Vodacom Cup Preview – Round 4
The Vodacom Cup is putting a smile on the face of South Africa Under-20 coach Dawie Theron, as a number of players in the reckoning for the Junior World Championship later this year, are getting valuable game time.
No less than 11 members of Theron’s last training squad featured in the Vodacom Cup last weekend. Add to that three more players that are currently part of Vodacom Super Rugby squads and one with the Springbok Sevens team, and it’s clear why Theron is happy.
“To have more than half of our squad involved in these competitions, is wonderful. It not only provides the players with valuable game time, but also helps with improving their conditioning, because the best way to get as fit as possible, is to actually play rugby,” said Theron.
“We don’t have a lot of time to prepare for the series against Argentina next month and the game time the players are getting at the moment, will definitely assist in getting them ready for a few tough games we’re anticipating.”
Last weekend, the following SA U20 squad members featured for their provinces in the Vodacom Cup: Allan Dell, Nicolas van Dyk and Pieter Steph du Toit (Sharks XV), Tony Jantjies, Jan Serfontein and Poerie van Rooyen (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Paul Willemse, Marais Schmidt, Wian van der Watt and Ettiene Oosthuizen (MTN Golden Lions), as well as Kevin Luiters (Toyota Free State XV).
Toyota Cheetahs flyhalf Johan Goosen and DHL Stormers prop Steven Kitshoff have been making waves in Vodacom Super Rugby, while utility back Paul Jordaan has featured in three matches in South Africa for The Sharks and is currently on tour with them.
William Small-Smith is a member of the Springbok Sevens team that are playing in Tokyo this weekend and he featured in the recent Hong Kong tournament.
Goosen, Schmidt and Jantjies, the likely kickers for the SA U20s later this year, are all piling on the points, with Goosen topping the charts in Vodacom Super Rugby and the other two both featuring in the top 10 of the Vodacom Cup.
“One of the issues we’ve singled out that needed attention, has been game time. The teams from the Northern Hemisphere arrive here having played in the Under-20 Six Nations, but this year we have the series against Argentina to help in our preparations, while it’s really good to see the players feature in a senior tournament like the Vodacom Cup,” said Theron.
“A number of other players in our squad have been playing in the various Varsity Cup competitions as well, so I’m happy that they are getting game time.”
Two big fixtures take place in the North Section on Saturday, both kicking off at 16:00 – the Leopards host the resurgent Vodacom Blue Bulls in Potchefstroom, while the Ford Pumas take on four-time champions GWK Griquas in Witbank. These teams occupy the top four spots on the Northern log.
In the South Section, the Toyota Free State XV face a difficult trip down to Port Elizabeth where they will meet the EP Kings on Friday. Both sides lost last weekend and will be hard pressed to get back to winning ways.
Also on Saturday, the Pampas XV and Regent Boland Kavaliers clash at DHL Newlands in Cape Town as a curtain raiser to the Vodacom Super Rugby match between the DHL Stormers and the Vodacom Bulls.
The two top Southern sides, DHL Western Province (away to the Border Bulldogs) and the Sharks XV (at home to the SWD Eagles), should go into their round four matches as favourites.
Vodacom Cup Fixtures – Round 4
Friday, March 30 2012
Sharks XV vs SWD Eagles
Kick-off: 16:30
Venue: Mr Price Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Jaco Peyper
EP Kings vs Toyota Free State XV
Kick-off: 19:10
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, PE
Referee: Joey Salmans
Saturday, March 31 2012
MTN Golden Lions vs Griffons
Kick-off: 14:45
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Ben Crouse
Border Bulldogs vs DHL Western Province
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Leopards vs Vodacom Blue Bulls
Kick-off: 16:00
Venue: Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Ford Pumas vs GWK Griquas
Kick-off: 16:00
Venue: Puma Stadium, Witbank
Referee: Pro Legoete
Pampas XV vs Regent Boland Kavaliers
Kick-off: 16:45
Venue: DHL Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
Bye: Valke
Vodacom Cup Top Points’ Scorers
| Player | Team | Tries | Conv | Pen | Drops | Tot |
| Gouws Prinsloo | Sharks XV | 2 | 10 | 11 | 0 | 63 |
| Demetri Catrakilis | DHL Western Province | 0 | 4 | 15 | 1 | 56 |
| Elric van Vuuren | SWD Eagles | 3 | 5 | 7 | 0 | 46 |
| JC Roos | Ford Pumas | 0 | 12 | 6 | 0 | 42 |
| Juan Kotze | Valke | 1 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 40 |
| Benjamin Madero | Pampas XV | 1 | 6 | 3 | 0 | 26 |
| Marais Schmidt | MTN Golden Lions | 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 25 |
| Tony Jantjies | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 1 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 24 |
| Noel Oelschig | Eastern Province Kings | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 | 24 |
| Elgar Watts | Boland Kavaliers | 0 | 7 | 2 | 0 | 20 |
| Santiago Gonzalez Iglesias | Pampas XV | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 20 |
| Justin van Staden | Eastern Province Kings | 0 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 19 |
| Rudi Vogt | GWK Griquas | 1 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 17 |
| Marco Mason | Toyota Free State XV | 0 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 17 |
| Ricardo Croy | Boland Kavaliers | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 17 |
| Scott van Breda | Eastern Province Kings | 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 16 |
| Wesley Dunlop | Vodacom Blue Bulls | 0 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 16 |
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