Friday 22 October: Barloworld Toyota Pumas v EP Kings, Puma Stadium – Witbank (SS1 – k/o 19h00)
Saturday 23 October 2010: Platinum Leopards v SWD Eagles, Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom (SS1 – k/o 16h00)
How it works
A team with the most log points after the completion of the two Promotion/Relegation matches will compete in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division in the following season. In the event of an equal number of log points, the winner will be determined as follows:
1. The best netto points’ difference i.e. points for minus points against, and if equal,
2. The team who scored the most tries, and if equal,
3. The status quo will remain.
History suggests that there will be little separating the Platinum Leopards and the SWD Eagles in preparation of their Absa Currie Cup promotion/relegation game in Potchefstroom on Saturday at 16h00.
The hosts ended at the bottom of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division log this season after they failed to secure one win in the 2010 competition. The visitors on the other hand ended in first position on the Absa Currie Cup First Division log.
However recent results confirm that games between theses sides have always ended up in to closely contested battles. Theses sides have played each other eight times since 2005 with both teams securing four victories.
During the 2009 Absa Currie Cup promotion/relegation games the SWD Eagles beat the Platinum Leopards by 18-17 in George. However the Potchefstroom side maintained their status as a Premier Division contender after they recorded a 47-42 victory over the Eagles.
The SWD Eagles last tasted success in Potchefstroom back in 2007 when they secured a 34-24 win over the Platinum Leopards who notched up three home victories against their George opponents – in 2009 (47-42), 2008 (41-33) and in 2006 (40-33).
The hosts have not enjoyed any luck at home this year. They conceded seven home defeats against the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (78-7), Vodacom Blue Bulls (35-26), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (45-30), Vodacom Western Province (42-23), GWK Griquas (41-27), Barloworld Toyota Pumas (27-26) and the Xerox Lions (43-13).
The SWD Eagles tasted victory on the road this year. The George outfit recorded away victories against the Eastern Province Kings (25-8), Border Bulldogs (17-7), Valke (55-47) and against the Griffons (18-14) in this season’s competition.
With a win rate of close to 90 percent, history suggests that the Barloworld Toyota Pumas will carry the favourites tag in preparation of their Absa Currie Cup promotion/relegation game against the Eastern Province Kings at the Puma Stadium in Witbank on Friday (19h00).
The hosts have only lost one game against the Port Elizabeth side in games played during the last five seasons. The Barloworld Toyota Pumas secured five victories against the EP Kings in matches played in Witbank while they have also recorded victories over their Eastern Cape opponents in games played in Port Elizabeth during the 2008 (32-24) and 2005 (31-20) seasons; and in Uitenhage (27-25) during last year’s Absa Currie Cup First Division.
The Barloworld Toyota Pumas caused two major upsets during this season’s Absa Currie Cup Premier Division after they defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls (22-21) at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit before they secured a thrilling 34-27 victory over the Xerox Lions in Johannesburg.
The Port Elizabeth side secured their first Absa Currie Cup First Division title last weekend and recorded numerous victories on the road during this season’s competition.
They defeated the SWD Eagles (16-12) in the final last Friday, and also secured league victories against the SWD Eagles (19-17) in George, Boland Cavaliers (33-22) in Wellington, Border Bulldogs (42-28) in East London and the Valke (50-35) in Kempton Park.
Absa Currie Cup promotion/relegation fixtures:
Friday 22 October: Barloworld Toyota Pumas v EP Kings, Puma Stadium – Witbank (SS1 – k/o 19h00)
Saturday 23 October 2010: Platinum Leopards v SWD Eagles, Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom (SS1 – k/o 16h00)
Barloworld Toyota Pumas v EP Kings
Head to Head – Barloworld Toyota Pumas v EP Kings:
P: 9 W: 8 L: 1 PF: 302 PA: 222
Barloworld Toyota Pumas’ recent form at home:
• The Barloworld Toyota Pumas defeated the Vodacom Blue Bulls (22-21) at the first Absa Currie Cup game played at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit in week eight, but then suffered a 62-10 defeat at the same venue against Vodacom WP in week 11. They secured a 37-32 win over the Platinum Leopards 37-32 in week two of this season’s Absa Currie Cup at the Pumas Stadium.
• The Barloworld Toyota Pumas went down to the GWK Griquas (61-31), The Sharks (30-14) in week 10, Xerox Lions (33-30) during week seven and conceded a 45-30 loss to the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs in week five of this year’s competition.
• The hosts were undefeated at home during last year’s Absa Currie Cup First Division competition.
Eastern Province Kings’ recent form on the road:
• The Port Elizabeth side recorded a 16-12 victory over the SWD Eagles in the Absa Currie Cup First Division final last Friday, and also secured a 19-17 win over the SWD Eagles in week six.
• The EP Kings secured a 33-22 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in week three and a 42-28 away win over the Border Bulldogs in East London during week one of the 2010 Absa Currie Cup First Division.
• The Eastern Province Kings though suffered their first defeat of the competition when they went down to the Griffons (27-18) in Welkom in week eight.
Additional match information:
• Eastern Province Kings centre De Wet Barry represented the Springboks in 39 Tests.
• The Barloworld Toyota Pumas winger Allistair Kettledas scored 18 tries during the 2009 Absa Currie Cup First Division.
• Mzwandile Stick (EP Kings) captained the SA Sevens who claimed the IRB Sevens World Series title during the 2008/2009 season.
• The Barloworld Toyota Pumas’ Hannes Franklin and Jacques Coetzee represented the Auto & General Lions during the 2010 Vodacom Super 14.
• EP Kings lock Rory Duncan captained the Vodacom Free State Cheetahs side that won the 2007 Absa Currie Cup.
• Barloworld Toyota Pumas utility back Shaun Venter represented the SA Sevens during the 2009 IRB Sevens World Series.
• Eastern Province Kings winger Norman Nelson was the joint-leading try-scorer along with the Valke’s Coert Cronje during the 2010 Absa Currie Cup First Division with nine tries.
• International Test referee Marius Jonker who handled the Absa Currie Cup semi-final between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and The Sharks in Durban on Saturday will take charge of this game in Potchefstroom.
Platinum Leopards v SWD Eagles
Head to Head – Platinum Leopards v SWD Eagles: P: 8 W: 4 L: 4 PF: 272 PA: 227
Platinum Leopards’ recent form at home:
• The hosts have suffered seven home defeats – against the Vodacom Free State cheetahs (78-7), Vodacom Blue Bulls (35-26), Vodacom Free State Cheetahs (45-30), Vodacom Western Province (42-23), GWK Griquas (41-27), Barloworld Toyota Pumas (27-26) and the Xerox Lions (43-13) in this season’s competition.
• The Platinum Leopards won only one home game during last year’s Absa Currie Cup Premier Division, a 50-16 victory over the Boland Cavaliers.
SWD Eagles’ recent form on the road:
• The George outfit recorded away victories against the Eastern Province Kings (25-8) in Port Elizabeth, Border Bulldogs (17-7), Valke (55-47) and against the Griffons (18-14) in this season’s competition, but suffered a 38-33 defeat against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington during week 10.
• The visitors secured three victories on the road during the 2009 season against the Border Bulldogs, Valke and the EP Kings.
• The SWD Eagles recorded only one win on the road against the EP Kings during the 2008 Absa Currie Cup First Division.
Additional match information:
• The Platinum Leopards conceded the most points in the 2010 Absa Currie Cup – 654; and have also conceded the most tries – 94.
• SWD Eagles captain Bevin Fortuin has played in 120 games for the George side during his career.
• The Platinum Leopards scrumhalf Michael Bondesio was the joint fifth leading try-scorer in this season’s Absa Currie Cup Premier Division – six.
• SWD Eagles flyhalf Ambrose Barends was the leading points’ scorer during the 2010 Absa Currie Cup First Division.
• The Platinum Leopards’ Cecil Dumond is the brother of Monty Dumond, who plays for the EP Kings.
• International Test referee Craig Joubert will handle the game between the SWD Eagles and the Platinum Leopards in Potchefstroom.