The Absa Currie Cup’s best attacking and defensive sides for 2010 goes head-to-head in Durban on Saturday evening when The Sharks host Vodacom Western Province in this top of the table clash at 19h10.
Province boast’s the best defensive record of all eight teams competing in the Premier Division and like their Durban opponents, have been one of the form teams this season. The Cape side has conceded 62 points which includes only six tries.
However The Sharks, who accumulated 219 points after six games which includes 29 tries, have been the best attacking team this season. The hosts are also undefeated at home this season after they secured victories over the Vodacom Blue Bulls (34-28), Xerox Lions (48-19) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (27-17). The Durban side scored 14 tries from their three home games in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.
Vodacom Western Province though have been impressive on the road as they achieved away wins over the GWK Griquas (50-3) in Kimberley, Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-11) in Bloemfontein and the Platinum Leopards (42-23) in Potchefstroom. The visitors have also only conceded four tries during these three games.
The hosts will have the chance to end the Cape side’s undefeated run in this season’s competition and claim pole position on the log. Province though will be aiming to stretch their lead at the top of the standings by securing their seventh consecutive victory of the season.
The Sharks’ recent form at home:
The hosts, who have recorded three home victories over the Xerox Lions (48-19), Vodacom Blue Bulls (34-28) and the Barloworld Toyota Pumas (27-17) in this season’s competition, have conceded only two home defeats during the last two seasons in the Absa Currie Cup.
Both defeats occurred last season, against Vodacom Western Province and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (semi-final). Vodacom Western Province’s recent form on the road:
The Cape side has secured three wins on the road during this season’s competition against the GWK Griquas (50-3), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (25-11) in week 1 and against the Platinum Leopards (42-23) in week three of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup.
Vodacom WP achieved three away victories against the Boland Kavaliers, Platinum Leopards and The Sharks in last year’s Absa Currie Cup.
In 2008, they recorded two wins on the road against the Boland Kavaliers and the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.Player/ match stats:
Vodacom Western Province recorded a 21-9 victory over The Sharks when these sides last met in an Absa Currie Cup game in Durban in 2009.
Flyhalf Willem de Waal (WP) has accumulated 1310 points in his Absa Currie Cup career. He added 259 points for the Platinum Leopards, 811 for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs, and since joining Province in 2008, has notched up 240.
De Waal has twice scored 212 points in a season, back in 2006 and 2007, for the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs.
The Sharks centre Patrick Lambie represented the SA Under-20s during this year’s IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina. He also won the Absa Currie Cup Player of the Month award for July.
Vodacom WP scrumhalf Dewaldt Duvenage represented the Baby Boks during the 2008 IRB Junior World Championships.
The Sharks flanker Keegan Daniel scored a hat-trick of tries during his side’s 27-17 victory over the Pumas in Week 3 of the 2010 Absa Currie cup.
WP flyhalf Lionel Cronje represented the SA Under-20s during the 2009 IRB Junior World Championship in Japan.
Flyhalf Cecil Dumond (Platinum Leopards) is the brother of The Sharks flyhalf Monty Dumond.
Referee Lourens van der Merwe will take charge of this top of the table clash between The Sharks and Vodacom Western Province.
Gooooo Sharks