007 international rugby season. The Absa Boktown promises to be a special place where Springbok fans will be able to demonstrate their support for the national team in a unique atmosphere.

On Saturday rugby fans will be treated to a real feast of entertainment when the official opening of Absa Boktown takes place at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein where South Africa and England will clash in the first of two Vodacom Incoming Tours Tests.

SuperSport will show the opening live from 17h15 - 18h00, thereby ensuring that rugby fans across the country shares in the festivities. The sports channel will also use the opportunity to launch their broadcasting plans for the upcoming season from a specially designed studio located inside Absa Boktown.

Absa is the official banking sponsor to SA Rugby (Pty) Ltd and the Springbok rugby team.

The popular fan park concept was first tried in Perth during the 2003 Rugby World Cup tournament as a fan base for Springboks supporters. Last year SA Rugby introduced it to local fans in Johannesburg and Durban during the end of year tour of the Springboks to Ireland and England.

The positive response by fans prompted SA Rugby to expand the concept in 2007, especially with the Rugby World Cup Tournament in mind.

Mzamo Xala, Brand Manager for the Springboks, welcomed Absa on board as the official sponsor and urged Springboks fans to show their true colours and to support the Absa Boktown in their local area.

General Manager for Marketing at Absa, Angie Burton, said Absa is delighted to be involved. “Absa saw this unique opportunity as the perfect platform to communicate our sponsorship investment in South African rugby even further. This way we also hope to contribute to efforts to growing the game and to enable all communities to share in the awesome experience of Springbok rugby,” said Burton.

Absa Boktown events:

* 26 May - Official launch in Bloemfontein
* 2 June - Soweto Rugby Club, Johannesburg
* 16 June - SuperSport Park, Centurion
* 23 June - Sun Coast Casino, Durban

Important facts:

* Location: on the field behind Vodacom Park, East Stand side, next to the athletics track;
* Entrance fee: R20. Each attendee receives a voucher at the gate for a free beer or soft drink;
* Half of the entree fee to be donated towards an Absa charity;
* Live entertainment for Bloemfontein include artists like Arno Jordaan and Nicholas Louw;
* SuperSport studio inside Absa Boktown: live interviews with coaches and players.

All about forecasting

2007-05-25T08:40:00.000+02:00

From Volksblad

Kaartjiepryse ontstel
May 25 2007 08:56:15:383PM - (SA)

In die jare negentig het Japan ’n tydperk van deflasie binnegegaan, wat rampspoedige gevolge vir sy ekonomie gehad het. Pryse van verbruikersgoedere en eiendom het begin val. Mense het dus koopbesluite uitgestel omdat hulle (korrek) verwag het dat, as hulle net bietjie sou wag, goedere en eiendom goedkoper sou word.

Ons het die Vrystaatse Rugby-unie al verskeie kere met ons teenwoordigheid ondersteun al woon ons naby Pretoria. Saterdag kuier ons weer in die Rosestad, maar ek wonder of ek dit na dese weer gaan doen. Die vier toetskaartjies wat ek teen volprys ’n paar weke gelede gekoop het, plus die rit van bykans 1 000 km Bloemfontein toe en terug, gaan my ’n aardige bedraggie kos. Gister begin ek hoor dat ek ’n gek was, nadat ’n plaaslike radiostasie kaartjies vir die toets begin weggee het in ruil vir ’n kombers vir die armes. Daai einste peperduur kaartjies se prys is voorts met bykans 40% verminder.

As ek bietjie gewag het, kon ek veel lekkerder in die biertuin gekuier het. Die Vrystaatse Rugbyunie het waarskynlik begin paniekerig raak oor die halfvol stadion, iets wat ongetwyfeld veroorsaak was deur hul eie gierigheid en die gevolglike laai van kaartjiepryse na onrealistiese vlakke. Ek voel oor Vodacompark soos ’n Japannese verbruiker destyds moes gevoel het. Volgende keer gaan ek sweerlik wag totdat die gierigaards weer begin bekommerd raak omdat niemand hul peperduur kaartjies wil koop nie.

Anton Barnard

Centurion

CONGRATULATIONS

2007-05-13T12:49:00.000+02:00

Congrats to the Sharks & Bulls who will play next Saturday in the first Super Rugby Final on SA Soil- thereby guaranteeing an SA Super Rugby Champ!

hehehe Do I smell a draw?

Some Pictures says a lot

2007-03-09T16:45:00.000+02:00

ARCHIVE: S 14 : WEEK 4

2007-02-25T20:57:00.000+02:00

Well its a game to watch again and again for all the "wrong" reasons, let us capture all the wise cracks from the various pundits!

a gOOde game of Rugga

2007-02-25T16:12:00.000+02:00

To watch a gOOd game of Rugby is always a pleasure. If its your team that is playing the gOOde rugby- its even better.

Saturday night I had the priviledge to watch a really gOode game of rugby- but it wasnt played by the Cheetahs. First things first

Congrats to the Crusaders

They played well- really well- and deserved the 5 points.

It was also the worst game I have seen of the Cheetahs in almost 3 years- because it was lost in the mind. It was as if I was watching the Stormers playing.

The ping pong battle of the opening stanza was a gOOde indication of how the Cheetahs were underrating their own chances

They buried other teams in the past two years in that period- example Sharks semi Cc final and Waratahs last week.

Against the Bulls it worked - but the robustness of the Bulls pulled the game back.

They doubted their ability to put the Crusaders away- and the plethora of errors was born within that selfdoubt.

It also allowed the Crusaders- to rediscover that grOOve- that enbles them to dominate a team and bury them.

All in all- The Cheetahs started to lose momentum with their loss against the Bulls - and last night was a watershed for Coach Erasmus.

Hard work will beat talent when talent is not working hard- but the Crusaders have talent- even in the reserves and they were working hard!

The oranje Journeymen was exposed not on the mental side only- some “staatmakers” lack of S14 level talent was also viciously exposed.

Technically the problems were the ineffective Back 5 of the pack as well as the possesion squandering 9, 10 and 12.

Hope Coach Erasmus can fix it otherwise the season will be long!

RONNEBAL ROUNDUP

2007-02-21T12:53:00.000+02:00

OORB - will post a weekly post on Bloemfontein Celtic from now on- all the news flashes and info will be posted under the heading RonnebalRoundup for the bennifit of the Punja Selesele fans!

FOREPLAY: WEEK 4 S 14

2007-02-20T18:18:00.000+02:00

Well, its Tuesday and on Saturday night the Vodacom Cheetahs host the Crusaders in Blingfontyn.

If you care to lend your ears to the Waratah management it seems that all & sundry was used to distract them in their prematch warmup. It seems that CoachErasmus is doing whatever he seems necessary to gain a little bit of advantage.

Tthe most successful coach in Super rugby history do not seem to be fazed to much by this. Coming from a scoreless loss against the resurgent Lions- it seems that he has other things on his mind. Playing without his All Blacks isnt the easiest thing and the general quality that the South African teams are producing in this years tournament is rather better than previously.

So this game will surely be a hotly contested one- A well balanced home side vs the most awesome Super rugby team - who is misfiring on some cylinders.

As usual I will post the run up in the press on this game as comments.

TRAVEL IN STYLE

2007-02-19T16:37:00.000+02:00

Hi everyone, especially those out of town die-hard CHEETAH supporters!

If you want to attend the game between the current S14 logleaders, the Sharks and the Vodacom Cheetahs and you do not live in Blingfontyn, do not dispair. This is going to be a big One- with the "House Of Orange" atmosphere almost that of OranjeOktober".

Make use of the 1Time specials in order to get to Oliver Tambo International and then use this great offer from the Gauteng Cheetah Supporter Club to get to the game!

Visit the sites to determine your schedule and booking:

www.1time.aero

www.TravelStart.co.za

www.onlineshopping.co.za/flights

Click on the picture to enlarge it on your screen.

Contact

Kobus van Rooyen

Cheetahs Bo!!!!

083 2777 955

FREE STATE CHEETAHS IN VODACOM CUP

2007-02-18T22:53:00.000+02:00

I must say that I have not been diligently looking after my blog- so lets see if I can turn this around.

The Vodacom Free State Cheetahs were in action this weekend as well but it seems that the Blou Bul Brigade stilll have better depth than us.

This news snippet from the official Cheetahs site!

*************************************************

Die Vodacom Vrystaat Cheetahs het Saterdag op Hoopstad 13-28 teen die Blou Bulle in 'n vriendskaplike kragmeting verloor nadat hul reeds 6-21 agter was met die breuk.

Ashley Johnson (agsteman) en Os du Randt (stut) was die uitblinkers vir die Vrystaters. Die agttal van die Vodacom Vrystaat Cheetahs het hul eweknie van die Noorde oorskadu.

Puntemakers:

Vodacom Vrystaat Cheetahs 13 (drie: Duane Vermeulen. doel: Willem de Waal. straf: Willem de Waal 2.); Blou Bulle 28 (drieë: Dewald Potgieter, Werner Kruger, Neil Powell, Rocco Jansen; doel: Ruan Boshhoff 4).

WEEKLY ARCHIVE : S 14 '007 : WEEK 3

2007-02-18T21:03:00.000+02:00

Well this is what the experts had to say about this weekend's game between the Cheetahs and the Waratahs in Kimberley.

SUPER 14 LOG : WEEK 3

2007-02-18T18:42:00.000+02:00

Team	P	W	L	D	BP	P
Sharks	3	3	0	0	0	12
Cheetahs	3	2	1	0	2	10
W'Force	3	2	1	0	1	9
Blues	3	2	1	0	1	9
Brumbies	3	2	1	0	1	9
H'canes	3	2	1	0	1	9
Lions	3	2	1	0	0	8
C'saders	3	1	2	0	2	6
H'landers	3	1	2	0	2	6
Reds	3	1	2	0	1	5
W'tah	3	1	2	0	1	5
Bulls	3	1	2	0	1	5
Chiefs	3	0	3	0	4	4
Stormers	3	1	2	0	0	4

A HOT DAY IN KIMBERLEY

2007-01-13T22:59:00.000+02:00

Oranje Orakel
Plek van die grOOt Gat aka Kimberley.

Well –it was a glorious sunny morning when I set out for my journey into the OranjeOutback and there was no chances for any surprise from the weather.

It was a scalding hot day- Am I glad that I did not have to run onto a Rugby field in that heat!

Just as I left Blingfontyn- the hrley's came by-without any passengers but with the noise control at full blast. I followed them dutifully at a legal pace of 120 km/h but after 70 clicks it seems that they needed a break and I continued with my joy ride in the OranjeOutback. At some place the 'vokkol staat blou inni blom' but still its the place I call home.

I have been to Kimberley a couple of times- but never to the Rugby Stadium- luckily the friendly okes at the Sol Plaatje Firestation quickly pointed me in the right direction and I was early enough to catch the largest portion of the first half between a Free State development team and a Griquas Development team.

Well there was lots of enthusiasm and some skill as well- the griquas pack was stronger than the Cheetah pack and it showed. Despite a Cheetah 12 that put my ample girth to shame- the Griquas did won the game comfortably.

Unfortunately the scoreboard was not functioning and the announcer was so eager to well – ANNOUNCEdrOOling the Harley Girls – that he did not offer the score.

Well to be honest I might have missed it…

The teams came out to warm up- man these Islanders have huge tatOO’s and weird hairdo’s but they run with sublime grace and the heads are still.

Anyway the Harley Growled- the girls did some gyrating moves (seeing that this report might be posted on ruggaworld- I will decline a description – ouch)- the OOmies cheered- the aunties bOOed and the teams tOOk to the field.

The now customary pacific warcry was done and the first half started.

The Cheetah team were rather well drilled and had the most of the possession. The Samoan 2 had put in a chiropractor move on Juan Smith- but in the process managed only some TLC for himself- the Cheetah Captain leading from the front and with Luftwaffe in slacks sipping a colde one on the sideline – Smith was also the prime target of Regardt Strauss, who had a very busy and effective game. Ka’MAMBA flOOrs was his olde effective self – scoring two tries and putting huge pressure on any blue shirt in possession.

Meyer Bosman was swinging some sublime passes to a confident lOOking Herkie Kruger and Ronnie COOke. His cut out pass to Burger was also sublime. Burger was used to jump into the line and set up Fredericks for a gOOde try after some earlier magic did not came off.

Burger is one of those players that will always create something- even if it is just animosity by the opposition. He had shown some sublime touches- reasonable speed and can be sure that the opposition will test his defence!

In the first half the ManuSamoan scrum did well against the Cheetahs- holding them on their own ball and not allowing the Cheetah pack to attack them on Samoan ball. Not that they had a plentiful supply of possession. Theu did play with a lot of spirit at the end of the second half and scored a try.

Cheetahs will have to address that issue.

In the second half it was almost a new cheetah team with Tertuis Carse on at scrummie, Herkie Kruger moving to 10, Alwyn Hollenbach at 12 and Marius Joubert at 13. Ronnie COOke moved to 11, Ciscard “the gazman” Pieters to 14 and the local favourite Tiger Mangweni to 15.

The forwards that tOok the field was Wian Du Preez, Adriaan Strauss, CJ “slick hands” vd Linde Bian Vermaak , I believe Duanne Vermuelen and Darron Nel, Gareth Krause and Cheetah HARDMAN Ryno VD Merwe!

The second half illustrated the role that Ka”MAMBA flOOrs, Juan Smith and Reghardt Strauss fullfill for the Cheetahs- that of dynamic and incisive ball in hand yardage!

It was not the same team as in the first half- although the pack had now the ascendancy.

Tiger Mangweni hit the line hard and fast a couple of times and was rewarded with a superb try- gOOde player- some okes will have to watch out- this man wants S14 game time!- and he is gOOde enough to get it!

Gazman Pieterse also showed some enterprise – especially form his own 22 but just lacked the outright pace to score.

Marius Joubert had a reasonable solid game- some hard tackles- willing to take the opposition on with ball in hand- but without spectacular award.

I did not keep record of all the changes- that tOOk place but the most important change was that of Meyer Bosman at 12.

The Cheetahs were now playing with Kruger at 10 and Bosman at 12

Interesting combination. Time will tell- because hindsight is a klevah girl- pity she is mute and cant write. Not that that is a prerequisite for orakelish activities.

All in all- a game that failed to really be counted as great- but excellent opportunity for the players to get the festive season’s babelaas out of the system and to herald the gospel of rugga onto the ‘007 palate!

ORANJEOKTOBER HAPPENED

2006-10-18T20:41:00.000+02:00

Well the final was drawn- olde news now

Bulls still blames Kaplan

JANnie Dup Barend Pieterse and ka'MAMBA should have been touring- but TheSnake - well is the saying he cannot please everyone.

Hope there is a lot of satified KZENNERS

Hopefully I can get back on meBlog

testing testing lets see

grOOt-ORANJE-SMAAILE!

AND THEN- THERE WERE FOUR

2006-09-30T20:49:00.000+02:00

So- its the Cheetahs vs the Sharks in Blingfontein and the Tswanepoele Hosts province.

The Hunt for Oranje Oktober has begun.

two teams will face each other on 14 October 2006, first there is the matter of the semi-finals.

as the round robin has finished- given a very close top 5 - its now up to the teams that will handle the pressure of sudden death the best- to contest the final

Will it be braun over brain will it need a mixture of both

Stay tuned to your favourite rugby information conduit- ( and yeah if its OORB- I will be very happy) but most of all- participate in the Hunt for Oranje Oktober-

I must say the domestiCCtiff 2006 is a good one thus far.

I hope the next three games will give us Rugby as it should be played- something to be proud of.

Enjoy!

CLOSE- BUT THE CIGAR IS STILL OLLIE'S

2006-09-23T18:18:00.000+02:00

Blingfontein

Oranje Orakel

Well- in the end a somewhat misdirected kick from the BloemBoyByTheSEA Ruan Pienaar had ruined some happiness in Tswane and VisVoetVille- but I couldnt care less.

The Cheetahs had struggled to retain their composure and had lost the ping pong battle with Frans Steyn - but some fearless defending had ensure that the Sharks did not win the game.

Well I must applaude Kankofski's try- it was awesome.

To the rest of the Sharks game, eyegouging etc I just have the ultimate disrespect!

In my eyes- the Sharks( mentality) sucks!

Cheetahs should just be thankful for the win- and try to sort out the root cause for loosing composure.I will watch the game again and will then post a match report based on that.

Till then

CHEETAHS!!

FOREPLAY- WEEK 13

2006-09-18T08:08:00.000+02:00

So this week we start early- as it will be one of the crucial games of the season.

The Cheetahs have the Sharks at home and the Bulls away left to play in the pre semi- round robin and with 45 points- this season can still go both ways on the Cheetahs

Its unlikely that they will not be on the semis- Lions scoring 10 and Cheetahs none and then indeed no place in the semi final.

On the udder hand- two good wins- or just one good win and a favourable loss- and we will be topping the log- ensuring at least a home semi final.

For the Cheetahs its 4 tuff weeks to go

The Bulls have peaked at the right moment - for them obviously- and not one of the other three teams should be looked at with disrespect

All of them are able to take command of a match and clean you out of it.

Guess the team that will manage the intensity the best will be in a good position in the semi-finals.

Enjoy!

I will try to put up all the pre-match spin and foreplay as comments on this thread.

Expects some gems from RobD @ ruggaworld and the usual Sharks Squad at Keo.

RECAP ON WEEK 12

2006-09-18T08:01:00.000+02:00

I was a bit AWOL last week.

It seems that the Cheetahs had put the Witbank Heeby jeebies to rest this year.

The CC Log - courtesy of Ruggaworld

Team P W L D PD BP TP
Cheetahs 12 9 3 0 301 9 45
WP 12 9 3 0 103 6 42
Sharks 12 8 4 0 168 9 41
B/Bulls 12 8 4 0 147 8 40
Lions 12 7 5 0 17 8 36
Griquas 12 5 7 0 (63) 5 25
Falcons 12 2 10 0 (228) 5 13
Pumas 12 0 12 0 (445) 3 3

I guess the only real news of the weekend is the Bulls romp by the sea

hehehehe

Well done to the Bulls!!

So week 13 - wonder for whom will it be lucky 13- will see some serious action for the Cheetahs

SHARKS at home!!

THE RED BARON RETIRES

2006-09-10T16:26:00.000+02:00

Well, the news is out

Michael Schumacher- the most succesful grand prix driver ever- will retire after the last grand prix of the 2006 season.

What an eventful career- I still remember that afternoon in 92 when he made his debut in the 7up jordan- and scoring points in his first race- at spa of all places.

love him hate him- you have to admire him

one of the sporting world legends

right there with niclaus dimaggio ruth jordan woods pele

fleck- hehehehe not in your dreams

INTENSITY CARRIES THE DAY

2006-09-10T16:20:00.000+02:00

JUST TESTING IF THIS ISP ALLOWS ME TO POST

HEHEHE

IF IT DOES- I WILL POST MY MATCH REPORT HERE

VRY-FO885N-STAAT

The log standing courtesy of www.ruggaworld.com

Team P W L D PD BP TP
Cheetahs 11 8 3 0 245 8 40
Sharks 11 8 3 0 179 8 40
WP 10 8 3 0 60 5 37
B/Bulls 11 7 4 0 129 7 35
Lions 11 6 5 0 7 6 30
Griquas 10 5 5 0 (54) 3 23
Falcons 11 2 8 0 (167) 5 13
Pumas 11 0 10 0 (389) 3 3

Cheetahs to use Pack-Power

2006-09-07T11:15:00.000+02:00

The Currie Cup champs the Cheetahs are out for revenge, and a young Western Province side is looking to score another double – prepare for one titanic struggle.

Well maybe not in the same league as the Cheetahs vs. Bulls type match, but you can expect both teams to try and nullify each others strengths, and play to theirs.

The Cheetahs team selected for this vital encounter in Bloemfontein sort of gives their game plan away – keep it tight, away from their backs, let Willem play the percentages and make sure that if we kick the ball, we kick it out.

I have said it before this year, the Cheetahs have the best pack in the Currie Cup, and nothing has changed.

Injuries have taken its toll and they have definitely missed Scholtz since he got injured, but in Ryno van der Merwe and Kabamba Floors, you have two of the best moles in South African rugby.

In fact, apart from Botes, who is not a classic fetcher, Floors and Van Der Merwe, is about the only loose-forwards (Lions guys also not too bad), that can compete with the in-form loosies of Western Province.

But then again, I do not expect the Cheetahs to move the ball too far away from their forwards for at least the first 50 minutes.

The decision to select 4 locks in the match 22 for Friday’s game sends out a clear message to Kobus van der Merwe and Western Province, our line-out ball is ours, and yours is ours too!

Barend Pieterse will pack down on the side of the scrum away from his usual position at lock, make no mistake though, you will see him being used a lot in the line-outs!

The game plan for the Cheetahs will be a real simple one, play the game in their half, keep it tight, force line-outs in their half, and let’s drive them up from there.

Apart from the Namibian Hendrik Meyer and Bevin Fortuin, the Cheetahs backline does not look like it will ask too many questions of any other team, let alone a Province backline who has been extremely impressive so-far this year.

The injury to Meyer Bosman was a bit of a blow to the Cheetahs, with De Waal and 10 and Meyer at 12, with the strong Namibian next to him, the Cheetahs could have looked to adapt two types of game plans for Friday’s game - but the serious lack of pace and penetrative power means that the Cheetahs won’t have much choice but to keep the ball in channels 1 to 3.

Another interesting fact is that the Cheetah backline has a very good defensive look about it. Gaffie provides a much needed back up to De Waal and with his booming left boot, you can be sure he will look to pin Province down in their half.

The back-row of the Cheetahs, although a bit slower than usual, looks set to stop the Province loosies and mauls in their tracks. We know how much Luke Watson like to carry the ball up and link with the backs, so expect him and the big Diack to be closely watched by the big Cheetah forwards.

From Province’s point of view, they will look to play the game they have been all the time so-far this year.

Slow the ball, or steal the ball at the breakdowns, and give the backs, quick ball to run at the opposition defense from all types of angles.

The quicker the game, the happier Province will be, but if De Waal dictates with his boot and forces a lot of first phases (line-outs), then Province will be frustrated in their own half having to contend with a huge Cheetah pack that will look to drive them at every occasion.

Personally I think Kobus missed a trick in picking DeWet for this game.

Defensively there is nothing wrong with him, but he is very slow in distributing the ball, and funny as it might sound, for Province to win, they need to run the Cheetahs of their feet and spread the ball as wide as possible, as quickly as possible.

Last week Derrick Hougaard was ineffective against Province, and it cost his team. If Willem can dictate, the Cheetahs should not lose this game.

With Floors on the bench Rassie has a huge trump card. If for some reason the Cheetahs are unable to hold it tight and contain the dangerous Province loosies and backs, expect Floors to enter the frame to offer some resistance against Luke and his troops with Ryno also adopting his game to more of a fetcher type role.

The Cheetahs have the edge in the set phases, and if we are going to see lots of scrums and line-outs, we are going to see the Cheetahs dominate.

Province has the edge when it comes to speed and attacking out wide, and also in the loose forward department. So if they manage to get the Cheetahs to play away from their big forwards, it will be a long night for the boys from Bloem.

I expect a lot of free kicks and penalties in the set phases in the first 30, and if the Cheetahs can manage to frustrate Province for the first 30 or 40, and get a lead of about 10 to 15, it will be tough to impossible for Province to come back with the Cheetahs switching to a slow defensive game for which they have the players for.

Close down Province's attacking moves at Naas or Barry (slow distributors), and you nullify the dangerous outside backs.

One or two lapses in concentration though, or more importantly, kicks not finding touch, will see Province run rampant.

Prediction:

Cheetahs by 8, Province to be frustrated out of the game and giving away too many penalties at line-out, scrum and maul time.

FOREPLAY WEEK 11

2006-09-06T09:39:00.000+02:00

OORB will post in future a thread early in the week - on which all the various posts - building up the Cheetah game in question- will be posted. This will then be followed by a weekly wrap on general Cheetah news- by midweek and a Pre match arti by Thursday/Friday.

The Vodacom Cheetahs face the log leaders Vodacom Western Province at home on Friday night at 1910.

Most likely this game will be broadcasted by Supersport.

Complacency the Reason

2006-09-06T08:57:00.000+02:00

This letter was placed by Volksblad in its letter column on 5 September 2006.

OORB did contract Chris Booysen and publish the letter, with his consent.

Cheetahs was oorgerus

SOURCE: www.volksblad.com

Die Cheetahs se verloor Vrydagaand teen die Leeus was uiters onnodig, maar dalk ook voorspelbaar. Die Curriebeker-kompetisie gaan nou ’n fase in waarin Rassie nie meer behoort te “eksperimenteer” nie. ’n Mens kan die veranderde intensiteit in die ander wedstryde begin sien.

Die feit dat die Curriebeker-kampioen en eersteplek-houer op die puntebord teen rustyd met 22-0 agtergeloop het, bewys dat hulle dié wedstryd met oorgerustheid en ’n uiters sorgsame gebrek aan dringendheid benader het.

Die res van die land se rugbyliefhebbers het almal al besef dat dié Leeu-span ’n totale transformasie ondergaan het en hulle nou oor ’n afrigter beskik wat vir Rassie en al die ander afrigters kan troef.

Die Cheetahs wat midde-in hierdie kompetisie staan, moes dit nog meer en duideliker besef het. Die feit dat ’n verloor in die wedstryd nie die Cheetahs se status in die eerste vier plekke op die “log” kon beïnvloed nie, kon ’n rol gespeel het.

Maar al is dit die geval, het dit wel ’n postiewe invloed op opponente se persepsie en vertroue dat die Cheetahs maklik geklop kan word.

Chris Booysen
Kroonstad

The Game at Ellis

2006-09-06T08:49:00.000+02:00

Well its old news now but it still hurts.

The Vodacom Cheetahs were the losers at Ellis park last friday Night- and its top spot on the points standing to its rival this Friday night in Bloemfontein- Vodacom Western Province.

The Lions had won quite comfortable- but due to a Willem De Waal led-revival in the second half , the cheetahs did score a bonus point.

Since this game was not televised- I will not write a report on it- but will post all the different media reports under this threat- just to complete the archive.

The log is courtesy of www.ruggaworld.com

Team P W L D PD BP TP
WP 10 8 2 0 75 5 37
Cheetahs 10 7 3 0 230 8 36
Sharks 10 7 3 0 134 7 35
B/Bulls 10 6 4 0 66 6 30
Lions 10 5 5 0 0 6 26
Griquas 10 5 5 0 (9) 3 23
Falcons 10 2 8 0 (160) 4 12
Pumas 10 0 10 0 (326) 3 3

BATTLE OF THE BREAKDOWN

2006-08-31T23:05:00.000+02:00

Ellispark- Friday night

The Lions, coached by Eugene Eloff- captained by their inspirational leader Wikus van Heerden is hosting the free state Cheetahs – in what might just be a very important matchup in the domestiCctiff 2006 competition.

The Cheetahs are the current log leaders and while these two teams play each other in Jozi- the big annual north vs south derby is being settled in cape town with the Province boys hosting the Tswanepoele.

Now pundit RW poster Il Postino has expressed the view that the two crunch positions is 5 and 10- seeing that if Barend Pieterse do his normal – My ball is my ball and all your balls is also mine- act in the lineout and Meyer Bosman gets aggresively over the game line- its curtains for the Jozi Jollers.

Myself is a bit more pessimistic ( at least online- hehehe)- Although I am of the opinion that the Cheetah pack will dominate the tight stuff- the Lions Backrow has had the measure of the Cheetahs on two occasions last year- and they must be brimming with confidence- as I rate them the most effective unit in the competion.

The Cheetahs had made the mistake by keeping the ball static too long on the deck against WP and then King Carmisarb and his men contested heavily- with the resulting pressure on De Waal. But then Meyer is playing- and the other Meyer as well. against the Bulls- it was again the brilliant play of the Bulls loosies-with Tiger Tim Dlulane and Kuun at the front- who had undone a very gingerly looking Cheetah team.

The Lions backline is also a very effective unit and the red and white speedsters must relish the opportunity of playing against Eddie Fredericks- normally a very good defender- but lacking match sharpness and a bit of pace after a long injury induced layoff.

The various time delays in the Cheetah midfield- that haunted them in the games against WP and the Bulls( incidentally the only games in which they scored less tries than the opposition and consequently lost) had been removed- so expect some kind of FestRugby by the Cheetahs. It may not be flashcard induced instructions from the sideline that will spark this- but if the ball are being provided at a regular basis by the pack- the backs will do the natural oranje thing and swing it fast and wide.

It is my opinion that the Cheetahs will be able to win this game- but it will not be as easy as the first game in Bloem. ( Me saying it was easy is maybe a bit rich). The Lions tight 5 have played with commitment-for the last couple of games- their backrow is an excellent weapon and their backline has the ability to rip even the most organised defence to shreds. On this issue- the Cheetah defence had been the most miserly in the competition- but one has to ask whether good defence( pattern and individual tackling) or absolute possesion starvation by the Cheetah pack had been the underlying reason.

For me the most intense matchup will be the battle of the two backrows- in order to dominate the proceedings at the breakdown- fast ball there- and both backlines have the ability to score from 70 meters.

Will Ollie do the Leeuloop on Friday night- yes I believe so- to be joined by the Meyer twins,Hollenbach,Kabamba and all the other usual suspects.

Because the 2006 Cheetahs are not too shabby either.

ON DUTY

2006-08-31T15:19:00.000+02:00

The following teamsheets had been released by the Free State Rugby Union, for their respective games on the weekend.

Cheetahs vs. Leeus: Bevin Fortuin; Eddie Fredericks, JW Jonker, Hendrik Meyer, Alwyn Hollenbach; Meyer Bosman, Michael Claassens; Ryno van der Merwe, Darron Nel, Kabamba Floors, Barend Pieterse, Rory Duncan, Jannie du Plessis, Jaco du Toit, Ollie le Roux (C). Reserwes: Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez, Corniel van Zyl, Bian Vermaak, Noel Oeslchig, Willem de Waal, Phillip Burger.

Vrystaat U’21: PD Terblanche; Frank Wagenstroom, Herman Pretorius, Hein Myburgh, Ashwin van Heerden; Jannie Myburgh, Dougie Helmuth; Ashley Johnson, Nicky Steyn, Stanley Stevens, Izak van der Westhuizen, Flip van der Merwe (C), Drew van Coller, Hercu Liebenberg, Steph Roberts. Reserwes: Michael Francke, JP Geldenhuys, Philip Steyn, Zane du Randt, Danny Theron, Rashied Isaacs, Pieter Odendaal.

Vrystaat U’19: Roux du Toit; Ralston Jensen, Philip Snyman, Henry du Toit, Rowan Walters; Bernd Theisinger, Jaco Colyn (C); Coenraad Pieterse, Maurice Ambrose, Bernard Wolmarans, Marnus Briedenhann, Hansie Moolman, Daniel Kotze, Frederick van Heerden, Kevin Stevens. Reserwes: Janco Holtzhausen, Roelof Koorsen, Nicky Faber, Johnny Schoeman, Phumzile Mafika, Lincoln Redcliffe.

A Lions view

2006-08-31T14:48:00.000+02:00

Hurter and Super Dave back -

SOURCE: www.suparugby.com

Sean Robson

2006-8-29

The forgotten Springboks Marius Hurter and Dave von Hoesselin are on the Lions bench for their match-up with the Cheetahs at Ellis Park on Friday night.

Strongman Hurter comes in for Lawrence Sephaka who has once again been pulled into the Springbok set-up while ‘Super Dave’ gets his chance with Nick Eyre suffering a severe case of the flu.

Both players are seasoned campaigners who if anything have not seen enough game time this year. Lions coach Eugene Eloff has selected the same fifteen that defeated the Sharks in a nailbiter a fortnight ago but has since enjoyed a week off from the rigours of Currie Cup rugby.

Jaco van Schalkwyk continues at flyhalf with Enrico Januarie holding on to the number nine jersey while Jano Vermaak gets another week off. The home side currently occupy fifth place on the log and need to win all their remaining matches if they want to stand a chance of reaching the semi-finals.

The Lions have improved on almost a weekly basis under Eloff’s tutorship and they are in with a very real chance of defeating the defending Currie Cup champs.

Lions: Earl Rose; Wylie Human, Jaco Pretorius, Doppies la Grange, Louis Ludik; Jaco van Schalkwyk, Enrico Januarie; Ernst Joubert, Wikus van Heerden ©, Baywatch Grobbelaar, Anton van Zyl, Varkhond Grobler, Bertus Smit, Ethienne Reynecke, Heinke van der Merwe. Reserves: James van der Walt, Marius Hurter, Franco van der Merwe, Roland Bernard, Dave von Hoesselin, Grant Esterhuizen, Mark Harris

A GOOD RESULT

2006-08-26T23:54:00.000+02:00

Due to the fact that I am moving HAUS ORAKEL since Wednesday to a new address, I had been unable to attend the match, but it seems that my presence was not really missed -large grin-

well done cheetahs- that points scored are looking good.

the following log is with the courtesy of the kind folks at ruggaworld.

Team	P	W	L	D	PD	BP	TP
CHEETAHS	9	7	2	0	241	7	35
WP	9	7	2	0	64	5	33
B/Bulls	9	6	3	0	77	6	30
Sharks	9	6	3	0	66	6	30
Lions	9	4	5	0	(11)	5	21
Griquas	9	4	5	0	(18)	3	19
Falcons	8	2	6	0	(151)	3	11
Pumas	9	0	9	0	(258)	3	3

SOURCE: www.rugby365.com

Cheetahs go top of the standings again
Saturday August 26 2006
Falcons' wings clipped in 12-try Bloem rout

The Cheetahs went back on top of the Currie Cup standings wen they beat the hapless Falcons 78-8 in their Round Nine match at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein on Saturday. The Cheetahs scored 12 tries to the one of the Falcons.

The defending champions, the Cheetahs, went back on top after Western Province lost to the Sharks in Durban the night before.

The Cheetahs' rout included two hat-tricks: by new midfield signing Hendrik Meyer, who revelled in the surfeit of possession that the bulkier Cheetahs pack sent his way, and wing Alwyn Hollenbach.

The home side had wrapped up the bonus point in the 30th minute, when they scored four tries, of which only one was converted - on a day when fly-half Meyer Bosman struggled to find the target with his boot.

But later in the game he became more accurate and in the end converted four of his team's tries, before scrum-half Noel Oelschig took over the kicking duties and kicked four of his own. The final conversion was taken by replacement Phillip Burger, who also scored two tries in a festival of running rugby.

The Cheetahs put their first try up on the board in the sixth minute, when left-wing Alwyn Hollenbach, recently returned from a serious injury, barged over on the left.

The Falcons, denied of much of the ball, hit back minutes later through a long-distance penalty by fly-half Louis Strydom.

With both teams not really trying much creatively, the match went a little stale for 10 minutes before a Cheetahs maul led to a try to Ryno van der Merwe, another difficult conversion attempt, also missed by Meyer Bosman.

The Cheetahs were in cruise control and rarely looked like being troubled. They played the game at a pace they dictated and were rewarded, if not with spectacular rugby then points, in the way of tries, the third scored by centre Hendrik Meyer to give the hosts a 15-3 lead.

Meyer had a dream of a debut completing his brace on the half-hour mark, this time in front of the poles for Bosman to convert. And as easily as that, the Cheetahs had their bonus point, with 50 minutes still to play.

The Falcons, for their part, did not panic and scored a brilliant try of their own through the outright pace of left-wing Mpho Matsaung, who blitzed down the left to dot down, taking the score to 22-8.

That became 29-8 just before the half-time break when lock Corniel van Zyl scored a converted try.

Just after the break the carnage continued when Van Zyl barged over for his second, setting the tone for the rest of the half.

A second by Hollenbach, converted by Bosman took the score to 43-8.

Man of the match, standout centre Meyer, scored his hat-trick after some dismal defence and the score hit 50-8.

Phillip Burger then came off the bench and waltzed through a static Falcons defence for his trademark swallow dive, the Cheetahs ninth. He added his brace minutes later while Hollenbach notched up a hat-trick.

Meyer, fittingly had the final say with a run from 70 metres out, running left then cutting in under the poles, and passing to Marius Schoeman to score in a show of rare generosity and Cheetahs team spirit.

The scorers:

For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Hollenbach 3, Van der Merwe, Meyer 3, Van Zyl 2, Burger 2, Schoeman
Cons: Bosman 4, Oelschig 4, Burger

For the Falcons:
Try: Matsaung
Pen: Strydom

Teams:

Vodacom Cheetahs: 15 Gaffie du Toit, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Chris Kruger, 12 Hendrik Meyer, 11 Alwyn Hollenbach, 10 Meyer Bosman, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Ryno van der Merwe, 7 Darron Neil, 6 Heinrich Brussouw, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco du Toit, 1 Ollie le Roux (captain).
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Quinton Davids, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Phillip Burger, 22 Marius Schoeman

Medicover Falcons: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Brendon April, 13 Riaan Hefer, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Mpho Matsaung, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Sarel Pretorius; 8 Michael Vermaak, 7 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 6 Piet Krause (captain), 5 Nico Luus, 4 Ryan Strudwick, 3 Philip Lemmer, 2 Piet Grobler, 1 Zane Killian.
Replacements: 16 Frik Venter, 17 Gavin Whittingham, 18 Attie Pienaar, 19 Sean Plaatjies, 20 Morné Adams, 21 Bosman Grobler, 22 Dean Okkers.

Referee: Craig Joubert
Touch judges: Tappe Henning, Roderick Barry (Western Province)
Assessor: Keith Hendricks (Boland)

WHAT A RELIEF

2006-08-19T18:45:00.000+02:00

Well- no siege of the Cheetahs dream at Kimberley then- getting 5 point at one of the most unforgiving rugby travel destinations on earth.

Griquas is a hard nut to crack at home- and as usual, the hard men from the northern cape keep their best for their orange outback neighbours. I have not watched this game- so will rely on a cut and paste match report.

Well done cheetahs

SOURCE - www.rugby365.com

Cheetahs work hard for Kimberley win
Saturday August 19 2006
Late try seals bonus-point win

The Cheetahs were made to work very hard for a 31-20 Currie Cup win against Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday, a win which also saw them take the OFM Challenge Cup for the third successive year. While the try-count was five-two to the Cheetahs, the win was only secured in injury time.

It was not a match that reached great heights, although it had some great moments. But those were too few and far between.

However, the Cheetahs will be happy that they recorded a win and scored a bonus point. Winning ugly could also bring some satisfaction.

It was a typical derby match, in which two sides bashed at each other vigorously and in the end it was the Cheetahs' greater forward strength that saw them home.

Griquas will also rue the numerous scoring chances they wasted with wrong options. The game was there for the taking, but they gave up at least three penalties - searching for tries instead and failing to find them.

The Cheetahs' hero was undoubtedly Bok utility Meyer Bosman, who showed Jake White that it was a mistake to drop him from the Tri-Nations squad. He started at inside side centre and finished at fly-half. In both positions he showed some sublime touches.

The Cheetahs had some early problems, with referee Linston Manuels, yes he of infamy, awarding three penalties to Griquas inside the first three minutes - one of which was slotted by Griquas fly-half Conrad Barnard for an early lead.

But the visitors settled down and when Mr Manuel awarded a penalty to the Cheetahs in the eighth minute, Willem de Waal slotted it from just over 30 metres to level the scorers.

The game then went into a lull, as both teams made liberal use of the boot - trying to find field position and hoping for some favourable bounces on the rock hard surface in Kimberley. The stop-start nature of the game did not make for great entertainment.

Eventually the stalemate was broken when Cheetahs captain Ollie le Roux bust through a few attempted tackles and rumbled up the middle of the field, to set up camp just in front the Griquas post. After a series of strong forward drives the Cheetahs found space out wide and Bevin Fortuin went over for the first try. De Waal's conversion drifted wide, but the Cheetahs were leading 8-3.

Four minutes later Griquas were back in the lead, when Tiger Mangweni joined the line at pace from fullback and found space out wide. He offloaded to Vuyani Dlomo, who in turn gave to Ronnie Cooke, who came up in support. Cooke went over for his team's first try and Barnard's conversion made it 10-8 to the home side.

The Cheetahs were next to score in this see-saw battle, when Windpomp van Rooyen was penalised for coming in at the side of a maul and De Waal slotted the penalty from 40 metres out - 11-10.

Now it was the turn of Griquas to question the referee's rulings, as they conceded a number of penalties. His explanations sounded logical, but Griquas captain Gareth Krause still shook his head in disbelief.

The game then again lost its shape, with both sides guilty of some real shocking errors, including Darron Nell knocking on inside the Griquas 22 with an open try-line.

Griquas' biggest sins were that they failed to convert kicks at goal - along with not taking a penalty shot at goal and rather opting for a line-out, with the Cheetahs simply bullying them into touch.

The final act of the half belonged to Griquas, when Cheetahs scrum-half Michael Claassens went offside at a ruck right in front of his posts and Barnard slotted the resulting penalty to make it 13-11 in favour of the home team at the break.

The Cheetahs scored first in the second half, after being let off the hook by Griquas - who again opted against taking a penalty shot at goal and paying a dear price.

It was Meyer Bosman who bust through in midfield and with plenty of support runners the Cheetahs raced clear and Philip Burger scored the try. De Waal couldn't convert, but the Cheetahs were leading again - 16-13.

The Cheetahs stretched their lead a few minutes later, when livewire flank Kabamba Floors turned over line-out ball for the Cheetahs and offloaded to fellow loose forward Darron Nell, who raced over for the third Cheetahs try. Again De Waal's conversion drifted wide, but the lead was now 21-13.

The Cheetahs were reduced to 14 men in the 55th minute, when wing Gavin Passens was yellow carded for a professional foul.

But again Griquas wasted a golden scoring opportunity - opting to kick for touch and not going for posts. Their attempts at scoring a try came to naught as they kept running into a white wall of defenders.

They did eventually manage to exploit their numerical advantage, when Bobby Joubert went over after running into space. Barnard added the conversion to make it a one-point game again - 21-20 to the Cheetahs.

The bonus-point try for the Cheetahs came in the 70th minute, following a great chip by Meyer Bosman, which turned into a five-metre scrum for the Cheetahs. From the scrum there was a series of forward rushes, before replacement prop Wian du Preez scored in his 50th game. Bosman failed with the conversion, but the Cheetahs had a six-point lead - 26-20.

Griquas now threw everything into attack in the final 10 minutes, as they searched for the winner. But their desperation were only rewarded with more turnovers, which the Cheetahs booted back deep into Griquas territory.

And with time up on the clock and Griquas attacking from inside their own 22, one of those turnovers gave the Cheetahs a final try, by Burger.

That not only secured the win for the Cheetahs, but robbed the home side of a possible bonus point.

The scorers:

For Griquas:
Tries: Cooke, Joubert
Cons: Barnard 2
Pens: Barnard 2

For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Fortuin, Burger 2, Nell, Du Preez
Pens: De Waal 2

Yellow card: Gavin Passens (Cheetahs, 55 - professional foul)

Teams:

Wildeklawer Griquas: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Vuyani Dlomo, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Herkie Kruger, 11 Bobby Joubert, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Tertius Carse, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Gareth Krause (captain), 6 Wayne van Heerden, 5 Windpomp van Rooyen, 4 Lodie Britz, 3 Hedley Wessels, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Jané du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Eugene Van Staden, 18 Cilliers Coetzer, 19 Heinrich Stride, 20 Jacques Burger, 21 JP Joubert, 22 Zane Kirchner

Vodacom Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Philip Burger, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Gavin Passens, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Ryno van der Merwe, 7 Darron Nell, 6 Kabamba Floors, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco du Toit, 1 Ollie le Roux (captain).
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Bian Vermaak, 19 Heinrich Brüssouw, 20 Falie Oelschig, 21 Chris Kruger, 22 Alwyn Hollenbach

Referee: Linston Manuels (Boland)
Assessor: Stuart Berry (KwaZulu Natal), Chris Healey (KwaZulu Natal)
Television match official: Pro Legoete (Golden Lions)
Assessor: Richard Nash (Golden Lions)

YOU WILL NEVER WALK ALONE!!

2006-08-13T19:42:00.000+02:00

Eurosport - Mike Hytner - 13/08/2006 19:38

All pictures- www.eurosport.com

GO THE REDS!!

Liverpool beat Chelsea 2-1 to take the Community Shield on Sunday thanks to a late headed Peter Crouch winner at the Millenium Stadium in Cardiff. Jon Arne Riise opened the scoring in the first half before new Chelsea signing Andriy Shevchenko equalised to mark his debut with a goal.

Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez rested several key players with one eye on his side"s Champions League qualifying tie against Maccabi Haifa, captain Steven Gerrard included, but his tinkering provided dividends as Liverpool delivered an early psychological blow to their Premiership rivals.

"The result has given us confidence in ourselves," said a satisfied Benitez. "We have done a very good job against one of best teams in the world."

But more pleasing for the Spaniard would have been the performance of the strike pairing of Craig Bellamy - who started the match on the bench - and Crouch.

The duo worked well together following the Welshman's introduction after 67 minutes, and they showed what they are capable of with ten minutes remaining when Bellamy delivered an inch-perfect cross for Crouch - who had slipped in behind new England captain John Terry - to head home what proved to be the winner.

"BIG RESULT"

"It's always a big game against Chelsea, and when you see the players they had today, you know it's a big result," said goalscorer Crouch.

"The manager always wants players to improve," Crouch continued. "Last year was good for me, but I want to get better."

Liverpool had taken the lead after just nine minutes with a thrilling counter attack, Riise picking the ball up on the edge of his own box following a Chelsea corner, before running the entire length of the pitch and firing home from 25 yards.

Stand-in goalkeeper Carlo Cudicini was at fault, and should never have let the ball through his fingers, as was perhaps Terry, who stood off from making a challenge for too long, but full marks to Riise, who saw his chance and took it with aplomb.

"I caught it sweet," Riise said. "But to be fair, I thought the keeper would save it. I just smashed it and hoped for the best.

"Everybody worked very hard today," the Norwegian added. "It was a confidence boost for us."

SO FAR SO GOOD FOR SHEVCHENKO

Of the numerous new signings from both sides on show in Cardiff, Chelsea striker Shevchenko was by far the most impressive. The 44 million euros doled out by Chelsea on the Ukrainian international will be money well spent if he continues as he started on Sunday.

With fellow debutant Michael Ballack cautioned and then replaced after injury within the first 25 minutes, the spotlight was left firmly on the former Milan striker and he did not disappoint once Frank Lampard found him with a neat through ball just before the half time whistle.

Shevchenko took the ball in his stride, before looking up and slotting coolly past the advancing Jose Reina in the Liverpool goal. He made it look easy, but apparently that is what you get for such an inordinate amount of money.

NEW SIGNINGS IMPRESS

Both managers took the opportunity to blood new signings, and Shevchenko and Ballack aside, the barely three-quarters-full Millennium Stadium was treated to the sight of John Obi Mikel and Salomon Kalou, two more of boss Jose Mourinho's summer captures.

For Liverpool, Jermaine Pennant and Mark Gonzalez were both impressive on their full debuts, whilst the strength of Benitez's new squad was highlighted by the introduction of new Brazilian Fabio Aurelio and the reappearance of Bolo Zenden, who is as good as a new signing for the Merseysiders, following his injury ravaged season last year.

"We have a better squad than last season," said Benitez. "We can always try to improve but I am happy with this team."

It seems that the REDS have earned their stripes again!!

GREAT STUFF!!

Good luck for the PREMIERSHIP!!!!

The rest of the 2006 road to Blingville

2006-08-13T16:02:00.000+02:00

AUGUST

18 Griquas v Cheetahs Kimberly

25 Cheetahs v Falcons Bloemfontein

SEPTEMBER

1 Lions v Cheetahs Johannesburg

8 Cheetahs v WP Bloemfontein

16 Pumas v Cheetahs Witbank

23 Cheetahs v Sharks Bloemfontein

30 Bulls v Cheetahs Pretoria

October

7 SF 1st Place v 4th Place

7 SF 2nd Place v 3rd Place

14 Final

WHEN THE BIG MAC - BECOMES THE BIG CHEESE

2006-08-13T07:39:00.000+02:00

Jolly Ollie is the new Cheetah captain
Thursday August 10 2006
Cheetahs scoop Namibian midfielder

Hannes Nienaber

SOURCE: www.rugby 365.com

Veteran Springbok prop Ollie le Roux will take over the Cheetahs' captaincy for the remainder of the Currie Cup season, after first choice Hendro Scholtz underwent surgery to repair a damaged chest muscle earlier this week.

OORB NOTE: I was looking for a long time for this photo- also from www.rugby365.com, just to irritate Aldo- seeing that Ollie is his most likeable Player- but I believe Ollie will be an astute captain- who had also resurrected his career- under the Master Retreader- Coach Erasmus.

The "silly season with regard to player movement had begun- and again Coach Erasmus seems to be ready. Last year- due to the orchestrated delay in the announcement of the 5 S14 Franchises- he was stopped from shopping - but it seems that the wheels of the Checkout trolly had been greased well in advance.

I do not think that the Cheetahs Buying spree will match that of Boland though- the way Boland is utilising the Fidentia Money will make every female with a craze to shop- green with envy. Or is it only Fidentia Money. In a Super 14 context- it will be intersting to se if these Boland players gets any Stormer game time. It also seems that kobus VD Merwe seems set to purchase all the Griqua S14 players- thereby creating a bit of uncomfortableness for Coach Erasmus. Very Chelsea like- behaviour from the BALD ONE- who is doing rather well without Motormouth Mallet - being the backseat driver.

Scholtz and wing Giscard Pieters are both unlikely to play again this season because of injuries.

Scholtz will be sidelined for eight weeks and at best will be able to train again the week before the Currie Cup Final (October 14). Even if the Cheetahs reach the Final, it is unlikely he will be considered after such a long lay-off.

Pieters is likely to be sidelined for at least six weeks.

Apart from appointing the amiable Le Roux as captain for the remainder of the season, Erasmus has also moved to improve his midfield resources.

Namibian international Hendrik Meyer, a talented 22-year-old centre, has been signed from the Pumas and will be available for the Cheetahs for the remainder of the season.

The Cheetahs' next game is against Griquas in Kimberley on August 19.

Meyer was on the shopping list of all the big unions in South Africa - the Lions, Blue Bulls, Sharks, Western Province and Cheetahs. It was the latter who scooped him away from the rest.

Dale Heidtmann has been doing duty at inside centre for the Cheetahs in the first half of the Currie Cup, but with Meyer's arrival and the return from Springbok duty of Meyer Bosman, the Cheetahs now have a surfeit of big, quality inside centres.

Erasmus also signed Leopards outside centre Warren de Bruin, who has been on trial in Bloemfontein this past week. De Bruin and JW Jonker will cover the No.13 position. ( I wonder how injured JW Jonker is?)

But the acquisition of Meyer, who weighs 105kg and is 192cm, is the team's biggest scoop of the season. Agree on this one- (Meyer had posed alot of problems for us in the Bloem game- good centre- and according to the media- almost all the provinces wanted to sign him.)

OORB NOTE: The Cheetah midfield - was I believe the reason why we could not convert 60 % possession against the Bulls and the Goats into victories. While Willem de Waal was not edzakkerly cooking in Oranje 10- the ability of Dale Heidtman to get JW Jonker running straight -with space- was not demonstrated.

With Meyer Bosman back- and with Hendrik Meyer immediatly available- I believe things might get better in the midfield. Some experts also indicated that Alwyn Hollenbach might be utilised in Oranje 14- although I would love to see him and Meyer Bosman in the midfield.

It will be interesting to see which of the Lions players would choose Bloem over PE for the S 14 2007. names that comes to mind - Jacque Fourie, Jano Vermaak, Ernst Joubert and my favourite vanilla-afro Varkhond Grobler. BTW- why is baywatch in Coach Eloff's dogbox? - or is Roland Bernard that good?

On Warren De Bruin- I know nothing of him- but the Leopards have been turning out good quality players for a long time now- so he will be most likely a good aquisition. I wonder about Bertus Swanepoel and Jonathan Mokoena?

Do the average sport journo qualify

2006-08-11T22:31:00.000+02:00

What it takes to be a journalist
11/08/2006 10:47 - (SA)

Lizette Rabe

www.news24.com

It's that time of year again when matriculants have to decide what to study to keep themselves busy in a couple of years' time while earning some kind of living.

So why not consider journalism, some wonder, it seems.

But can anyone become a journalist*?

Only if you want to, is the short answer. Don't do it if you cannot close your eyes, ask yourself what your dream job is, and that magic word journalist appears.

Because journalism is a profession where you need the three h's. Hands - for practical skills; a head - for conceptual skills; and most importantly, a heart. Without passion you're not going to make it.

So who is a journalist?

Of course, none of us has everything that it takes. Otherwise you would be the perfect journalist. Our critics would say that must be a contradiction in terms.

But what characteristics do you need? What are the attributes that are must-haves for journalists?

You have to have a desire to make the world a better place. You need to be an idealist. Maybe some will accuse you of being unrealistic, but then that's their problem, not yours (and cynicism will not get its ugly grip on you).

You need to be inquisitive

Of course you need to be inquisitive. Journalism gives you a licence to ask. In fact, if you don't, you're not doing your job. The enquiring mind stops at nothing, and enquiry feeds enquiry. Question everything. That famous bullshit-detector must have an all-powerful 24/7 battery.

What else do you need? If you can answer yes to all the if's below, then it's your job:

If you're critical of everything around you - including your own profession and its shortcomings and challenges.

If you're a stickler for precision, journalism is your job. Dot the i's and cross the t's. Literally and figuratively.

If you fall in love with a phrase that's so elegantly written you want to burst out in tears, even after reading it for the hundredth time.

If you get frustrated behind your computer because that evasive phrase is driving you round the bend and back. I

f you see your keyboard as your instrument, and "compose", whether doing the two-finger two-step or the perfect ten-finger-waltz.

If you re-read your text, re-formulate a phrase, polish your copy, add a comma, delete a dash to get the perfect rhythm and register.

If you want to know what is behind something, and don't rest before you know. Everything. (Yes, you will become a pain.)

If you're a defender of the underdog, and the idea of being the voice of the voiceless sounds like the ultimate ideal.

If you're a lifelong-learner, and never satisfied with the here and now. If the knowledge and understanding of what we have today is not enough, and that constant yearning to unlock tomorrow is overwhelming.

If you want to tell our lives' stories, and the story of our lifetime.

If you're not afraid of hard work, and boring work, and long days (and longer nights). And if you remain enthusiastic throughout.

If you want to be the first to know, and to tell that story to the world. If you are addicted to news, on a need to know basis, and if people fascinate you.

If you get agitated when you start to think what you miss out because one just cannot possibly know everything that's going on.

If you're not afraid of the powerful, but rather want to ensure the powerful is not corrupted by their power.

If you don't mind being called names and being blamed for all the wrongs in the world.

Lastly, if you don't want to earn obscene amounts of money. Because journalism is not about the money. It's about doing a job you love.

Then, dear reader, you have what it takes to be a journalist.

Or, as some would describe this unloved species: homo sapiens journalismus. That strange, but fascinating creature that seeks out others of its kind, where they passionately discuss the latest skinner behind the story (oh yes), make insider-jokes (yebo), are irreverent over holy and unholy cows, dream up the ultimate intro for a story, fall in love with words and ideas. And above all, remain idealists.

Need to do some reflection?

2006-08-10T22:41:00.000+02:00

Marius van den Bergh — MBA ‘95 - Australia

Marius van den Bergh approached his telling us about business in Australia from a different angle, as can be expected. There are horses for courses, and people all write in their own styles. This diversity makes life interesting …

“I was educated at Grey College in Bloemfontein, obtained an MBA from the University of Pretoria in 1995, and completed a DBA at Unisa in 2002.

I spent my working career in South Africa in the pharmaceutical industry in various positions in sales, business development, marketing and strategic affairs. We immigrated to Australia in April 2001 where I joined SIRTeX Medical as Sales and Marketing Director. SIRTeX Medical is a well-funded Australian medical device company with products in oncology that are sold in Australia, the USA, Europe, India, China, Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, and New Zealand.

I was part of the senior management team that created a viable company from an IPO. SIRTeX was the second fastest growing company in Australia listed on the ASX for 2003. The primary objective was to commercialize the novel, small-particle technology for liver cancer of SIRTeX Medical Limited. My position involves brand implementation, strategic business development and the development of marketing objectives. All in all, I am responsible for the general management of the entire Australian and Asia-Pacific functions of sales, marketing, business development, technical and regulatory, with revenues in excess of A$ 18 M. SIRTeX Medical Limited also provides global marketing support services for the USA and European markets.” When asked what it is like doing business in Australia as compared to other parts of the world (concentrating specifically more on soft issues such as culture rather than facts), Marius responded as follows:

“The business culture in Australia is based on values and attitudes such as self-regard and concern for others. That is:

Employees need to be provided with the necessary support, resources and training necessary to do their work.

They need to be involved in decisions that affect their work.

They need to be empowered to do what is necessary to complete their work and meet customer expectations.

Further, the management style that appears to best suit the Australian archetype is that of a ‘Captain Coach’, someone who works with people, provides leadership from inside the group, and creates stability, rather than one that creates instability — the ‘Task Master’ — which, in my experience, has been the predominant management style used all too frequently in South Africa.

The multi-culturalism in Australia and the nature of my role have also provided me with a better understanding of the importance of cultural recognition as a very important aspect in doing business in a global economy. The term ‘diversity’ and respecting it has taken on a new meaning for me. If you want to be successful in international business, embrace the concept and structure of your planning, business strategies and products strategies accordingly.”

From a TUKS alumni site- was communicating with Rasputin’s cuzin when this caught my eye

Maybe the underlying reason for 49ZIP, and some of our other problems- lies within this - expat saffa’s view

Spinning and "some" of its long term effects

2006-07-15T23:09:00.000+02:00

While not 100% a RugbyUnion article- it is about the South African society- the environment in which Rugby is played. Somehow also linked to the 49to zip snotting that we recieved to day from the Wallabies?

15/07/2006 14:59 - (SA)
Flip Buys: Dink vir jouself of word slagoffer van propaganda

SOURCE: www.rapport.co.za

Die meeste mense is maklike slagoffers van propaganda, het die Franse kenner Jacques Ellul gesê. Dit is omdat hulle glo dit bestaan uit leuens en bogstories wat geen ingeligte persoon sal uitvang nie.

Mense assosieer ook propaganda met uitgediende ideologieë en politieke stelsels en glo nie dat dit nog in moderne demokrasieë voorkom nie. Hierdie onderskatting van propaganda hou nie rekening met die feit dat die moderne, gesofistikeerde propaganda sy eertydse kru en uitgediende vorme heeltemal ontgroei het nie.

Die harde agitasie-propaganda wat die massa in die verlede moes opsweep, het plek gemaak vir 'n sagte en verfynde stelselpropaganda wat staatsmag oor uiteenlopende groepe heen in die samelewing moet vestig.

Hierdie moderne vorm van propaganda het in Amerika ontstaan om vinnig eenheid te kon verkry en die miljoene immigrante wat die land in die negentiende eeu binnegestroom het, te assimileer. Sielkundige standaardisasie was die oplossing om in 'n kort tyd 'n breë nasionale konsensus onder verskillende groepe te kry.

Dit is gedoen deur die sogenaamde American way as standaard-ideo logie onder almal te vestig. Maar daar was ook 'n belangrike ekono miese dryfveer, naamlik om 'n standaard-massamens met gemeenskap like sienings en behoeftes te vestig wat die reusagtige Amerikaanse massaproduksie kon verbruik en die ekonomie kon laat groei.

Propaganda is ook in ander state in die wêreld gebruik en misbruik om nasionalisme aan te blaas en die bevolking agter die regering te verenig. Dit was ook al baie keer 'n staatmaker-strategie om mense en groepe "vrywillig" van hul identiteite afstand te laat doen ten gunste van 'n nuwe nasionale eenheid.

Dink maar net hoe dit in die ou Suid-Afrika aangewend is ter ondersteuning van die Nasionale Party. Kyk maar ook hoe propaganda in die nuwe bedeling gebruik word om steun vir die regering te mobiliseer, opponente te diskrediteer en om in grypende rassewetgewing deur die breë gemeenskap aanvaar te kry.

Maar is daar 'n verband tussen die platval van Afrikaners ná 1994 - en die feit dat die ou bedeling se stelselpropaganda geëindig het en vervang is deur nuwe stelselpropaganda?

Ellul se navorsing is boeiende leesstof. Hy sê propaganda wat skielik saam met 'n bedeling tot 'n einde kom, het 'n ingrypende invloed op die voormalige ondersteuners. Die bekende wêreld wat deur die ou bedeling se propaganda geskep is, verbrokkel en hulle voel oornag soos vreemdelinge in hul eie land.

Alles verander en alles waarin hulle geglo het, verdwyn in die omwen teling. Die nuwe stelsel skiet alles van die oue aan flarde in 'n poging om homself te vestig, en die ou bedeling bestaan nie meer om homself te verdedig nie.

Hierdie toestand lei tot die ontbinding van die groep en 'n gelyklopende disintegrasie van die individue daarvan. Hulle verloor vertroue in hulself, in die saak waarvoor hulle gestaan het, in die vorige leiers, in die lewe. Hulle onttrek hulle aan die groep, ons word ek, en vorige lewensideale lyk in die nuwe era belaglik.

Daar is 'n gevoel van woede, ontnugtering en vertwyfeling. Hulle voel belieg, selfs verraai, en onttrek hulle aan die openbare lewe . Hulle voel dat al hul opofferings verniet was en dat hulle vir die gek gehou en misbruik is deur die ou stelsel. Hulle verloor heeltemal belangstelling in hul vorige lewe en word afsydig teenoor hul gemeenskap, geskiedenis, helde, simbole, instellings en idees.

Volgens Ellul kan mense wie se propaganda skielik afgesny word, selfs begin ly aan senuwee- en sielkundige probleme en skuldkomplekse. Die nuwe stelsel se propaganda draai die krane oop in 'n poging om voormalige teenstanders te demobiliseer, sy eie geldigheid te vestig en om moontlike mededingende stelsels onder verdenking te bring. Alles van die ou stelsel word as boos voorgehou, terwyl die nuwe stelsel, sy leiers, denkbeelde en simbole besing word.

Niemand wil meer aan iets van die ou bedeling raak nie en jy plaas jouself buite die beskaafde debat as jy buite die amptelike ideologiese raamwerk dink of praat. Dít mag nie betwyfel word nie. Baie keer loop 'n groep selfs oor na die voormalige vyand, en ander kere kom die nuwe geslag in opstand teen die vorige omdat hulle nie kan glo dat hul ouers die ou bedeling gesteun het nie.

Die vraag is of die grootskaalse emigrasie van wit mense ná 1994 nie ook hieruit spruit nie. Wat kan 'n meer finale breuk met alles van die verlede wees as om uit die land en weg van die groep te trek?

Die vraag is of die meerderheid Afrikaners nie slagoffers van die ou én die nuwe bedeling se propaganda was en is nie. Baie mense het feitlik alles in die ou bedeling vir soetkoek opgeëet, en eet nou weer 'n keer heerlik saam en glo weer alles.

Die enigste antwoord is dat mense sal moet leer om vir hulself te dink en om by hul kinders die waarde van selfstandige menings in te prent. Bronne sal ook gevind moet word om onafhanklike navorsingsinstellings tot stand te bring wat grondliggende diepte-navorsing kan doen. Bemagtig mense met kennis of nog 'n geslag gaan die slagoffers van propaganda word.

Western Province vs. Cheetahs Preview

2006-07-14T12:01:00.000+02:00

It is going to be a classic. Here we have two teams who always look to play running rugby (okay, WP only of late), always seem to want to entertain, and with a couple of youngster desperate to prove a point.

On the one hand, we have a team that seems to be building a new culture, under a new captain, with a host of unknowns, and on the other hand, we have a team with a brilliant culture, who as early as last year, had a bunch of unknowns, and is playing with a lot of confidence.

When looking at the Cheetahs and Western Province teams, I cannot help but think how similar this Western Province team is, to the Cheetahs team of last year.

The Cheetahs last year got a new coach with new and often radical ideas - if you were a Cheetah supporter (remember the hate mails?), a bunch of unknown and unproven players, but yet, through the culture they built within the team, they became Currie Cup champions against all odds.

Western Province, coming of a disappointing season as the Stormers, losing a host of players to national duty, sitting with a coach with so much to prove, is actually also starting to surprise a lot of people, including their own supporters!

There is nothing like having a culture in a team. Of course you would want it to be a winning one, but as any ex-player will tell you, playing in a team which is basically an extended family goes a long way to building a winning culture.

The Cheetahs did not win all their games last year, but they won the ones that mattered. Why? Well I believe it is simply because they were a team that played for each other, and when the chips are down, you stand up and be counted.

The roles the senior guys like Ollie, Naka, Os and the likes played in the Cheetahs campaign last year is hugely underestimated. These guys, leaders and icons, instilled a belief in the younger guys that made them belief they can accomplish the impossible, and they did.

The role of your leader(s) is what drives young, inexperienced players, to achieve the unachievable, and it seems Western Province might just have found one such person, Luke Watson.

Now I am not saying Western Province will win this game, far from it, I am saying though that the Cheetahs can expect a team that will not give up, will not lie down, and will never say die – something we have not seen in Western Province rugby for a while.

So let’s look at the game.

The Cheetahs are coming over some pretty impressive victories, and it is obvious that they are playing with a lot of confidence and more importantly, like the champions they are.

You often find that guys will live on reputations or titles once they achieve greatness like winning the Currie Cup, but not these boys.

I think the thing that has impressed me most about the Cheetahs of 2006 is that they play total rugby, or 15 man rugby.

With Naka and Rassie guiding the boys and old stalwarts like Ollie enjoying his rugby again and guiding the youngster with Ryno van der Merwe, it is very clear that the Cheetahs, although Currie Cup champions, are not resting on their laurels or reputations.

They want to go out and prove 2005 was no fluke, and boy they are doing it emphatically at the moment.

There is an air of confidence about this team, and if WP has any chance of beating the Cheetahs, it will be to shock them, or surprise them.

Rugby is a mind game as much as it is a physical sport. The Cheetahs will arrive in Cape Town feeling that they must simply do what they do best, without being flashy, and they will win this game. And I agree, they are a far more settled, cohesive unit that WP, so the Cheetahs should simply switch on Saturday, and focus on their strengths, and they will win – fact!

Western Province on the other hand, is coming of impressive displays against the Sharks and the Blue Bulls. The boys are starting to gel as a unit, and they are starting to believe. They will look at this game thinking, we have a chance – and they do, but they will not be as confident in their game plan or ability to walk away with a win as the Cheetahs will be.

What will happen though is that if Western Province manages to play the type of rugby they did against the Sharks and the Bulls in the first 30 minutes, their belief will grow, and when their belief starts to grow, so will their confidence, and that might just sneak them a win on Saturday.

What the Cheetahs need to guard against is being too calm or too relaxed in the opening 30 minutes. They have the team to beat Western Province, they should know this and they should play like it, but they should play like it from the 1st minute of the game, not the 30th.

If Western Province manage to dominate the first 30 minutes, and build up some sort of lead, we will have a cracker of a game and they might sneak a win, but if the Cheetahs play like the champions they are from the word go, they should take it by 12 or more.

The Cheetah tight 5 should have the upper hand in this match, I do not believe that they will completely dominate, but I do believe that their ball, will be their ball, and some of Western Provinces ball, will also be their ball.

The battle to watch is going to be with the loosies. Luke Watson is hitting some serious form, and if Ryno and Co allow him to dominate the breakdown situation as he has done in the past two weeks, they will be in trouble. But in my mind, Luke will be up against one of the best in Ryno, and he won’t have the freedom he had against the Bulls and Sharks.

The Cheetahs backline is more settled, and if Willem de Waal is on song, we should see some great play from these guys who seem to grow with confidence every week.

Western Province will feel somewhat disrupted with the loss of Peter Grant, and I won’t be surprised if De Wet Barry takes the field ahead of Sarel Potgieter. In fact, that is exactly what I would have done to bring some calmness into the Western Province backline.

If this game becomes loose, Western Province will dominate, but I believe Rassie and his troops will keep it tight in the opening exchanges and try to dominate territory and possession releasing their backs more in the last 30.

Willem de Waal will play a territorial game and will look to dominate with the boot, if he gets this right, the Cheetahs will simply squeeze WP into submission.

For Western Province, if they control and disrupt the breakdown, and pressure Willem de Waal, they will be in with a shout.

Here is hoping to some great rugby!

Preditcion: Cheetahs by 12

A view with vision

2006-07-12T21:12:00.000+02:00

Let me post this opinion from StormSaam. It is an opinion that I fully endorse.

Source: www.sarugbyview.blogspot.com

Tuesday, May 16, 2006

Rassie Erasmus: future Springbok coach

There aren't many coaches in the Super 14 who have played in the professional era. There are fewer who have the potential to be the best in the coaching field. Rassie Erasmus has that potential.

I watched my recorded Boots & All from last week. There was a short interview with Rassie. Towards the end of the interview he summed up the season and got to what they'd learnt. The first thing he said was that he'd made some mistakes. He'd tried some things as coach that he thought would work and didn't. He didn't make excuses. He volunteered his learnings. Only then he talked about the players. All he said was that some have stepped up and some haven't. Then he finished by saying that for those players and coaches that didn't make it, they'd be pushed aside. The game was bigger than them.

Wow. No excuses. Nobody demanding his accountability. He volunteered it. What a difference.

It is difficult to believe that this is the man that Laurie Mains thought had psychological problems. It is far easier to reconcile the man we see today with the stories of the guy who spent every second focused on the game. Spending hours analysing his game, his teams game and the competitors on video.

To back all of that up, his team have held their heads high in this year's competition. And they hold the Currie Cup. On that day, Rassie stood smiling in the background.

What a refreshing difference in the South African coaching world.

TALKS: SARU - RUGGA SA

2006-07-08T05:34:00.000+02:00

Statement by Saru after meeting with Rugga SA

SOURCE: www.saru.co.za

Posted on Friday, July 07, 2006 - 17:41

The South African Rugby Union and Rugga SA have met on numerous occasions to discuss a range of issues that are of mutual concern to both parties.

Rugga SA joined SARU in the condemnation of the current spate of serious incidents of violence at club matches especially in the Boland area, which have attracted widespread media coverage.

Both parties agree that every effort must be made to put an immediate end to such unfortunate incidents, and that solid measures must be put in place to deter and prevent any future violent conduct from both participants and spectators at club matches in the effected regions.

For the record, is important to note that the position of SARU with regards to Rugga SA was ratified at the Presidents Council meeting of May 26, 2006. Throughout its deliberations with Rugga SA, SARU as the national controlling body of rugby in the country, emphasised that it recognises and respects the authority of its affiliated Provinces

A SARU delegation, comprising of Oregan Hoskins (SARU President), Mpumelelo Tshume (Chairman of the Board of SA Rugby), Mveleli Ncula (Deputy CEO) and Dr. Ismail Jakoet (SARU secretary) met with a Rugga SA delegation as recently as 30 June 2006. The purpose of the latest meeting was to articulate the official position of SARU in respect of the resolution adopted by the Presidents Council.

During the June 30 meeting, SARU informed Rugga SA that:

q SARU is fully committed to the eradication of violence on our rugby fields and is deeply concerned about the current state of affairs in the areas where such violence have occurred.

q SA Rugby seeks an unconditional commitment from Rugga SA that they would operate under a single united rugby controlling body in this country, namely SARU.

q Upon receipt of this commitment from Rugga SA, the SARU President pledged to work with Rugga SA to ensure their incorporation into SARU and to address the issues to the satisfaction of all parties concerned.

Rugga SA agreed to the commitments requested by SARU.

Also, it was agreed that in the interim, Rugga SA would continue with its activities until their eventual passage into SARU has been achieved.

TRIES FOR CHARITY

2006-07-08T04:47:00.000+02:00

hehehe- nows this is good- very good

It is also a good reason for the Cheetahs to score a whole bag ful of tries whenever they play

Wonder what Coach Erasmus opinion on this "FestRugby" initiative will be?

OORB

SOURCE: www.fscheetahs.co.za

Tries for Charity’

NOU druk hulle drieë vir liefdadigheid. Tafelronde Vrystaat en die Vrystaatse Rugby Unie (VRU) het hande gevat in ‘n projek waarin ses provinsiale liefdadigheidsorganisasies gaan baat vind elke keer wanneer die Vrystaat Cheetahs ‘n drie druk in ‘n tuiswedstryd in vanjaar se Curriebeker reeks.

Volgens mnr. Steph Rossouw, lid van Tafelronde Vrystaat en projekbestuurder, word hierdie projek reeds met groot sukses by die Natalse Haaie en Blou Bulle gehou. “Die projek is ‘n inisiatief van Tafelronde, maar sonder ‘n vennoot soos die VRU kan ons dit nie doen nie. Dit is ook ‘n bewys van die venootskappe wat organisasies soos Tafelronde en die VRU moet smee om hulle deel vir die gemeenskap te kan doen.

“Die twee doelgebiede op Vodacompark word in ses blokke gedeel en ‘n blok word aan elke liefdadigheidsorganisasie toegeken. Wanneer die Cheetahs ‘n drie druk in byvoorbeeld Vrystaat-versorging se blok, ontvang Vrystaat-versorging ‘n bedrag geld wat deur al tien takke van Tafelronde Vrystaat geborg word. So ontvang elke organisasie geld wanneer ‘n drie in sy blok gedruk word. Aan die einde van die seisoen, oorhandig ons dan die geld aan die organisasies. Gedurende die wedstryd sal die stadionaankondiger aankondig in watter organisasie se gebied ‘n drie gedruk is,” sê Rossouw.

Die ses organisasies wat hierby gaan baat is Vrystaat-versorging, Hospice Vrystaat, Nicro Vrystaat, Kansa Vrystaat, Reik-na-‘n-droom Vrystaat en
Childline Vrystaat.

Kontak Steph Rossouw by 083 443 7317 vir meer inligting.

"CATFIGHT" IS LOOMING

2006-07-08T04:04:00.000+02:00

Interesting comments from the "Rooibontes".

Will be interesting to see which team will walk its respective talk.

OORB

SOURCE : www.news24.com

Lions prepared for catfight
07/07/2006 21:16 - (SA)

Hennie Brandt, Beeld

Johannesburg - The Lions are prepared for a mammoth battle up front when they take on the Currie Cup champions, the Cheetahs, in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon.

Whether Wikus van Heerden (captain) and his cubs will be able to withstand the heat in the oven will be determined by their young tight five.

In Currie Cup terms they are still very inexperienced and they will be targeted by the Cheetahs pack.

The experienced lion in the pack who has to keep the tight five together is the 27-year-old hooker James van der Walt.

It will be expected of him and the looseforwards Van Heerden, Cobus Grobler and Ernst Joubert to give support and provide leadership to the young props, Gert Muller (tighthead, 20) and Heinke van der Merwe (loosehead, 21) and their locks, Jean Deysel and Gerhard Mostert (both 21).

You do not have to be an Einstein to realise the Cheetahs will do everything possible to overpower the young Lions both physically and mentally. The Springbok loosehead of the champions, Ollie le Roux, will without doubt play an important role as he is a master in this department. He will also want to show the Lions, along with his front row teammate, Jannie du Plessis (tighthead), that they are playing in Cheetah country.

Somebody who has first-hand knowledge of forward play is Leon Boshoff, the Lions forwards coach. As a former hooker he knows what it takes to remain standing under tremendous pressure.

Stand together and form a unit

Boshoff said: "Experience is important. The Cheetahs have someone like Ollie who can anchor the pack. The young tight five of the Lions must stand together and form a unit. Things can happen if they do that and support one another.

"When it comes to the scrums, your props are just as good as the locks scrumming behind them. Good support by the props are also of prime importance for the jumpers in the lineouts."

Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus laid the foundation for the team's victories last season by concentrating on solid scrums and lineouts. Without quality possession from these phases, any team will face disaster.

The Lions have first-hand knowledge of this after they battled against both the Sharks and the Blue Bulls.

Lions coach Eugene Eloff says that is why it is important the team get good possession against the Cheetahs.

"If we do that, the Cheetahs can't do anything. That's why we're not concentrating on them, but on what we must do."

TV: from 15:00 on MNet, SS1.

**********************************************

Now for an opinion on the game from the local press.

SOURCE : www.volksblad.com

Cheetahs het appeltjie met Goue Leeus te skil
Jul 07 2006 10:24:51:153PM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

DIE Vodacom-Vrystaat-Cheetahs het vandag ’n appeltjie met die Goue Leeus te skil.

Maar mnr. Rassie Erasmus, afrigter van die Cheetahs, sê sy rugbyspan het ’n besonderse skerp mes nodig as hy op Vodacompark in Bloemfontein in ’n Curriebeker-wedstryd daarin wil slaag. Dié wedstryd begin om 15:00.

“Die Leeus het ons verlede jaar twee keer maklik geklop.

“Ons sukkel altyd teen hulle,” sê Erasmus.

“Die Leeus speel net sonder drie van hul Springbokke (Lawrence Sephaka, Jaque Fourie en Enrico Januarie), so ons sal ná vandag presies weet wat ons ware krag is,” sê die Cheetah-breier.

Eerder as om te erken dat sy span dié seisoen vinnig uit sy blokke is, sê Erasmus die Cheetahs se goeie spel en 18 drieë in slegs twee wedstryde is te danke aan ’n gunstige Premierliga-loting.

Erasmus sê voorts vandag se uitslag kan deur die spanne se vertonings in die vaste fasette bepaal word.

Dít is waar die Cheetahs se Ollie le Roux, Wian du Preez, Jaco du Toit, Richardt Strauss, Jannie du Plessis, Rory Duncan, Corniel van Zyl en Barend Pieterse die skaal effens in die gasheer se guns swaai. Die Leeus se vaste vyf-voorspelers (wat plaasvervangers insluit) van Heinke van der Merwe, Daniel Muller, James van der Walt, Ettienne Reynecke, Gert Muller, Jean Deysel, Willem Stoltz en Gerhard Mostert, het nie soos in die Cheetahs se geval soveel ervaring aan sy kant nie.

Boonop kombineer Michael Claassens (skrumskakel) en Willem de Waal (losskakel) dié seisoen voortreflik.

Claassens het sy peil herwin nadat hy aan die einde van die Super 14-reeks nie soos ’n Bok gespeel het nie.

Claassens sal egter die Suid-Afrikaanse o.21-skrumskakel van die Leeus, Jano Vermaak, nie ’n halwe kans moet gun nie.

Langs Claassens kan De Waal vir ’n derde agtereenvolgende Saterdag in dié reeks wys hy is ook ’n aanvallende losskakel.

De Waal, wat die speler van die wedstryd teen die Valke was, kan dalk in die eerste 40 minute opdrag kry om meer met sy skopskoen te dikteer as wat die geval in die wedstryde teen die Valke en die Wildeklawer-Griekwas was.

Die spanne is:

Cheetahs: Bevin Fortuin; Giscard Pieters, JW Jonker, Dale Heidtmann, Gavin Passens; Willem de Waal, Michael Claassens; Ryno van der Merwe, Darron Nell, Hendro Scholtz (k), Barend Pieterse, Corniel van Zyl, Jannie du Plessis, Jaco du Toit, Ollie le Roux. PLAASVERVANGERS: Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez, Rory Duncan, Kabamba Floors, Falie Oelschig, Chris Kruger, Phillip Burger.

Leeus: Louis Ludik; Wylie Human, Jaco Pretorius, Wayne Julies, Grant Esterhuizen; Earl Rose, Jano Vermaak; Ernst Joubert, Cobus Grobbelaar, Wikus van Heerden (k), Gerhard Mostert, Jean Deysel, Gert Muller, James van der Walt, Heinke van der Merwe.

PLAASVERVANGERS: Ettienne Reynecke, Daniel Muller, Willem Stoltz, Schalk van der Merwe, Rory Kockott, Jody Rose, Jaco van Schalkwyk.

Skeidsregter: mnr. Tappe Henning.

Afskop: 15:00.

TV: van 14:30 af op SS/M-Net en SS1/DStv.

Sharks vs Pumas

2006-07-07T10:42:00.000+02:00

Howzit all - been a while.

There's been a lot of talk about the Sharks "B-team" that's been picked for tonight's game. I'd like to post a brief rundown on the players, based on what I know of them, hopefully to allay any fears that there might be about the strength of this team.

1) Kees Lensing. Enough said, I think. Everyone knows Kees, the former Bulls and Namibian hardman. A very good scrummager, but a lot less effective in the loose than Mxoli or Carstens. Expect him to do a 50-minute demolition job, before Mox comes on to clean up.
2) Skipper Badenhorst. The weakest of the hookers in the squad in terms of all round game, but probably the second best scrummager after Smit. Lineout throwing is the major concern. Has been known to play well in the loose, but isn't consistent enough (vs Bulls in last 2004 Super 12 he was a king!). Probably in the starting lineup due to questions around Jenneker's temperament.
3) Danie Saayman. Currently about the only fit tighthead in either Sharks team. Danie is a very dependable, hard-working player and a brilliant scrummager. He also scores match-winning tries.
4) Wouter Moore. Alas, I don't know much about this guy. Another youngster we borrowed from Orakel-country. Apparently played SA u19 and u21, so should definitely have the pedigree
5) Steven Sykes. I have my doubts about this kid. A reasonable lineout option and a grafter in the tight, but seems to lack the hard edge that we need in the pack. Let's hope he proves me wrong.
6) Keegan Daniel. SA u21 star and impact player of note, Keegs gets a chance to resume the dynamite combination with Kankowsi from last year's Natal u21 team. This guys has such good anticipation, coupled with great hands and heaps of pace. Expect him to run riot tonight.
7) Jaco Gouws. The elder statesman in this young back row. Gouws is more a journeyman than a matchwinner, but his high work rate, good defence and leadership skills bring a lot to the team.
8) Ryan Kankowsi. Another exciting young backrower - big, strong and fast. Ryan is a regular SA 7s representative. I expect him and Keegan to hunt as a pack, Kankowsi feeding off loose ball that Daniel secures. A great prospect.
9) Sandile Nxumalo. Sandy has the best pass of any of the Sharks scrummies, but his form has been inconsistent of late. Desperately in need of gametime, let's hope he shows what he can do by focusing on his strengths and doing the basics well.
10) Steve Meyer. Incredibly, this chap has yet to represent the Sharks at senior level. A workmanlike player with a great boot. He is a devastating tackler and controls a game very well.
11) Craig Burden. Big strong chap who got limited gametime in the Super 14, but looked pretty good. Uses his strength well to break tackles.
12) Andries Strauss. Yet another poached Cheetahs youngster, Straussie is a very relaxed, confident player. Strong on defence and stands up well in the tackle, never losing possession. Lacking a bit of pace, but expect him to give this backline direction.
13) Okkie Vermeulen. Ok, another Free Stater. Sorry guys! Okkie runs straight and hard and is an exciting talent. Saw him play against the self-same Pumas in the Vodacom Cup and he was dynamite. My bet for a hat-trick.
14) Dusty Noble. Impressed against WP with his high workrate and good anticipation. Lacking a bit in the top-end stakes, but expect him to have a busy evening. Pretty good defender.
15) Brett Hennessey. Vampire-boy is safe under the high ball and very very quick, but his decision-making worries me. Still, the only fit fullback in the squad (thanks Snake). Let's see how he goes tonight.

Some good backup on the bench as well, in Mox Mxoli, Jodi Jenneker and Nikolai Blignaut... these guys are the new, black generation of Sharks forwards and have us all very excited. Jenneker is another Lukas van Biljon, but hopefully he can be kept on the rails. Blignaut is an enforcer and Mox is just a downright phenomenon. A young Ollie if you must compare him to someone. I have no idea who Conrad Stoltz is.

In the backs. Mathie and Bobo are well-known, although both need to find a period of sustained form. Scott was poor last week and will hope to deliver an improved showing. Bobo was better than he has been in some time and will want to build on that. Stick hasn't played for the 15s side in a while, but he is full of running. Another SA 7s man.

All-in-all, a well-balanced team. Front row is hard as rock, second row a bit of an unknown. Back row full of running. Workmanlike halfback combination, but good distributors both. Strauss as the general, responsible for unleashing the deadly back 4.

I can't wait!

CHEETAHS vs LIONS

2006-07-07T05:58:00.000+02:00

www.oranjeorakel.blogspot.com

According to the Saru website, Coach Erasmus is not willing to tackle the Pride of the South African Savanah- the Lion, Rugby Union’s Jozi-based Lions- without gloves.

Good on him then- the memory of the two domestiCCtiff 2005 defeats handed to the CC Champs 2005 must still be fresh in his analytical mind. He started the CC 2005 season with a squad largely taken from the Free State Vodacom Squad- with some experienced players from the last Super season of enforced unity to the Cats franchise.

These two defeats was largely the making of a superbly played game in Bloemfontein by the Lions- where their tight 5 had at the very least- parity and the DavidS acclaimed -backrow had confiscated the better part of the spoils. The Lions had put a lot of pressure on Willem De Waal’s defensive capabilities and with quality ball- the Eloff coached backline – had displayed their skills in masterful style.

In the away game the eventual scoreline was much closer- when coach Erasmus had started to protect Willem De Waal by rotating him with crunch tackler Barry Goodes- Channel One was not the M1 highway anymore for the Jozi Jollers to gain yards with. This tough match would also be the turning point in the Cheetahs season. Although again on the loosing side, the hard work and the players belief- in Coach Erasmus – Low Risk game plan- was starting to pay dividends.

Seeing that a ship does not sail on yesterday’s winds- and that a lot of rugby was played since then, I am still of the opinion that the two losses is still fresh enough in both the Coaching Staff and the players minds- that there will be no complacency in the Cheetah 22- when match day arrives.

Is there room for complacency—well the 2006 form might allow the Cheetahs to feel just a bit windgat.

Not only is Eloff now the Head Coach of the Lions and some of the sharpest Lion backline claws is either injured or away with the Springboks, the Lions had also lost almost its entire Tight Five. Its highly rated loose trio- of Ernst Joubert, Wikus van Heerden and Cobus Grobbelaar is however unchanged and it does have almost an entirely new and experimental backline- save the experience and flair of Wayne Julies and the experience of Human and Esterhuizen at the wings.

The Lions had lost both its opening games against the Sharks and Bulls- pipped by most pundits- both “realworld” and “couch –based” to be the form sides of CC 2006.

In direct contrast- the Cheetahs had opened the season against the Griquas and the Falcons with a huge bang, starting the games with the Coach’s low risk game- but switching in the second part of the first half to the more traditional Vrystaat game- which Coach Erasmus describes as Festival Rugby”. This enabled them to score a bucket full of tries, collecting 2 valuable bonus points, for and against points, and that corrosive enabler- -confidence.

In all fairness, the 2006 Cheetahs is nobodies Country Couzins anymore, and will have lost some of the “underdog” appeal that have made them the whole country’s – second team. They are after all the current custodians of that most hallowed piece of silverware, the Currie Cup.

The fact that the Cheetah team is a very settled one- with only two changes- one forced- Dale Heidtman for Meyer Bosman and Corniel Van Zyl for Rory Duncan-added to home ground advantage- must make the Cheetahs the favourites. This do create an untried Cheetah midfield- which might be exploited by the crafty Wayne Julies.

The choice of Dale Heidtman- who is stronger in defence than on attack- may indicate that Coach Erasmus wants to police Channel 1 again with Oranje 12- which will then in any case force the players to stick for longer passages to the Low Risk Plan- enforced by a competent pack and a rejuvenated and confident de Waal. Expect the fireworks to start when Floors, Valie, Kruger and Burger join from the bench.

As both coaches believes in fetching- expect the Loose forwards to be very competitive and influential in the eventual result. If the Lions were to cause an upset- it will start with a better than expected show of the young five- its loose trio to dominate and then the backline to spread it wide.

It is OORB’s opinion that Coach Erasmus will not err strategically in prescribing “Fest Rugby. It might be a tactical error- if the on field decision makers-move away too early or too frequently from the trusted Low Risk Rugby. Or- hopefully it could turn out to be another 50 pointer.

Cheetah Players to watch out for

Willem De Waal
JW Jonker
Philip Burger

Weather and snotsiek permitting , Oranje Orakel, MadameO and all the Orakels will be rooting for their team at Vodacom Park. It should be an entertaining game.

Let me be blunt in my prediction:

Cheetahs to win this game – with a healthy 15 point margin- after an initial see-saw game that will be an showcase of the youthful flair of the Lions- underwritten by a hardcore backrow against an ever-maturing Cheetah team that will demonstrate its ability to start with one style of rugby-Low risk Rugby- then to switch at will between that style and the traditional Vrystaat “running-the-ball-wide” game.

Oranje Orakel

GROM SAAM -GO CHEETAHS-GO CURRIE CUP 2006

Johnson is a CHEETAH!

2006-07-04T09:04:00.000+02:00

Hendrik Cronje of Volksblad reported on Tuesday morning that Ashlee Johnson- the SA u21 8th man - has joined the Free State Cheetahs.

The exact duration of his contract is not known at this stage by OORB.

Johnson will compete for the orange and white no 8 jumper against the established Ryno VD Merwe- considered by many as one of the most underrated players in South African Rugby. It will be interesting to see Ryno vd Merwe response on the field.

It seems that Coach Erasmus is not a "sizest" coach as Coach White - and that the 8 th man role in Cheetah rugby is on defense almost as a secondary "fetcher".

Volksblad further report that Pieter De Villiers- the SA u 21 Coach - is of the opinion that the Cheetahs had made an excellent purchase- as Johnson is - "the only 8th man is South African rugby that can take the ball accross the gain line from primary possesion".

It seems that Johnson will have some one on one fitness sessions with the Cheetah fitness coach Jaques Nienaber. Volksblad do not anticipate that Johnson will be in the match 22- against the Lions on Saturday.

It will be interesting to see when Coach Erasmus plays Johnson- as he will - most surely- not be a splinter gatherer. Will the Cheetahs need to change their plays with Johnson at 8? , also of huge interest will be the possibility of the Cheetah CC final hero- Kabamba Floors- playing with Johnson in the same backrow.

If the Cheetahs are sure of tight 5 parity, in scrums, rucks, mauls and lineouts- a loose trio of Scholtz- captain and 7, Johnson - at 8, and Floors might just be an option. OORB are not sure of the competitiveness of Johnson as a "liftable" option at the back of the lineout. A innovation can be to test Johnson at 2 and the Cheetah "Luftwaffe" Meastro- barend Pieterse athe back of the lineout- but this is maybe a bit-pie-in-the-sky advise from OORB.

A lineout specialist loosie can then be on the bench.

This backrow could be extremely effective against teams with explosive backs- also it will protect and retain Oranje posession well at the breakdown- seeing that the Cheetahs are playing a more traditional Vrystaat expansive game in 2006.

So Ashlee- welcome in Bloem.

GROM SAAM boet! GO VODACOM FREE STATE CHEETAHS- GO CURRIE CUP X 3

VRYSTAAAAAT!!!!

SA RUGBY- GET STRAT-WISE

2006-07-03T08:15:00.000+02:00

Well Done SARU- way to go

Please include the Supporters as well- you might just be surprised with the value that will be added.

Strategic plan for SA rugby
02/07/2006 22:04 - (SA)

Liam del Carme, Beeld

Johannesburg - A task team, appointed to draw up a strategic plan for the running of SA rugby until the 2015 World Cup tournament, will meet for the first time on Monday.

SA Rugby has called for a plan to be drawn up as soon as possible - with Golden Lions president Jannie Ferreira at the helm - to serve as a guide for the next nine years.

"We should have started this process a long time ago", Ferreira said at the weekend. "SA Rugby has asked me to drive a process through which we must draw up a strategic plan for the game. It must be an umbrella plan that will incorporate all aspects of the game.

"We hope to make much progress on Monday. We will meet for a whole day and have to report to the presidents' council afterwards. We hope to get a lot done."

Ferreira said he had assembled a team of experts with diverse expertise for the task.

"I have asked a team of twelve to get the process underway. There are coaches, technical people and analysts. People such as national coaches Peter Jooste and Ian McIntosh will be there." Ferreira added that SuperSport analysts Owen Nkumane and Dan Retief would also be involved in the process.

Jooste was unable on Sunday to shed much light on the workings or the task team. "We still have to work out how we will go about it but we will know more after the meeting on Monday," he said.

BLOGGING: CITIZEN REPORTING

2006-07-02T16:14:00.000+02:00

Quite an interesting article. This lady is surely asking some probing questions.

Become more media savvy
30/06/2006 10:15 - (SA)

www.news24.com
Lizette Rabe

It's not only a matter of being media literate, to be able to read between the lines, that enables us to understand any given news, whether in print, broadcast or new media.

It is also knowing about your rights as a citizen in terms of freedom of expression - and how it is or is not manipulated by those who think they have a right to decide what others may think and say.

Build your sixth media sense, in other words, by becoming more media literate to the extent of being media savvy.

What's this all about?

It's still about the SABC's censoring of the Mbeki profile. The latest fall-out is the alleged censoring of certain commentators. SABC journalists were asked not to use certain people as analysts because of their criticism of the government.

And it represents one of the unfortunate - and one too many - low points in our recent "free" media history.

It is a serious infringement on freedom of expression when apparatchiks decide on behalf of journalists who may or may not comment on events. The fact that it is happening at our public service broadcaster, makes it even more serious.

The reverse of this alleged censoring also needs attention: how does it reflect on those who are allowed to comment?

The flipside of this decision means that those who may be contacted are "cleared" by the head honchos.

How would these "approved" commentators feel about the situation they suddenly find themselves in? How does this impact on the credibility of those commentators and analysts?

This is yet another reason why media consumers should develop their sixth sense by reading between the lines.

We need media literacy campaigns so that news consumers can understand the undercurrents in what is already a whirlpool of information coming their way. Otherwise we're as good as in the dark, despite a well-developed media infrastructure available to the majority of South Africans.

Need the fifth estate?

No wonder blogging - citizen-journalism - is referred to as the fifth estate: to watch the so-called fourth estate.

But where will it end? A sixth estate, to watch the fifth estate?

No.

The Fourth Estate, the so-called watchdog, must protect its independence, and must do so fiercely.

Hopefully all journalists will protest against the infringement of their colleagues' independence at the SABC. And a call for all analysts and commentators to refrain from co-operating until this matter has been cleared, should also be supported.

As the South African National Editors' Forum's slogan with respect to media freedom goes: what you can't see, can hurt you.

This chapter in the history of our "free" media illustrates that point once again. Practise your sixth sense, and read between the lines to know that which you cannot see, can hurt - and hurt you badly.

# Lizette Rabe is head of the postgraduate Department of Journalism at the University of Stellenbosch, a Sanef council member and Sanef-convenor for the Western Cape. And she's addicted to news.

CHEETAH NEWS

2006-06-30T22:13:00.000+02:00

Well - this is great, congrats to the Cheetahs!!

VRYSTAAT!!!!!!

Cheetahs ground Falcons in 10-try rout
Friday June 30 2006
De Waal scores 24 points at Brakpan

www.rugby365.com

The Cheetahs went past 50 points for the second successive weekend as they recorded a 66-9 victory over the Falcons in a 10-try rout at the Bosman Stadium, in Brakpan, on Friday night.

It was a victory that not only once again showed up the chasm between Super 14 and Vodacom Cup sides (the Falcons are the current Vodacom Cup champions), but also showed why the Cheetahs are regarded as the favourites to retain the Currie Cup title they won in such impressive fashion last year.

Ten tries to none says it all.

The Cheetahs were simply too strong, too quick, too composed and generally better equipped than the Falcons. The home team tries bravely and enjoyed small pockets of competitive rugby, but for most of the game they were reduced to a mere defensive unit ... unfortunately not a very effective one, since they failed too often to plug all the gaps.

The Cheetahs ran onto the field with regular captain Hendro Scholtz in the line-up, that despite reports from the team management earlier in the week that he had been ruled out by a groin injury.

It may have been his presence that sparked the Cheetahs in the early stages, but they certainly looked the livelier of the two sides and had the Falcons under constant pressure.

The Cheetahs' tactics were very simplistic, testing the shaky looking Falcons back three with some high kicks and then from line-outs launching maul after maul.

It worked a treat and after five minutes of constant pressure the Cheetahs were rewarded when De Waal slotted the first penalty of the night.

The Falcons soon levelled when Louis Strydom slotted a penalty from inside his own half, about 55 metres, to make it 3-all.

But the Cheetahs continued to play most of the rugby and they also scored the first try - a great chip-and-chase by De Waal, who collected his own kick inside the Falcons ingoal area. The call went to the TMO, but he ruled that the try was legal. De Waal couldn't add the extras.

The Falcons finally found some rhythm and were rewarded with a couple of penalties within striking distance - the first fell short and the second was slotted by Strydom.

It was still the Cheetahs who showed greater enterprise and they were soon rewarded for their endeavours with a great try by flank Darron Nell. It started deep inside Cheetahs territory, with the ball going through the hands swiftly to the left wing, until the cover blocked their way. They smartly switched direction and the ball again went quickly through the hands, with the captain, Scholtz, giving the final pass to fellow loose forward Nell. The conversion was again wide.

The Falcons, who had to do lots of tackling and live off scraps of possession the entire first half, continued to rely on the boot of Strydom for points - the fly-half slotting a sweetly struck drop-goal in the 27th minute to keep his side in touch at 13-9.

But another De Waal penalty was followed by another great piece of inventive Cheetahs play.

It involved some great interplay between the forwards, before Nell gave a neat little inside pass to scrum-half Michael Claassens, who scored. De Waal's kicking woes continued, but the Cheetahs held a comfortable 21-9 lead.

The final act of the half, right on the final whistle, saw De Waal stroll over for his second try - after a fine show-and-go from a solid Cheetahs scrum. De Waal slotted his first conversion of the night and the Cheetahs went into the half-time break with a handy 28-9 lead and the bonus point already secured.

It took the Cheetahs less than two minutes from the second half restart to score their first try, with JW Jonker going over after another move which saw the Cheetahs using their superior passing skills and greater speed to beat the over-stretched Falcons defence. Again De Waal failed to add the conversion, but at 33-9 it was turning into a big rout.

The Falcons' woes were compounded soon afterwards when their fullback Jan Cloete, one of the few players who managed to keep his composure in the home side, popped his knee cap while attempting a clearance. The freak accident happened with no Cheetah player within 10 metres of him. He was helped from the field and the Falcons' heads dropped even further.

The Falcons had their moments and on occasion came close to the Cheetahs' line, but they lacked the composure to finish off the opportunities they created.

But the Cheetahs, who continued to enjoy a surfeit of the possession, seemed to also lose their composure as they became a bit over-elaborate.

It was more than 20 minutes between the Cheetahs first and second tries in this half.

But the second score was worth waiting for, a real gem. From another good maul, replacement scrum-half Falie Oelschig broke down the blindside, offloaded to De Waal, who times his pass to Giscard Pieters to perfection. The wing strolled over for the try. Meyer Bosman took this shot at goal and slotted it for a 40-9 lead.

Within minutes Pieters scored again, with some more great hands putting him in the clear. With Bosman having left the field straight after his conversion, De Waal again took over the kicking and this time he found the target as the score moved on to 47-9.

Lock Rory Duncan scored the next try as the rout continued and Pieters completed his hat-trick in the 78th minute, with De Waal slotting both conversions as the Cheetahs moved into the 60-point range.

The Cheetahs completed the rout when Philip Burger scored in the 80th minute and De Waal sealed his roller coaster evening by missing the conversion.

The scorers:

For the Falcons:
Pens: Strydom 2
DG: Strydom

For the Cheetahs:
Tries: De Waal 2, Nell, Claassens, Jonker, Pieters 3, Duncan, Burger
Cons: De Waal 4, Bosman
Pens: De Waal 2

Teams:

Medicover Falcons: 15 Jan Cloete, 14 Brendan April, 13 Sam Willard, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Riaan Viljoen, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Michael Vermaak, 7 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 6 Piet Krause (captain), 5 Nico Luus, 4 Ryan Strudwick, 3 Attie Pienaar, 2 Frik Venter, 1 Zane Killian.
Replacements: 16 Hercules Jansen van Vuuren, 17 Piet Grobler, 18 Dries van Schalkwyk, 19 Dewald Senekal, 20 Morné Adams, 21 Dean Okkers, 22 Pieter Spaumer.

Vodacom Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Giscard Pieters, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Gavin Passens, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Ryno van der Merwe, 7 Darron Nell, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Rich Verster, 1 Ollie le Roux (captain).
Replacements: 16 Jaco du Toit, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Corniel van Zyl, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Falie Oelschig, 21 Dale Heidtmann, 22 Philip Burger.

Referee: Craig Joubert (KwaZulu Natal)
Touch judges: Johann Meuwesen (Eastern Province), Mandla Dakuse (Border)
Television match official: Shawn Veldsman (Boland)

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Cheetahs demolish Falcons
30/06/2006 21:21 - (SA)

www.news24.com

Brakpan - The Cheetahs have proved why they are Currie Cup champions by demolishing the Falcons 66-9.

Led by a rampant Willem de Waal, who controlled the game throughout, the Cheetahs overwhelmed the home side and scored a massive ten tries without reply to underline their dominance at this level.

The Cheetahs were expected to struggle on the hard fields of Brakpan.

Instead, they turned on the heat to show that the Vodacom Cup champions are a long way from the Currie Cup equivalent.

The scoring was opened by De Waal, as he capitalised on a perfect bounce as he chipped and the Falcons fluffed the easy catch in their own goal area, allowing De Waal to gather and score.

Flank Darron Nel was at the end of a cluster of hands for the second, as the Falcons were unable to contain the Cheetahs open play. Michael Claassens went over shortly afterwards and was followed by De Waal to clinch the bonus point shortly before half time when he ran through two half-hearted tackles.

The Falcons only had two penalties and a drop goal for their efforts through Louis Strydom and failed to add a single point in the second half.

The Cheetahs opened up the try-scoring taps in the second half and the Falcons had no reply. Midfielder JW Jonker scored just after halftime to underline the dominance, before Giscard Pieters made the second half his own with a hat-trick of tries - the first two coming within two minutes - before Phillip Burger finished off the game with a perfect inside jink.

Falcons - Penalties: Louis Strydom (2); drop goal: Strydom.

Cheetahs - Tries: Willem de Waal (2), Darren Nell, Michael Claassens, JW Jonker, Giscard Pieters (3), Philip Burger. Conversions: De Waal (3), Meyer Bosman. Penalties: De Waal (2).

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Cheetahs 'show their colours'
25/06/2006 21:35 - (SA)

Johann de Jager, Die Volksblad

Bloemfontein - The Cheetahs showed their colours when they beat Griquas 55-14 in their first Currie Cup match of the rugby season at Vodacom Park here on Saturday.

With coach Rassie Erasmus waving a variety of brightly coloured discs from the sidelines, the defending champions responded by running in eight tries against their neighbours.

Unlike colour-blind members of the cat family, the Cheetahs were clearly able to distinguish between the colours of the discs that Erasmus, sitting on the bench with his substitutes, held aloft from time to time.

Scrumhalf Michael Claassen acted as the middle man, watching Erasmus, interpreting the signals and relaying the messages.

It seemed as if different colours meant different things. During some lineouts Erasmus held up two coloured discs at the same time. The former Springbok did not nail his colours to the mast when he was asked about the novel system after the match. "They're for encouragement; for some things that mean certain things to us," he said.

"They're just tactical things; some only indicate we want to replace someone."

Erasmus did indicate that he would like to sit near the touchline in future, instead of in a box up in the stands.

His reasoning seems to be that players sometimes do not see certain things that happen on the field; things that can be spotted better from the side. "You don't prescribe to them, but you offer them options," Erasmus said. By scoring eight tries, the Cheetahs certainly signalled their intent for the rest of the season.

%%%%%%%%%%%%%%

Senters is dalk VS se troefkaart
Jun 29 2006 11:05:53:760PM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

www.volksblad.com

DIE skielike onvoorspelbaarheid in die middelveld van die Vodacom-Vrystaat-Cheetahs in die Curriebeker-rugbyreeks kan hul grootste troefkaart teen die Valke wees.

Meyer Bosman en JW Jonker, senterpaar van die Cheetahs, het die vermoë om die verdediging van die Valke in vandag se premierliga-wedstryd om 19:10 in die Bosman-stadion in Brakpan met die hande in die hare te laat.

Dit lyk asof Bosman op binnesenter meer tyd as op losskakel het en of hy met die ruimte beter keuses uitoefen. ’n Binnesenter word in ieder geval as ’n tweede losskakel beskou.

Jonker se grootste bate is sy vaart. Met dié eienskap kan hy meer as een verdediger dwing om hom om te dop. Hy slaag boonop goed daarin om in kontaksituasies die bal aan te gee.

Sam Willard en Hanno Coetzee, senterpaar van die Valke, kan hulle vir ’n klipharde stryd voorberei, aangesien Bosman en Jonker ewen-eens wil wys dat hulle goed kan lak. Hendro Scholtz, wat gister sy fiksheidstoets geslaag het en as flank die Cheetahs sal aanvoer, waarsku Bosman-hulle sal afhanklik van goeie balbesit deur die besoekende agttal wees.

“Die Valke is nie net goed by die afbreekpunte nie,” sê Scholtz.

“Hulle skrum stewig en hul lynstaanspel is goed. Iets wat ons opgemerk het, is dat hulle baie goed daarin slaag om teenstanders se rolmaalbewegings te stuit.

“Ons sal sukkel om met rolmaalbewegings teen hulle meters veld te wen,” sê Scholtz.

Die Valke se lynstaanspel kan egter in die afwesigheid van hul gereelde haker, Deon Strydom, onder druk wees.

Frikkie Venter, wat vandag in die middel van die skrum vir die Valke sal sak, kan verwag dat die Cheetahs se lynstaanmanne hom sal wil ontsenu.

Met Scholtz se beskikbaarheid as sesflank, sal Kabamba Floors ten koste van Bian Vermaak na die bank skuif.

Terwyl die Cheetahs nie sal huiwer om die bal lug te gee nie, sal die Valke hul hoop waarskynlik op hul skakelpaar, Sarel Pretorius en Louis Strydom, vestig.

Strydom se skopstryd teen Willem de Waal, losskakel van die Cheetahs, kan ’n hoogtepunt wees. Die Valke se wedstrydplan draai om Strydom, wat sy voorspelers vorentoe wil laat speel.

# TV-tyd: van 19:10 af op SS/GDN en SS1/DStv.

DISCUSSION: SA RUGBY SUPPORTERS MOVEMENT

2006-06-12T09:16:00.000+02:00

A lot has been said about the role of the supporters in SA Rugby- also about the responsibilities of the current Administrators.

My feeling is that something positive should be done- not just moaning on the internet.

Your opinion please...

SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY SUPPORTERS MOVEMENT

INTRODUCTION

The need has been identified for the establishment of an independent Forum- which will be internet based-to which all committed Supporters of South African Rugby can belong to-as they are jointly with Government and the individual Rights Holders, the Shareholders and Custodians of South African Rugby.

This movement should be open to everyone in the way it conduct its activities- especially the decision making should be by referendum- and that over a period of 24 months this forum should be developed into a serious and creditable organisation- obtaining such critical mass that the other elements will have to take decisions IN consultation with the said Supporter Forum- on issues pertaining to SA Rugby.

(note- just an example)

VISION

An Rugby Union environment in which the South African Rugby Union is constantly competing for the Number 1 position- while still be able to assist the country in its social objectives

MISSION

OBJECTIVES

To create a Supporters Movement that will be SA Rugby Supporters above all Provincial and Personal Loyalties
All South African teams to play a winning and attractive type of Rugby
A huge ground swell support of committed supporters for Rugby Union at the Local , Provincial and International Level
To be discrimination free
To be drug free

CONSTITUTION

Most Sporting bodies constitutions can be customised to fit this

THE ELEMENTS OF SOUTH AFRICAN RUGBY

1 Supporters
2 Players
3 Administrators
4 Owners
5 Media
6 Sponsors
7 Government

SUPPORTER INDEX TYPE

Supporter to be pre-fixed to all types

1 Youth/Juvenile
2 Working
3 Senior
4 Player- with Sub Classes
5 Administrator- with Sub Classes
6 Coach- with Sub- classes
7 Player Agent
8 Media
9 Corporate
10 Government

FIRST AID PARTNERSHIP

The SM must take responsibility in the development of a no profit volunteergroup from its own members – in association with a body – as ST Johns Ambulance- who will assist the local club scene with regard to first aid. This is for games of Rugby Union that do not have a first aid option at the moment.

SUPPORTERS MOVEMENT ACADEMY

The SM must create an online academy, which will cater for the needs of members and registered coaches- in order to raise the quality of coaching in South Africa at all levels.

An example will be to develop a system – Rugby Coaching System- that will be available to all registered entities- and must not be sen as over and above the obligation that vests in the formal structures of SARU, SA Rugby and the individual Unions and Franchises

All costs will be funded by the SM – out of the members fees

CODE OF CONDUCT

All supporters of South African Rugby are free to join this Movement.

There is a way to get the POWERBROKERS to listen

it is the way of the non-militant revolution ala Ghandi-
to be implemented as the Chinese did their long march- and to be run like the Swiss run their Country- By referendum;

but nontheless the organisation of the Supporters into the 1st Element of South African Rugby

That is Players, Administration, Owners, Sponsors & Media, Supporters and then the OMNI_PRESENT element- the Government.

I hope that Easter 2006 will be the watershed in the way that the Supporters are interacting with the game and the other 4 elements- especially the way the supporters accept the doings and screwings of Administration.

I again would like to make the call heard for all SA Rugby Union supporters to join an independent Forum- which will be internet based- especially the decision making should be by referendum- and that over a period of 24 months this forum should be developed into a serious and creditable organisastion- obtaining such critical mass that the other elements will have to take decision IN consultation with the said Supporter Forum- on issues pertaining to SA Rugby.

Orakel’s revolution is dead….

LONG LIVE THE SUPPORTERS MOVEMENT!!

A BETTER GAME FOR ALL-START AT HOME

WWW as conduit for Rugby information

2006-05-22T12:00:00.000+02:00

Lifted from www.news24.com. Should be educational to all

'Web ready for next big leap'
20/05/2006 09:47 - (SA)

Amsterdam - The world wide web is on the cusp of making its next big leap to become an open environment for collaboration, and its inventor said he has not been so optimistic in years.

Still, Tim Berners-Lee, the Briton who invented and then gave away the world wide web, warns that internet crime and anti-competitive behaviour must be fought tooth and nail.

A lot of new technology is becoming available after many years to make the web smarter and easier to use, he said.

"My personal view is that a lot of it is coming together now. That is very gratifying to see... I'm very optimistic at this moment," Berners-Lee said in a telephone interview ahead of the annual world wide web conference, which opens in Edinburgh on Monday.

"The whole industrial environment is more exciting. We had the bubble and the burst, but now you see a low of young companies again. There's renewed enthusiasm among VCs (venture capitalists) to invest in start-ups. I get a feeling of upsurge in activity."

Roughly twice as much money is being invested in European internet start-ups than the figure two years ago, according to venture capitalist community Tornado-Insider.

"Four years ago, the patent problems were getting in the way. A lot of us were worried, because it looked like the whole thing could get bogged down," Berners-Lee said, referring to attempts by private companies to patent software needed on web sites and charge royalties for usage.

Thanks to the help of many, royalty-free licences are now available, said the man who never saw a cent of royalties for his invention, which set off an industry now generating hundreds of billions of euros (dollars) in revenues a year.

Realising a vision

Berners-Lee, while at the European Particle Physics Laboratory CERN in Geneva, designed key parts of the web to let scientists work together when in different parts of the world.

Currently the director of the world wide web Consortium (W3C), which is a US-headquartered forum of companies and organisations to improve the web, he is only now realising his early vision of a two-way web where people can easily work together on the same page and the content on a page can be recognised by computers.

Some early examples of websites that combine data from different sources include Google Maps, whose geographic maps turn up on other sites combined with services, and photo-sharing site Flickr, where members comment on each other's postings and developers can use the pictures to create new applications.

"Several years ago we said: 'What a shame that we can't go to that website and find all that stuff in there.' We had a loose roadmap five years ago. Steadily we've been making progress," said Berners-Lee, adding that most of the work had been done.

"Of course there are people who say: 'Why didn't Tim do that from the start?' But it's more complicated," he said.

Elements are already filtering through, such as Web sites that do not have to be refreshed entirely when only parts are being updated.

A new query language, SPARQL (pronounced "Sparkle"), is designed to make web pages easier for machines to read, allowing all sorts of different data to be put to work on the web.

"SPARQL will make a huge difference," Berners-Lee said.

"You can see so many ways the web is taking off in so many different directions," he said.

Another Angle on 10

2006-05-22T11:57:00.000+02:00

I lifted this from Keo.co.za

Seems like good topic for discussion

I have to say this in the defence of SA flyhalfs:

Have a look at every single attacking SA backline for the past 10 od weeks. They all have one thing in coomon.

NO OPTIONS FOR THE FLYHALVE!!!! How the hell can any flyhalf create anything if his backline all lies flat in a line next to him when he gets the ball?????

You have a whopping 3 options. 1 = crash it up, 2 = kick, 3 = sell the player next to you.

1) No one runs flat
2) No one runs deep
3) No one switches
4) No one drifts
5) No runs on the inside

My observation when Carter, Larkam, or most NZ and AUs flyhalves for that matter gets the ball is that all 5 options as mentioned is available at the same time. This excludes the kicking and running options.

Comment by Brickwall : May 22, 2006 @ 8:48 am

Visionary sport by Dr Sherylle Calder

2006-05-21T17:26:00.000+02:00

I lifted this from http://www.scifest.org.za/calder.html. Some of the statements are dated

Just read the context then.

Ninety percent of decisions made in team sports are based on visual information. A ‘good eye’ is therefore important for motor skills like catching a ball or contacting a ball with a bat, but it also contributes to the rapid succession of decisions that comprise tactical elements such as player movement and shot selection.

Visual eye specialist, Dr Sherylle Calder, believes that many international sport teams don’t play to their full potential, simply because their visual systems aren't fit. But visual abilities can be trained. Every person has six muscles in each eye that can be trained to improve speed, movement and flexibility. The process in the brain can also be speeded up, so hand-eye co-ordination is enhanced, and because players ‘see’ more, each can assess the situation so much quicker and thus exercise their options.

Go to Eye Gym with the Boks and see how Dr Sherylle Calder’s development and improvement of our national rugby team’s peripheral vision, variable depth vision, depth perception, dynamic visual acuity, visual concentration, eye tracking, visual memory, visual reaction time, focus flexibility, depth perception, and scanning skills, has made her an asset to the squad.

Dr Sherylle Calder is a pioneer in visual awareness and is currently contracted to SA Rugby to help our boys catch and pass the ball. She was educated at the University of the Free State and the University of Cape Town where her doctorate thesis and subsequent studies focused on the visual concepts of elite sport (did we mention she earned 50 caps as a Springbok hockey player?), especially the role that visual skills using specific training programmes had in measuring improved on field performance. Sherylle also worked for the Acuvue Sports Vision Centre, Sports Science Institute of South Africa in Cape Town.

Sherylle has worked with the English rugby and Australian cricket teams victorious in the respective 2003 World Cups, and she made “visionaries” of the English cricket team that demolished Australia in the latest Ashes series. The good doctor has also worked with the All Blacks, the Italian team for the prestigious America’s Cup, and the South African cricket team. Rumour has it she is also wanted by the who’s who of golf, hockey, motor-racing, soccer, and squash.

THE SOUTH AFRICAN CLUB SCENE

2006-05-18T13:54:00.000+02:00

Well, for some people in South Africa the Springboks are everything, in all honesty for most Rugby Union Supporters in this Country they are excactly that.

But where do these players come from.... they obviously had not been teleported from some different galaxy- if they were Richy McCaw and Dan Carter would not have created such a big splash in the S14 2006- so far- Go Bulls Go

Its common logic that they had progressed succesfully from their local club scene and were as successful at provincial level.

Now the Big Q is - is our Club Scene a healthy Conveyor belt?

Pls join the discussion

I have "lifted" some of these opinions from Ruggaworld- to get the topic started.

***********
A few year ago I wrote this Article for Keo. Do you agree with it ?

Club rugby is close to everyone’s heart. Renier Botha is outraged about the situation and as Keo’s debut Muppet columnist he gets to express his anger on the home page. Renier also paid a handsome contribution fee for this honour.

Club rugby at the moment is in a shambles. It used to be the feeding system for the provincial teams. Now it is something that gets very little support. On Saturdays there are very few people that come to clubs to watch games. Mostly friends, parents and wife’s\girlfriends come to watch games. Why?
One of the problems is that the “BIG” names don’t play club rugby anymore. The only time that club rugby in the Western Cape got any newspaper coverage besides the results is when there is thuggery or when Bob Skinstad played for UCT against DurBell (Durbanville\Bellville) and managed to break his arm. Except for that there were minimal articles on clubs.
Another reason is that most rugby around the world is televised now. When before you could maybe watch Western Province vs.. Northern Transvaal on a Saturday afternoon if it was televised, now you have a choice of 4 channels and you can watch delayed broadcasts. Where a few years ago the 6 Nations (Okay then 5 Nations) were something that happened in the Northern hemisphere and we read the results without much interest in the paper, it now is something that gets newspaper coverage and get hotly debated on Websites such as this one. People would rather sit at home and watch a game than go to a club field and watch rugby.
Another problem would be the Vodacom Cup. It robs clubs of high quality players that would raise the standard of the games played. The Vodacom Cup games are not very well attended and not well supported by the public and it takes away a lot of money that could have been spent on Club rugby due to players salaries, travel allowances and the cost of say the Pumas playing Western Province where the squad and the coach and support structure must be transferred from Johannesburg to Cape Town.
Another problem in club rugby is the lack of exposure that the players get because of the drafting of players from other regions. Players from clubs know they won’t be called up if there is an injury in a provincial team. A fringe player from another province will be drafted in to fill the gap. Players get identified at Craven week and at school and they get stuck to. It is very difficult for a player to crack a provincial side without playing Craven Week. A lot of players from small areas only get quality coaching when they move to a city to go study. Juan Smith and Henry Honniball both didn’t play Craven week but they made the National side after they got good coaching and got the opportunities to be seen. I would say that it is critical that players with potential from the club scene gets identified and then get the opportunity to attend coaching clinics and receive good coaching by Provincial coaches or someone in the know. They might not all become Springboks or even make the Provincial side but the things they learn there will filter trough to the other players at their club and it might help someone with talent to take the step up. This will also raise the quality of rugby all over the country.
Another problem that I have personal experience with is thugery. Especially in the Western Cape. Over the last few years there were quite a few incidents that were quite nasty. These are the memorable ones from last year.
1.) A player got bitten on the ear and had to receive 7 stitches.
2.) A clubhouse in the Cape Town got attacked by supporters of the visiting team. Windows were thrown out etc.
3.) After a club game that was marred by dirty play from the home side the visiting team was attacked by the home team after the final whistle was blown. The supporters joined in and players and visiting supporters were thrown with bricks and threatened with a gun and knives.
4.) The same home team that was involved in the above incident was also involved in an incident a few weeks later in which the police had to be called in to defuse the situation.
5.) Various articles appeared in Cape Town papers about referees that was assaulted and threatened.
I can go on and on about this but to keep this short so I’ll only name these few. Not a lot was done by the Western Province rugby Union to the clubs that were the perpetrators in these incidents. A few hundred rands in fines were issued and some league points were deducted and a player was suspended for 2 years. There was no decisive action taken to show clubs that this kind of behavior would not be tolerated.
A whole lot of quality players gave up the game because of this. They felt that although they love rugby it was not worth risking their lives for. Sooner or later someone is going to get seriously hurt or maybe killed and then it will be too late.
What solutions are there?
For one I would propose that the Vodacom Cup be scrapped and these players must play club rugby. This will mean that the level of the game would immediately be raised and that more people out of the community will come to theses games to see some big names play rugby. This will also mean that more money will be available to pump into club rugby. This will mean that training facilities will be better and that club facilitates can be upgraded. There are a few clubs in Western Province that don’t have dressing rooms or showers.
Another option would be to give more TV and media coverage to club rugby. Instead of televising schoolboy games, good quality club rugby could be shown locally. For instance in the Western Cape games between UCT, Maties (Stellenbosch), NTK, Villagers and Tygerberg would make for very interesting viewing. Also in the newspapers perhaps half a page could be spent on write-ups of all the games in the league instead of just the results.
Another way to go could be for clubs to give themselves more advertising. For instance a website with all the clubs details and fixtures would be a start. Also putting up posters in the area to let people know that there will be a game on the Saturday and against whom. Getting the community to embrace the team and see it as their own. This is very noticeable in black and colored communities. There are quite a few supporters at some local derbies but the idea is to get them to the fields every Saturday.
Also stamp out thugery. People won’t go watch\play rugby if they don’t feel safe. Time to crack down on a few bad apples that is giving the game a bad rep.
Our rugby will be healthier when we have a well organized, high quality club scene. It will also get more people involved in the game and will mean more interest in rugby all over the country. It will only be better for all involved.

Cheers

Methos

******************

I was reading through this thread as an interested outsider until I came across Aldo’s comment: “Why are the Os teams skills better? Maybe cos they only have test and S14 rugby?” I almost choked on my medicinal glass of red.

The most distinctive feature of Australian rugby historically has been the importance of the Sydney and Brisbane club competitions. That has always been the level where players’ skills are developed.

A little over a year ago, Eddie Jones spoke to my club’s coaches. I was invited along as a token grey-beard. He made the point that with the Wallabies squad he had to take the players’ skills level as a given. Presumably he was referring not just to the limited time that he had to work with the players but also to the near-impossibility of reprogramming their behaviour patterns and reactions. My observation of Australian Super 14 squads is that they are equally inappropriate vehicles for enhancing player skills. The bottom half of their squads seem to be glorified tackle bag holders who don’t play much rugby at all and almost none in meaningful competition. By contrast the Sydney club competition, for example, offers players the opportunity to develop through the various levels of Colts and senior grades in high standard contests between traditional foes with fierce tribal loyalties. Interestingly, in view of some of the comments above, there is now very little foul play.

I notice that some of your posters such as Methos and Pissant Bly ‘n Bul - I won’t even ask - also stress the importance of club rugby.

The real problem in South Africa, I suggest, is not the Super 14 in itself but rather the fact that you are now operating a four-tier system - three levels of professional rugby - which I doubt is financially sustainable - superimposed on and crushing the nursery or club level. We in Australia look set to make the same mistake. What was mooted as a national club competition now looks set to comprise synthetic entities in Sydney and Brisbane created by seat-warming bureaucrats.

We are told that no existing club will be allowed to take part in its own right. So Randwick drops back to fourth-tier as does my club, Sydney University, which has seven current Wallabies and has developed around 25 players who are presently contracted professionally with Super 14, NPC or British clubs.

In more than one country it would appear that the clowns are running the circus.

Regards
Bruce

********************

One thing I agree on

Getting the Club Scene right is the thing to do in SA Rugby

Here I support Donner’s call

Start at Home!!

Oranje Orakel

*********************

attributor

I think you got me wrong. I didn’t mean that you guys, don’t have a clubscene. I meant that, you guys have only one proffessional comp. Am I right in saying this, or are your clubs Pro as well? I don’t know, but from where I sit, it doesn’t seem that way. You can succeed, cos you’re running it properly.

Our problem, is like you say, not the S14, but too many pro teams, relying on the clubs. Which is why I say, we’re trying to bring amateur values, into a proffessional era. We think we can keep the status quo, and the only change needed, is that we now pay the players.

I believe the VC should be scrapped. There PA, and I agree. I also believe that we should have a stronger club comp, with more interest. There we agree again. But this is where we stop agreeing. I do not believe, we should stop playing S14. I believe, we should have three comps. The CC, a strong club competition, replacing the VC, and then the S14.

I also agree, that the Tri Nations, should only be played every second year, as I know that most of us, are tired of it. Rather replace the Tri Nations every year, with a tour of either Aus, NZ, and the PI’s. That is what I find a workable solution. I don’t believe that we need to stop playing S14, to bring back the interest in clubgames.

Aldo

******************

Bruce.

Don’t ask, let me just say I am never making any bets again where my team is involved.

I think you hit the nail right on the head and it basically summs up everything I tried to say, just much better.

My point is, run rugby professional on 1, maybe two tiers.

This in my view should be Super rugby and our local Currie Cup.

Scrap the VC as a professional competition and start a semi-professional club champioship.

The costs involved with the VC (Vodacom Cup) would in my view more than cater/pay for a national club competition.

Traveling would be less, players salaries would be less, accommodation etc would be less.

If a player either falls out of favour or in my suggestion on how the competitions in SA should work, not be in the team or one of the teams competing in the Super comp, he goes to his club where the development of youngster will be fast-tracked simply due to the level of players and games you will now have.

Imagine a Marius Joubert running out for UCT against Tukkies or something. Not only can this help the player regain his form, but imagine how much he can pass on to his very young and inexperienced team-mates.

The level of this comp would immediately rise imo.

The traditional unions will also have such a wide base of players now being exposed to top flight rugby to contract, in which these players then become professional playing in the Currie Cup first or second divisions.

We will get more players at a level where they can compete with the best and thus expand our raw rich talent base which effectively will strengthen our Super and Bok rugby.

PissAnt

Will it be a Blu Saturday

2006-04-29T11:41:00.000+02:00

To day is a very important day in the Orakel Household.

Orakel I, aged 5 is going to his first big game in the Free State Stadium- err Vodacom Park.

It is also the day that the Vodacom Cheetahs- fresh from a hard tuff tour down under- have a chance to play a Super Rugby great- the Aucland Blues, in an attempt to resurrect a debut Super 14 season that has gone a bit astray.

It was not due to lack of commitment from the players- as it it obvious for all- that the team is well coached- and that the players are all committed to the cause and to each other.

Injuries to key players have played their role but it was mainly the lack of experience at this level that had showed the Cheetahs up as the Series rookies

and none more so than the individual tackling

Will they be able to turn it around?

It is a glorious autumn day in the Oranje Outback- great for playing a game of Rugby Union.

I will bring you my viwes and that of Orakel I, later.

TUFF TOUR: A BIT OF A STAMPEDE

2006-04-08T19:58:00.000+02:00

Brumbies maul toothless Cheetahs
08/04/2006 16:24 - (SA)

Canberra - The Brumbies scored seven tries to two in a comprehensive 53-20 Super 14 romp over the Central Cheetahs in Canberra Saturday, with an in-form captain George Gregan leading the charge.

The win secured the ACT team its second bonus point of the season and took them to third on the ladder equal to the Hurricanes, who had a bye this week.

The Brumbies had only a slender 18-13 lead at the halftime, but dominated the second session with five tries to the Cheetahs' one.

Gregan at scrumhalf was a dominant presence throughout the match, running in the game's second try after an artful dummy pass opened up the Cheetah's struggling defense and saw him touch the ball down between the posts.

He was there again at the start of the second half, making a brilliant 30 metres midfield run in the 45th minute that took the ball just 15 meters from the line.

Stephen Larkham then kicked a grubber into the edge of the in-goal area where winger Mark Gerrard lept onto the ball for his only try of the night.

With Larkham repeatedly kicking boomers deep into Cheetah territory, the rest of the second half was all Brumbies, who ended up scoring seven tries to the Cheetahs' two.

Hooker Jeremy Paul scored two tries in his comeback match with flanker George Smith, Matt Giteau and winger Clyde Rathbone also crossing the line. Giteau added two penalties and two conversions to his performance.

The Cheetahs' two tries came from Gistard Pieters and Ronnie Cooke, while Meyer Bosman added two penalties.

TAHS news from Down under- and next door

2006-03-31T09:02:00.000+02:00

From www.news24.co.za

Waratahs to scrum the Cheetahs
30/03/2006 21:53 - (SA)

Hendrik Cronje , Die Volksblad

Bloemfontein - The Waratahs front row, spearheaded by Al Baxter, will want to impress the new Wallaby coach, John Connolly in their Super 14 match against the Cheetahs on Friday.

The Cheetahs know the remarks made by the Wallaby tighthead earlier this week were not just idle talk. The Cheetahs are preparing for a fierce onslaught by Baxter and company when they play in the Aussie stadium in Sydney at 11:00 (SA time).

Baxter said earlier this week that the problems the Wallaby pack encountered last year were now something of the past. He said the Wallaby front row could even trounce the mighty All Blacks this year. Connolly will watch the match with interest and Baxter and his team-mates would like to show it was not just idle talk.

The Cheetahs scrum specialist, Naka Drotske, said: "We're expecting a huge onslaught by Al and company. Any team playing against us and seeing the names of Os (du Randt) and Ollie (le Roux) on the team list know that they will have to improve their scrumming by at least 50% against us."

Du Randt and Le Roux are playing extremely well this year. Baxter and company will also encounter the devastating scrumming power of Wian du Preez (replacement loosehead).

Props a potential trump-card

Apart from the lineouts, where the Cheetahs have impressed, their props are another potential trump-card. They do their work up front and coach Rassie Erasmus has honed their skills in the rucks and mauls.

It is with these driving mauls that Du Randt and his fellow frontrowers set up numerous attacks.

It seems as if the Waratahs have done their homework and the decision to choose Phil Waugh (flank) and Rocky Elsom (flank) as replacements does not augur well for the Cheetahs.

Waugh and Elsom could be used to counter Erasmus' tactic with his impact players.

Even though the Cheetahs backline have been very steady in the series their best chance to pull off a win is depended on the forwards and the educated boot of Willem de Waal (flyhalf).

The teams are:

Cheetahs: Bevin Fortuin, Giscard Pieters, Ronnie Cooke, Keith Lowen, Sinethemba Zweni, Willem de Waal, Michael Claassens, Frans Viljoen, Ockie van Zyl, Ryno van der Merwe (c), Barend Pieterse, Corniel van Zyl, Jannie du Plessis, Tiaan Liebenberg, Os du Randt.

Replacements: Ollie le Roux, Wian du Preez, Cobus Grobler, Gareth Krause, Kabamba Floors, Falie Oelschig, Eddie Fredericks.

Waratahs: Peter Hewat, Wendell Sailor, Morgan Turinui, Shaun Berne, Lote Tuqiri, Daniel Halangahu, Chris Whitaker (c), David Lyons, Stephen Hoiles, Wycliff Palu, Daniel Vickerman (v-c), Alex Kanaar, Al Baxter, Adam Freier, Benn Robinson.

Replacements: Tatafu Polota-Nau, Matt Dunning, Will Caldwell, Rocky Elsom, Phil Waugh, Brett Sheehan, Sam Norton-Knight.

Referee: Chris Pollock (New Zealand)

Kick-off: 11:05

TV: 11:00 - MNet and SS1.

From the Australian

De Waal to sink boot into Waratahs
Bret Harris
March 31, 2006

THE Cheetahs will take a leaf out of the book of the only team to beat NSW this season when they meet the ladder leader in the Super 14 game at Sydney's Aussie Stadium tonight.

The Waratahs' only loss this campaign was to the Bulls in Pretoria in round three. And like the Bulls, the Cheetahs base their game around a big, powerful forward pack and the tactical kicking of their five-eighth.

Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus is regarded as the most astute in South Africa.

At altitude, the Cheetahs have played with width, moving the ball from one side of the field to the other to tire their opponents. But at sea-level in Sydney, the Cheetahs will play for field position and rely on their pack to overpower the Waratahs.

Erasmus has made six changes and one positional switch to the starting line-up that beat Queensland Reds 10-6 in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

From ABC Sports

Waratahs not underestimating Cheetahs

New South Wales full-back Peter Hewat says his side's formidable record at home does not guarantee a victory against the Cheetahs in tonight's Super 14 match at the Sydney Football Stadium.

The Waratahs are undefeated so far this season at home, having beaten the Sharks (31-16), the Cats (50-3) and the Blues (43-9).

They sit on top of the Super 14 ladder with 28 points while the Cheetahs hold down sixth position on 18 points.

New South Wales has been given a boost prior to the Cheetahs clash with lock Dan Vickerman cleared to play after being in doubt with a groin injury.

Hewat said although the Sydney Football Stadium had been a graveyard for other teams this season, the well-rounded Cheetahs could not be underestimated.

"They are going to be a very tough team," he said.

"They have a very big pack and they've got an elusive backline, so it is going to be a tough game because they like to play a wide game.

"They'll definitely have a go and they are one of the best South African teams around at the moment."

Hewat said the Waratahs' defensive ability had come to the fore this season.

"It's something that we have worked on hard over the off-season and we feel that if we can stop teams from scoring points then we've got enough potency that we can score enough points," he said.

That why they are good

2006-03-30T23:35:00.000+02:00

From the Sydney Morning Herald

No bones about it, this one's a winner

By Louisa Hearn
March 30, 2006 - 5:06PM

Australia's swimming team may have a secret weapon for the next Olympic Games if the CSIRO succeeds in a new research project to give the sport a scientific makeover.

The research centre is working on a mathematically-based technology designed to experiment with the effectiveness of different swimming styles and strokes in the water.

Working in conjunction with Monash University and the Australian Institute of Sport, the CSIRO is redeploying technology designed for animating water for movies and modelling volcanoes and tsunamis.

The project involves building a virtual model of a swimmer using mathematical techniques that can then support independently run simulations of the virtual model swimming in a pool.

To demonstrate the technology, the CSIRO has built a virtual model of a swimmer based on videos taken of famous Russian swimmer Alexander Popov and it plans to adapt this technique to other swimmers.

In the demonstration, a skeleton is fitted onto the red points pictured to allow visualisation of the collection of points as a human body swims through the water, said CSIRO researcher Chris Glendenning.

To capture information from other swimmers the researchers will use a laser body scanner. By combining the skin surface and motion capture information, they believe they will be able to simulate the skin surface for all the different poses a swimmer adopts while in the water.

"By making slight changes to the swimming stroke and by re-running our simulations, we'll be able to find out whether the swimmer goes faster or not," said Mr Glendenning

He said they also hoped to compare swimming styles between different swimmers and even look at the effects of superimposing onto one swimmer techniques used by another.

Researchers would like to see the project reap practical results in time for the next Olympic Games, potentially boosting the performance of the Australian swimmers.

Live Match Covery via the Net

2006-03-28T21:41:00.000+02:00

The official Waratah site is carrying the following article

Can't watch Fox Sports or hear the calls on 2UE or ABC? Well now you can use the www.waratahs.com.au to catch every minute of every HSBC Waratahs match - LIVE online.

Live Match Call brings you all the action for each HSBC Waratahs game in real time. Simply click on the graphic to the right and a new pop-up window will open with full play-by-play descriptions of action from each HSBC Waratahs match - as it happens in real time.

Every HSBC Waratahs match will be covered in 2006 along with the Australian Provincial Championship and other NSW Rugby matches throughout the year.

Here is the schedule for Super 14 2006 Live Match Calls as of February 6th, 2006. Come back soon to check out what other matches have been added to the list.

FREE AT LAST

2006-03-28T21:09:00.000+02:00

Hells Bells

At last I am able to log into my blog again.

Had to change ISP's though- wonder if there was any scullduggery involved from whatever side

Ag well mybe I am just paranoid

Anyway its great to have a say again on the worldwide web.

This weekend the Cheetahs plays the Waratah's at home- not an easy game at all- but to the brave Orangemen who have departed for a tuff tour of the Antipode-

Good Luck

White meen Meyer is reg

2006-02-24T11:23:00.000+02:00

taken from Beeld
article by Morris Gilbert

Heyneke Meyer, afrigter van die Bulle, sal reeds in môre se Super14-rugbywedstryd op Loftus Versfeld teen die Waratahs die soet vrugte van sy besluit pluk om met Wynand Olivier en JP Nel as senterpaar te volhard.
Die Springbokke se afrigter, Jake White, meen Meyer het die verdedigingsblapse in die middelveld op presies die regte wyse aangepak.
"Die enigste manier hoe iemand soos Wynand met sy min ervaring van rugby op dié vlak uit sy foute gaan leer, is dat hy die kans moet kry om dit in die volgende wedstryd reg te stel.
"Hy (Olivier) het nie mislukte duikslae uitgevoer omdat hy nie 'n toegewyde verdediger is nie, maar eerder omdat hy nog nie die nodige ervaring het nie. Dit sal my nie verbaas nie as die Bulle se middelveldverdediging solied teen die Waratahs is," het White gister uit Kaapstad gesê.
Meyer het juis eergister gesê dat Olivier se verdedigingspeil nie die gevolg van halfhartigheid was nie, maar eerder onsekerheid omdat die verdedigingspatroon nie behoorlik in werking gestel is nie.
Ook die Bulle se kaptein, Fourie du Preez, het Meyer se besluit verwelkom om ná die nederlaag teen die Brumbies nie die snoeiskêr in te lê nie.
"Dit wys hy het die volste vertroue in ons as spelers en dat hy bereid is om almal 'n tweede kans te bied. Dié soort benadering het 'n positiewe uitwerking op die span en spelers," meen Du Preez.
Hy sê hy het 'n goeie gevoel oor die stryd met die Waratahs, omdat spelers speel soos hulle oefen.
"Ná gister (Woensdag) se skof, is ek oortuig ons kan die gety teen die Waratahs laat draai. Eintlik het ons het nie 'n keuse nie, want ons kan nie 'n tweede agtereenvolgende nederlaag bekostig nie," sê die Bulle se Springbok-skrumskakel.
Volgens Du Preez is daar te veel klem op sy span se swak verdediging teen die Brumbies gelê, want die Bulls kon gewen het, al het hulle nie goed gespeel nie.
"Dit was ook nie dat ons duikslae die een ná die ander misluk het nie. Daar was blapse, maar ook baie kere dat ons raak geduik het. 'n Mens moet eerder só na die saak kyk."
Die Bulle se kaptein stem saam dat "die klein jakkalsies" nie weer tussen hulle en 'n oorwinning mag staan nie.
"Ons het vandeesweek hard gewerk om nie teen die Waratahs dieselfde foute te begaan nie. Ons moet meer in hul gebied speel deur besit deur fases te neem en hul verdedigingslinie op dié wyse onder druk te plaas.
"Ons moet voorts ons spel beter afwissel en onsself geen ander keuse laat as om 80 minute lank voluit te speel nie."
Du Preez sê die Bulls staal hul vir 'n kwaai fisieke aanslag van die Waratahs se gedugte agttal en verwag ook dat die besoekers die Bulle met taktiese spel in trurat wil laat beweeg.

CHEETAHS VS HIGHLANDERS I

2006-02-23T14:51:00.000+02:00

CUT & PASTE Job from www.news24.com

Same again for Cheetahs?
22/02/2006 21:32 - (SA)

Hendrik Cronje, Die Volksblad

Bloemfontein - If Barry Goodes is passed fit the Cheetahs will probably name an unchanged 22-man squad for their Super 14 match against the Highlanders in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
The only possible change to the squad that beat the Sharks 27-26 could be at inside centre after Goodes injured his knee in a training session earlier this week.
Cheetahs team doctor Org Strauss said: "Barry's injury isn't serious and he should be ready for the match."
One of the stars in the match against the Sharks, left wing Gaffie du Toit, had a slight hamstring strain, but he looked good in practice on Wednesday.
Goodes, who is keeping the All Blacks centre Keith Lowen out of the team, has impressed with his tackling. His ball distribution has improved the past season and he has become a major cog in the backline.
It is a foregone conclusion that Meyer Bosman will retain the flyhalf jersey ahead of Willem de Waal. Bosman looked sharper in training this week and in a contact session with the Shimlas he looked like the player who became a Springbok at the end of last year.
Bosman and scrumhalf Michael Claassens combined very well against the Shimlas. Claassens is working very hard on his tactical kicking and he could surprise the Highlanders.
A possible Cheetahs team: Bevin Fortuin, Giscard Pieters, Ronnie Cooke, Barry Goodes, Gaffie du Toit, Meyer Bosman, Michael Claassens, Ryno van der Merwe, Juan Smit (c), Kabamba Floors, Barend Pieterse, Corniel van Zyl, CJ van der Linde, Tiaan Liebenberg, Os du Randt.

Sharks update: Team to face Crusaders

2006-02-22T15:47:00.000+02:00

The Sharks team to take on the Crusaders in some New Zealand backwater (Timaru) on Saturday has been named. It shows 5 changes from the side that narrowly lost to the Cheetahs and Mark Lawrence over the weekend.

Johan Muller replaces Johan Ackermann in the second row. Jacques Botes makes a welcome return at no 8 for the woefully out-of-his-depth-at-this-level Braam Immelman.

Tony Brown has eventually decided he's had enough of the cheap Jap whores and has come to play some rugger, so he takes Brad Barrit's place at flyhalf. Waylon Murray (at last) displaces the out-of-form Bobo at outside centre, with Odwa Ndungane making Dusty Noble pay for his dropped pass.

The team is as follows:

Sharks XV:

15. Percy Montgomery
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Waylon Murray
12. Andries Strauss
11. Brent Russell
10. Tony Brown
9. Ruan Pienaar
8. Jacques Botes
7. AJ Venter ©
6. Solly Tyibilika
5. Albert van den Berg
4. Johann Muller
3. BJ Botha
2. Skipper Badenhorst
1. Deon Carstens

Replacements:
16. Bismarck du Plessis
17. Brent Moyle
18. Johan Ackermann
19. Daniel Farani
20. Sandile Nxumalo
21. Bradley Barritt
22. Craig Burden

LOSGEMAAL

2006-02-21T10:49:00.000+02:00

This one is published in Volksblad under : Losgemaal

The article also from www.volksblad .com

Cheetahs se sege vryf sout in wondeFeb 19 2006 09:32:58:017PM - (SA)

HOË bome vang die meeste wind.
Rassie Erasmus moet dít altyd onthou. Verlede week het dié rugbyafrigter van die Vodacom-Cheetahs voor die wedstryd teen die Haaie op webtuistes en koerante onder gifpenne deurgeloop omdat hy glo speletjies met sy spankeuses speel.
Erasmus is ook gekap oor die wyse waarop hy sy stutte inspan.
Een van die afrigters wat Erasmus oor sy stutfaktor gekritiseer het en nog verlede jaar gesê het die Cheetahs speel negatiewe rugby, is Dick Muir van die Haaie.
Ironies is dat Muir toe die breier is wat verlede week ’n verkeerde span aan die media gegee het en met ’n klomp verrassings in sy beginspan teen die Cheetahs vorendag gekom het.
Het iemand Erasmus daaroor hoor huil?
Nee.
Het Erasmus of enige ander Cheetah-speler Muir se mislukte poging om sy stutte onwettig om die beurt teen die Cheetahs in te span bevraagteken?
Nee.
Hopelik stik Muir in sy woorde, hoewel sy taktiese nederlaag teen Erasmus seer genoeg moes maak.
Net nog iets oor kopspeletjies. ’n Klomp gromgeluide is uit die noorde van die land gemaak oor Erasmus se sogenaamde speletjies met sy span wat teen die Bulle gespeel het.
Net om die ware feite te gee: tydens die nuuskonferensie die Donderdag voor die wedstryd teen die Bulle, het die Noord-Gautengers aan die plaaslike media name van ’n span verskaf met Morné Steyn en Heini Adams as skakelpaar.
Steyn het nie in dié wedstryd gespeel nie, maar Derick Hougaard wel. Hougaard en Fourie du Preez was die skakelpaar.
Kan iemand Losgemaal dan net reghelp oor wie dan werklik met kopspeletjies besig is?
Erasmus het voor die wedstryd teen die Bulle openlik in dié nuuskonferensie gesê sy span kan verander, afhangende van die toestande.
Losgemaal lag daarom oor al die kritiek wat Erasmus verlede week moes verduur.
Losgemaal beskou dit eerder as jaloesie en ’n manier van intimidasie in ’n poging deur teenstanders om die Cheetah-breier te onsenu.
Losgemaal het nuus vir hulle: Erasmus is komkommerkoel. Terwyl al die gifpenne oor die onwettige Cheetah-stutfaktor te kere gaan, het Erasmus stil-stil ’n uitmuntende flank-faktor ontwikkel.
Aanvaar dat Erasmus met sy taktiese meesterbrein die Curriebeker verower het en dit verdien.

At last a new post

2006-02-21T10:37:00.000+02:00

Article from Volksblad.com

Vrese oor haker-gaping begraweFeb 20 2006 10:22:31:517PM - (SA) Hendrik Cronjé

Druk artikel E-pos storie aan 'n vriend Verwante Berigte Cheetahs se sege vryf sout in wondeCheetahs se sege is dalk 'n keerpuntCheetah-blitse kan teenstanders nou weer slaaplose nagte geeCheetahs wen meesterlik

VRESE dat Naka Drotské se uittrede ’n te groot gaping op haker vir die Vodacom-Cheetahs in die Super 14-rugbyreeks kan laat, is Saterdag in Durban deur Tiaan Liebenberg begrawe.
Ironies genoeg het Liebenberg dit met die hulp van Drotské, voormalige Bok-haker, langs die kantlyn gedoen.
As ’n kombinasie met veral Corniel van Zyl (vierslot) het Liebenberg-hulle die Haaie in die lynstane verniel. Van Zyl, Barend Pieterse (slot) en Juan Smith (flank en kaptein) het minstens sewe lynstaan-ingooie van die Haaie in die Cheetah-sege van 27-26 afgeneem.
Van Zyl het vooraf gesê goeie lynstaanspel kan deurslaggewend wees, en uiteindelik was dié afdeling beslissend.
Kabamba Floors (flank) se drie, een van vier vir die Cheetahs, het gevolg op ’n tikkie uitmuntende spel deur Liebenberg en Van Zyl.
Eerder dat Van Zyl die bal aan Michael Claassens (skrumskakel) ná ’n ingooi van Liebenberg gee, het hy dit terug in sy haker se hande gegooi wat die Haaie aan die voorpunt van die lynstane verras het en tot Floors se drie gelei het.
Dieselfde beweging kon vroeër ook vrugte afwerp as Claassens ’n windskeef-aangee van Liebenberg met ’n oop doellyn kon raakvat.
“Ons het Saterdagoggend besluit die Haaie is eerder daarop ingestel om ons dryfmaalbewegings vanuit lynstane met Johan Ackermann (slot) te stuit. Ek het drie keer ingegooi voordat ek na Juan gestap en gesê het ek sien daai groot gaping voor en dat ons dié beweging moet uitvoer,” sê Liebenberg.
Liebenberg se ingooie was op ’n tiekie en dit was eers in die 81ste minuut van dié wedstryd dat die Haaie ’n ingooi by Van Zyl kon afneem. Die skrif was egter toe aan die muur vir die Piesangboere.
“Ek het nog nooit so baie geleer soos in die laaste tyd nie. Naka (deesdae spanbestuurder) help my baie met my ingooiwerk, veral met my stadiger ingooi op my vierslot,” sê Liebenberg.
Van Zyl, wat reeds sy stempel as ’n lynstaanman vir die Vrystaat in die Curriebeker-eindstryd op vierslot afgedruk het, het in dié wedstryd beklemtoon hy en Liebenberg vorm ’n kombinasie wat gesag in die Super 14 kan afdwing.
Liebenberg het ewe goed geskrum. “Die teenwoordigheid van Bokke soos Os (du Randt, loskopstut), Ollie (le Roux, loskopstut) en CJ (van der Linde, vaskopstut) het dinge vir my makliker in my eerste Super 14-wedstryd gemaak. Os en Ollie help my baie met my skrumwerk en ek geniet dit,” sê Liebenberg.
Cheetah-ondersteuners het steeds nie die beste van Liebenberg gesien nie. Hy is ’n puik baldraer en het ’n hoë werkverrigting. Hou hom dop, hoewel hy homself vir ’n fisieke aanslag moet staal wanneer die Cheetahs teen die Nieu-Seelandse spanne speel.
Saterdag kry Liebenberg om 19:10 op Vodacompark in Bloemfontein sy eerste smaak daarvan teen die Highlanders.

Sharks update: Holy Crap!

2006-02-09T09:34:00.000+02:00

Take a look at the side the Sharks have named to take on the Eagles in the Vodacom Cup:

15. Tsepo Kokoali
14. Cedric Mkhize
13. Waylon Murray
12. Grant Rees
11. Dean Hall
10. Steve Meyer
9. Scott Mathie
8. Nico Breedt
7. Jaco Gouws (Captain)
6. Braam Immelman
5. Nikolai Blignaut
4. Steven Sykes
3. Danie Saayman
2. Bismarck du Plessis
1. Sangoni Mxoli

Reserves
16. Jan-Toit van Jaarsveld
17. Tendai Mtawarira
18. Werner Cronje
19. Keegan Daniels
20. Brett Hennessey
21. Okkie Vermeulen
22. Greg Goosen

That's just bloody frightening. The loose-trio is unbalanced and lacks pace, but that's a hell of a side otherwise. A long afternoon for the Eagles, I think.

Cheers
RobD

CHEETAH NEWS 2 days to go

2006-02-08T14:04:00.000+02:00

Alle berigte en foto in hierdie thread vanaf www.volksblad.com

Cheetahs reg vir stryd voorlangs
Feb 07 2006 10:22:33:410PM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

DIE verwagte reën en nat speeloppervlak van Vodacompark maak ’n voorspelerstryd tussen die Vodacom-Cheetahs en die Bulle byna onafwendbaar.

Die rugbyspan van die Cheetahs is reg vir dié uitdaging wanneer dié spanne mekaar Vrydag om 19:10 in Bloemfontein in ’n Super 14-wedstryd aandurf.

’n Video-opname van die Curriebeker-eindstryd kan as groot aanmoediging vir die Cheetahs dien, aangesien die Vrystaat-agttal met groot eer as wenner uit dié stryd getree het.

Sedert dié eindstryd is die Cheetah-agttal ook deur vurige spelers soos Frans Viljoen (losvoorspeler), Gareth Krause (flank, albei van die Wildeklawer-Griekwas) en Ockie van Zyl (veelsydige voorspeler vn die Griffons) versterk.

’n Voorspelerstryd is verder op die kaarte omdat die Bulle wil wraak neem – en wraakwedstryde word gebruiklik voorlangs en deur stelskopwerk bepaal.

“Baie mense sê ons is dom om die Bulle voorlangs aan te vat, maar dit is nie die geval nie. Ons staan vir geen agttal terug nie,” sê Juan Smith, kaptein van die hartland-span.

“Vir ons gaan dit nie oor grootte nie, maar oor hoe groot elke speler se hart is,” sê die Cheetah-kaptein. Kabamba Floors (flank) se spel is ’n sprekende voorbeeld van wat Smith van sy spanmaats verwag.

Floors is klein, maar groot van hart en mannemoed.

Sukses in die vaste fasette sal volgens Smith bykans 96% bepaal op watter wyse sy span die voordeellyn in die Super 14 kan oorsteek.

“Ons spel in die vaste fasette was goed in die losmakers. Ons werk vandeesweek aan sekere dinge en ek glo Vrydag sal daar geen haakplekke wees nie.

“Ons het in die losmakers ’n klomp nuwe dinge probeer en ek is tevrede met ons vaste fasette,” volgens Smith.

Die Cheetahs sal Vrydag swaar steun op die ervaring van spelers soos Smith, Barend Pieterse (slot) en Os du Randt (loskopstut).

Pieterse-hulle sal die voorbeeld moet stel vir jonges soos Wian du Preez, Jannie du Plessis (albei stutte) en Tiaan Liebenberg (haker) om te volg.

Du Randt moet veral in Ollie le Roux (stut) se afwesigheid die vonk verskaf.

Du Randt was verwoestend teen die skrummasjien en dit voorspel moeilikheid vir die Bulle.

Trevor Leota, haker van Samoa, se Europese ervaring kan ook tot voordeel van die Cheetahs wees.

Leota is heelwat fisker sedert hy hom verlede seisoen in die Rosestad gevestig het. Hy is bekend om sy plettervatte, terwyl hy in die oefenwedstryde gewys het hy is ’n voortreflike baldraer.

Leota en Liebenberg oefen hul lynstaan-ingooie onder die vlerke Naka Drotské, voormalige Bok-haker en nou spanbestuurder van die Cheetahs.

Smith sê sy span gee nie om dat hy in die eerste wedstryd teen die Bulle speel nie, “want dit maak nie saak nie en ons moet teen almal speel”.

***
Beroepswedders sê ‘Bulle SA se beste’
Feb 07 2006 10:22:31:787PM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

BEROEPSWEDDERS plaas hope druk op die Bulle in die Super 14-rugbyreeks.

Asof die druk nie groot genoeg op die Noord-Gautengers is nie nadat hulle hul ondersteuners in die Curriebeker-eindstryd teleurgestel het, het beroepswedders (sabookmaker.com) die Bulle met 18/10 die algehele gunstelinge gemaak om die beste uit die Suid-Afrikaanse spanne te presteer.

Die Vodacom-Cheetahs, wat Vrydag om 19:10 in Bloemfontein teen die Bulle in dié reeks uitdraf, word slegs ’n kans van 7/1 gegun om tot die halfeindstryd van die Super 14 deur te dring.

Beroepswedders gun selfs die Stormers met 4/1 ’n beter kans as die Cheetahs. Die Haaie se kanse is 7/1, terwyl die Katte met 15/1 deur die beroepswedders as die Suid-Afrikaanse span beskou word wat gerelegeer kan word.

Die beroepswedders se weddenskappe sal Vrydag as groot aanmoediging vir die Cheetahs dien, aangesien die Vrystaat die Curriebeker-kampioen en die Wildeklawer-Griekwas die houer van die Vodacombeker is.

Die hartlandspan sal beroepswedders verkeerd wil bewys. Mnr. Rassie Erasmus, Cheetah-afrigter, sal egter verkies dat die beroepswedders die Bulle as die gunstelinge beskou.

Erasmus het sy span reeds vroeër gewaarsku dat die Vrystaat se Curriebeker-wittebrood verby is en ’n nuwe kompetisie – die Super 14 – aangebreek het. Sy span het Vrydag teen die Bulle ’n tuisveldvoordeel en ’n verwagte wit-en-oranje-golf van Cheetah-ondersteuners kan sake vir die Noord-Gautengers bemoeilik.

Mnr. Naka Drotské, spanbestuurder van die Cheetahs, sê die hartlandspan wil ook van Vrydag af probeer om Vodacompark weer daarvoor bekend te maak dat dit die begraafplaas vir besoekende spanne word.

“Ek het nog nooit van spelers gehoor wat dit geniet om in Bloemfontein te speel nie,” sê hy. Kenners meen intussen die Bulle word versterk met die fisieke Francois van Schouwenburg ná die besering van Victor Matfield. Van Schouwenburg is ’n beter keuse op ’n nat veld.

Mnr. Heyneke Meyer, afrigter van die Bulle, sal ook besef die druk op sy span neem toe nadat die Noord-Gautengers verlede jaar tot die halfeindstryd van die Super 12 deurgedring het.

Die Bulle het in 2004 onder die ses voorste spanne in die Super 12 klaargemaak.

Erasmus se span is in die bevoorregte posisie dat hy ’n groentjie in die Super 14 is. Die Cheetahs het ook wenmomentum aan hul kant wat die druk op die hartlandspan sal verminder.

Met ’n uitgeslape Erasmus lyk dit asof die Cheetahs vinnig geleer het om die regte knoppies in belangrike wedstryde te druk om seges te behaal.

***

Cheetahs vra groot skares vir Super 14
Feb 07 2006 01:39:57:270AM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

’n DERDE rugbybeker en ’n tweede kriekettrofee dié seisoen vir die hartlandstreek – die Super 14-beker en Standard Bank Pro20-trofee – sal net deur puik ondersteuning vir die Vodacom-Cheetahs en Gestetner-Eagles beskore wees.

Suid-Afrika se twee belangrikste rugbybekers, die Curriebeker en die Vodacombeker, staan reeds in die hartland en nou begin die Cheetahs met hul aanslag op die Super 14-titel.

Die Curriebeker-glorie van die Vrystaat en Vodacombeker-sukses van die Wildeklawer-Griekwas het dié ondersteuning aangewakker.

In krieket het die Eagles, die streekspan van die hartland van Suid-Afrika, verlede jaar in ’n stadium met al drie nasionale titels gespog en vanjaar het die Eagles reeds die Standard Bank-beker in eendagkrieket verower. Sondag pak die Eagles die Leeus in die halfeindronde van die Pro20-krieketreeks op Goodyearpark in Bloemfontein nadat hulle pas met die Dolfyne en Kaapse Kobras op hul tuisvelde afgereken het.

Die Cheetahs het die laaste tyd boonop alles in hul vermoë gedoen om na hul ondersteuners uit te reik. Dié Super 14-rugbyspan vra nou dat die ondersteuners dieselfde doen deur in hul duisende na hul wedstryde op te ruk.

Mnr. Naka Drotské, spanbestuurder van die Cheetahs, en sy span het in die sege van 52-11 oor Treviso ’n lekker voorsmakie gekry van die ondersteuning wat verwag kan word.

Die Griffons met mnr. Eugene van Wyk, uitvoerende hoofamptenaar, vooraan, het die voorbeeld gestel met die groot aantal ondersteuners wat vir die Treviso-wedstryd opgedaag het.

Die Griffons, die derde vennoot in die hartland-streekspan, word deur Ockie van Zyl (slot/flank) in die Cheetah-span verteenwoordig en dié goeie ondersteuning vanuit die Noord-Vrystaat vir Juan Smith, flank en kaptein, se span kan daaraan toegeskryf word.

“Goeie ondersteuning in tuiswedstryde is altyd ’n groot faktor vir besoekers. Kyk wat het die Bulle die afgelope drie jaar vermag met hul ondersteuners wat almal in blou geklee is,” het Drotské gesê.

Drotské-hulle hoop Vodacompark sal deur die Cheetah- en Griekwa-sukses net so ’n groot intimiderende faktor soos Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria word.

Die Cheetahs hoop daarom om Vrydag om 19:10 op Vodacompark in Bloemfontein ’n golf van ondersteuners (in wit geklee) te sien wanneer hulle vir ’n Super 14-wedstryd teen die Bulle op die veld draf.

“Ons het die laaste tyd probeer om soveel moontlik na ons ondersteuners uit te reik. Ons wil graag ’n golf van ondersteuning sien wanneer ons teen die Bulle speel. Goeie ondersteuning sal belangrik in die Super 14 wees,” het Drotské gesê.

Die Vrystaat, Griekwas en die Griffons sal ook van vandeesweek probeer om die Vodacombeker in die hartland te hou. Dié spanne sal wil wys die hartland het goeie diepte terwyl die voorste spelers in die Super 14 meeding.

Die Vodacombeker-spelers sal aan mnr. Rassie Erasmus, afrigter van die Cheetahs, wil wys dat hulle goed genoeg is om in die Super 14 te speel.
***

Feesmaal van sport in Rosestad voorgesit
Feb 07 2006 11:29:44:650PM - (SA)
Danél Blaauw

’n WARE sportfeesmaal word die naweek in die hartland van Suid-Afrika opgedis en duisende ondersteuners uit die noorde stroom na die Rosestad toe.

Op die spyskaart: die Vodacom-Cheetahs wat hopelik Bul-bredie gaan opdis, terwyl die Gestetner-Eagles waarskynlik die Leeus gaan afransel.

Die Cheetahs pak die Bulle Vrydag op Vodacompark in die eerste ronde van die strawwe Super 14-beker, terwyl die Eagles Sondag teen die Leeus in die halfeindronde van die Pro20-krieketreeks te staan kom.

Duisende rugby- en krieketondersteuners stroom die naweek na die Rosestad om dié twee spanne in aksie te sien.

Die kragmeting tussen die Cheetahs en Bulle lok ongekende belangstelling nadat die Vrystaat-Cheetahs die Blou Bulle verlede jaar in die Curriebeker-eindstryd geklop het. Vrydag se wedstryd word as ’n “wraakwedstryd” tussen die twee spanne beskou met die Curriebeker nog vars in albei se geheue.

Krieketondersteuners sal Sondag na Goodyearpark opruk om ’n sterbelaaide Eagle-span, die verdedigende kampioene in die reeks, te sien.

Die Proteas, Boeta Dippenaar, Johan van der Watt en Jacques Rudolph, het hulle weer by die span aangesluit ná hul oorsese toer saam met die nasionale span.

’n Ondersteunersgolf in wit geklee, wat bankvas agter die streekspan staan, word Vrydagaand op Vodacompark verwag.

Kaartjies vir die Cheetahs se eerste Super 14-wedstryd raak nou so skaars soos hoendertande.

Ondersteuners wat nog ’n sitplek vir dié geskiedkundige kragmeting wil verseker, moet gou spring.

Kaartjies vlieg en teen gister is sowat 32 000 kaartjies verkoop, sê mnr. Piet de Necker, kommersiële bestuurder van die Vrystaatse Rugbyunie. ’n Stampvol stadion word die eerste keer in twee jaar verwag. De Necker sê die stadion is met die toets tussen die Springbokke en Ierland laas uitverkoop.

Duisende ondersteuners, van Kroonstad, Kimberley en Pretoria, sal Vrydag vroeg in treine hier aankom. Busdienste uit alle uithoeke van die land ry ook honderde ondersteuners vir die sportnaweek aan.

Mnr. Naka Drotské, spanbestuurder, het ’n beroep op ondersteuners gedoen om, geklee in wit, in hul duisende na die wedstryd op te ruk.

Volksblad druk sowat 20 000 plakkate om sy steun aan die Cheetahs te gee. Dié plakkate word Vrydagaand by die stadion uitgedeel. ’n Volkleurfoto van die Cheetah-groep verskyn die oggend in die koerant.

Die Eagles sal na alle verwagting Sondagmiddag ook in ’n volgepakte stadion speel.

Mnr. Johan van Heerden, uitvoerende hoof van die Vrystaatse Krieketunie (VKU), sê kaartjieverkope vorder flink. “Mense sal moet spring om teleurstelling te voorkom. Veral met ’n Pro20-wedstyd. Die wedstryde is kort en ’n mens wil nie dan nog in ’n ry staan nie.”

Van Heerden sê sowat 2 500 kaartjies is teen gisteroggend verkoop.

Mnr. Corrie van Zyl, afrigter, sê die span se selfvertroue is uitstekend. “Ons sien uit daarna om weer in ’n halfeind te speel. Om voor ons tuisskare te speel is ook ’n groot aansporing.”

Saklui glimlag waarskynlik ook breed oor dié twee groot sportgebeurtenisse wat ’n reuse- ekonomiese inspuiting vir Bloemfonteinse ondernemings is.

Gastehuise en hotelle was gister vol bespreek vir Vrydagaand, terwyl restaurante en inkopiesentrums ook ’n toeloop van mense kan verwag.

Rugbyondersteuners in die stad lek reeds hul lippe af vir ’n Bul-maaltyd wat verslind moet word.

’n Restauranteienaar en geharde Vrystaat-ondersteuner in die stad het verlede week spesiaal ’n blouwildebees platgetrek.

Mnr. Riaan Niemand sê dié week is enigiets van Blou Bul-burgers tot Blou Bul-biefstuk (met ’n blou kaassous) en Blou Bul-wors op Reid Street Café se spyskaart. Alles in die aanloop tot die groot stryd teen die Bulle.

Niemand sê hy twyfel nie dat die Cheetahs gaan wen nie. “Ons het dan klaar die helfte van die Bulle opgeëet,” lag hy.

STOMPIE FOURIE, voormalige Vrystaat skrumskakel en kaptein, smul aan 'n Blou Bul Burger in die Reid Street Café in die Rosestad. Foto: Charl Devenish

Sharks update: Likely Team to Face Chiefs

2006-02-07T12:33:00.000+02:00

This courtesy of IOL

Fine-tuning the Sharks
Mike Greenaway
February 07 2006 at 10:54AM

Amid the misty rain at the Absa Stadium on Monday night, the Sharks team to play the Chiefs on Saturday emerged and, as promised by Dick Muir, the line-up will show subtle changes to the teams that had mixed fortunes in the warm-up games against the Bulls and Cats.

Muir said he would not completely show his hand in those matches and that much has held true, especially as far as the forwards are concerned.

The likely second row combination of Johan Ackermann and Johann Muller has not played together before, and nor has the probable front row of BJ Botha, Skipper Badenhorst and Heinke van der Merwe. AJ Venter, who played lock in the warm-ups, is back on the flank in combination with Warren Britz (openside) and Jacques Botes (No 8). The recovery of Ackermann from injury is a big boost for the Sharks pack. He may be 35 but that is okay for second row duty and the former Bok made a big impression against the Bulls at Sun City.

....

He never played against the Cats after an accidental forearm smash from Venter in lineout training split open his left eyebrow.

The name Heinke van der Merwe will be a new one to Sharks fans
For his "sins", Venter had to play lock against the Cats in place of Ackermann when it had originally been Muir's intention to try Venter on the flank in that game. In the blindside flanker role, Venter will add much needed aggression to the Sharks' rucking at the breakdowns, the one area that the Bulls thoroughly dominated at Sun City.

The name Heinke van der Merwe will be a new one to Sharks fans, but it is likely to gain familiarity soon. The powerful South Africa Under-21 prop was overlooked by the Cats, who have preferred 36-year-old veteran Marius Hurter.

The Sharks then drafted Van der Merwe into their squad and he scrummed well against the Cats in Rustenburg. His presence is all the more welcome after the injury to Deon Carstens in the Bulls game.

Skipper Badenhorst seems to have edged out youngster Jody Jenneker in the battle for the No 2 jersey. Badenhorst had a fine game against the Cats and his abrasive play resulted in the Cats forwards singling him out for special attention. Badenhorst got some unwelcome studs in his head for his trouble and left the field with blood streaming down his face.

In the backline there had been debate over the fullback and wing positions. Samoan Alex Tuilagi's challenge for the right wing berth seems to have come to an end and the man who ran in that position last night was 19-year-old Dusty Noble, with Henno Mentz on the left wing.

Noble probably played his way into possession with a superb individual try against the Cats. He showed extreme pace and then excellent ball skills when he chipped over opposite number Grant Esterhuizen, gathered and scored. He is likely to play alongside his cousin, JP Pietersen, who ran freely at training on Monday night, showing no discomfort from the hamstring injury (sustained against the Bulls) that threatened to keep him out of the opening Super 14 fixture.

Pietersen is competing with Brent Russell, who has also been injured, for the No 15 jersey. Russell did not train on Monday night, which suggests he may be out of the reckoning. Muir will confirm his team tonight. The Wildebeest team to play the Eagles in George in a Vodacom Cup match on Saturday will be packed with the young players that made such a big impression in the warm-up matches in Rustenburg and at Sun City.

Possible Sharks team:
JP Pietersen, Dusty Noble, Gcobani Bobo, Andries Strauss, Henno Mentz, Percy Montgomery, Ruan Pienaar, Jacques Botes, AJ Venter, Warren Britz, Johan Ackerman, Johann Muller, BJ Botha, Skipper Badenhorst, Heinke van der Merwe.

Sharks update: Spedding To Start?

2006-02-06T09:20:00.000+02:00

This article courtesy of SuperRugby

Not sure if I like the idea of throwing a youngster to the wolves, but anyway.

Muir has something up his sleeve	by Gavin Rich

Posted on 06 February 2006 - 08:04

With Tony Brown still missing, Sharks coach Dick Muir may be set to produce a couple of shocks when he names his team for the first Super 14 match of the new season against the Chiefs in Durban next Saturday.

Brown, the former Highlander listed as the Sharks’s big-name overseas buy in the off-season, is still in Japan and right now the Sharks are no wiser as to when he might finally materialise in Durban. Percy Montgomery has been playing flyhalf in the warm-up games, but Muir has hinted that the combinations everyone is expecting to see might not be what will run out for the Sharks in their opening match.

In particular, Muir appears to have been impressed with the young flyhalves that played for him in the series of warm-up games (the Sharks played two games, meaning two separate teams, in their matches against the Bulls and the Cats), and it may just be that one of them could be in the No10 jersey against the Chiefs.

Making such a scenario more likely is the fact that Brent Russell is one of the players currently on the doubtful list, meaning that Montgomery might be needed at fullback.

Muir has looked at various options in his team’s build-up phase to the Super 14, and it does not appear to have escaped his notice that at both Rustenburg and Sun City, it was the less experienced team that impressed the most.

“We won our first match against the Cats and lost our second one 20-13, but I have been absolutely delighted with what I have seen,” said Muir.

“It may not look like our so-called first choice team did well, but that is just it. That may not have been our first choice, and I think a few people could be surprised when I name the team to play against the Chiefs. One of the big things about Sharks rugby at the moment is that our pipeline of young players really seems to be working again.

“With the youth policy paying off, we now have a number of very special youngsters to choose from. A lot of these guys no-one would have heard of. Among them are Craig Burdon, a centre from Maritzburg College, who did really well, and then others were flyhalves Scott Speding and Scott Mathie, Greg Goosen, Brad Barrett…there were several of them and I could talk all morning about it.”

Muir did well last year in the initial stages of the Currie Cup season by backing his youngsters. Waylon Murray and JP Pietersen were two 19-year-old youngsters that Muir plucked out of the Sharks academy straight into the big league, and they came through for him.

“Our youth could be a big plus for us, but of course if you look at it another way, it could be a negative in that obviously these guys lack Super 14 experience and in that sense it is a bit of a gamble to select them,” said Muir.

“I have no doubt that all the guys I have mentioned can play Super 14 rugby and I do believe that if you are good enough you are old enough. But obviously experience does count for a lot in the Super 14 and we will only really know how they are going to adapt to the stresses of the competition once we have put them onto the playing field.”

Muir believes the Super 14 this year is going to be all about keeping players fresh and using the depth of the squad. He denies that he is looking at fielding two distinctly different teams in the competition, but says that he will be using a squad rotation system.

“Rotation of players is going to be a crucial part of our campaign and that is why we worked with such a big squad in the pre-season. I have been really impressed with the depth and I am very confident about our chances of doing well in the competition and surprising a few people,” said Muir.

“We do have a few injuries at the moment, but hopefully they are not too serious. Among the players we will be nursing a bit before we name our team for the Chiefs game are Brent Russell, Waylon Murray, Cedric Mkhize, Craig Davidson and Odwa Ndungane. JP Pietersen is also injured, which is a great shame because he is a very special player.”

The Big Re-match

2006-02-03T16:01:00.000+02:00

The match everyone has been waiting for in South Africa will be played in exactly a week’s time.

Yes ladies and gents, it is “The Big Re-match”.

A lot, if not too much has been said about the Currie Cup final of 2005, but we simply cannot deny the massive accomplishment Rassie and his men achieved at Loftus last year. Praises has been sung and compliments from far and wide have been given to this magnificent team and its coach, and rightly so, it was one of the moments in our Currie Cup history that will be remembered as one of the big upsets.

But it is 2006 now, the Cheetahs are no longer everyone’s second best team, they are the ones every South African team will want to beat, and given the ridiculous relegation situation hanging over everyone’s head, it is all to play for. Super 14 is also a far cry from Currie Cup rugby, the Bulls relative success domestically gauged against their Super 12 success, is testament to this.

So what can we expect?

Well, for me it is pretty straight forward, so if you are a Bulls fan you might want to stop reading now, because the Cheetahs will yet again claw the Bulls into submission, but with much more ease than last year.

In previous articles I highlighted a lot of factors I believe to be crucial for the Bulls and Cheetahs to be successful in this year’s Super 14. Weighing these factors up against each other it becomes clear the Bulls are much worse off than the boys from Bloem.

Looking at the Bulls, the main concern for them are players missing from their squad. Kees Lensing, Danie Coetzee and Anton Leonard have left the union. Guthro Steenkamp, Richard Bands, Gary Botha, Victor Matfield and Fourie du Preez are all injured. They have no leader good enough for this competition and they are not playing at home.

Now just looking at that paragraph I actually see no reason to further explain why I believe they are fighting a loosing battle, but lets asses these issues more in depth a bit.

The first and most important issue is captaincy. When I looked at the Bulls team and gave my prediction for their chances in this year’s competition, I basically explained it as follows:

· Bulls of last year with Anton Leonard still there = Finalists
· Bulls of last year without Anton Leonard = Probable Semi-finalists
· Bulls of last year without Anton Leonard and crucial injuries = Nowhere

Unfortunately I do not believe Victor will be a great captain, I might unfairly compare him to Anton, but then again, you have to. Victor is injured. Fourie could actually have been a better choice if he talks more, but as Victor, Fourie is injured. Gary Botha, the best option given the choices, is of course, also, injured.

This leaves them with……no-one.

Apart from the captaincy, the injured or missing players leaves a massive gap in the team. Two of the Bulls’ strengths are line outs, and mauling. The absence of Victor will be felt. I also believe Bakkies Botha plays his best when Victor is on song; it frees him up to perform a more dominant role in the tight loose where he can be devastating.

Gary Botha, another important cog in the Blue machine when it comes to line outs and ball carrying abilities is also missing. The other two choices they have at hooker are both inexperienced and young and I believe they might get murdered by an experienced Cheetah front row.

Their props without Kees, Bands and Guthro looks very thin, they will be up against the old war horses in Os and Ollie, with CJ and Leota providing very competent back up in the front row area.

The Cheetah loosies, if they carry the form over from last year, will overshadow the Bully boys, they are simply too quick for them. It will be interesting to see if Heyneke will select Dlulane though, but given all the injuries, he can ill afford to leave Danie Rossouw, Jacques Cronje and Pedrie Wannenberg out.

Looking at all this, I can see only one logical conclusion. The Bulls will suffer in the line outs, in the tight loose, and even in the scrums. Their machine on what their recent success was built on, has suddenly become their biggest liability.

Looking at the back department, I fear the Bullies might be in for a torrent time. They have more class out wide, but what type of ball will these boys get?

Adams is a capable scrumhalf, but I believe looking at two very young and very vulnerable flyhalfs who must be low on confidence, you need a Fourie du Preez to not only give them crisp service, but also help take the pressure of these boys.

By all accounts, Derrick Hougaard seems to be the chosen one for the first couple of games, and given his form in the warm up games, I can imagine a few Bulls supporters will have sleepless nights over the flyhalf position. His kicking has been poor, and when you are up against a player like Willem de Waal and Gaffie du Toit with a booming left boot, who will no doubt look to put their team on the front foot both through goal kicking and tactical field positioning, you have to be on top of your game.

Given the confidence of the flyhalfs and the very real possibility that they will receive poor ball, the Bulls classy backs might just spend most of the afternoon tackling and wondering what a rugby ball feels like.

From number 1 to 10, the Cheetahs outclass the Bulls. If they allow the Bulls to spread the ball wide, the Cheetahs will have to do a lot of tackling.

So what do the Cheetahs need to do? Real simple, keep the ball close to the forwards and play the game in the Bulls’ half as much as possible. They need to put pressure on the half backs and dominate the tackled ball situations. If they do that, they will walk away comfortable winners.

And the Bulls? Well as strange as it sounds, they need to make the game as fast as possible can and look to get their game breakers, JP Nel, Roets and Habana involved in the action as much as possible.

I would play Wynand Olivier inside Nel to give me that extra attacking option. If they use Dries Scholtz as a battering ram at 12, they will loose. The Cheetahs are vulnerable in the midfield and out wide, expose that, and you will see results.

In the forwards, the Bulls and Heyneke need to do exactly what Rassie did to them last year, technically outsmart them. If they can contain the Cheetah forwards and secure their own ball, we will be in for a tight one.

I believe the game will be won by the team who enjoys the best field position for the majority of the match and the team that will win the forward battle - and on both counts, my money is on the Cheetahs because of the experience and speed in the forward department, and the boots of Willem de Waal and Gaffie du Toit.

Prediction:

Cheetahs by 10 or more, with the Bulls coming back in the last quarter with some frantic and gutsy play.

CHEETAH NEWS

2006-02-02T11:47:00.000+02:00

In the ever changing process of OORB trying to make sense of the cut and paste job, the following articles are included, in order to initiate a healthy denate on the Vodacom Cheetahs preparations for the 2006 Vodacom Super 14.

Unless otherwise indicated all articles in this thread are from www.news24.co.za or www.volksblad.com

Three all in injury stakes
01/02/2006 21:37 - (SA)

Hendrik Cronje , Die Volksblad

Bloemfontein - Three all.

This is the present state of affairs in the injury stakes between the Cheetahs and the Bulls prior to their Super 14 rugby match in Bloemfontein.

There is a good chance that the Cheetahs will be without two Springboks and an All Black against the Bulls.

The Bulls will probably be without three Boks because of injuries - Victor Matfield (lock), Gary Botha (hooker) and Fourie du Preez (scrumhalf).

Numerous Cheetahs players are injured. Hendro Scholtz (flank, shoulder) is one of the Boks who is unavailable, while the exciting young Alwyn Hollenbach (centre, shoulder) will be sitting in the stands for the next four weeks. Gavin Passens (Bok wing) has lost the race against the clock and will have to wait much longer to wear a Cheetahs jersey again.

This is not the last of the problems facing Cheetahs coach Rassie Erasmus.

Corniel van Zyl (lock) has a 50% chance of playing because of a broken cheekbone. He trains with the squad, but does not make contact. The All Black centre, Keith Lowen, has not been on the training field since the warm-up match against the Western Force.

He has aggravated his hip injury in a squash game and it is not yet clear how long he will be out of action.

The experienced Cheetahs Bok Ollie le Roux is also still out of action after he was injured in a scrumming session.

Report on the injuries

The Cheetahs medical staff will probably give Erasmus a final report about the state of the injuries on Thursday.

Erasmus is not someone who likes to be caught off-guard. He has Kabamba Floors and Gareth Krause to replace Scholtz, while Frans Viljoen's fiery play can get him the nod as loose forward. After his good performance against Treviso, Ronnie Cooke could be included at outside centre, while Chris Kruger could replace Hollenbach.

Cooke could also be considered as left wing, although Sinethemba Zweni has good ball skills and could take over from Passens.

Any team would be happy wit Cobus Grobler and Rory Duncan as replacements if Van Zyl should have to withdraw. Duncan is considered one of the strongest forwards in South African rugby.

After his good performance for Free State in the Currie Cup final it will be difficult to keep Barry Goodes off the field in the Super 14 series. He, Kruger and even Meyer Bosman can be play inside centre against the Bulls, depending on Lowen's availability.

It will be a big setback if Le Roux is unable to play. He can do duty as prop or hooker. The coach has Wian du Preez and Os du Randt as excellent looseheads, while Trevor Leota and Tiaan Liebenberg are the hookers in the Cheetahs squad.

****

Buiteperd Cooke se grote dalk gou
Feb 02 2006 12:05:27:873AM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

DIE tafel is gedek vir Ronnie Cooke om as ’n jong buiteperd ’n onvergeetlike roman van die Super 14-rugbyreeks te maak.

Dié 22-jarige senter van die Vodacom-Cheetahs het kenners aan die praat ná sy vyfster-vertoning teen Treviso in Welkom. Cooke het blitssnel deur die gapings geglip en Treviso se Suid-Afrikaanse piekniek in ’n oogwink in ’n veldslag verander.

Verlede jaar was hy die buitesenter in die Suid-Afrikaanse o.21-span wat as wêreldkampioen gekroon is. Hy het toe gewys hy is ’n speler vir groot oomblikke.

Sy grootste oomblik kan op 10 Februarie in Bloemfontein aanbreek wanneer die Cheetahs in ’n Super 14-wedstryd teen die Bulle speel.

Omdat Alwyn Hollenbach weens ’n skouerbesering nie vir 10 Februarie oorweeg word nie, is Cooke die gunsteling om die Cheetah-buitesenter te wees.

“Ek weet nog nie of ek in die span is nie, maar die Bulle is altyd ’n harde wedstryd,” sê Cooke.

Hy weeg 88 kg, is 1.82 m lank en wil net speel, maak nie saak of dit op senter of vleuel is nie. “Ek is net gelukkig as ek kan speel, daarom sal ek selfs vleuel speel.”

Cooke was ’n leerling aan die Laerskool Eureka en die Hoërskool Noord-Kaap in Kimberley. Dit is vir hom heerlik om sy loopbaan in die hartlandstreek voort te sit ná sy draai by die Luiperds, sê hy.

“Ek is ná skool na die Luiperds toe omdat ek aptekerswese wou studeer. Ek het nou besluit my rugby moet voorkeur kry, voordat ek in die toekoms my studies voltooi.”

Sy vermoë om ’n spelbreker te wees, het unies soos die Haaie en die Leeus laat toustaan om hom van die Luiperds weg te lok.

“My wortels is egter in Kimberley, aangesien my ouers steeds daar bly. Dit was nie vir my ’n moeilike besluit om terug te keer nie,” sê hy.

Cooke sal vir die Wildeklawer-Griekwas in die Curriebeker-reeks uitdraf.

Volgens hom is die aanpassing in die Cheetah-kamp onder mnre. Rassie Erasmus (hoofbreier) en Franco Smith (hulpafrigter) nie groot nie.

“Rassie-hulle laat ’n mens so tuis voel. Hier mag ’n speler bydraes lewer en hulle slaag daarin om jou bydraes te waardeer,” het Cooke bygevoeg.

Chris Kruger (met Hollenbach op die krukkelys) is die ander buitesenter in die wedloop, maar Cooke se vaart kan deurslaggewend wees. Kruger het in die Cheetah-losmakers egter gewys ervaring kan nie oor enige toonbank gekoop word nie.

Cooke kan hom solank voorberei om die sentermaat van Barry Goodes of Keith Lowen teen die Bulle te word. Alles sal afhang of Smith-hulle tevrede met Lowen se fiksheid is.

Goodes se fisieke spel en Cooke se glibberigheid kan hul in ’n goeie kombinasie laat saamsmelt.

Maar die vraag is hoe waardevol word Lowen se Super 12-ervaring deur Smith-hulle beskou?

Lowen het die Chiefs in meer as 50 Super 12-wedstryde verteenwoordig en die All Black-trui gedra.

Cooke verwag die Super 14-reeks sal uiters fisiek wees, maar hy sal nie toelaat dat dit hom ontsenu nie.

Hy kan die land eerder aan die praat kry met sy onvoorspelbaarheid en uitgeslapenheid.

CONNOLLY APPOINTED

2006-02-02T09:30:00.000+02:00

OORB wants to congratulate John Connolly with his appointment to the "hottest seat" in Rugby Union at the moment and wish him well in his endeavours to getting the Wallabies back at their best, wink wink, yes we do actually....

John Connolly appointed Head Coach of Qantas Wallabies
February 02, 2006 - 11:30am
Story by: ARU

The Australian Rugby Union has announced the appointment of John Connolly as Head Coach to lead the Qantas Wallabies to Rugby Word Cup 2007.

Connolly, who has had professional coaching experience with the Queensland Reds, Stade Francais, Swansea and most recently Bath will head a new look structure designed to address key areas identified for improvement.

A more streamlined coaching management team will consist of John Connolly as Head Coach presiding over a new structure of an attack coach, a defence coach and a restarts coach.

Negotiations with candidates below the Head Coach position are ongoing.

ARU Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer Gary Flowers says the appointment of the new team combines the vast experience of John Connolly and others with proven skills and innovation in critical areas of the game.

"Over the past two months we have identified where we need to go. I am very pleased to announce today that John Connolly will head the coaching team to take us there. We certainly have the players, now we have a Head Coach with the right skills to get the Wallabies back in a winning vein."

"John's experience in Australia and overseas, his approach to the game and his ability to lead a specialist team made him the outstanding choice."

"The ARU received a large number of applications and we cast a broad net. Given the challenges we face, a John Connolly led coaching team is the fresh start Australian rugby needs."

The new Qantas Wallaby Head Coach says he's under no illusions about the magnitude of the job ahead.

"I don't mind a challenge and they don't come bigger than winning a World Cup. It's a great privilege to coach the national team. We've got 20 Test matches to get the team in a winning position."

"I am focused on the positives. I will have the benefit of a new coaching structure and what will be an excellent coaching team around me. Super 14 provides the opportunity to look at more players than we have in the past with greater competition for places. The work of the High Performance Unit and the selection Panel has also given me a head start with the work they have been doing over the past two months."

"We are also fortunate that our four Super 14 teams are very well coached. I look forward to working with the provinces in the next 18 months to ensure our mutual goals are achieved.

"We do need to think about the game differently and I think the coaching structure we are looking at is innovative. Importantly, with the right people in place it will address the key problems." Connolly said.

Mr Flowers also announced that former Wallaby coach Rod Macqueen will continue as a Rugby Advisor to the ARU.

"Rod has made an outstanding contribution to the coach selection process and he has had an ongoing role since June last year with a number of projects. Rugby needs to retain its intellectual property. Rod's ongoing involvement makes a lot of sense.

John Connolly's first day in the office is this Monday February 6th.

Coaching Career Highlights

1994 Super Ten Qld Reds Champions
1995 Super Ten Qld Reds Champions
1996 Super 12 Qld Reds Minor Premiers
1999 Super 12 Qld Reds Minor Premiers
2000 French Champs Stade Francais Premiers
2001 Heineken Cup Stade Francais Finalists
2003/04 Zurich Premiership Bath Minor Premiers/Finalists
2003/04 Zurich Premiership Coach of the Year Award
2004/05 Powergen Cup Bath Finalists

An announcement on the remainder of the coaching team is expected in the coming weeks.

Sharks Update: Oom Kartoffelkopf To The Resuce

2006-02-02T09:16:00.000+02:00

Well, well, well! It seems there wasn't a whole lot of good news to come out of last night's A team game against the Cats, but at least the mystery of the "A.N. Other" in the B team has been solved. Seems a Samoan winger by the name of Alesana Tuilagi has flown in to help us out at short notice - all part of a unique agreement put together by our much-maligned Commercial Director, Herr Staaldraad himself!

It seems that the agreement allows for the transfer of players between ourselves and the Leicester Tigers on short notice - a deal that can only spell good things for Sharks rugby. Our young stars-in-the-making will no doubt benefit greatly from the opportunity to play in Europe. It's also comforting to know that we could conceivably call on a number of battle-hardened English tight forwards should the need ever arise. Now, if only a certain Mr Johnson were still on there books...

Nice going, Rudi!

OO NOTE

It seems that this Tuilagi fellow is a strapping dude, stats and photo from www.ercrugby.com

Alesana Tuilagi
Date of Birth: 24th Feb 1981
Position: Centre / wing
Height: 1.85 m (6' 1")
Weight: 111 kg (17 st 4 lb)
Honours: Samoa

Another Note about the player AN Other

Sharks Spring Samoan Surprise
Posted on Wednesday, February 01, 2006 - 21:08

There was a surprise package at Olympia Park in Rustenburg in the considerable form of giant Samoan wing Alesana Tuilagi, who has joined the Sharks as part of an innovative exchange programme between the Sharks and Leicester, the prominent English club.

The 114kg Tuilagi arrived in the country on Tuesday and was given a second half run in the early game against the Cats second-stringers. He did not have many opportunities to impress, even though the Sharks were convincing winners of that match.

This innovative arrangement with Leicester was brokered by Sharks commercial manager Rudolf Straeuli and it allows for the Sharks and Leicester to loan each other players at short notice.

Tuilagi and the Sharks' pre-season signing, Daniel Farani, played for their country against England at Twickenham last November.

Sharks Update: Teams for tonight's games against the Cats

2006-02-01T13:37:00.000+02:00

Hi all - and thanks to OO for the invitation to post here. I'll be doing my best to keep you guys up to date with matters in Sharks Country, which should be kinda interesting since I live in Jozi.
Anyway - to get us all in the mood, here's the latest info on the teams for tonight's friendlies against the Cats in Rustenburg. This courtesy of those kind folks over at sharksrugby.co.za

"Sharks coach Dick Muir has named his two sides to take on the Cats on Wednesday in Rustenburg in the Sharks final warm-ups ahead of the Vodacom Super 14 which starts next weekend.

This final preparation will afford the coaching staff one last opportunity to test combinations and finalise a possible starting lineup against the Chiefs, while the players have this chance to stake a claim for a berth in that first match.

Muir has chosen a few players in different positions from the last game against the Bulls; in the first game Nico Breedt and Jaco Gouws are swapped around and in the second, Brett Hennessey takes over from the injured JP Pietersen at fullback, Henno Mentz gets a start on the wing, Jacques Botes shifts from eighthman to flank and Braam Immelman is given the number 8 jersey.

Daniel Farani gets a start after coming off the bench against the Bulls and Johann Muller takes over from Albert van den Berg, while Brendon Botha returns from injury and Heinke van der Merwe replaces injured Deon Carstens. In the final change, Jody Jenneker is given a run in place of Bismarck du Plessis at hooker.

The Raggies Team to play at 5pm:

15. Greg Goosen
14. Craig Burden
13. Grant Rees
12. Bradley Barritt
11. An other
10. Scott Spedding
9. Scott Mathie
8. Nico Breedt
7. Jaco Gouws
6. Solly Tyibilika
5. Albert van den Berg
4. Steven Sykes
3. Brent Moyle
2. Skipper Badenhorst
1. Danie Saayman

Cats: 15 Oginga Siwundla, 14 Wylie Human, 13 Dewey Swartbooi, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Jorrie Muller, 10 André Hough, 9 Dave von Hoesslin, 8 Russell Winter, 7 Gerhard Vosloo, 6 Roland Bernard, 5 Gordon Gilfillan, 4 KleinJan Tromp, 3 Bertus Smit, 2 Delarey du Preez, 1 Lawrence Sephaka.

The Hammerheads Team to play at 7pm:
15. Brett Hennessey
14. Henno Mentz
13. Gcoboni Bobo
12. Andries Strauss
11. Dusty Noble
10. Percy Montgomery
9. Ruan Pienaar
8. Braam Immelman
7. Daniel Farani
6. Jacques Botes
5. Johann Muller
4. AJ Venter
3. BJ Botha
2. Jody Jenneker
1. Heinke van der Merwe

Cats: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Ashwin Willemse, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Wayne Julies, 11 Grant Esterhuizen, 10 Tiaan Snyman, 9 Enrico Januarie/Jano Vermaak, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Jannes Labuschagne/Willem Stoltz, 4 Trevor Hall, 3 Marius Hurter/Daniel Muller, 2 Lukas van Biljon, 1 Pietman van Niekerk/Heinrich Kok.

Sharks Reserves
Bismarck du Plessis, Warren Britz, Sandile Nxumalo

Cats Reserves
Ethienne Reynecke, Pietie Ferreira, Arno Coetzee, John Daniels, Ethienne Reynecke."

I reckon we have reason to be pretty bullish (or should that be Sharkish?) about our chances tonight. Both Cats packs look pretty solid, if lacking any real gamebreakers. I reckon we should match them quite easily in the tight 5, with our loosies edging theirs. I expect Bernard and Grobelaar to be quite a handful, but Solly and Jacques Botes should be able to beat them to the breakdown. Let's hope Farani puts in a big performance and shows us all why he's here. Breedt and Immelman also need to put their hands up for a change, especially Nico. He hasn't impressed at all since moving from Free State but he's back in his best position tonight, so let's hope he has a blinder.

Our halfbacks in both teams are a ton better than what the Cats can put out there (except for Ricky - he's pretty good, but will he play?) and the outside backs are pretty evenly matched. The Cats have more experience on their side, but they also have Jorrie, which swings the arguement in our favour. I reckon Strauss and Bobo are likely to be outgunned by the Bok pair of Julies and Fourie in the later game, but it'll be a good test for the youngster and the oldster. Young Bradley Barrit is an exciting prospect too, so with any luck our woes at 12 will soon be a thing of the past, with some young talent coming through, as well as the imminent return of James and arrival of Brown. (James Brown? I feel good!)

Whatever the outcome, remember that a lot of frontline Sharks players are not going to be involved tonight, including Davidson, James, Brown, Russell, Hall, Kokoali, Smit, Carstens, Ackermann, Jacobs, Murray and Pietersen. There's a lot of depth in this squad and most of the youngsters look to have real talent. Bright times are ahead for the Sharks!

Cheers
RobD

"I'm singing in the rain...

2006-01-31T15:54:00.000+02:00

…what a wonderful day, I am happy again.” As sung by Heyneke Meyer or Rassie Erasmus?

With all the rain that has fallen recently so generously over most parts of the country, one would have to contemplate over the possibility of the S14 and rain. More specific, rain during the opening match in the city of Roses.

Not too many matches have been played in Bloemfontein under the cover of a downpour, but one comes to mind – the CC match between the Sharks and the Cheetahs. Where young Meyer Bosman starting for the first time for the home side. The newcomer and good play by fullback Hollenbach, the scrumhalf Oelshig and the center Strauss, now playing for the side against which he played that day, outdid the visitors. Not to mention the forwards play.
Needless to say the Cheetahs won that day, through some good tactics and players who made the plan happen.

Should the rain bless us on the 10th of February 2006, some interesting moves by the coaches would have to be considered.

We all know that the Cheetahs in their CC form defeated the team of Cape Town in rainy whether in the semi-final in 2004. The Freestaters were by far the underdogs.
But this is the S14. Would they be able to adapt to the rain as well as they had done during those previous two games?

The question can be put to the Bulls also. How would Heyneke Meyer, the coach, handle the opening game of the S14 in wet conditions?

Although, I can’t recall a recent match of the Bulls involving rain, I could look at their artillery for adaptablity.

Props
The obvious would be to pick a heavy pack. But if your best front rowers were injured, you’d have to make due with what you have. Engels, van der Walt and Human could be an option. Personally I wouldn’t gamble with using Vermeulen as tight head in that game. The powerhouse props of the Cheetahs would demolish him. But give him time. He is mobile and we might have a new Richard Bands in the making. This is where Meyer should plan carefully. Forward play in the rain is crucial and to lose here, could mean the match.

Locks
The locks are solid. Bakkies and van Schouwenburg would probably start the match. Their possession of the lineout balls could make the difference. Barend Pieterse would be their main rival – he did taste success against them at several occasions. Whoever partners with him for the Cheetahs, would have their work cut out.

Loose forwards
Wannenburg has shown in the past that he can stand up to any man in his position. Just ask the Lions in the semi-final of the 2005 CC.
Tim Dlulane would be handy when playing the ball in wet conditions - being a traditional fetcher - his role can’t be overstated.
Pierre Spies? A big forward with the speed of a wing – what more would you ask for in rainy conditions? Add Rossouw and Cronje on the bench, and you don’t have to worry about agility there. But will it be enough to tame Juan Smith and co?

Backline

Hougaard, with his cannon kicks, in conjunction with Heini Adams – who can also boot the ball many a mile – would be lethal in these conditions. Both players would want to prove to their coach that they deserve to be the number one choices in their respective positions.

At center Dries Scholtz would be the perfect player. A light-footed guy like Russel has proven in the above-mentioned game that when you don’t have any grip underneath you, sidestepping is virtually impossible and size becomes essential. And size is what Scholtz has plenty of.

The speed and strenght of JP Nel would be the obvious choice as partner to Scholtz.

Habana, Ndungane and Roets all pick themselves as the experienced back three combination. Interesting though, is that Olivier has started training in the full back position lately. Might we see a surprise on the bench as replacement for Roets?

From a Bulls prospective I would think that they would be looking to dominate the set pieces and work their play with the forwards, bring their strong centers in play and when in their own half, let the half-backs kick the ball down the field with interest.

In a perfect world, sure, why not? But the Cheetahs are hardly a push over. Set pieces would be messy and the referee would have to be sharp on this point. The combination of Oelshig and Bosman worked out perfectly in previous encounters in the rain – especially Oelshig with his trusted boot. With Keith Lowan at center – as tough as any center can get – alongside a guy like Goodes, can pose as much a danger as the Bulls’ centers. Add to that Juan Smith and his fellow loosies, with the experience of the coach, Rassie Erasmas, and the Bulls could have their work cut out for them. Both sides' defense are the trademark of their approach, so tries would be scarce in these conditions, since wingplay are virtually eleminated.

My own verdict? After taking in consideration the history of these two sides in the old S12, if rainy weather is expected, the Cheetahs would be favorites this time around – but I do believe the Bulls would pull it through. I do believe, even with the injuries, there would be too much firepower for the Cheetahs to overpower (PS: I think I said the same regarding the CC final last year. I don’t think I would be wrong twice in a row, would I?).

GET ON THE BUS

2006-01-31T15:21:00.000+02:00

Sent: Tuesday, January 24, 2006 1:23 PMSubject: Cheetahs Bus
Hi Cheetahs
Starting with passion!!!
Two games for the price of one……. SUPER 14 and VODACOM CUP
Join the Gauteng Cheetah Supporters Bus to and from Bloemfontein.
Only 24 seats available
Book before 1st February to secure your seats…. We leave at 10h00 Friday 10th February back home at 14h00 Saturday 11th February 2006.

All inclusive package: 1. Return bus trip. 2. Accommodation. 3. Breakfast 4. Entry to games.
5. Braai at the game.
6. Afterparty!!!!!!!!! at Mystic Boer
"Me & my Mate" package:
R1300 Per person sharing a room. ……not a bed!!!! Or
"Loner Ranger" package:
Price: R1 450 (own room) Or
"Supa Dupa" package:
R1 950 including own room, your Super 14 Jersey and Cheetahs Cap.

Fax your booking request with contact details to 0866 109 106, phoen me or email before 1st Feb to confirm.
Payment details will follow bookings.
Kobus van Rooyen Cheetahs Supporters Club 083 - 2777 955 011 - 477 3054

The Force is 'live

2006-01-31T13:56:00.000+02:00

This arti from the official Western Force site, as part of OORB reporting on the use of technology to spread the game. Please note that Vodacom is the Tournament Sponsor in South Africa and Toohey's the sponsor in Australia.

Vodafone Joins Emirates Western Force

Tuesday, 31 January 2006
Vodafone/RugbyWA

With less than two weeks to the start of the Tooheys New Super 14 season, the Emirates Western Force has kicked off 2006 with a major sponsorship partnership with Vodafone.

The sponsorship is part of a renewed three-year, multi million-dollar commitment to Australian rugby by Vodafone Australia.

In a first for Australian rugby, Vodafone will offer exclusive rugby content on Vodafone live!, including behind the scenes footage, interviews with players, match statistics and team updates.

Vodafone are on board with the Emirates Western Force

Vodafone has a strong track record of supporting winning teams such as Ferrari and the Emirates Western Force believes it will make a major contribution to that winning culture.

RugbyWA chief executive Peter O'Meara said Vodafone had always been a big supporter of rugby and he was thrilled the company had renewed its ties with the game.

"The Emirates Western Force believes that its partnership with a national brand of Vodafone's stature, which has a reputation for supporting it sponsorships with strong promotional activity, will generate a positive result for us both," O'Meara said.

General Manager of Vodafone WA, Darren Hayes said; "Vodafone, like many of its customers, has been a passionate supporter of Australian rugby for many years and we are excited to renew our ties with the rugby community.

"We want to bring this sponsorship to life for our customers and rugby supporters. Whether it's on their handset or at the game we will deliver a bigger, better rugby experience."

Through this sponsorship Vodafone also plans to strengthen ties with businesses, well known supporters of rugby.

"The SOHO and SME markets are a key focus for growth in 2006. We are rapidly expanding our products and services and plan to relate the benefits of the mobile through this sponsorship," Hayes added.

Existing customers will also have access to 'money can't buy' rugby experiences through Vodafone's customer loyalty reward program, Delight.

The partnership, which lifts the level of corporate support for Rugby to an all-time high, sees Vodafone take up the exclusive telecommunications sponsorship of the Wallabies, ACT Brumbies, QLD Reds and the Emirates Western Force, as well as becoming the sleeve sponsor for the NSW Waratahs.

2006-01-31T10:12:00.000+02:00

This is a very interesting article on the possibilities of using broadband to promote the game of Rugby Union - especially on club level - to a worldwide audience. It is from Rapport- cut & pasted in order to stimulate public debate

NOTE: RAPPORT DOES NOT SUPPORT OORB OR OORB READERS VIEWS

28/01/2006 17:26 - (SA)
Telkom sit TV-aas aan sy hoek om breëband uit te brei
DAVID VAN ROOYEN

Telkom het nie aspirasies om hom as 'n televisiemaatskappy van formaat te vestig nie, maar soek eerder maniere waarop hy die gebruikers van breëbandtegnologie kan aanspoor om die bandwydte tot hul beskikking baie meer te gebruik.

En wêreldwyd is die ervaring dat die beskikbaarheid van mediadienste soos televisie, musiek en radio een van die suksesvolste maniere is om die benutting van breëbandtegnologie te bevorder.

Só sê mnr. Ricus Matthyser, die uitvoerende amptenaar van Telkom se afdeling vir nuwe sake, oor die nuus dat Telkom begin het met 'n aanvoorprogram om die lewensvatbaarheid van televisie-uitsendings oor Telkom se ASDL-breëbandlyne te toets.

Volgens hom gaan die toenemende gebruik van die bandwydte noodwendig daartoe lei dat die koste verbonde daaraan verminder.

Sowat 300 mense neem deel aan die aanvoorprojek wat Telkom saam met Microsoft en Alcatel onderneem.

Matthyser sê ervaring wereldwyd het reeds getoon dat die gebruik van breëbandtegnologie besonder geskik is vir mediadienste omdat dit baie meer geleenthede skep vir interaktiewe deelname deur die gebruikers as byvoorbeeld satelliettegnologie wat tans op groot skaal in Suid-Afrika gebruik word.

Die beskikbare tegnologie sal dit nie net vir gebruikers moontlik maak om toegang tot 'n onbeperkte getal televisiekanale te kry nie, maar die gebruiker sal onder meer na rolprente van sy eie keuse kan kyk wanneer hy wil en self kan besluit na watter televisieprogramme hy wil kyk en wanneer, ongeag van die skedule van die kanale wat die programme uitsaai.

En dan praat 'n mens nie eens van die magdom gebruike soos om na musiek en radioprogramme van jou keuse te luister, en musiek af te laai wanneer jy wil nie. "En jy kan na die musiek in surround sound op jou tuisvermaaksentrum luister, en nie meer oor die rekenaar se luidsprekers nie."

Die uiteinde gaan wees dat die gebruiker uiteindelik teen 'n billike prys 'n enkele pakket kan koop wat aan hom telefoondienste, internettoegang en unieke mediadienste sal bied.

Hoewel Microsoft en Alcatel betrokke is by die toetsprogram, is hul deelname gegrond op verskaffingskontrakte. Albei is groot verskaffers aan Telkom.

Microsoft se Media Centre-programmatuur is ook die instrument waarmee verbruikers se rekenaars en ander toerusting uiteindelik verbind gaan wees aan die netwerk waarop die mediadienste beskikbaar is.

Telkom het reeds in samewerking met Mecer besluit om die Media Centre, wat 'n rekenaar insluit, gratis te verskaf aan die sowat 6 000 gebruikers van Telkom se gevorderdste breëbandpakket om dit vir hulle moontlik te maak om met hul breëbandwydte toegang tot mediadienste te kry.

Matthyser sê die aanvoorprojek is nie soseer daarop gemik om te kyk of so 'n projek tegnologies lewensvatbaar is nie, want "ons weet reeds dat die tegnologie elders werk".

Die doel is eerder om te bepaal in watter mediadienste Suid-Afrikaners belang stel en of dit lewensvatbaar is om dié dienste vir hulle te bied.

"Ons soek aantwoorde op vrae soos of dit nog nodig is om 'n televisiekanaal wat rolprente uitsaai beskikbaar te stel, as die verbruiker sy eie rolprente uit 'n biblioteek kan kies."

Oor die vraag of Telkom sy eie programme gaan uitsaai, of sy netwerk vir iemand anders beskikbaar gaan stel, sê Matthyser dat besluite soos dié nog ná die aanvoorprojek geneem moet word.

" 'n Mens sal moet aanvaar dat Telkom minstens sekere uitsaaigeriewe sal moet inrig om die mediadienste te lewer en dat dit miljoene rande se beleggings sal vereis."

Hy sê Telkom gesels reeds met die televisiegroepe in Suid-Afrika, terwyl hy ook al talle aanbiedings gekry het van ander partye wat inhoud wil verskaf.

Claassen sê die ervaring in die buiteland het getoon dat van die groot telekommunikasiegroepe in Amerika en Europa, wat reeds televisie oor breéband beskikbaar stel, besluit het om die televisie-uitsendings self te bestuur.

So het die Amerikaanse groep SBC, wat tot onlans 'n aandeelhouer in Telkom was, sy diens met 200 kanale geskep met die mikpunt om dit tot sowat 1 000 uit te brei.

Oor die een vraag wat die skeptici dikwels vra - of Suid-Afrika se breëbandspoed vinnig genoeg is om 'n doeltreffende televisiediens aan te bied - sê Matthyser dat die 3 gigagreep per maand wat tans vir Telkom se breëbandkliënte beskikbaar is, meer as genoeg is om vir televisiedienste te gebruik.

Hy voorsien dus nie bykomende groot beleggings in nog breëbandwydte nie, maar sê dat dit uitgebrei sal word namate die behoefte daaraan ontstaan.

In Australië word bepaalde mediadienste selfs oor inbel-internetdienste beskikbaar gestel.

Telkom beskik oor 270 000 internetkliënte waarvan 120 000 ASDL-lyne het, wat beteken daar is reeds 'n grondslag vir 'n netwerk wat die grense van vermaak in Suid-Afrika in die afsienbare toekoms gaan verskuif.

2006-01-31T09:46:00.000+02:00

These articles from www.volksblad.com

‘Cheetah-span beïndruk meer’
Jan 31 2006 02:15:06:847AM - (SA)
Herbert Pretorius

KAAPSTAD. – Die Vodacom-Cheetahs is meer indrukwekkend as die Stormers en die Katte, sê mnr. Pieter de Villiers.

Dié rugbyafrigter van die Suidelike Spiese se streekspan het in losmakers teen die Cheetahs, Katte en die Stormers gespeel.

Ofskoon De Villiers se span teen die Stormers die grootste van sy nederlae in sy kragmetings met Suid-Afrikaanse Super 14-spanne gely het, beskou hy mnr. Rassie Erasmus se hartlandspan as die indrukwekkendste.

“Wat my betref, was die Cheetahs die bes georganiseerde en gestruktureerde span.

“Hulle het met groter doelgerigtheid gespeel en het die basiese aspekte van die spel beter onder die knie gehad,” sê De Villiers.

Die Stormers sal hul dissipline blitsvinnig moet opknap of dít gaan hulle duur in die Super 14-reeks te staan kom.

Heel ironies is dit die mening van ’n afrigter wie se span die naweek in Wellington kwaai gestraf is weens húl ongedissiplineerdheid.

De Villiers glo die Stormers het deurgaans met moord weggekom in hul oorwinning van 73-5 oor die Suidoos-Kapenaars.

“Die skeidsregter (mnr. Marius Jonker) het die Stormers geen gunste bewys deur hulle nié te straf weens hul knaende oortredings in die losskrums en -gemale nie.

“Die Stormers het die bal deurlopend op die grond gespeel en boonop van die kante af ingestorm gekom. Oorsese skeidsregters het hulle in die verlede met heelwat kaarte vir presies dieselfde oortredings gestraf.

“Ongelukkig het my spelers weens die Stormers se ontoelaatbare spel die josie in geraak en is húlle gestraf.

“Toe al ons spelers op die veld was, het die Stormers min deurdringingsvermoë getoon. Trouens, die druk op hulle is eers verlig toe hulle teen minder spelers te staan gekom het.

“Die Stormers se agterlyn, met al sy Springbokke, het aanvanklik ook nie hond haaraf gemaak teen ons nie.

“Die Katte se grootste probleem lê by die verdediging van hul agterlyn. In hul wedstryd teen ons, was dít uiters verdag.”

De Villiers, wat die Suid-Afrikaanse o.21-span verlede jaar tot Wêreldbeker-glorie help voer het, het ook ’n mening oor die Stormers se veelbesproke vaste vyf.

“Hulle was nie sleg nie, maar gaan nie sommer ander pakke in die Super 14-reeks oorheers nie. En dít is kommerwekkend, want as die pak nie vorentoe gaan nie, gaan ’n aanvallende haker soos Schalk Brits ook aan bande gelê word.”

Volgens De Villiers is dit ook problematies dat die Stormers se buite-agterspelers te min besit op die voorvoet kry.

“Die buite-agterspelers kry die bal onder druk en vind dit dan moeilik om iets uitgerig te kry. Dít was verlede jaar ook Westelike Provinsie se probleem.

De Villiers meen ’n deel van die probleem lê ook by Peter Grant.

“Hy gee eenvoudig nie genoeg rigting aan die agterlyn nie. Dit vertel buitendien ’n storie as die span wat met krummels vir besit tevrede moet wees se losskakel die grootste indruk maak.”

De Villiers het hier verwys na Isma-eel Dollie, voorheen van WP, se blink vertoning teen sy meer geroemde teenstanders.

Dié uitgesproke breier wou nie ’n mening oor die Bulle en die Haaie se kanse in die Super 14-reeks huldig nie, aangesien hy hulle nog nie vanjaar in aksie gesien het nie.

Oranje Orakel lees elke oggend die Volksblad. teken sommer vandag in en kry elke oggend jou eie koerant op jou voorstoep

NOTA: DIE VOLKSBLAD ONDERSTEUN OF ONDERSKRYF GLAD NIE DIE MENINGS VAN OORB OF SY LESERS NIE

2006-01-31T09:38:00.000+02:00

These articles from www.volksblad.com

Cheetahs vestig hoop nie net op losskakels
Jan 31 2006 02:14:59:240AM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

DIE rugbyspan van die Vodacom-Cheetahs sal nie maklik in die strik trap deur al sy hoop slegs op die skopskoene van Willem de Waal en Meyer Bosman te vestig nie.

De Waal en Bosman (albei losskakels) het in die oefenwedstryde teen die Western Force en Treviso uitstekend na die pale gekorrel.

Bosman was die enigste wat een keer teen Treviso skeef gekorrel het, terwyl die res deur hom en De Waal in die kol was.

De Waal was boonop die vorige twee jare die voorste puntemaker in die Curriebeker-reeks, terwyl Bosman in Europa selfs die Bokke se stelskopwerk by Percy Montgomery (heelagter) oorgeneem het.

Voordat Bosman verlede jaar sy kans as plaasvervanger op Curriebeker-vlak vir die Vrystaat gekry het, was hy die voorste puntemaker in SA Rugby se o.21-reeks.

Die Cheetahs is in die verdere bevoorregte posisie dat Gaffie du Toit (heelagter) voorheen die Bokke se eerstekeuse-stelskopper was. Du Toit het teen Treviso met ’n doelskop geslaag.

Barry Goodes, wat ’n aanspraakmaker vir ’n plek op binnesenter is, het vir sy klubspan, Shimlas, op losskakel uitgedraf en die stelskopwerk behartig.

Selfs Falie Oelschig (skrumskakel) het ’n geleerde skopskoen. Oelschig het teen Treviso sy agttal met sy lang kantlynskoppe op die voorvoet gehou en hy het al op Curriebeker-vlak suksesvol die stelskopwerk as kaptein van die SWD-Arende behartig.

Oelschig kan in noodgevalle die stelskopwerk oorneem, hoewel hy na verwagting op die bank sal sit, met Michael Claassens wat skerp vertoon.

“Ons moet nie net op ons stelskopwerk vertrou nie,” sê mnr. Rassie Erasmus, afrigter van die Cheetahs.

“Franco (Smith, agterlynafrigter) oefen kliphard aan dié spelers se skopwerk en ek is tevrede met hul korrelwerk,” sê die Cheetah-breier.

Dié losskakels se skopwerk gee die Cheetahs nietemin baie vertroue voordat die hartlandspan op 10 Februarie teen die Bulle in ’n Super 14-wedstryd speel. Hoewel die Cheetahs vanweë die belangrikheid van bonuspunte beklemtoon het hulle wil drieë in die Super 14 behaal, sal stelskopwerk uiteindelik die koring van die kaf skei.

Teen Treviso het die hartlandspan met sewe drieë onderstreep hy kan meer bonuspunte as wat verwag word in die Super 14 inoes.

Smith gee nie net aandag aan Bosman-hulle se skopwerk nie, maar Bevin Fortuin (heelagter) en al die Cheetah-senters moet weekliks vir skop-oefeninge by dié agterlynafrigter aanmeld.

Die Cheetahs weet stelskopwerk sal veral teen die Bulle belangrik wees, omdat die Noord-Gautengers goeie losskakels in Derick Hougaard en Morné Steyn het.

Mnr. Vlokkie Cilliers is die Bulle se skopafrigter.

Oranje Orakel lees elke oggend die Volksblad. teken sommer vandag in en kry elke oggend jou eie koerant op jou voorstoep

2006-01-30T15:09:00.000+02:00

Hierdie storie vanaf www.volksblad.com

Ollie en Os ruik kruit teen Bulle
Jan 29 2006 10:09:36:277PM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

WELKOM. – Noem die naam Bulle en dit is asof Ollie le Roux kruit ruik, die bloed kan proe en die adrenalien voel pomp.
Gooi die naam van Os du Randt sommer in dieselfde hoed as Le Roux s’n.
Dit is asof dié Bok-loskopstutte as ’t ware hul peil met minstens 30% verbeter wanneer hulle teen die Bulle speel of met hul voorbereiding vir die Vodacom-Cheetahs se rugbywedstryd teen die Noord-Gautengers besig is.
Saterdag se Cheetah-sege van 52-11 hier oor die Italiaanse kampioenspan, Treviso, is ’n sprekende voorbeeld van Le Roux-hulle se verbeterde vorm.
Mnr. Rassie Erasmus (breier) glimlag ook breed oor Wian du Preez (loskopstut) se inklimspel teen Treviso voordat die Cheetahs op 10 Februarie in Bloemfontein in ’n Super 14-wedstryd teen die Bulle op die veld draf.
Erasmus het Le Roux egter ná die wedstryd teen Treviso uitgesonder.
“Ollie is ’n speler van wêreldgehalte.
“Hy kan in enige posisie in die voorry sak,” sê Erasmus.
“Ollie het in die laaste drie wedstryde (met CJ van der Linde wat beseer is) op vaskopstut gespeel en hom goed van sy taak gekwyt.
“Sy houding is van groot waarde vir die span,” sê Erasmus.
Van der Linde behoort vandeesweek weer volstoom aan die Cheetah-oefeninge deel te neem.
“ ’n Mens moet onthou Ollie het in 1994 op haker vir die Bokke gespeel. Sy toegewydheid is ’n voorbeeld vir die res van sy spanmaats.
“Hy is ’n ongelooflike speler,” sê Erasmus.
Die Cheetah-skrumwerk was uitmuntend teen Treviso, en Du Preez, Le Roux en Du Randt het ’n groot bydrae gelewer. Du Randt se plettervatte het ’n mens boonop aan sy goeie peil in 1995 herinner.
“Ons skrums was nie goed teen die Western Force nie, maar ek het altyd geweet ’n agttal kan sy krag en tegniek nie oornag kwyt wees nie.
“Ek dink dit was ’n geval van swak konsentrasie teen die Western Force.
“Daar was nie baie skrums teen Treviso nie, maar ons het op hul ingooi goeie druk op hulle geplaas,” volgens die Cheetah-breier.
Le Roux het sy waarde reeds in verlede jaar se Curriebeker-eindstryd beklemtoon.
Hy is ’n speler wat sielkundige houe kan uitdeel, maar terselfdertyd bereid is om sy wang te draai as hy aan die ontvangkant is. Hy weet presies hoe om die vonk aan sy spanmaats op belangrike tye in die wedstryd te verskaf.
Ná drie oefenwedstryde bestaan min twyfel dat die Cheetah-stutfaktor, met Le Roux aan die voorpunt, ’n groot faktor in die Super 14 sal bly.
Die taai mededinging wat Du Preez aan dié twee Bokke op loskopstut bied, sal verder verseker dat Le Roux en Du Randt se aandag nog nie op hul pensioengeld gerig word nie, maar eerder om die man in die saal in die nommereen-trui te wees.

Follow the Money

2006-01-30T13:04:00.000+02:00

An extremely good article by Mike Lawrence- hosted on www.pitpass.com

Implosion
29/01/2006
Ford is to close 14 plants and shed 25 30,000 jobs. Most would seem to be in the USA, but that is bad news for more than just Ford employees in America. Every new car needs tyres, spark plugs and light bulbs, so there will be a downturn among suppliers. When America sneezes, the rest of us catch a cold.
Do not lose sight of this chilling fact, Dubya has borrowed more money than every other President, from George Washington to Bill Clinton, combined. Dubya has turned a budget surplus into a trillion dollar deficit and it is planned to increase. America is borrowing from nations which save their money and it will end in tears. Debts have to be repaid and to do that countries have to sell things. America's two largest manufacturers, Ford and General Motors, are facing bankruptcy. If they were not who they are, where they are, neither would be in business.
Before the end of 2006, Toyota will have overtaken The General to become the world's most prolific maker of vehicles. GM is basically bankrupt and, unlike Ford, has yet to address its problems. It used to be said that what is good for General Motors is good for America and that was probably true, but the downside is what is bad for General Motors...
Despite this, I have seen it suggested, on another website, that GM should consider Formula One as part of its revival strategy. This would be like trying to douse a fire with petrol. Besides, what name would be used when you have a choice of Cadillac, Buick, Chevrolet, Saab, Holden, Vauxhall and Opel?
Ford has factories everywhere and it also owns roughly a quarter of Mazda (the Ford Cougar coupé used a Mazda platform, the result was dire). The Ford Puma coupé of 1997 was designed in Britain, on a Fiesta platform, and made in Spain. The engines however, needed a special treatment and, since the production was only 5,000 units a year, all the engine blocks were shipped to Yamaha in Japan, then shipped back to Spain.
Ford still makes a profit in Europe, and in South America, but it is failing in North America. Fuel and steel prices are rising, partly because China has entered the world market in a big way. American customers are turning away from large engined trucks and SUVs because, increasingly, they do not make economic sense. Furthermore, cars made for the North American market rarely have an application elsewhere.

Ten years ago Chrysler introduced its Neon saloon to the UK. On paper it looked a bargain, it had all the bells and whistles at a keen price. On value for money, it was swell, but it bombed because it had no virtue as a machine to drive. It was fine on an American freeway, with a 55 mph speed limit, but damn all use where I live, where the roads have corners and lots of them.
Pitpass is about motor racing, and as I keep saying, motor racing is not fuelled by petrol, it's fuelled by money. Ford has been the most creative contributor to all branches of the sport for more than 40 years. Le Mans, Indianapolis, F1, F2, F3, Formula Junior, saloons, various and manifold, let's not forget the great Ford/BMW battles of the early 1970s, plus rallies and, of course all the various Ford formulae. Ford has been great for motor sport and motor sport has been great for Ford.
At the beginning of 1959 you could still buy, in Britain, the Ford Popular, which looked like a Gothic chapel on wheels. Its specification was from an earlier age: sidevalve engine, beam front axle, cable brakes, three speed gearbox (with a throw measured in feet) and vacuum operated windscreen wipers. The wipers were swell, they worked okay on the flat at a constant speed, but if you came to a hill, you had to drop a gear and take a run at it. The harder you pushed on the loud pedal, the slower the wipers went, until they stopped. This was not what you needed on a dark and wet night with headlights that hardly got beyond the front bumper.
By the end of the same year you could buy the 105E Anglia with an engine which was a class leader. The Anglia also had a four speed transmission and for the next decade road testers would compare all gear changes, no matter how expensive the car, to the sweetness of the Ford 'box. None surpassed the transmission in what became the cheapest Ford. Ford led the way with it most inexpensive model, it beat Ferrari, Porsche and Aston Martin, the Ford gearbox was the business.
That 105E engine, with assistance from Cosworth, swept Formula Junior and established the dominance of the British motor racing industry because it killed off all the small constructors elsewhere.
Ford realised that a major influence in sales was the guy in every office who 'knew all about cars'. Suddenly Ford was getting a great name and we had landmarks like the Lotus Cortina, the Mustang and, in due time, the Sierra Cosworth. Forty years on and the Mustang is the Hollywood director's car of choice to portray a slightly off the wall hero, Aiden Quinn drives one in Conviction. Tom Cruise has a Mustang in The War Of The Worlds. The Shelby 450 GT version was top of Nicholas Cage's list in Gone In 60 Seconds while, in the TV series, Spenser For Hire, 'Spenser' (Robert Ulrich) was given a Mustang though he doesn't drive one in the books.
I don't even have to mention James Bond (two movies) and Bullitt, I am talking only about Mustangs at least 30 years old, but still the coolest car on the block. Tom Cruise drives an old car in War Of The Worlds and it marks him out as the special guy who will do something about those pesky Martians. A Camero of similar vintage would not send the same signal even though it is, on balance, the better car.
Ford was recently in Formula One through Jaguar Racing. The writing was on the wall when Bill Ford III demanded to know who the heck was Eddie Irvine, his company's top paid employee. When the COE has not heard of the leader of Ford's F1 team, the F1 team is doomed.
It is always the same, a few guys in senior positions, wanted the paddock passes and the cred. Various factions in Ford had been playing off each other like courtiers fawning around a Renaissance prince. One day the prince said, 'I am Bill Ford III. I am the prince. I am in charge.' Courtiers (aka suits) were sent home to tend their estates,
A problem faced by Ford and General Motors when producing in North America, is the deals struck with the union, United Auto Workers. Both companies are signed to welfare and pension schemes. In the case of Ford, that represents a layout of US$ three billion per year, or $1,000 per car. GM's bill, pro rata, is about the same. Between them, they will lay out $8 billion in 2006 on medical care and pensions, once they have done that, then they can think about making a profit.

In mature European countries, health care is free to the individual (it is not actually free, since it is paid for through taxation). If I am taken ill in Paris, I will receive excellent health care from a local hospital and the same is true if a person from France if taken ill in my city. Nobody will ask, 'How are you paying'? Both of us have already paid.
On New Year's Eve, The Times speculated that within 12 months Ford and/or General Motors may have to apply for bankruptcy protection. UAW had negotiated a small reduction (less than 4%) in medical care cost and this had received the backing of 51% of the membership. Some members, however, are claiming that the vote was rigged and want to go to court. If that happens, the true condition of either company could be exposed. Both are broke. A recent poll showed that 74% of American consumers would not buy a car from a company under bankruptcy protection. If either Ford or GM had to apply for protection, they would be finished,
Ford and GM are kept alive by banks, to whom they owe hundreds of billions of dollars. If Henry and The General fall, banks will fall. The whole American economy could collapse. That was not funny in 1929 and it would be even less funny in 2006. If you have a pension plan, it will be linked in some way to the American economy.
American unions are powerful, but then their fight for recognition is recent and, often, was bitter. In the 1920s, Henry Ford himself sanctioned the hire of gangsters to break union picket lines and you do not hire men with broken noses for their persuasive diplomacy. There are historical reasons why the unions are wary of management.
Another factor in all this is China. Ford and GM have both invested in China and last year, GM made nearly 250,000 vehicles there. Volkswagen, which has been in China for nigh on 20 years, made almost twice as many. BMW is in China, in partnership with Brilliance. Honda is in China, like it or not, a Chinese company has copied Honda designs.
The Chinese government has a relaxed attitude to copying, ask Microsoft. China represents itself as a modern nation, but it is a hotbed of piracy.
At present, China is servicing its home market with cars, but in about five years time it will begin to export. The effect will surely be like the arrival of Japanese cars. Nothing could compete with Japanese cars when they first arrived in Europe. For a start, they came laden with what were otherwise optional extras', such as a radio. It was economic sense to put a radio in every car when they were being sent by sea 12,000 miles. You bought a Japanese car from the showroom, you did not order one, ticking a box for a radio and paying extra. You did not go through a list of colour options, you chose a red one, or a blue one, and the prices were so keen nobody argued.
My DVD player became temperamental recently so I added a new DVD player to my shopping basket at a local supermarket, along with the bread, the eggs and the orange juice. It cost less than the recommended retail price of a Harry Potter DVD, bung it in the basket. Not only that, but in every way it is superior to the DVD player I junked. I cannot find 'Made In China' anywhere on it, but it was made in China. In small letters on the box is 'Made in PRC' (People's Republic of China). The word 'China' does not actually appear.
In 2003, it cost $34 per hour to employ a car worker in the USA and $2 an hour to employ one in China. A car worker in the USA is covered for their medical care, but there is no such obligation in China. Until recently, a Chinese worker received medical care as a matter of right, China was a down the line Marxist state, but now the individual must pay. Much of the population cannot afford to pay.
On BBC World Service recently I heard a heart rending interview with a Chinese peasant farmer. His wife is dying of cancer and she needs treatment he cannot afford. His only option is to rise early and pick herbs in the hope that a folk remedy may alleviate her condition. Herbs do not cure cancer, she needs chemotherapy, or surgery, but herbs is all the guy can offer. Not long ago, his wife would have been treated, free to the individual, with the best medical care his region could offer.
Think of this man, and his wife, and their children, when next you see effusive coverage from Shanghai for something as unimportant as a motor race.

We have an irony in that American car workers, in a capitalist state, have negotiated medical care and China, still a one party, nominally Marxist, state, has withdrawn the healthcare that we, in Europe, take for granted.
Recently, we in the West, followed the story of miners trapped in a coal mine in West Virginia. That wouldn't make the news in China because, literally, it happens every day. Thirteen coal miners are killed in China every single day, 365 days a year. Yup, that means more than 4,000 killed in 2005. It's amazing what you pick up from BBC World Service.
China is operating sweatshop conditions so the rest of the world can enjoy goods cheaper than I have known in my lifetime. My DVD player cost a twelfth of what I paid for a basic VCR (no remote) 20 years ago.
Of course, the Chinese are stealing the markets. We in the West beat our brows over children in sweatshops, but how did we become rich? It was through exactly the same process. In Britain we had women and children, as young as four, down coal mines. Mill workers were often slaves in all but name. There were slaves in America's Deep South who had an easier time than some of my forebears. It was better to be a black butler in a big house on a Georgia plantation than it was to be a mill worker, or a miner, in Britain. Freedom? Who had the greater freedom? Was it the butler, an essential pivot in a great house, or was it the kid, apparently free, who was chained to a loom? Who ate better? Who wore the better clothes? Who had more authority?
Of course, the butler could be sold, in theory, but nobody is going to sell a good butler. On the other hand, kid loses an arm in a machine, sack the kid. The kid will be 'free', free to beg on the streets or become a thief,
Ever read John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath? If not, you should. Steinbeck could write like an angel on occasion, and this is such an occasion. The novel tells of the exploitation of migrant workers in America, and it happened within living memory.
Britain was the first to exploit workers, because we created the Industrial Revolution, but everyone else has followed the pattern. In our case, one of the main prongs was the mass production of cotton goods. We did not care who else we made poor, people using hand looms, our mills took cotton thread and made it into cloth, which we sold round the world.
China is an ecological disaster, but then so was 19th Century London and New York. Actually, both cities were ecological disasters until recently. Want to understand exploitation of labour? Watch On The Waterfront. The same things happened in ports in Britain, but Hollywood once tackled big issues. There was a time when Hollywood was not about the hero running in slow motion from the explosion and somehow not being lacerated from flying glass, metal or brick,
China is doing what the UK and the USA once did. It is making products which undercut the market and it is using the same exploitative techniques which we once used as a matter of course and have conveniently forgotten.
Recently I bought a new TV, flat screen, 28", no bell unrung and no whistle unblown. On the front is the name 'Bush'. My family had a Bush radio in 1948, it is a name with resonance for me. Bush stands for sturdy men, men who smoke pipes and who perhaps maintain a pigeon loft. It has 'Bush' on the front, but it was made in China. If it wasn't made in China, I couldn't have afforded it.
I think that we in the West should buy while we can because China is headed for crisis. After nearly sixty years of Marxism, its banking system is fragile. No matter what else the British did, we left India with a sound infrastructure and cricket. China does not have a sound financial infrastructure, and there is something else, it has no trade unions.
When I was a teacher, I made sure that a union was behind me before I entered a classroom, It was good advice from a fine Headteacher. I never needed the union, but it was always behind me. I have a friend, a teacher, who did need her union, and her union delivered. I am a union man.

China does not have independent trade unions, but it will. There are an estimated 190 million migrant Chinese workers (they have moved within China to obtain work) and 48% of them (more than 90 million workers) have not received their contracted wages, many have not been paid at all. Ninety million is an awful lot of pissed off people. It's roughly the population of the UK and Scandinavia, plus Holland and Belgium.
When Formula One visits Shanghai, TV presenters (who are put up in five star hotels) gush about the economic miracle. They never mention the 4,000 miners who die each year, the 90 million who haven't been paid or the hundreds of millions who cannot afford basic health care which, once, was free. No government can contain that level of discontent for long.
China is trying to be both a Marxist state and a free enterprise zone. That is a recipe for disaster unless you have an internal buffer, such as an independent union movement along with, in parallel, an independent media. Google has done a deal with China and the big news is that while it will censor websites critical of the Chinese leadership, it will tell the Chinese user that they have been denied access. This is supposed to be progress?
The big question is, which will collapse first, China or America? Ford and General Motors are essentially bankrupt, therefore America is bankrupt. America is borrowing money to service its military and, one day, will have to redeem the loans. China cannot continue its present course because someone, one day, will say, "This ain't right". Such a thought was the start for Chairman Mao.
I think it is a race between America and China as to be the first to implode.
The overall winner will be India. India has been catching up with China. India has many problems, but it does have a solid infrastructure, it is a democracy and it has a free press. There are all sorts of problems involving corruption, but the basic structure is sound.
America used to have a sound infrastructure, China never has had one. China has never been more than a lot of people sharing the same land mass. Did you know, for example, that the staple grain for a third of Chinese is not rice, but millet? Try ordering millet with your Chop Suey and egg roll.
The other thing about dealing with India, as we will have to, is that Indians are crazy about cricket. I think we English may have a slight advantage there, we know about 'deep gully' and 'silly mid off', and Johnny Frenchman, and Kurt der Kraut, has no idea what we're talking about. I suggest that we keep it that way.
In the meantime, buy all the cheap stuff you can and then sit back and watch the firework display as Chine and America battle to be the first to implode. Please remember, you read it first on Pitpass.com.
Mike Lawrence

When in Melbourne-

2006-01-27T13:15:00.000+02:00

The official Force website reports as follows:

Emirates Western Force on Crusade in Melbourne

Tuesday, 24 January 2006CRFU/RugbyWA

David Fitter and Reuben Thorne will lock horns in Melbourne on Saturday

Melbourne's Olympic Park Stadium will be transformed into a battleground on Saturday January 28 for a pre-season match-up between the world's strongest provincial rugby union team, the Crusaders, and Tooheys New Super 14 newcomers, the Emirates Western Force.

The match, a Crusaders home game, will be a baptism of fire for the squad as they take to the field for the first time against an established Super 14 team. The club from Canterbury won five Super 12 titles, and are the reigning champions.

Melbourne-born tight head prop David Fitter is looking forward to playing his first match in front of his home crowd since joining the Emirates Western Force and becoming a Wallaby in the 2005 Northern Hemisphere tour.

"It's exciting to be part of a new team and even more exciting for me to play in front of my home crowd," Fitter said. "While the pressure on the team to win is less intense than it would otherwise be during the season, all players need to prove they are ready to play their position. This will mean a creative and skilful game for sports fans."

With the recent sell-out of the Melbourne Commonwealth Games Rugby 7's finals and the hype surrounding the pending English tour in Melbourne, organisers expect a bumper crowd to fill Melbourne Olympic Park.

Restoring "Pride"

2006-01-27T13:09:00.000+02:00

Another cut & paste jobbie, this time from www.rugby365.com, from the pen of Jan de Koning

Stormers to restore 'lost pride'
Thursday January 26 2006
'It's important to start well'

The Stormers, after a dismal 2005 when they finished ninth on the Super 12 standings, are out to restore their lost pride in the inaugural Super 14 and reproduce the form that saw them reach the semi-finals in 1999 and 2004.

As the Cape franchise head into their second and final pre-season outing, against the Southern Spears in Wellington on Saturday, the coaching staff and players emphasised the importance of a solid start to the tournament.

That means getting off to a winning start in Round One, against the Cats in Johannesburg on February 11.

Hooker Hanyani Shimange, who will start the season as the Stormers' first choice hooker after a couple of years on the bench, made no secret of the fact that being on top of the Super 14 standings is their main priority.

"Yes, there is the issue of relegation in the South African set-up, but we're not concerned about that," Shimange said.

"We are looking forward to the season, and t is pretty exciting, because it's a fresh start for everyone ... with the new management team," the Bok hooker said.

"We are just hoping to bring the Stormers back to what they were a couple of years ago."

Asked how he feels about the possibility that he could even be first choice in the Bok team, with Bok captain and hooker John Smit still on the injury list, he said that is also not his focus at the moment.

"I've got a job to do on the field and that is to do well for the Stormers and hopefully we'll be No.1 team on the log," he said.

Bok star Schalk Burger, who will lead the Stormers against the Spears on Saturday, also said the Stormers have something to prove after last year's dismal showing in the Super 12.

"We've got a job to do this year," Burger said. "I'm very excited about this year, because we have a point to prove as the Stormers and we still got to play for our Springbok spots>"

He added that Saturday's outing in Wellington is vital in terms of the team's preparations.

"It is our last game before the Super 14 start and it is our last opportunity to try out a few things. We have to get our structures in place and build up some confidence."

But he warned that the Spears should not be underestimated.

"The Spears will give it a full go. They are a bunch of young, talented guys and it is an opportunity for them to steal the spotlight and become famous."

Coach Kobus van der Merwe also warned against the dangers of underestimating the Spears, South Africa's Super 14 team in waiting.

Despite losing 48-0 to the Cheetahs and 29-11 to the Cats, Van der Merwe feels they will have a lot to offer on Saturday.

"They're a very young team and even though they've only been together since the beginning of the season, they don't lack any enthusiasm and spirit," Van der Merwe said. "They gave the Cats a hard time last week in East London and you can't underestimate anyone.

"It is important for us to start well and this is the last contact game for us before the Cats [Round One of the Super 14], so we're not going to go out there and just chuck everything around.

"We want to play to our structures, and what we've practiced over last two weeks, so the guys can go into the Cats game with confidence.

"They [the Spears] have a point to prove in terms of their participation [in the Super 14 next year]. We know they'll come with everything they've got, and we won't underestimate them,"

By Jan de Koning

Verdediging is belangrik

2006-01-27T12:22:00.000+02:00

CUT & PASTED from www.volksblad.com- but a piece of good news

Man wat span glo besteel, aangekeer
Jan 24 2006 11:02:03:677PM - (SA)
Hendrik Cronjé

DIE Vodacom-Cheetahs se plettervatte word nie sonder rede as die voorste lakwerk deur enige Suid-Afrikaanse rugbyspan beskou nie.

Selfs nie ’n glibberige grypdief kon ’n gaping in die Cheetahs se verdedigingslinie vind nie.

Die vermeende dief, ’n 20-jarige jong man van Bloemfontein, het verlede week sy eerste verskyning by die oefening van die Vodacom-Vrystaat-Cheetahs by die Oud-Greys-velde in Bloemfontein gemaak.

Hy het toe na bewering verskeie spelers se drafskoene, selfone en horlosies gesteel.

Maandag was hy terug en het hy glo Hannru Haupt, flank van die Vrystaat, se drafskoene, horlosie en selfoon gesteel. Mnr. Jaco Peyper, bestuurder van die Cheetah-spanne, het toe die Vodacom-Cheetahs se gebruiklike veiligheidswag, mnr. Ernst Koalane, aangesê om gistermiddag se oefening op die Oud-Greys-velde by te woon.

Die jong man het sy kans gesien en na bewering mnr. Charl Strydom, ’n tegniese raadgewer van die Cheetahs, se videokamera gesteel. Koalane het sy oog op die man gerig gehad en hom naby ’n bekende pandjieswinkel geplettervat.

’n Klag is gister teen die jong man aanhangig gemaak en die polisie hoop om die gesteelde goedere binnekort aan die spelers terug te besorg.

OORB NEWS FLASH

2006-01-21T08:22:00.000+02:00

Cheetah-Force Game: Audio being webcast

The warm-up game between the 2006 Super 14 contestants Emirates Western Force and Vodacom Cheetahs at the Subiaco Oval in Perth, can be followed from 1300 CAT on the web by logging onto www.sportfm905.com.

See attached link.

GROM SAAM-GO VODACOM CHEETAHS- GO S 14 !

Not "Loose"-ing Perspective

2006-01-20T12:09:00.000+02:00

South Africa has been blessed over the years with quality loose forwards. If it is the one area we can claim to have had the best throughout the world since the game turned professional, it is in this area.

Names like Ruben Kruger, Francois Pienaar, Tiaan Strauss, Andre Venter and Gary Teichman is enough to instill the fear of god into any opposition team. Strangely enough, many of our recent Springbok captains were loose forwards.

There are a lot of reasons I believe we consistently produce quality loose forwards, one of which is the culture we have in South Africa and South African rugby. From an early age, we encourage our kids to play the game in such a way that they naturally develop the skills needed to be a good loose forward.

As South Africans we have always put a lot of stock in the physical side of the game, areas such as tackling, mauling and wrestling for the ball are all things young kids from under nine level are taught before we worry about concentrating on something like skill levels, kicking, etc.

I do not necessarily believe it is a bad thing, our rugby is built on tradition and our strengths, and we will naturally pass that down to the younger generations. I just wish when kids reach the ages of 15 or 16, we have coaches capable of identifying specific strengths in players to develop them into flyhalfs, or locks, or props, but that is a story for another day.

Another reason I believe we have so many talented loose forwards, is because of the South African trait to convert players into certain positions. A guy might just be a tad short, or light, and he suddenly does not qualify for a certain position and is thus converted. Gcobani Bobo, Pierre Spies and Schalk Brits are a couple that springs to mind.

It is of course much easier to convert a backline player to a loose forward role and vica versa that it is in any other position. The skills and talent needed is basically the same, speed, vision and good defense to name a few, so its no real surprise we see this happening at a professional level. But what makes a loose forward great, what makes him stand out from all the others, what makes him, that one guy every kid wants to be and every opponent fears and respects?

If I could compare the two, loose forwards basically perform the same role in the pack, as what a flyhalf or center does in the backline. Of course your tight five will give you the platform in every match, and they do the hard yards for everyone else in the team to perform their roles effectively, but it is up to the loose forwards to read the game, adjust their own style and patterns accordingly, and to help the pack adjust its style and patterns accordingly to suit the conditions, to asses oppositions strengths and weaknesses and look to dominate the opposition in general play. If they do this effectively, they put their team and specifically their backs in a perfect situation to dominate the game and effectively put their team in a winning position.

In my opinion the great teams of the past, not only had solid and dependable tight forwards, they had great loose forwards. In some Springbok teams I will even go as far as to say that the backs were very ordinary, but what made them dominate games was because of the ball they used to get, not only from tight phases, but general play.

As the game continues to evolve, no other position's role changes more than that of the loose forwards. As an example, I believe that the loose forwards of today need to perform a bigger role in defense and as links in the backline than 5 years ago, because of the speed the game is played at currently and also because defensive patterns have become such a big part of the game. They don’t perform the grunt roles in the engine room guys like Venter and Kruger for instance did with huge success. It is for this reason that I find comparing great loosies of yesteryear to those of today extremely unfair.

For instance, there are those who believe that Bob Skinstad would have been a better center than a loose forward. Although I cannot fault the line of thinking, I believe we got it wrong in the days Bob played, we should have adapted our game around the ability of your great or star players, not force them to play a style that does not suit their skill or talent. That is why I believe Bob was a great loose forward, he just found himself in the wrong era. His style of play was revolutionary to many, and that is why he was so successful at it. He, with two or three other loose forwards, revolutionized and set the standard for loose forward as we know it today.

My pick at number 8, is Zinzan Brooke. He was one of the most naturally gifted and talented footballers I have had the pleasure to see play in my life. Unconventional and unpredictable are just two words that spring to mind when you think of this All Black great. To add to that he had great strength, great vision, and when he put you down in a tackle, you more often than not stayed down. He had exceptional skill and was a strong ball carrier, and with his no nonsense attitude on the park, he was one guy you would much rather play with than against.

Other great players that deserve a mention here is Tiaan Strauss and Gary Teichman.

There are so many talented blindsiders one can choose from, guys like “The Iceman” Michael Jones was one of my personal favourites and helluva intelligent. I believe Bob Skinstad should have specialized as a blindsider too, but the best in the business and one that also defined the position in my view, is Rassie Erasmus.

I think it is no secret by now that I see my blindsider as the outside center of my forwards. In fact, I want my blindsider to be of such a mould that he could easily be switched to outside center although I am definitely not a supporter of players switching positions.

Your blindsider has to be the cleverest guy of the pack; he must be the thinking rugby player and be able to perform multiple roles effectively. Rassie was all that and more. A lot of people made mention about Rassie as a similar player to Skinstad, and they were right, he was. But what made Rassie exceptional was his ability to adapt to circumstances, the opposition and the game plan. Rassie had the knack to easily slot into any role the coach wanted him to, but what was his most amazing ability in my view, is changing the way he plays on the field of play as and because of how he read the game.

In my mind there can be no doubt who the player was that defined openside play and made the position his until retirement. Although a lot of South Africans will disagree with me on this, I believe Josh Kronfeld was the master and set standards very few players have and will ever reach.

The role of the openside flank has been discussed and lauded as one of the most important in the professional era of rugby. To an extent I agree, this position or player is vitally important in the modern game to create turnovers and slow opposition ball down in open play. Because of the well designed and coached structures we find in the modern game, the only area any team stands a real chance of turning over opposition possession or put the opposition under pressure is in broken play, ruck and tackle situation. Your opensider plays a huge role in this area and is certainly a very valuable player for any team.

This guy is my mongrel. The in your face irritation you need to have and the player that constantly disrupts opposition ball. Kronfeld in my view was and still is the master in this position.

I must mention that Ruben Kruger was as good as Kronfeld, but Josh just added that extra bit of grunt in my view.

Having looked at the players I regarded as the leaders in these positions, it is vital to make another point. I believe a lot of coaches and fans, underestimate the importance of your loose trio to gel as a combination.

I could have picked my three best loose forwards in my dream team, but whether they would have been effective is another story. I am not going to analyse the role of loose forwards, but it is very important to understand that they need to work together as a combination in order for them to be successful.

Looking at last years Currie Cup, this is one area that the Cheetahs absolutely dominated in, and the only other team that came close and maybe at times overshadowed them, was the Lions.

It is strange, but proves my point on combinations, that when you consider where the majority of the Springbok loose forwards come from, being the Bulls and WP, that the Cheetahs (with only one Springbok) and the Lions were more effective in this area.

Did Jake White get it wrong? No, certainly not. The combination that Jake employs in our national side is very effective and it works for him. But guys like Joe, Schalk, Jacques and even Juan needed to gel as a combination for Jake for them to be effective.

The WP setup is the most noticeable. With players like Schalk and Joe, and even Luke Watson, one would expect them to dominate this area of the game, but strangely enough, it was this area of the game that the Blue Bulls destroyed them last year and not the scrums or line outs as most people thought would be their weakness.

It is also the same area where the Cheetahs completely overshadowed their Bulls counterparts in the Currie Cup final. Just ask Rassie what a difference Kabamba Floors made.

Rassie managed to take a talented bunch of individuals and turn them into a formidable unit and combination.

In Juan Smith you have probably the smartest forward in world rugby around. If he specializes in this position he will become a Springbok legend, and he is also a logical pick for future Springbok captain, plus, what better mentor to have than the greatest blindsider of the modern game in Rassie Erasmus.

Ryno van der Merwe is every bit a Josh Kronfeld in my view and I believe he will be a much better opensider than a number 8. He is all over the park and is a constant nuisance for all the teams that face him. He, because of this fascination with size in South Africa, is one of the most unfortunate players not to have played for his country yet.

The only weakness if you could find any would be at number 8. But looking at the combination of Van der Merwe, Smith and Scholtz, and that Smith could also fill in at number 8 you arguably have one of the best units or combinations in South Africa.

The Cheetahs, with the Lions, will continue to be successful as teams in South Africa for as long as they pick successful loose forward combinations like they have been doing, and if the Bulls and Stormer’s don’t catch a wake up soon, they will find they are way behind when they loose their tight forward monsters and sublime backline players respectively, though injury or whatever, which has kept them up there in the last couple of years.