Currie Cup: Leopards - Blue Bulls Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng (26-08-2011, 18:10

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng (26-08-2011, 18:10 GMT)

After winning just one of their first four Absa Currie Cup matches this season, the Vodacom Bulls have been successful in their last two games and will be looking to build on this momentum against the Platinum Leopards on Friday.

The Platinum Leopards may be last on the log, but the Blue Bulls will not underestimate their opponents as they aim to keep alive their hope of reaching the semi-finals in October.

Pine Pienaar, the Vodacom Blue Bulls' coach, said his team will have to improve every week if they are going to finish in the top-four, They are still only sixth on the log.

"We've decided not to change our team after last weekend's good victory over Griquas, because we feel we have momentum for the first time this season. We now need these same players to build on that momentum," said Pienaar.

"I think the team set a standard against Griquas, something we can measure ourselves against. If we want to stay in the hunt, we have to improve on that, because the second round will be even tougher for us when the pressure starts mounting closer to the playoffs."

Gary Botha, who will captain the Vodacom Blue Bulls, said their opponents' log position will not influence their approach to this game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng, outside Rustenburg.

"There are no easy matches in the competition and the Leopards are one of those teams that never lie down. We will focus on what worked for us against Griquas and try to improve on that and try and execute better on those aspects of play we were not happy about," said Botha.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls this week lost one of their most loyal servants of the last number of years when Derick Kuün decided to hang up his boots. He won three Vodacom Super Rugby ***les, as well as the Absa Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup with the Pretoria-based team and recently played in his 100th match for the province after making his debut against Border in 2004.

Kuün also captained the Vodacom Blue Bulls at junior and senior levels, as well as the SA Schools side in 2002. He represented South Africa at Sevens, U21 and U19 level.

Platinum Leopards vs Vodacom Blue Bulls
Date: Friday, 26 August
Kick-off: 19:10
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng
Referee: Joey Salmans
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
• 6 August: Blue Bulls won 43-38 in Pretoria
• 25 September: Blue Bulls won 39-26 in Potchefstroom

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Leopards: 15. George Tossel, 14. Hoffman Maritz, 13. Jovan Bowles, 12. Joubert Engelbrecht, 11. Vainon Willis, 10. Wesley Dunlop, 9. Whestley Moolman, 8. Morne Hanekom (Captain), 7. Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6. Siyabulela Mdaka, 5. Bradley Mockford, 4. Brendon Snyman, 3. Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2. Jacques Moller, 1. BG Uys

Replacements: 16. Marius Fourie, 17. Dewald Coetzee, 18. Roan van Heerden, 19. Robert Kruger, 20. Johann Laker, 21. Henry Skorbinski, 22. Clayton Durand

Blue Bulls: 15. Jurgen Visser, 14. Akona Ndungane, 13. Zane Kirchner, 12. Wynand Olivier, 11. Gerhard van den Heever, 10. Louis Fouche, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. CJ Stander, 7. Arno Botha, 6. WarwickTecklenburg, 5. Fudge Mabeta, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha (Captain), 1. Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19. Jono Ross, 20. Dustin Jinka, 21. Marnitz Boshoff, 22. Francois Venter

 

[Seaton]

Leopards putting in another fustrating performance, holding the Bulls to 9-3 at HT

Lol, as soon as I post they score a try in the first minute if the second 40

Leopards 8-9 Bulls