So who will win a Million?
After 13 weeks the contenders have been whittled down to just two.
Both teams are unchanged from their Semi-Final matches.
The Free State Cheetahs have only played in obe Vodacom Cup Final beofre ant they won that in 2000 against Griquas.
The Blue Bulls have played in five finals and been victorious once, in 2001 against Boland.
Kick-off: 19.10, Loftus Versfeld
Ref: François Veldsman
TJs: Sindile Mayende, Kim Smit
TMO: Jenny Bentel
Blue Bulls:
Starting XV: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 John Mametsa, 13 Braam Gerber, 12 Ruan Boshoff, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Burton Francis, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Carel Hoffman (captain), 7 Vincent Gwavu, 6 Okkie Kruger, 5 Mthumzi Mabeta, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Dean Greyling, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Rassie Van Vuuren.
Replacements: 16 Henri Bantjes, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Juandre Kruger 19 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Stefan Watermeyer, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.
Free State:
Starting XV: 15 Wilton Pietersen, 14 Giscard Pieters, 13 Phillip Snyman, 12 Bernd Theissinger, 11 Howard Noble, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Jandré Blom, 8 Ashley Johnson (captain), 7 Nicky Steyn, 6 Albert Parsons, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Phillip Lemmer, 2 Jaco du Toit, 1 Ronnie Uys.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Roché van der Westhuizen, 18 Marnus Briedenhann, 19 Pieter Gouws, 20 Jaco Colyn, 21 Divan van Zyl, 22 Robert Ebersohn
Tweet
I know WHO I would like to win the Million.
Go Cheetahs.
Am keen to finally see these Ebersohn brothers (twins?) in action finally.
Have heard shedloads about them, now i can judge for myself.
Olny srmat poelpe can raed tihs.
I cdnuolt blveiee taht I cluod aulaclty uesdnatnrd waht I was rdanieg. The phaonmneal pweor of the hmuan mnid, aoccdrnig to a rscheearch at Cmabrigde Uinervtisy, it deosn’t mttaer in waht oredr the ltteers in a wrod are, the olny iprmoatnt tihng is taht the frist and lsat ltteer be in the rghit pclae. The rset can be a taotl mses and you can sitll raed it wouthit a porbelm. Tihs is bcuseae the huamn mnid deos not raed ervey lteter by istlef, but the wrod as a wlohe. Amzanig huh? yaeh and I awlyas tghuhot slpeling was ipmorantt!
Giscard Pieters is good enough for S14…he was with the Lions a few seasons back, pity he left.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 4) :
Didn’t he also play Cheetahs S14 in their 1st season.
The guy with the beard right?
Yes, he sometimes sports a beard. Have you seen the Flyhalf of the Blue Bulls play? This guy is going to be the Bok Flyhalf in a few seasons.
The league match between these two ended 68-22 in the Blue bulls favour.
haven’t seen ANY VC this season.
Time on.
Go Cheetahs!!!!!!!!!!
just seen a close up of Pieterse.
Same guy i was thinking about. Actually looks like he has lost some weight since playing in the S14.
Can Ashley johnson carry that weight around for the whole game?
Bulls going at goal after getting a PK for a late charge.
Over
3 – 0 Bulls
6min
Shouldn’t have been a penalty in my opinion…
What is it with JP Joubert not appearing in any team profiles.
Had guesses at his age last year and jsut saw him in the team now thought i would look at his profile on the Bulls site.
Profile?????? WHAT profile????
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 14) : same here.
guy was in the air how was he supposed to change direction?
Another PK Bulls for Cheetahs joining from the side of the ruck.
Going at goal again.
Over
6 – 0 Francis
12min.
Francis playing tonight and benching tommorow in the S14. 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 18) :
I think he will be the Bok 10 in two seasons or so.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 19) :
backup to Grant or on his own?
Owen just confirms that JP Joubert is 30 years old. 😯
Dude that skunk mullet belongs on a 23 year old not a 30 year old.
Cheetahs trying push over scrum and doing pretty well
Close to a pushover try for FS!
TMO being refered to for Cheetahs attempt
Mistake by the TMO, it wasn’t a try, but also not lost forward.
TMO: ball lost forward no try.
good call
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 24) :
May be, but did the second guy score it then? 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 26) :
Couldn’t see…but the ball definitely went back from the grounding attempt.
Cheetahs PK.
going at goal from just inside the Bulls Half.
misses to the left.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 27) :
in hindsight, i tend to agree.
am interested to see how long the cheetah #1 plays for.
he is HUGE 😯
oh it’s Ronnie Uys
And HEY look at that he is ALSO not on the Cheetahs’ profile page 👿
Kicks from hand after 30min
Blue bulls 24
Free State 18
Cheetah TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Great FS try…
territory 30min
Free State Cheetahs 69%
Blue Bulls 31
Conversion Over
6 – 7 FS
33min
this is not going to be 68 – 22 again.
Is Ebersohn not a kicker?
Why is Blom (#9) kicking?
The Blue Bulls Tighthead never binds at the hit, that’s illegal isn’t it?
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 38) :
Yes it is. you have to bind immediately.
Some Doos in the Bulls crowd blows his own hooter and the Cheetahs put the ball out on the full thinking it is half time.
LO Bulls. 👿
PK Cheetahs very kickable
going at goal.
(Justice for the Doos in the stands??)
OVER
Half time
Blue Bulls 6 – 10 Free State Cheetahs
Perhaps the number 9 now has learnt his lesson that it’s best to confirm with the ref that it was the real hooter.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 43) :
true. 😐
Cheetahs can do this and as the “poor cousin” of SA Rugby they can do with the 1 Mil more than the Bulls.
luckily it didn’t cost the Cheetahs, they deserve to be in front
Wouldn’t it be great if the Cheetahs win today AND tomorrow 😆
Missed tackles
Cheetahs 1 😎
Bulls 5
Hi KSA – is Rob still around?
I forgot to wish little Caitlin happpy birthday today.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 47) :
No, I would like the Lions to end higher on the S14 log than last please!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 50) :
I have a feeling the Lions are going to win tomorrow.
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 50) :
oh true.
you can jump two if you win tomorrow.
@Nessa (Comment 49) :
Hi Nessa
I think he is having the B/Day celebration as we speak. May be in later.
time back on 2nd half
@Nessa (Comment 49) : Thanks Ness. Very kind. It’s been a busy day this side
@KSA Shark © (Comment 53) :
No problem – I left a message for him on FaceBook. Can’t believe I forgot. All the excitement this morning with the Canes / Blues game. 😳
TJs: Sindile Mayende, Kim Smit
TMO: Jenny Bentel
The TMO is a chick? And Kim?
let’s not continue the kicking please?????????????
58 kicks already in 41min. 👿
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 55) :
Ahh Rob – thought I had missed you.
Please give her a hug and a kiss from Granny Ness!
This ref…where the lock caught the up and under from Francis, few of the Bulls retired 10 meters from the lock..
@Le Requinny (Comment 57) :
Kim is a dude I believe.
maybe related to Kim Shippey 😉 (well if they were korean then Kim would be the family name) 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 61) :
actually, body movements indicate it could be a women.
PK Bulls
going at goal
Over
9 – 10 Cheetahs
45min
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 60) :
#6 specially
Bulls are starting to look better again…
Thanks Ness. Will do. Go Cheetahs
Come on Cheetahs!!!
Well worked kick pass to the Bulls wing and he goes over to score!!!!!!!
Have just had a close up Kim is a women.
@Le Requinny (Comment 57) : Some chicks know a surprising amount about rugby
Francis (is a guy) converts the try.
16 – 10 Bulls
50min
Kim definitely a woman…LOL!
@robdylan (Sharks Forever!) (Comment 70) :
😈 😈
Cheetahs PK
from the touch line.
Go at goal
Over
16 – 13 Bulls
53min
Ag no man – really don’t want the Bulls to win.
Hubby needs his PC to do some work. Cheers guys – chat tomorrow!
That’s better – come on Cheetahs!
PK Bulls
going at goal
from the Cheetahs 10m line
Francis makes no mistake (5 from 5)
19 – 13 Bulls
56min
😳
Mametsa charges down a kick square in the face 😳
OUCH!!!!!!!!!!
Kicks
Bulls 38
FS 31
😯 😯
Cheetahs yellow card for repeated offside.
Francis going at goal
over
22 – 13 Bulls
61min
😯
Cheetahs scrummed right off the ball
prop who came on as a replacement for the yellow card goes off injured.
Uncontested scrums now.
Good counter by the Cheetahs for being murdered in the scrums while being a man down.
14 man Cheetahs all over the bulls and now the bulls reduced to 14 as well.
Yellow for playing on the ground and coming in the side.
C’mon Cheetahs!!!!!!!!!
Blom going at goal with PK from the touch line
OVER
22 – 16 Bulls
69min
Cheetahs now twice guilty of not passing to the man on the outside with an overlap…
Cheetahs back to 15.
CHEETAH TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
peaking at the right time.
22 – 21 Bulls
72min
Conversion to come.
I wanted to say earlier that Snyman at outside centre is also a player to watch for the future…just scored a good try.
pulled it left.
C’mon Cheetahs Score again now.
Cheetahs doing well and then fluff it with a DG.
keep the ball in hand!!!!!!!!! can you not see how dangerous you guys look when you run at them?
Ebersohns switch places.
How’s the younger van der Merwe brother looking?
PK Bulls and francis slots it.
25 – 21 Bulls
77min
@Le Requinny (Comment 94) :
Hasn’t done anything wrong but hasn’t shone either. (In short haven’t seen much of him 😉 )
Noble stops dead and Mangweni kills him into touch 😳
Bulls take ball from Cheetahs as hooter goes.
FK Cheetahs.
playing on
great tackle by Mangweni AGAIN. HOW he disn’t make the S14 team i don’t know
flippen hell how many infringements are the Bulls gonna make and not get carded in their own 22
been FK and PK advantage about 7 times now and about 4 or 5 awarded and no cards. 👿
Yellow card after about two more FK’s after my last comment.
Flip vd Merwe goes OVER!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
being refered.
ANy reason i CAn Not award thsi try.
That has to be a try from the replay.
TMO says NO try!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 😯 😯 😯
Game over
Blue Bulls 25 – 21 FS Cheetahs
We will hear about that TMO decision in the future. This was a Million rand decision.
Dodgy call from the TMO, I think the ball might have touched ground. But that’s the game.
Lots of rugby Saturday! Can’t wait!
@walter van transvaal.co.za (Comment 104) :
Yeah, some go your way some don’t, but this was 1 mil that went the wrong Way IMO. won’t be the last we hear about it i am sure.
The ball was touching the ground when it was at the angle when the bulls player had his arm around the side of it.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 103) :
Dare I say the TMO debacle is because it was in all likelihood a PC-appointment?
@Le Requinny (Comment 107) :
probably 100% correct.
Joel tries to talk to the TMO at the presentation but she isn’t interested………..
@KSA Shark © (Comment 108) :
Not nice to have a game won/lost on the back of contraversial decisions – let’s hope that none of the big games tomorrow are decided this way!
Walter – good luck for the Lions. I actually hope you beat the Strompies, just to silence their press…but if they win, then good for them.
So stoked that the Sharks game is being shown in Mud Island – let’s hope the Sharks turn it on in style!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 109) :
she’ll probably klap the bejesus out of him in anycase… so I guess we won’t be seeing her in the CC then (hopefully)?
Later chaps!
@Le Requinny (Comment 110) :
Good to hear you guys will be able to watch the game. 😎
Cheers Quinny.
Sounds like Burton Francis is one to lure to Durbs?