Defending ABSA Currie Cup champions, DHL Western Province, the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Xerox Golden Lions all scored impressive wins in the opening Round of South Africa’s premier provincial competition over the weekend.

The 1st Round of the famous competition saw a number of outstanding individual performance as the teams got their new campaign underway. 6 Of the 8 teams started with new coaches at the helm, while several of the line-ups included numerous Junior Springboks and also a few Springbok Sevens stalwarts.

Springbok scrumhalf Francois Hougaard gave a masterclass performance for the Vodacom Blue Bulls, who scored 6 tries in total in their comprehensive 57 / 19 win over the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

In the other match played on Saturday afternoon, Junior Springbok flank Kwagga Smith was equally impressive for the Xerox Golden Lions in Port Elizabeth where he scored a hattrick of tries in their 51 / 14 demolition of the Eastern Province Kings.

Champions Western Province kicked off their campaign in perfect fashion on Friday afternoon with a 6-try victory over the ORC Griquas in Kimberley. Springbok Sevens flyer Seabelo Senatla scored 2 tries to demonstrate his deadly finishing abilities.

Meanwhile, history repeated itself in the late match on Friday when the Steval Pumas beat the Cell C Sharks 33 / 24 in the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. The score was almost identical to the 32 / 22 shock win of the Pumas over the Sharks in the opening Round fixture of last year at the same venue.

Pumas live-wire flank Marnus Schoeman scored 2 tries and was denied a 3rd by a desperate Thomas du Toit tackle just as he was about to launch himself over the try line.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls currently sit on Top of the Log, thanks to their bonus point win and better points’ difference and they are followed by the Xerox Golden Lions, DHL Western Province (both also on 5 points) and the Steval Pumas (4 points).

Toyota Free State Cheetahs (7) 19 / 57 (27) Vodacom Blue Bulls:

The Vodacom Blue Bulls were impressive in their 1st outing under new coach Nollis Marais and sent a strong message out that they are very eager to end the 6-year drought since they last lifted the famous trophy. The expectations were extremely high from the home crowd beforehand, although the Toyota Free State Cheetahs fielded a whole lot of youngsters playing in their 1st Currie Cup match and under a new coaching staff spearheaded by Franco Smith.

A strong crowd of 33 000 spectators attended the 90th ABSA Currie Cup match between these 2 teams since they 1st locked horns in 1939. It was not 1 the Cheetahs would like to remember.

They could start by looking at their decision-making and would have to make far less handling errors if they would like to contend for the cup. For Marais, new head coach of the Blue Bulls, things already look positive. He would have been satisfied with the display of his backs and the solid performance by flyhalf Tian Schoeman, who in general had a good outing and contributed 22 points with the boot.

Scorers:

Vodacom Blue Bulls:

• Tries: Francois Hougaard (2), Jamba Ulengo (1), Deon Stegmann (1), Warrick Gelant (1), Travis Ismaiel (1)
• Conversions: Tian Schoeman (5), Louis Fouché (1)
• Penalties: Tian Schoeman (4), Louis Fouché (1)

Toyota Free State Cheetahs:

• Tries: Boom Prinsloo (1), Shaun Venter (1), Clayton Blommetjies (1)
• Conversions: Niel Marais (1), Fred Zeilinga (1)

Eastern Province Kings (7) 14 / 51 (31) Xerox Golden Lions:

The Xerox Golden Lions were full value for their victory in the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, where Springbok Sevens flanker Kwagga Smith scored 3 tries and right wing Courtnall Skosan 2. Flyhalf Marnitz Boshoff gave a flawless kicking performance and he added 3 penalties and 6 conversions. The Kings answered with tries by Sylvian Mahuza and Simon Kerrod, while Scott van Breda slotted the 2 conversions.

The Kings only won 1 out of 10 ABSA Currie Cup matches last season and seem set for another testing campaign among the big guns of South African rugby. Any hopes they had of staging an upset were quickly extinguished when the visitors ran in 4 tries in the 1st quarter. It was a hammer blow for the Kings and one they never recovered from.

Scorers:

EP Kings:

• Tries: Sylvain Mahuza (1), Simon Kerrod (1)
• Conversions: Scott van Breda (2)

Xerox Golden Lions:

• Tries: Kwagga Smith (3), Courtnall Skosan (2), Howard Mnisi (1)
• Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (6)
• Penalties: Marnitz Boshoff (3)

ORC Griquas (7) 19 / 43 (24) DHL Western Province:

DHL Western Province scored 3 tries in the 1st half, followed by 3 more in the 2nd to get the bonus point and leave the City of Diamonds with the maximum points after leading comfortably 24 / 7 at halftime.

Griquas, on the other hand, are left to ponder the array of errors and poor defence that cost them the game after their 5 successive victories in the qualifying Rounds gave them such good momentum for playing in the Premier Division.

Flyhalf Demetri Catrakilis added 17 points with the boot while speedster Seabelo Senatla was outstanding out wide, where he scored 2 tries.

For the home side, Springbok Sevens centre Ruhan Nel showed his potential by scoring 1 of their 3 tries.

Scorers:

DHL Western Province:

• Tries: Nizaam Carr (1), Seabelo Senatla (2), Dillyn Leyds (1), Sikhumbuzo Notshe (1), Juan de Jongh (1)
• Conversions: Demitri Catrakilis (5)
• Penalties: Demetri Catrakilis (1)

ORC Griquas:

• Tries: AJ le Roux (1), Riaan Viljoen (1), Ruhan Nel (1)
• Conversions: Gouws Prinsloo (1), Ntabeni Dukisa (1)

Steval Pumas (27) 33 / 24 (7) Cell C Sharks:

The home side’s victory was set up through a strong 1st half performance, with a brace of tries each from openside flank Marnus Schoeman and captain Stefan Watermeyer while flyhalf JC Roos added 3 conversions and 2 penalties to the solitary converted try from Sharks flyhalf Lionel Cronje, which opened up a massive 20-point lead at the break.

The visitors were found wanting in all facets of the match during the first 40 minutes as the Pumas turned ball over at will, winning the breakdowns and stealing lineouts with ease, as lock Marius Coetzer proved to be a thorn in the Sharks’ side.

But the introduction of former Springbok scrumhalf, Michael Claassens in the 2nd half, sparked the visitors into life as they reduced the deficit to just 6 points before a penalty in the final minute by Roos sealed the 4 Log points and denied the Sharks a losing bonus point.

Scorers:

Steval Pumas:

• Tries: Marnus Schoeman (2), Stefan Watermeyer (1)
• Conversions: JC Roos (3)
• Penalties: JC Roos (4)

Cell C Sharks:

• Tries: Lionel Cronje (1), Heimar Williams (1), Daniel du Preez (1)
• Conversions: Joe Pietersen (3)
• Penalties: Joe Pietersen (1)