With nothing left but pride to play for, Griquas coach Dawie Theron hopes his battered charges can find it in them to get up for one more big Bull-fight in the Currie Cup.
The defending champion Blue Bulls will arrive in Kimberley on Saturday determined to collect a full-house five points against Griquas and in the process keep alive their hopes of hosting a semifinal.
And the Griquas coach is under no illusion as to just how tall an order it will be to overcome the start-studded visiting outfit – who welcomed back a ghost of Springbok players this week.
“I truly hope the [Griquas] players will be up for it mentally,” Theron told rugby365.com, when asked about facing a near full-strength Bulls team chasing home ground advantage in the play-offs.
His own team, with nothing more than a remote, mathematical shot at the play-offs, will be playing for “pride” only.
“I trust the players still have the hunger to win a big one,” Theron said, adding: “I see this as the first game of our new season… the 2011 season.”
He admitted that it will be a charged-up Bulls side arriving in Kimberley
“However, this is a home game for us and we have to perform on our home turf,” he said, adding that their narrow (one-point) defeat to the Bulls at Loftus almost two months ago was a loss that “really hurt”.
“But there is no doubt it will be a very different Bulls team that will arrive this week and we will have to produce our ‘A-Game’,” he said.
The Bulls have also made no secret of the fact that they want to take the full five points away from Kimberley.
“Firstly, we need to go win that game as we are still not in a semifinal,” said Bulls captain Victor Matfield – one of a host of Bok stars recalled to the Bulls line-up ahead of this weekend.
“It’s a very important game for us… It’s never easy in Kimberley, so it’s going to be tough and we will have to be at our best.”
Recent results:
2007: Griquas won 26-18, Kimberley
2007: Blue Bulls won 46-3, Pretoria
2008: Blue Bulls won 41-12, Pretoria
2008: Blue Bulls won 58-22, Kimberley
2009: Blue Bulls won 25-24, Kimberley
2009: Blue Bulls won 61-27, Pretoria
2010: Blue Bulls won 39-38, Pretoria
rugby365.com Prediction: As Griquas coach Dawie Theron said, you should not be under any illusion as to the goals of the Blue Bulls. A comprehensive win and five points are the minimum requirement. While Griquas have the potential to cause an upset, the Bulls appear to have far too much class… not to mention the play-off factor. This should be a comfortable Blue Bulls victory – 15 points at least.
The teams:
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier (captain), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Wesley Wilkins, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Cecil Kemp, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jean Botha, 2 Rayno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Gerhard Human, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Wilmaure Louw, 22 Rudi Vogt.
Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Danie Rossouw, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Bakkies Botha, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Jaco Engels, 19 Flip van der Merwe, 20 CJ Stander, 21 Ruan Snyman, 22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter.
Date: Saturday, October 9
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, D Haasbroek
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
This article is courtesy of rugby365.com
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Go GW, just this one!
At Newlands already !!! GO SHARKS !!!
Go Kwasse !!!
If wishes were horses….blah,die,blah 😉 😀
GRIQUAS !
oh wait it doesn’t matter anymore cause the LIONS managed to lose last night ..nice ! 😈
Although it must be said a Bok laden Bulls team going down in Kimberly would be priceless !
If Griquas beat the Bulls we get the Bulls in the semi no matter what happens at Newlands
@diablo (Comment 4) : Stranger things have happened, like the game last night. Do you think the bulls will go for the 115 point win?
@war1 (Comment 7) : Doubt it – too risky. Mission accomplished by getting into the semis, no need to risk injuries. Good time for the returning guys to “find their feet” and gel with the rest of the team 😎
@war1 (Comment 7) : BUT it would be priceless if they did 😉
@diablo (Comment 8) : @diablo (Comment 9) : I think if they did manage to pull something like that off it would take self belief to a whole new level
@war1 (Comment 10) : If you listen very carefully you’ll hear a sound like distant thunder – not to worry, it’s just the “Blou Masjien” warming up 😛
@diablo (Comment 11) : If you look carefully you`ll see a puff of blue smoke as well . . That`s their supporters starting their diesel bakkies! 😈
@diablo (Comment 11) : Time will tell, 4 very good teams in the semis.
@Original Pierre (Comment 12) : Nah, that happens after the game – the supporters are too busy with the klippies & cola by now to worry about dicing 😉
@diablo (Comment 4) :
@diablo (Comment 11) :
Why can we hear it from so faaaaar away, is there a bearing knock?
Or did the exhaust fall off?
If Bakkies is involved then it is probably a head problem. 😆
😈 😈 😈 😈
@war1 (Comment 7) :
1st half will decide.
If these guys rack up 40-50 points then the 2nd half will be slaughter.
JK looks pissed. not looking forward to sprinting for the tryline all afternoon. 😆
possesion
20sec
Griquas 100%
Bulls 0%
😛 And that is where it ends. Bulls have the ball now, Griquas won’t see it again. 😛
Olivier misses a sitter at goal. 😕
Where is he playing next season?
Geel try!!!!!
Olivier converts
Griquas 7 – 0 Bulls
4min
Steyn kicks off direst into touch.
Bulls are scared of the Cheetahs. throwing the match so they stay 4th.
Olivier stuffs up a pass to send the ball into touch with Jansen heading for the line.
Tackles Made
Bulls 17
Griquas 1
9min
Potgieter scores.
Steyn converts
Griquas 7 – 7 Bulls
14min
Bulls r in no matter what! pity the Lions loss last nite!
21min
Griquas 7 – 7 Blue Bulls
the 115 is out of the picture.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 28) : never expected them 2 make it anyway!
Olivier TRY!!!!!
@The Sharks Sharkie (Comment 29) :
yip it never WAS in the picture really.
Steyn Converts
Griquas 7 – 14 Bulls
24min
Griquas TRY!!!! Stemmet
Jaco vd Westhuizen is SUCH a liability on the win for these guys.
Conversion missed.
Griquas 12 – 14 Blue bulls
29min
vd Heever TRY!!!
Steyn misses
Griquas 12 – 19 Blue bulls
What!? Morne actually missed!
Sharks u21 trail 19 – 6… 🙁
PK Steyn
Griquas 12 – 22 Bulls
35min
8m inside their own half and griquas going at goal INTO the wind. 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯
@KSA Shark © (Comment 41) :
IT”S F%^&EN OVER!!!!!!!!!!! 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯 😯
Griquas 15 – 22 Bulls
37min
HALF TIME
Griquas 15 – 22 Blue bulls.
@KSA Shark © (Comment 17) : I’m guessing th 115 point margin will not happen today.
So WP will target Jaco’s wing when we face the Bulls in the final!!
@war1 (Comment 44) :
Did anyone have it on SB? 😛 🙄
@wpw (Comment 45) : go back to sleep coz thats the only place your dreams are real!
@wpw (Comment 45) :
I think this is his last season so he won’t be there next season.
Bulls try
Steyn misses again
Griquas 15 – 27 Blue bulls
44min
Kuun Try!
a ghost of Springbok players
@KSA Shark © (Comment 50) : 😳
forgot about that.
Converted
Griquas 15 – 34 Bulls
53min
@McLovin (Comment 51) :
Bjorn Basson TRY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
And the Record for most tries in a season is HIS!!!!!
Converted
Griquas 22 – 34 Blue bulls
57min
YC against Griquas. 😕
Jaco vd Westhuyzen try
Jaco scores!!
Pretty decent try. 🙄
converted
Griquas 22 – 42 Bulls
61min
@wpw (Comment 58) :
He’s about to turn 33. Have you guys made him an offer yet?
Sharks u21 trailing 36 – 9 🙁
Who got the yellow?
bulls look average,we can take them in the semis.
@robdylan (Comment 62) :
Steph Roberts
@Honey Badger (Comment 63) :
We don’t need to, we’ll be playing WP. 😉
KSA Shark
Hoe oud is Oupa Stefan nou??
Albert VD Berg, Johan Ackerman??
Matfield try
@wpw (Comment 66) :
All long time Sharks not bought after they turned 35, 😛
To answer my own question, it was steph roberts
JLP converts
Griquas 22 – 48 Bulls
71min
@KSA Shark © (Comment 65) : lol,our forwards are going to dominate I think.
@robdylan (Comment 69) :
Or you could just look at my answer. @KSA Shark © (Comment 64) : 😛
@Honey Badger (Comment 71) :
I hope so.
Basson TRY!!!!!!! #21
Converted
Griquas 29 – 48 Blue Bulls
76min
Now watch the Bulls supporters punt him for the Boks next year!!
Even though I admit he deserves it ahead of Habs on current form.
Man I’m chuffed for Basson, I reckon his brand new record will never be equalled 😛
Pretorius TRY
FULL TIME
Griquas 36 – 48 Blue Bulls
Margin point thank you, had Bulls by 13 😎
@wpw (Comment 76) :
I’d have no problem with him continuing to be a Bok. He should play ahead of Hablahblah