The late news that Francois Hougaard has had to withdraw from the Bulls team for the match against the Cheetahs this afternoon should make no difference to the result.
Hougaard has been replaced by the MORE than able John Mametsa who has enough S14 experience himself. Hougaard suffered a repeat injury to the ligaments in his knee at training on Thursday, it is not known how long he will be sidelined for.
I cannot believe there are people who believe this will be a fair contest. Even the loss of Hougaard should still the Bulls walk away with a rather large margin of victory this evening.
Ref: Jonathan Kaplan
ARs: Marius Jonker, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10 SA Time (17.10 GMT)
Cheetahs: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Frans Viljoen, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 Danwel Demas.
Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Derick Kuün, 20 Heini Adams, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.

BULLS by a moerse lot.
Seems the Lifelines are safe in this game. there is some talk that some people believe the Cheetahs could win. i can’t find anyone who has put their money where there mouth is yet though. 😛
LMS Picks
Vodacom Bulls 21
Cheetahs ZERO (no that is not their match score)
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : dude… I just don’t see it being such one-way traffic. Cheetahs have a superb pack and far, far better outside backs. Only place teh Bulls trump them is at halfback
Hope this turns out to be a cracker..the cheetahs always turn it on against a saffa team …the contest at the front should be huge….
THE S14 HAS STARTED !!!! 😯
Bulls utility-back Francois Hougaard has been ruled out of Friday’s clash with the Cheetahs.
Hougaard sustained a knee injury in pre-season but was declared fit to play on Monday, and was duly selected to start on the wing in Bloemfontein.
However, the 21-year-old Springbok felt discomfort in the knee in the captain’s run on Thursday evening, and it was decided that he be managed conservatively.
John Mametsa, capped just thrice at Super Rugby level, will take his place after originally being omitted from the match 22.
@wpw (Comment 6) : ❓
@Rahul (Comment 5) :
YIP and the Sharks are gonna win it!!!!!!!
13 of the Sharksworld pool of 128 (almost exactly 10%) have picked the Cheetahs to win this game. 😯
Morne has set himself up pretty well to be able to claim being a Rugbyguru of sorts by being one of those 13. 😈
Overall SB Picks.
Picks for Cheetahs 6966 (13.81%)
Picks for Bulls 43363 (85.97%)
Picks for draw 112 (0.22%)
Mametsa’s a better wing than ou papagaaikop anyway
@KSA Shark © (Comment 10) :
Man the Guys at SB must be pissed at so many people NOT making their SB picks. They say they have over 60k entries for this S14 with only about 50,5k actually making their picks. 🙄
@KSA Shark © (Comment 7) :
Sorry, next time I’ll first read the article… 😳 🙄
@robdylan (Comment 11) :
bwahahaha
@wpw (Comment 14) : when is this game going to start? NEEED some rugby
@wpw (Comment 13) :
Daar’s nog steeds nie pille vir dom nie. 😉
@robdylan (Comment 15) : not for almost 3 hours yet. 😳 🙁
I’m 2 from 2 on SB and I’m sitting in 39th position. 😯
Kette is smiling.
Lyndy is even happier.
1 Lyndy_in_Mtl 3.50
2 Sinbinners 3.00
3 geraas 3.00
4 JustPlainSHARK 3.00
5 war1 3.00
6 MysticShark 3.00
7 Wusshunter 3.00
8 KSA Kette 3.00
9 Jay 3.00
10 ENFORCER 3.00
@KSA Shark © (Comment 16) : 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : drat and double drat
hey, I see there’s a guy on Voldy called “Ploos”… that’s not our old friend Pete Labia, by any chance?
great. 16h30 on a Friday and everyone in the republic has pissed off home 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 22) : its friday. apparently thats a reason to leave work early, i know someone who just stays at home EVERY friday!! 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 2) : i believe they can 😆 and xola ( 😳 don’t know how to pronounce his name ) said so this morning
@war1 (Comment 23) : me? 🙂 It’s different… I work here 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 22) : except me 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 25) : no, a student, almost a PhD student, that one,
@robdylan (Comment 21) : From whence the name ‘Voldy’?
@Rahul (Comment 5) : you only just noticed 😉 😆
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 29) :
he is living in the Vaal now they tend to limit the S14 coverage up there to as little as possible considering the performance of their team.
From Rugby 365!!!!!!!!!!!
The protracted contract saga between the Lions and Sharks, over the services of Willem Alberts and Louis Ludik has ended in another costly loss for the Golden Lions Rugby Union.
rugby365.com can reveal that the court on Friday ruled in favour of the Sharks and declared the contracts between the GLRU and the two players null and void.
WHOOOOOOOOOOHOOOOOOOOOOO
The GLRU have already signed the release forms and Alberts will feature on the Sharks bench when they start their 2010 Super 14 campaign against the Chiefs in Durban on Saturday.
Hehehehehhe, VAT SO KATVIS!!!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 32) : r u gonna post the article?
@war1 (Comment 33) :
Yeah why not. gimme a sec
@KSA Shark © (Comment 34) :
Hey i see you have a draft already? Post yours.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 35) : done, it didnt wanna post coz u were “editing”
C’mon roll the clock forward and get this game going.
My SB BULLS by 32. And they say i am not patriotic to the other SA teams’ chances of getting to the Semis. 😛
Bulle met 7 😛
Baskin Robbins Strawberry ice cream anyone?
Not sure whether to be happy that this will be the 1st game of the weekend to go to a BP try or not.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 39) : flip first a bowl of it then he sommer just starts on the tub too …… and it was bought for me — hows that for love, and so close to valentines too 🙄 😯
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 41) :
I’m saving you from getting fat like me.
You’ve been married to me for 14 years you should know that if you leave food lying around it is gonna get eaten. 😳 😛
@KSA Shark © (Comment 42) : wow and he can type with one hand too – other hand occupied with holding on to the tub of icecream, he daren’t put it down 😆
🙄 WhooHooo i can hear Hugh Blden’s voice.
ok so for my SB, I want that team in blue to win but hell my heart just isn’t in it …..
bbbbbbuuuuuuuullllllllllsssssssss 😳
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 45) : argh that hurt 👿
I smell an upset…
@robdylan (Comment 47) :
No that was me venting the excess gas after eating Kette’s ice cream
oe listen how cool those harley’s sound. 🙄 🙄
22seconds and Mapoe scores a TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!
MAPOE scores from the kick-off!
Wake up, Bulls!
Man, those new jerseys of theirs are hideous
sh ❗ t
All started from a deeeeep Kick-off and Nokwe nails FdP and him spilling the ball.
Cheetahs recycle and spread it wide. kak tackle by Queen Victoria and Mapoe scored.!
I love the Super 14 🙂
kick is not a good one, score stands at …
5-0 Cheetahs
2 minutes
Brilliant try!
Fastest Try after kick-off
First Half
Vula Maimuri (12/5/2001: Highlanders – scored within 12 sec) vs Crusaders, Dunedin
Keegan Daniel (8/3/2008: Sharks – scored within 16 sec) vs Blues, Durban
Chris Latham (22/2/2003: Reds – scored within 21 sec) vs Brumbies, Brisbane
Steve Kefu (28/2/2004: Reds – scored within 23 sec) vs Chiefs, Brisbane
Jaque Fourie (29/3/2003: Cats – scored within 25 sec) vs Sharks, Johannebsurg
Quade Cooper (11/4/2009: Reds – scored within 25 sec) vs Highlanders, Invercargill
bulls have 30kg advantage on the scrum … 301 Cheetahs, 331 Bulls
Steenkamp ate Nel like a mielie in that scrum… 😯
Second Half
Wylie Human (10/5/2008: Stormers – scored within 9 sec) vs Waratahs, Cape Town
Scott Staniforth (16/3/2002: Waratahs – scored within 27 sec) vs Cats, Sydney
Marika Vunibaka (54/2002: Crusaders – scored within 29 sec) vs Waratahs, Sydney
Joe Rokocoko (8/3/2003: Blues scored within 30 sec) vs Crusaders, Albany
Paul Williams (4/4/2008: Highlanders scored within 30 sec) vs Lions, Dunedin
Wynand Olivier (14/2/2009: Bulls scored within 31 sec) vs Reds, Pretoria
My FL Starting XV Captain takes his 1st shot at goal.
ok – kids need feeding.
Later guys. It’s been a GOOD day
Steyn slots it.
Cheetahs 5 – 3 Bulls
8min
@robdylan (Comment 62) :
JUST got better than yesterday. 🙂
cheetahs getting another go at goal ….
and its good
8-3 Cheetahs
10 minutes
bulls dominating in territory so far 👿
75% territory advantage to the Bulls thusfar.
Cheethas actually counter ruck tooooo good there for a second and they ruck so far over that the Bulls have enough time to form a new ruck in the same place with the same player lying on the ground. 😛
bulls score their first try (jaco pretorius)
15 minutes
and the kick is ….. good
bulls into the lead
10-8 Bulls
16 minutes
and with that the pecking order in SA rugby is restored.
that was pretorius’ 1st ever superrugby try. 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 71) : just so long as the blue team realise the black team is above them in that pecking order
successful kick by the Cheetahs puts them BACK in the lead
11-10 Cheetahs
18 minutes
@KSA Sharkette (Comment 73) :

steyn preparing to go at goal… this feels more like tennis 😆 🙄
11-13 Bulls
19 minutes
wow 3 minutes without someone kicking and scoring 😉 😆
13 phases of attack so far by the Cheetahs 😯
13 phases and still going, cheetahs inching closer to the try line….
TMO decision pending on a Nokwe try…
and the TMO says :
the ball was lost forward by the white team
GREAT LUCKY defence by Stegmann as he gets a foot under the ball when he tackled Nokwe.
possession almost level up to now
13-11 Bulls
24 minutes
cheetahs going at goal ….
(bulls blown for offside)
and from almost 28m, the kick is ….
good !
14-13 Cheetahs
26 minutes
30min
Cheetahs 14 – 13 Bulls
scintilating rugby 🙄 😕
so the nokwe try wasn’t a try?
MY FL CAptain Steyn scores a TRY!!!!!!!!!!
@robdylan (Comment 87) :
nope. Stegmann got a foor under it.
Steyn converted his own try.
Cheetahs 14 – 20 Bulls
36min
Handling errors
Cheetahs 5
Bulls 3
38min
PK BUlls for a problem at the scrum
Steyn going at goal from the Cheetahs 10m line.
Over
Cheetahs 14 – 23 Bulls
40min
HALF TIME
Cheetahs 14 – 23 Bulls
typical Bulls Rugby slow strangle hold by the Bulls and soon the Cheetahs will suffocate completely
Corne Uys defence had let the Cheetahs down twice 🙁
What is Meisiekind trying to do running through a brickwall 😈
Cheetahs have a shot at goal for a player being in front of the kicker.
from close to the touchline, and he slots it.
Cheetahs 17 – 23 Bulls
43min
vd Heever TRY!!!!!!!!!! in the corner after great run by Wynand Olivier
Poor defence by Cheetahs midfield 👿
Steyn miss hits the ball but it bounces on the crossbar and goes over.
Cheetahs 17 – 30 Bulls
45min
Kirchner TRY!!!!!!!!!!! after a kick ahead by Rossouw
Steyn converts.
Cheetahs 17 – 37 Bulls
47min
@Charlie (Comment 100) :
VERY!!!!!!!!!! made Meisiekind look good. Must have you worried about your bok spot. 😉
Juan Smith TRY!!!!!!!
@KSA Shark © (Comment 105) :
from a PK for the Bulls not touching at the engage sequence
Juan Smith IS in my FL squad 🙂
Conversion slotted by Olivier
Cheetahs 24 – 37 Bulls
50min
NOKWE TRY!!!!!!!!!!
Oubaas, no worries 😉
oh man, Bulls are vulnerable out wide, all right!
Olivier converts
Cheetahs 31 – 37 Bulls
52min
A humdinger of a game this
for a few minutes there I thought my Margin point was coming closer and closer. 😳
@Charlie (Comment 113) :
NOW yes, at the end of the first half it was like watching rusks mature.
I thought I’d lost picture for a minute and then Bladen said the lights went out. 😆 😆 😆
Duh who put the lights out 🙁
who didn’t pay their light bill 😯 😯
lights are out at the stadium 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 88) : hey, he’s my captain too 🙂
Sorry Oubaas but that was a forward pass from Meisiekind to Van Den Heever 😉
So at What stage in this season will the Sharks buy Riaan Viljoen as a replacement for Stefan next season?
Nokwe is bloody hell fast 😈
@Charlie (Comment 120) :
Have a look at the replay. The Ar called it and must have been overruled b y Kaplan. You can clearly see his hand go to his mic button to talk. There was no other reason to talk other than to say “forward pass white”
Loadshedding has started…damn 😆
game back on
enough light to continue and it is a scrum to the Bulls.
and the bulls score
So Kaplan turned the blind eye 😉
Poor defence Cheetahs 🙁
the kick is ….
good !
44-31 Bulls
56 minutes
@Charlie (Comment 128) :
deaf ear. 😆
Little Viljoen running straight through Victoria 🙄
PK and Olivier puts it over
Cheetahs 34 – 44 Bulls
59min
Yster Brussouw
@Charlie (Comment 131) :
i don’t care how little you are it is not acceptable to hurt girls!!!!!!!!! 😈
Hehehe ! And wearing high heels 😈
Nokwe looks fire 😉
@Charlie (Comment 135) :
He probably has a few hair curlers under that head gear.
Kaplan’s in love with the bulls ?
flip it is dark on the nearside of the pitch. if you consider how much more light the camrea can let into the iris then it must be DAMN dark out there.
@Charlie (Comment 138) :
No No No. Just a few years ago they believed he was vitimising them
PK Bulls Stayen going at goal from 6m inside the Cheetahs half.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 141) :
misses to the right.
70min
Cheetahs 34 – 44 Bulls
Maybe they got him converted as a bulls lover 😈
Basic errors and a few easy tries costing them dearly 🙁
JLP gets a bit of a boo as he replaces Meisiekind
TMO decision pending on a blue try
Boo or Moooo ?
vd Heever goes over and JK refers it to the TMO. should be fun with this light. 😀
TMO says :
heldup, no try
No try great tackle Rasta former club rugby teammate 😛
Kette grining like a cheshire cat she has the Bulls by 10 on SB.
blow the flipping final whistle 😈
my SB points diff is 10
Kette wants to moer JK as he awards a Penalty try!!!!!!
Kaplan what’s up ?
77 flipping minutes and Jonathan Flipping Kaplan gives the Bulls a penalty try 👿
the kick is good
51-34 Bulls
Conversion over
Cheetahs 34 – 51 Bulls
78min
phew – bought my EuroMillions ticket just in time
score (at least a PK kick) Cheetahs – please 😳
@Charlie (Comment 154) :
nothing wrong there. I’m surprised he waited that long. brossouw was almost signing a contract for the Bulls he was so much a part of their pack.
FINAL whistle
51-34 Bulls
@robdylan (Comment 157) :
90mil on offer on the SA Lotto this week.
shit – Ebersohn is a little useless…
Agree was only joking 😉
Log updated.
Bulls take 5
Cheetahs take 0
@KSA Shark © (Comment 161) :
£113M this side 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 165) :
FOOOOOOOK
@KSA Shark © (Comment 166) : nice, huh?
@robdylan (Comment 167) :
if you win it yeahhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh! if some other lucky fool does then NOT so much. 😛
Nothing like two sets of hardcore dutchmen going at each other hammer & tongs to start the weekend. 😎
Well done to the Bulle.
They have a quality side.