Michael de Neuilly Rice takes the ball up for Western Province. Gallo

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Today, 05 July 2008

Yesterday, 04 July 2008

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» Smash, but no grab

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Of the eight teams contesting this weekend's Vodacom Cup quarterfinals, Western Province will be the most determined to succeed after their disappointment at the same stage of the competition in 2007.

Similarly to this season, WP ended the league phase unbeaten and hosted the Leopards in the quarterfinals at Newlands. In a spectacular upset, the Leopards, who had ended fourth in the North section after three wins from six matches, won 30-14 to bring a premature end to what had been a promising WP campaign.

The only side amongst this year's last eight never to have played in a Vodacom Cup Final, Province host the Wildebeest at Newlands on Saturday (2pm).

On the evidence of the two teams' performance in the league phase, WP will start as clear favourites. Their biggest test will be dealing with the inevitabilities of knockout rugby against a team that has ridden its luck during the 2008 campaign and boasts a win over champions Griquas in the league phase.

The winner of the WP/Wildebeest clash will meet the winner of the quarterfinal between the Free State Cheetahs and the Boland Cavaliers that takes place at Vodacom Park in Bloemfontein at 5pm on Friday. 

There was little to choose between the two in the league phase with the Cheetahs securing second place ahead of the Cavaliers in the South section by a single point. Both won five of their seven league matches. The Cheetahs will do well to make the most of their home ground advantage against a team that has travelled well so far.

Reigning champions Griquas host the Leopards at Absa Park in Kimberley on Saturday at 12.10pm. The champions are unbeaten at home this season and the Leopards will find them a tough nut to crack despite the fact that three of their four league wins this season were away from home. The Leopards have not won in Kimberley since 2002.

The winner of the Kimberly clash will face either the Blue Bulls or the Golden Lions, who meet at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday at 6pm. History favours the Lions, who have won 11 from 14 Vodacom Cup games against their old foe since 1998.

Current form, however, points to a win for the Blue Bulls, who won the North section and have the benefit of home advantage. An added incentive for the Blue Bulls is securing a first-ever win over the Lions at home in the Vodacom Cup.

The semi-finals take place on May 3.

Fixtures and teams:

Friday, 25 April:

Free State vs Boland Cavaliers
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein, 5pm

Free State: 15 Wilton Pietersen, 14 Giscard Pieters, 13 Phillip Snyman, 12 Bernd Theissinger, 11 Howard Noble, 10 Jannie Myburgh, 9 Jandré Blom, 8 Ashley Johnson (captain), 7 Darron Nell, 6 Albert Parsons, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Phillip Lemmer, 2 Jaco du Toit, 1 Ronnie Uys.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Roché van der Westhuizen, 18 Marnus Briedenhann, 19 Nicky Steyn, 20 Jaco Colyn, 21 Divan van Zyl, 22 Joel Iggo.

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Justin Peach, 14 John Daniels, 13 Piet van Zyl, 12 Kobus Meintjes, 11 Alvin Hugo, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Francois Prinsloo, 7 Whalied Heyns, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Dries van Schalkwyk, 4 Coenie Basson, 3 Jean Botha, 2 Conrad Burke (captain), 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Andries Human, 18 Cecil Kemp, 19 Wendell Wehr, 20 Neil Papier, 21 Alshaun Bock, 22 Lionel Cornelius.

Blue Bulls vs Golden Lions
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 6pm

Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni (captain), 14 John Mametsa, 13 Braam Gerber, 12 Ruan Boshoff, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Burton Francis, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Vincent Gwavu, 6 Okkie Kruger, 5 Mthunzi Mabeta, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Dean Greyling, 2 Brett Sharman, 1 Rassie Van Vuuren.
Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Juandre Kruger, 19 Hilton Lobberts, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Stefan Watermeyer, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.

Golden Lions: 15 Pagina de Klerk, 14 Trekker van Tonder, 13 Justin St Jerry, 12 JJ Pienaar, 11 Colin Lloydt, 10 André Smith, 9 Straatkat van Zyl, 8 RW Kember, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Roland Bernard (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Alten Hulme, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Gert-Andries van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Torrie Meyer, 17 Wayne Swart, 18 Kaunda Ntunja, 19 Derrick Minnie, 20 Haas Snyman, 21 Jody Rose, 22 Jaque Fourie.

Saturday, 26 April:

Griquas vs Leopards
Absa Park, Kimberley, 1pm

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Lafras Uys, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Gavin Passens, 10 Tobie Botes, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Frans Viljoen, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Stefan Gerber, 4 Cilliers Coetzer, 3 Albertus Buckle, 2 Dean Hopp, Hans van Dyk (captain), Regardt Dreyer.
Replacements (from): Louwtjie Louw, Steph Roberts, Brendon Snyman, Wayne van Heerden, Dougie Helmuth, Herkie Kruger, Siviwe Magaba, Jeremy Plaatjies, Darryl Coeries. 

Leopards: 15 Anver Schooney, 14 Wouter Watermeyer, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Basil de Doncker, 11 Jan van Zyl, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Theo van Wyk, 8 Riaan Swanepoel (captain), 7 Bennie Adams, 6 Jaco Bouwer, 5 Antonie Gronum, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Dietlov Coetzee, 2 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1 Divan Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Sydney Raaths, 17 Walla Schoeman, 18 Draad Linde, 19 Christo van Niekerk, 20 Chris Erasmus, 21 WD Botha, 22 Japie Nel.

Western Province vs Wildebeest
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, 3pm

Western Province: 15 Wylie Human, 14 Terry Jacobs, 13 Dabeon Draghoender, 12 Morgan Newman, 11 Zhahier Ryland, 10 Isma-eel Dollie, 9 Paul Delport, 8 Justin Melck, 7 David Hendricks, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Rito Hlungwani, 4 Francois van der Merwe, 3 Ruaan Du Preez, 2 Hanyani Shimange (captain), 1 Wikus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 George Earle, 19 Tyrone Holmes, 20 Allister Siegelaar, 21 Ricardo Croy, 22 Petrus Vermeulen.

Wildebeest: 15 Danie Dames, 14 Sizwe Zondo, 13 Riaan Swanepoel, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Neil de Bruin, 9 Scott Mathie, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Skholiwe Ndlovu, 5 Nikolai Blignaut, 4 Alistair Hargreaves (captain), 3 Robbie Harris, 2 Jody Jenneker, 1 Kees Lensing.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Rutherford, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Schalk van Jaarsveld, 19 Nqubeko Zulu, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Luzuko Vulindlu, 22 Chris Jordaan.