Vodacom Cup
Vodacom Cup action hotting up
2011-04-26 17:46
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Gerdie KarstensKimberley - How badly do the Blue Bulls want to advance to the semi-final stage of the Vodacom Cup?
That is the big question ahead of their quarter-final against the Golden Lions at Wits University on Saturday.
The Lions advanced to the quarters with some powerful displays and finished top of the log in the Northern section, while the Blue Bulls only scraped through in fourth place.
The Bulls did manage to claim the one log point they needed in their last group match against the SWD Eagles, which they lost 25-23.
However, losing to a side that finished second from bottom in their group should be a big worry for the men from Pretoria.
Their coach, Denzil Frans is therefore at a crossroad with his defending champion side.
Should he stick with majority of his starting line-up or rather make changes in the hope of faring better against a well-oiled Lions side coached by former Blue Bulls mentor Nico Serfontein?
Meanwhile, Western Province's selection at flyhalf may well depend on the fitness of Peter Grant at the Stormers.
Grant's understudy, Gary van Aswegen, is also injured, and Lionel Cronjé and Kurt Coleman are already training with the Stormers. Grant, however, has until Friday to prove his fitness.
Coleman may well be in the Vodacom Cup side if Grant is able to prove his fitness.
Province coach John Dobson could also consider Ikeys No 10 Demetri Catrakilis, Isma-eel Dollie or even Michael van der Spuy at flyhalf.
WP take on the Sharks XV at Newlands in their quarter-final on Saturday.
Sharks coach Sean Everitt's team completed the group phase with a narrow win over the Pumas. The Sharks will therefore have to produce a strong performance to topple WP Cape Town.
In another quarter-final Griquas take on the Pumas in Kimberley on Friday night, where injured flyhalf Earl Rose could make his return.
Rose already trained with his teammates on Monday and will probably be included in coach Abré Minnie's 22-man squad.
But, they will be without No 8 Leon Karemaker, who has a shoulder injury. He made his Super Rugby debut for the Cheetahs against the Highlanders on their overseas tour. He will only be fit to play once the Currie Cup gets under way.
Meanwhile, in Bloemfontein, Johann de Jager reports that the Free State Cheetahs are considering picking scrumhalf Piet van Zyl for their quarter-final against a powerful Pampas XV in Potchefstroom on Friday.
The promising Van Zyl broke his collarbone in a training game earlier this year.
They are hoping to use him as a substitute if he gets medical clearance to play.
The team from Argentina finished at the top of the Southern section.
Pine Pienaar's Cheetahs will therefore have to play well to emerge victorious against the team coached by Daniel Hourcade.