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Wikus & Bradley wk12 round-up

Not 'not Wikus'
By TonyTaff September 23 2008
It was business as usual in South Africa, last weekend. The Blue Bulls won, yet again, and Wikus Van Heerden once again featured in the starting XV, though not, this time on the scoresheet. Their away win against the Cheetahs consigned the latter to fifth on the log, outside a play-off place by dint of points difference to Province, who have an easy-looking run-in.
Meanwhile, the Sharks stretched their lead at the top with a bonus point win away at the hapless Valke. Future Saracen, Bradley Barritt, stretchered off the park a few weeks ago was named on the bench, but may face little pressure to return prematurely, as the Sharks have the international pairing of the youthful Francois Steyn and renaissance-man Adrian Jacobs in their centres, with Waylon Murray, no mean centre, on the wing.

 

There's no sign of internecine strife at Pretoria where future Saracen, Wikus Van Heerden, seems to have relinquished the captain's armband to, er, returning Springbok captain, Victor Matfield - not too much of a kick in the teeth there, then!

 

There are two weeks to go before the play-offs and the table looks thus:

 

Currie Cup

Pos

Team

Played

Won

Drawn

Lost

For

Against

Bonus

Pts

1.

Sharks

12

10

0

2

350

211

7

47

2.

Blue Bulls

12

9

0

3

402

193

8

44

2.

Lions

12

8

0

4

404

253

9

41

4.

WP

12

6

0

6

346

263

8

32

5.

Cheetahs

12

7

0

5

261

218

4

32

 

It is no longer possible for either of our players' teams to avoid qualifying for the semi-finals. Just like WP, the Bulls have a simple run-in, and only a monumental cock-up would deny them a home semi-final, regardless of any heroics from the Lions. Home semis look almost certain to produce victories and passage into the final for the two teams featuring the VR bound pair. No rest for the wicked, eh?

 

While Barritt will have undergone an enforced period of rest before his northern migration, Van Heerden could be facing exhaustion, as he has hardly missed a game (with Matfield missing and Bakkies Botha initially crocked, Rossouw has been used in the second row, rather than back, and Potgeiter, the back-up third-ranker is not a patch on Wikus). The Sarries conditioning staff will need the wisdom of Solomon to maximise the contribution that the blindside can make during the remainder of the northern hemisphere season.

Eurowatch Sept 21

In the Top 14, Sarries’ two prospective Challenge Cup opponents came face-to-face in the Basque country. The home side ran out winners, but this was not the stroll in the park that many had predicted, as the newcomers to the top flight clung on tenaciously thanks to the boot of Benat Arrayet, a threat Sarries would be wise not to ignore. The first half was try-less, in keeping with many as the ELV-adjustment process stutters along. Les Montois were more physical than their hosts and deservedly led 9-3 at half-time. Perhaps enlivened by a changing-room roasting, les Bayonnais looked the part early in the second stanza, with Fijian Filimone Balavacu crossing, the conversion edging the hosts ahead.  Thereafter the boot returned to prominence, with Arrayet’s fifth penalty taking the visitors two points clear with ten minutes to play. Bayonne fly-half Mathieu Maillard steadied fluttering home hearts with two late penalties to secure four league points, whilst the visitors will not be disheartened with their losing bonus point. Full time: 19-15. Meanwhile, in Italy, Viadana opened their home campaign with a 39-11 bonus point win against Almaviva Capitolina who finished 7th to Viadana’s 3rd last term. There is little to be inferred from a home vicory at this early stage, however are third, one of only three teams to win both opening matches.

 

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Re: Wikus & Bradley wk12 round-up
Posted by: TonyTaff (IP Logged)
Date: 2008:09:24:07:40:02

Now with added information as one of the author's malfunctioning logic circuits briefly flickers into life ...

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