Clash of the titans in Kimberley
The might of the North and South clash on Friday evening in Kimberley in the 15th Vodacom Cup Final, when Griquas host Western Province.
These two sides not only came out tops in the two pools, but were also impressive in their play-off matches in the last fortnight, advancing to the final with relative ease.
It would take a very strong argument to say that the two most deserving teams are not in Friday's final. Western Province have not lost once this season, while Griquas were only pipped at the post in their pool match against the Lions.
Not only have these two sides collected the most log points, but Griquas have scored the most tries in the competition (40), and Western Province have conceded the least (16).
Griquas coach Pote Human might disagree, but the history book would suggest the team from the Northern Cape would be the favourites on Friday. Not only are they playing in their seventh Vodacom Cup Final, but they are hosting their fourth and are aiming for their fifth title.
And of the three finals they have hosted in Kimberley, in 1998, 2005 and 2007, Griquas have never lost.
By contrast, Western Province will be playing in their first-ever final at this level. But the team from Cape Town know how to win - in the last two seasons under coach John Dobson, they have lost once only; in last year's quarterfinals.
Only six teams have won the Vodacom Cup - Griquas and the Golden Lions (four times each), the Blue Bulls (three), the Free State XV, Valke and Pampas XV (once each).
The teams:
Griquas: 15 Francois Brummer, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Matthew Rosslee, 11 Wilmaure Louw, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Jaco Nepgen, 5 Ligtoring Landman, 4 Edwin Hewitt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes (captain), 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Ivann Espag, 19 Chase Minnaar, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Jean Stemmet, 22 Rudi Vogt.
Western Province: 15 Kurt Coleman, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 Ederies Arendse, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nick Fenton-Wells (captain), 7 Tyrone Holmes, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Quinn Roux, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Rob Herring, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 19 Reuben Johannes, 20 Rick Schroeder, 21 Mike van der Spuy, 22 Berton Klaasen.
Date: Friday, May 18
Kick-off: 19.10
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge and Pieter Janse van Vuuren
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
Previous Vodacom Cup Final results:
1998: Griquas beat Golden Lions 57-0
1999: Golden Lions beat Griquas 73-7
2000: Free State XV beat Griquas 44-24
2001: Blue Bulls beat Boland Kavaliers 42-24
2002: Golden Lions beat Blue Bulls 54-38
2003: Golden Lions beat Blue Bulls 26-17
2004: Golden Lions beat Blue Bulls 35-16
2005: Griquas beat Leopards 27-25
2006: Valke beat Sharks XV 25-17
2007: Griquas beat Blue Bulls 33-29
2008: Blue Bulls beat Free State XV 25-21
2009: Griquas beat Blue Bulls 28-19
2010: Blue Bulls beat Free State XV 31-29
2011: Pampas XV beat Blue Bulls 14-9