It’s almost that time of the year again. The 2010 Super 14 Rugby tournament will start on the weekend of the 12th of February 2010. Like previous years, it promises to be a display of the best rugby in Southern Hemisphere. Teams from South Africa, Australia and New Zealand will once again be competing for the Super 14 trophy and the honor of being named the best team in the Southern Hemisphere for 2010. In 2009 a South African team, The Bulls (from my native Pretoria) won the competition (repeating their victory of 2007). The Super 14 will take place of 16 weeks. The final for the competition will be played on the 29th of May 2010.

This is the schedule of matches to be played in the 2010 Super 14 Tournament:

Friday, February 12:
Blues v Hurricanes (Auckland)
Western Force v Brumbies (Perth)
Cheetahs v Bulls (Bloemfontein)

Saturday, February 13:
Crusaders v Highlanders (Christchurch)
Reds v Waratahs (Brisbane)
Lions v Stormers (Johannesburg)
Sharks v Chiefs (Durban)

Friday, February 19:
Highlanders v Blues (Dunedin)
Reds v Crusaders (Brisbane)
Sharks v Cheetahs (Durban)
Lions v Chiefs (Johannesburg)

Saturday, February 20:
Hurricanes v Western Force (Wellington)
Bulls v Brumbies (Pretoria)
Stormers v Waratahs (Cape Town)

Friday, February 26:
Crusaders v Sharks (Christchurch)
Stormers v Brumbies (Cape Town)

Saturday, February 27:
Hurricanes v Lions (Wellington)
Reds v Blues (Brisbane)
Western Force v Chiefs (Perth)
Cheetahs v Highlanders (Bloemfontein)
Bulls v Waratahs (Pretoria)

Friday, March 5:
Chiefs v Reds (Hamilton)
Brumbies v Lions (Canberra)

Saturday, March 6:
Crusaders v Blues (Christchurch)
Waratahs v Sharks (Sydney)
Stormers v Highlanders (Cape Town)
Cheetahs v Hurricanes (Bloemfontein)

Friday, March 12:
Chiefs v Crusaders (Hamilton)
Waratahs v Lions (Sydney)

Saturday, March 13:
Brumbies v Sharks (Canberra)
Bulls v Highlanders (Pretoria)
Stormers v Hurricanes (Cape Town)

Sunday, March 14:
Reds v Western Force (Brisbane)

Friday, March 19:
Blues v Brumbies (Auckland)
Bulls v Hurricanes (Pretoria)

Saturday, March 20:
Crusaders v Lions (Christchurch)
Highlanders v Sharks (Dunedin)
Western Force v Waratahs (Perth)
Stormers v Cheetahs (Cape Town)

Friday, March 26:
Highlanders v Lions (Dunedin)
Brumbies v Chiefs (Canberra)
Cheetahs v Reds (Bloemfontein)

Saturday, March 27:
Hurricanes v Sharks (Wellington)
Waratahs v Blues (Sydney)
Western Force v Bulls (Perth)

Friday, April 2:
Hurricanes v Crusaders (Wellington)
Western Force v Stormers (Perth)

Saturday, April 3:
Blues v Bulls (Auckland)
Chiefs v Highlanders (Mt Maunganui)
Waratahs v Cheetahs (Sydney)
Sharks v Reds (Durban)

Friday, April 9:
Chiefs v Bulls (Hamilton)

Saturday, April 10:
Highlanders v Western Force (Queenstown)
Blues v Stormers (Auckland)
Crusaders v Waratahs (Christchurch)
Brumbies v Cheetahs (Canberra)
Lions v Reds (Johannesburg)

Friday, April 16:
Chiefs v Stormers (Hamilton)
Brumbies v Hurricanes (Canberra)

Saturday, April 17:
Blues v Western Force (Auckland)
Crusaders v Cheetahs (Christchurch)
Reds v Bulls (Brisbane)
Lions v Sharks (Johannesburg)

Friday, April 23:
Chiefs v Cheetahs (Hamilton)
Reds v Stormers (Brisbane)
Western Force v Crusaders (Perth)

Saturday, April 24:
Highlanders v Hurricanes (Dunedin)
Waratahs v Brumbies (Sydney)
Bulls v Lions (Pretoria)
Sharks v Blues (Durban)

Friday, April 30:
Highlanders v Waratahs (Invercargill)
Stormers v Crusaders (Cape Town)

Saturday, May 1:
Hurricanes v Chiefs (Wellington)
Brumbies v Reds (Canberra)
Cheetahs v Blues (Bloemfontein)
Lions v Western Force (Johannesburg)
Bulls v Sharks (Pretoria)

Friday, May 7:
Hurricanes v Reds (Wellington)
Lions v Blues (Johannesburg)

Saturday, May 8:
Chiefs v Waratahs (Hamilton)
Brumbies v Highlanders (Canberra)
Bulls v Crusaders (Pretoria)
Cheetahs v Western Force (Bloemfontein)
Sharks v Stormers (Durban)

Friday, May 14:
Blues v Chiefs (Auckland)
Waratahs v Hurricanes (Sydney)
Sharks v Western Force (Durban)

Saturday, May 15:
Crusaders v Brumbies (Christchurch)
Reds v Highlanders (Brisbane)
Cheetahs v Lions (Kimberley)
Stormers v Bulls (Cape Town)

Friday, May 21 – Semi Final 1
Saturday, May 22 - Semi Final 2

Saturday, May 29 – Final

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I attented the 2009 Currie Cup final at Loftus Versveld Stadium in Pretoria on Saturday. The Bulls and Cheetahs faced eachother for the 3rd time in the last 4 years in South Africa’s premier domestic rugby competition’s final. Me and my dad arrived at the stadium at about 2:30 PM on Saturday. Pretoria is renowned countrywide for build-up before a big game at Loftus Versveld. Bulls supporters were already driving around with flags mounted on their cars and bakkies on Thursday (2 days before the game). Vendors were already selling flags on the streets of Pretoria on Thursday morning. The capital city truly loves the Bulls. It’s one thing Pretoria can be proud of. The match started at 5:30 PM. Pretoria gets way too hit this time of year so that was probably the reason for the match starting that late in the afternoon (kickoff is usually at 5 PM for rugby games in Pretoria). Well-known South African singer, Steve Hofmeyer (one of the biggest Bulls fan in the country) made an appearance just before the game kicked off.

The Bulls and Cheetahs treated the sell-out crowd of 53,000 people to a brilliant game of rugby. An early try by Bulls wing Francois Hougaard (converted by Morne’ Steyn) put the home team on the scoreboard. The Bulls were ahead by 7 points to 0 in the 4th minute. In the 8th minute Free State flyhalf Jacques-Louis Potgieter missed a penalty right in front of the Bulls post. In the 14th minute Bryan Habana (the Bulls and Springbok left wing) sailed over for a try in the corner (also converted by Morne’ Steyn). This put the Bulls ahead by 14 points to 0. Just 3 minutes later Bryan Habana sailed over again (in the same corner) for his 2nd try of the match. Morne’ Steyn converted this try as well. This put the Bulls ahead by 21 points to 0 in the 18th minute (very impressive if you ask me). In the 25th minute flyhalf Morne’ Steyn kicked over his first penalty of the game. The Bulls were leading by 24 points to 0. The Bulls were clearly dominating the game, but not for long. The Cheetahs came back with force. Frans Viljoen scored a try for the visitors in the 31st minute for the visitors, barely stretching over the Bulls tryline. Just 5 minutes later Corne’ Uys sailed over the Bulls line for the Cheetahs second try. Both tries were converted by Potgieter, putting the Cheetahs only 10 points behind the Bulls. In the last minute of the first half, Morne’ Steyn kicked over a drop goal for the home side. The Bulls were leading the game by 27 points to 14.

After a well deserved smoke break (to calm down the nerves) I returned to my seat on the main stand for the 2nd half of the game. At this stage Bulls fans were hoping that the Bulls could extend their lead or at least defend their score. Free State supporters were hoping for a comeback by the Cheetahs. In the 4th minute the Bulls were awarded a penalty (which Morne’ Steyn kicked over), put them ahead by 30 points to 14. The Cheetahs replied with a try by Nico Breedt 1 minute later. The conversion by Jacques-Louis Potgieter put the Cheetahs only 9 points behind. The Bulls were leading by 30 points to 21. 3 minutes later Jacques-Louis Potgieter put the Cheetahs only 6 points behind when he kicked over a drop goal. Bulls fans were sitting on the edge of their seats. In the 54th minute of the game Morne’ Steyn calmed fears by kicking over another penalty putting the Bulls ahead by 33 points to 24. Shortly after this Habana nearly scored his 3rd try of the game, but was denied by great defending by the Cheetahs. However a penalty was reversed by referee Jonathan Kaplan for retaliation by JP Joubert against Habana. Morne’ Steyn missed the attempt to put the Bulls ahead by 9 points again. However, in the 68th minute the Bulls were awarded another penalty which was kicked over by the Bulls flyhalf putting them ahead by 9 points again. In the 75th minute one of the Cheetah’s players was yellow carded for what is described as “verbals” by referee Jonathan Kaplan. The Bulls held out till the end of the match, winning by 36 points to 24. They completed “the double” by beating the Cheetahs. The Bulls are the first team in South African rugby history to win both the Currie Cup and the Super 14 in the same year. Well done to the Bulls!

It truly has been a brilliant year for South African rugby in general. A South African team won the Super 14 trophy. SA won the series against the British & Irish Lions. South Africa also won the 2009 Tri Nations tournament. The Springbok squad for the upcoming tour was announced after the Currie Cup final match on Saturday. I will be covering this in an upcoming post.

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South African rugby fans were treated to 2 very close matches this past weekend. The result is that we’ll see a repeat of the 2005 and 2006 final. The Bulls will face the Cheetahs on their home ground, Loftus Versveld on the 31st of October in the 2009 Currie Cup Final. Both the teams will be out to perform at their best. The 2006 final between the Bulls and Cheetahs ended in a 28 all draw which meant that the 2 teams shared the trophy in that year. I remember watching that game in my local Pretoria pub and the difficulty I had explaining why the 2 teams had to share the 2006 Currie Cup to German & Belgian exchange students. They could not understand why.

This past weekend in Durban, the Sharks played against the Cheetahs in a 2009 Currie Cup Semi Final match. The Sharks lead by 15 points to 3 at half time. Sharks flyhalf Hernades kicked over a penalty early in the 2nd half putting the Sharks ahead by 18 points to 3. The Cheetahs scored 2 unanswered tries (1 by WP Nel in the 45th minute and 1 by Jacques-Louis Potgieter 14 minutes later) resulting in taking the lead in the match (20 – 18). The Sharks managed to get back into the match, kicking over another penalty putting them in the lead again (21 – 20). However, in the dying moments of the match, Jacques-Louis Potgieter kicked over a drop goal ensuring the Cheetahs passage to the 2009 Currie Cup Final. The Cheetahs won the game by 23 points to 21.

At Newlands in Cape Town, Western Province hosted a North / South derby against their age old rivals, the Bulls. 7 penalties by Bulls flyhalf Morne’ Steyn secured the Bulls passage to a home final at Loftus Versveld Stadium in 2 weeks time. Steyn scored all the points for the Bulls. The Bulls led 12 – 6 at half time. Western Province did make a comeback in the 2nd half, Gio Aplon scored the only try of the match for them. At one stage Western Province we’re leading by 16 points to 15, but the Bulls managed a comeback and holding on for the last 3 minutes for a victory. The Bulls narrowly won the game by 21 points to 19.

Only time will tell which team will be victorious at Loftus Versveld on the 31st of October, 2009 in the Currie Cup final. Being a Pretoria boytjie my money is on the Bulls (even though I don’t bet on sports). The Bulls are a hard team to beat on their home ground. Judging by the fighting spirit of both the Bulls and the Cheetahs displayed this past weekend, the final should be a very exciting display of rugby. Bulls fans have already started queing for tickets at the stadium last night. The Loftus ticket offices opened at 8 AM today. Tickets for the final should sell out as it promises to be a humdinger of a match. Hopefully there will be tickets for sale in Bloemfontein for Free State supporters, otherwise Loftus Versveld Stadium will be a sea of Bulls supporters on the 31st of October.

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It seems that my predictions in the previous report of the 2009 Currie Cup came true. I predicted that the Bulls, Sharks, Cheetahs and Western Province will be playing in the semi-finals of the 2009 Currie Cup tournament in South Africa.

The Bulls beat the Leopards on Friday night in Rustenburg by 61 points to 24 securing their 3rd place on the 2009 Currie Cup tournament log. On Saturday the Free State Cheetahs beat the team from Boland convincingly by 55 points to 10 ensuring their place in this coming week’s play-offs. The Sharks knocked Griquas out of contention when they faced them on Saturday in Kimberley beating them convincingly by 45 points to 30. The biggest surprise of the weekend was the Gauteng Lions beating Western Province narrowly by 27 points to 25 in Johannesburg at Coca-Cola Park, denying the visitors from the Western Cape the top spot on the 2009 Currie Cup log. A Lions player has been sighted for biting one of allegedly biting one of the Western Province players on his ear.

This coming weekend brings us the 2009 Currie Cup semi-final games on Saturday. The Free State Cheetahs will be taking on the Sharks on their home ground in Durban. The Bulls will be facing Western Province at Newlands in Cape Town in a North vs South derby. Both games promise to be very interesting. All 4 teams play high quality rugby and are the 4 best in the country (in my opinion). Only time will tell which 2 teams make it to the 2009 Currie Cup final.

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The 2009 Currie Cup Rugby Tournament in South Africa is nearing it’s end. This final round of the league matches will be played this weekend. On the 17th of October both Currie Cup Semi Final matches will be played. The semi-final venues are already known. The matches will be played in Cape Town and Durban. The question of “Who’s Playing Who?” will be answered after the 4 remaining 2009 Currie Cup matches this weekend. The Bulls are facing the Leopards at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium near Rustenburg tonight. Bakkies Botha is return to the Bulls squad. It’s expected that the Bulls will probably win this game easily. It’s highly unlikely for the Leopards to cause an upset. Nonetheless, if the Bulls loose the game the Griquas will overtake them on the points table.

Griquas are facing the Sharks in Kimberley at 15:00 tomorrow. Griquas are known to be a formidable side on their home ground. I’m sure that this will probably be an interesting match to watch. The Cheetahs are playing against Boland in Wellington in the Western Cape at 15:00 tomorrow as well. It’s likely that Free State will win this match, but who knows? Boland could cause an upset. At 17:00 tomorrow Western Province will be facing the Lions at Coca Cola Park in Johannesburg. The Lions have nothing to loose, making them pretty dangerous. This match will probably also be worthy of the South African public’s time.

In conclusing Griquas and Free State will be fighting for survival and Western Province and the Sharks will be battling for the top spot on the 2009 Currie Cup log. This weekend promises to be the one of the most interesting in this year’s competition. Currently Western Province is on the top of the Currie Cup log with 49 points. The Sharks are in second position, also with 49 points. The Bulls are in 3rd place with 41 points. The Griquas are in 4th place with 39 points. The Cheetahs are in 5th place with 35 points. There are various scenarios that could play out this weekend but it’s my prediction that Western Province will probably play against the Cheetahs at Newlands next weekend and that the Sharks will face the Bulls in their semi final match in Durban. Only time will tell if this prediction will come true or not.

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It’s already halfway into the Currie Cup Season in South Africa this year. 8 sides are competing for the coveted Currie Cup Trophy. The competition has been running since 1899, making it one of the oldest Rugby competitions in the world. The Currie Cup competition has been held annually since 1968. The Sharks are the team who current hold the Currie Cup Trophy in South Africa. So far, each team in the Currie Cup competition has played 8 games. Currently Western Province are on top of the Currie Cup log with 28 points. The defending champions, The Sharks, are in 2nd place with 27 points. The team from Pretoria, the Bulls (a finalist in last year’s competition) are in 3rd place with 25 points. The boys from Kimberley, the Griquas are in 4th position with 24 points.

Because of the Tri-Nations competition, most of the teams in Currie Cup are currently without their star players since most of them are called up to represent South Africa. For instance, the Bulls are currently playing without Fourie Du Preez, Morne Steyn, Danie Rossouw, Pierre Spies, Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha and Bryan Habana. Despite being 3rd on the Currie Cup log, the Bulls have struggled in this year Currie Cup, narrowly avoiding defeat by the Griquas a few weeks ago. This could change when their players return after the Tri-Nations. The same goes for the Free State, Western Province and the Sharks. We’re bound to see a higher level of commitment and gauranteed quality rugby from that stage onwards. With 6 games to go in the round-robin stage of the Currie Cup, the competition is still wide open. Only time will tell who will be the champions this year. So what are you waiting for? Find some tickets for sale and attend a match this weekend. Support the premier South African domestic competition. Who knows, you might just enjoy yourself extremely in the process and even meet some interesting fans along the way.

Related Links:
SA Rugby – Official Website
Currie Cup Rugby – Rugby Week

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