Kings vs Pampas in Stellenbosch

The Pampas XV from Argentina, the 2011 defending champions, will get the 2012 Vodacom Cup season, the 15th since its inception in 1998, underway on Friday at 15:10 when they host the EP Kings in Stellenbosch. The match will be televised (We like to believe that this was decided after MyPE indicated that we would not be doing a live blogcast).

The Argentineans were unbeaten last year as they romped to the title in their first season of involvement and will be looking to build on that performance.

They have chosen to base themselves in Stellenbosch this year, as teams no longer play their pool games across sections, but within their own divisions, meaning they will face all the teams in the Southern Section.

EP Kings had a pretty dismal Vodacom Cup 2011 season after being docked points for fielding an ineligible player.

On 10 March 2011 the Eastern Province Rugby Union (EPRU) was found guilty of breaching Regulation 4.2 of the Player Status, Player Contracts and Player Movement Regulations by fielding two Mpumalanga Rugby Union (Pumas) players, Hannes Franklin and Jacques Coetzee, in four matches (two in the Vodacom Cup for EP Kings and two friendlies for the Southern Kings), without the necessary clearance certificate.

EPRU were fined R15 000 in respect of the two friendly games against the Bulls (R5 000) and the Cheetahs (R10 000), and will forfeit all log points accumulated from the Vodacom Cup games against the Welwitschias (25 February 2011) and the Leopards (4 March 2011).

The EP Kings played eight league games in the 2011 Vodacom Cup, logging a record of six wins and two losses, including six bonus point performances. Despite this record and as a result of the fielding of ineligible players, the Kings failed to advance to the quarter finals of the 2011 Vodacom Cup.

See more on this sad saga here: EP Rugby ‘Disgusted’ With Outcome of SARU Appeal

EP Kings coach Alan Solomons has elected to send a young team down to take on the 1st team of the Vodacom Cup:

• Starting Line-up: 15. Kieran Goss, 11. Marcello Sampson, 13. Scott van Breda, 12. Tiger Mangweni, 14. Norman Nelson, 10. Shane Gates, 9. Falie Oelschig, 1. Jaco Engels, 2. Hannes Franklin, 3. Andre Schlechter, 6. Boetie Brits, 4. Darron Nell (Captain), 5. David Bulbring, 7. Mpho Mbiyozo (Vice-Captain), 8. Jacques Engelbrecht
  Replacements: 16. Bobby Dyer, 17. Elrich Kock, 18. Reynier Bernardo, 19. Devin Oosthuizen, 20. Danie Faasen, 21. Justin van Staden, 22. Steven Hansel

An interesting positional change is that of bringing Tiger Mangweni in at centre to partner the youngster, Scott van Breda. Coaching staff and amateur observers have remarked on the weakness of the EP centre pairings, let’s hope that this bold move will bear fruit and bolster that vital linkage.

South Africa’s 14 provincial unions and the Pampas XV from Argentina will play in two sections – North and South, with seven teams in the Northern Section (following the withdrawal of Namibia due to financial constraints) and eight in the Southern Section. All the teams will play in a single round within their own section after which the top sides will progress to the playoffs.

• Northern Section: Vodacom Blue Bulls, MTN Golden Lions, Griffons, GWK Griquas, Leopards, Ford Pumas, Valke.
  Southern Section: Regent Boland Kavaliers, Border Bulldogs, EP Kings, Toyota Free State XV, The Sharks XV, SWD Eagles, DHL Western Province, Pampas XV.

Round 1 Fixtures:

Friday, 9 March 2012:

• Pampas XV vs EP Kings. Kick-off: 15:10. Venue: Paul Roos Gymnasium, Stellenbosch. Referee: Stuart Berry
• Border Bulldogs vs The Sharks XV. Kick-off: 19:00. Venue: Buffalo City Municipality Stadium, East London. Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

Saturday, 10 March 2012

• Leopards vs MTN Golden Lions. Kick-off: 14:45. Venue: Profert Olën Park, Potchefstroom. Referee: Sindile Mayende
• Valke vs Ford Pumas. Kick-off: 15:00. Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park. Referee: Ben Crouse
• Toyota Free State XV South Western Districts Eagles. Kick-off: 15:00. Venue: Clive Solomon Stadium, Heidedal, Bloemfontein. Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
• DHL Western Province vs Regent Boland Kavaliers. Kick-off: 16:00. Venue: DHL Newlands Stadium, Cape Town. Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
• Vodacom Blue Bulls vs GWK Griquas. Kick-off: 16:45. Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria. Referee: Lourens van der Merwe

All the Fixtures:

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Alan Straton

Chief Cook, Bottle Washer and Broom Mechanic at MyPE

Passionate about Port Elizabeth and definitely NOT packing for Perth. Alan's ethos is epitomised in the words of Nelson Mandela; "I have fought against white domination and I have fought against black domination. I have cherished the idea of a democratic and free society. If need be, it is an ideal for which I am prepared to die." See more articles by Alan.

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