Fairytale finish for Blue Bulls?
The Pampas XV, the only undefeated team in this year's Vodacom Cup, will be hoping for one more victory in 2011 when they host the defending champions, the Blue Bulls, at Olën Park in Potchefstroom on Friday.
The Argentineans will start as red hot favourites as they are currently on a 10-match winning streak, which started with a 52-29 victory over the Griffons. Since then, they have managed to secure two more 50-point victories, against the Falcons (57-15) in round seven and against the Welwitschias (52-10) in Windhoek in round nine.
What's more interesting, is that the Pampas XV have already beaten the Blue Bulls this season, by 27-22 at Olën Park in round three. They were impressive in their 41-26 semifinal victory over the Sharks XV last weekend, and defeated the Free State Cheetahs (41-34) in extra time of a thrilling quarterfinal clash.
A number of players from the Argentinean team have been outstanding this year, with wing Juan Imhoff currently the joint-leading try-scorer together with Western Province's JJ Engelbrecht on 10 tries. Wing Agustin Gosio is the second leading try-scorer with seven five-pointers to his name.
Pampas XV flyhalves Nicolas Sanchez (79) and Santiago Iglesias (62) are also amongst the leading Vodacom Cup points' scorers this season. The “hosts” have also been the most entertaining team thanks to their expansive rugby this year. They have scored 53 tries this season, with Iglesias converting 24 of those tries and Sanchez converting 19.
However the Blue Bulls, three-time Vodacom Cup champions, can count on huge finals experience, having played in eight finals at this level. Eight players who competed in the 2010 Vodacom Cup final for the Blue Bulls have been included in their match 22 for Friday's clash. Centre Stefan Watermeyer, flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff, scrumhalf Ruan Snyman, flank Okkie Kruger, prop Morné Mellett, locks Cornell Hess and Mthunzi Mabeta and captain Gerrit-Jan van Velze, who will make his fourth Vodacom Cup final appearance, were members of the team that defeated the Free State Cheetahs 31-29 at Loftus Versfeld last year. Boshoff is currently the fourth leading points' scorer in the competition with 78 points.
The Pretoria team kicked off their 2011 title defence with four consecutive defeats - against the Sharks XV (30-19), Boland Cavaliers (20-17), Pampas XV (27-22) and Western Province (16-8).
However, since then they have won five of their last six games, which included a 47-34 semifinal victory in Kimberley over Griquas, as well as a nail-biting 28-26 quarterfinal win over the Lions in Johannesburg. The visitors have won four of their six matches played outside Pretoria. Their only away defeats were against the Sharks XV and the Pampas XV earlier this year.
Teams:
Pampas XV: 15 Joaquín Tuculet, 14 Román Miralles, 13 Gabriel Ascárate, 12 Agustín Gosio, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolás Sánchez, 9 Martín Landajo, 8 Leonardo Senatore, 7 Julio Farías Cabello, 6 Miguel de Achaval (captain), 5 Mariano Galarza, 4 Benjamín Macome, 3 Maximiliano Bustos, 2 Agustín Creevy, 1 Bruno Postiglioni.
Replacements: 16 Mauricio Guidone, 17 Nahuel Tetaz Chaparro, 18 Genaro Fessia, 19 Tomás Leonardi, 20 Tomás Cubelli, 21 Santiago González Iglesias, 22 Belisario Agulla.
Blue Bulls: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Stefan Watermeyer, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Hayden Groepes, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze (captain), 7 Marnus Schoeman, 6 Okkie Kruger, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Cornell Hess, 3 Stephanus Pretorius, 2 Zane Botha, 1 Morné Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Henri Bantjes, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Mthunzi Mabeta, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Wesley Dunlop, 22 Bradley Moolman.
Date: Friday, May 13
Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende Johan Greeff
TMO: JC Fortuin