Victory in Bloemfontein is paramount as the Vodacom Blue Bulls, the most successful team in Absa Currie Cup in the last decade, aim to improve their position on the log as the playoffs inch closer.
It’s been almost three years since the Vodacom Blue Bulls last beat the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in an Absa Currie Cup match at the Free State Stadium. That happened on 20 September 2008, when the team from Pretoria won by 23-5. Six players from that win, Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Wynand Olivier, Dewald Potgieter, Juandré Kruger and Werner Kruger, will play again this weekend.
Four Cheetah “survivors” from 2008 have been included in their match 22 for Saturday – Adriaan Strauss, Coenie Oosthuizen, Robert Ebersohn and Tewis de Bruyn.
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar, who was still involved in Free State rugby in 2008, knows his team will have to lift their game in the coming weeks.
“There is no doubt that we have painted ourselves in a corner with regards to our play-off hopes,” Pienaar said.
“We need to win and keep on winning, but for that we will have to improve on our decision-making, discipline and execution. We have the quality of players to turn it around, but is running out of time.”
Two players that were part of the SA Under-20 squad earlier this year, will line up against each other. The Toyota Free State Cheetahs have selected flyhalf Johan Goosen, while inside centre Francois Venter will start for the Vodacom Blue Bulls.
Last three games in Absa Currie Cup:
- 24 July 2010: Toyota FS Cheetahs won 25-23 in Pretoria
- 11 September 2010: Toyota FS Cheetahs won 20-14 in Bloemfontein
- 23 July 2011: Vodacom Blue Bulls won 33-30 in Pretoria
Your Rugby Weekend Match Schedule:
- Friday, 9 September: Border Bulldogs vs SWD Eagles – kick off at 17:05 at Buffalo City Stadium, East London. Referee Rasta Rashivenga
- Friday, 9 September: MTN Golden Lions vs GWK Griquas – kick off at 19:00 at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg. Referee Mark Lawrence
- Saturday, 10 September 2011: The Sharks vs Ford Pumas – kick off at 15:00 at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban. Referee Jaco Peyper
- Saturday, 10 September: Tasol Solar Griffons vs EP Kings – kick off at 15:00 at North West Stadium, Welkom. Referee Pro Legoete
- Saturday, 10 September: Valke vs Regent Boland Cavaliers – kick off at 15:00 at Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park. Referee Stuart Berry
- Saturday, 10 September 2011: DHL Western Province vs Platinum Leopards – kick off at 16:00 at DHL Newlands, Cape Town. Referee Sindile Mayende
- Saturday, 10 September: Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Vodacom Blue Bulls – kick off at 17:05 at Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein. Referee Marius Jonker
- Sunday, 11 September: South Africa vs Wales – kick off at 10:30 at Wellington Regional Stadium, New Zealand.
