Preview: Jukskei derby at Loftus

 

Following two narrow defeats, the three-time Vodacom Cup champion team from Pretoria are one of five teams in the competition still looking for their first win of 2014. The others are the Valke, Limpopo Blue Bulls, Border Bulldogs and Boland Cavaliers. 

 

Five teams are still unbeaten – the Pumas, Griquas and Golden Lions in the North Section, as well as the Sharks XV and Free State XV in the South Section, who face each other in Bloemfontein on Saturday afternoon.

 

The top of the table South Section clash at the Clive Solomon Stadium in Heidedal is the pick of the action in round three, while there will be a lot of interest in the Jukskei Derby at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria, where the Blue Bulls will be looking to get their season back on track against the defending champions, the Golden Lions.

 

The Vodacom Cup will also hit the very picturesque Overberg region of the Western Cape this weekend when the SWD Eagles host the  Boland Cavaliers in Swellendam, the fourth oldest town in South Africa.

 

This week we look at two players who could feature for the SA Under-20 side for the second successive season later this year, and who played together for the SA Schools side in 2012 – Jesse Kriel (Blue Bulls) and Aidon Davis (EP Kings). 

 

As a member of the Bulls’ extended Vodacom Super Rugby squad, it’s clear that Jesse Kriel is highly rated in Pretoria.

 

The 20-year-old Kriel, was the captain of the Blue Bulls Under-19 side which won the U19 provincial title last year. He led from fullback, a position not normally associated with the captaincy, which underlines his superb leadership skills as well.

 

Kriel, who is fast and has a superb boot, was one of the youngest members of the SA Under-20 squad that came third at the Junior World Championships in France last year. He saw most of his action from the bench and scored two tries in the 97-0 demolition of the USA after replacing Cheslin Kolbe shortly after half-time.

 

At 1.86m tall and 95kg he is pretty big for a young outside back, but it’s this size that really counts in Kriel’s favour. He set alight the Under-18 Craven Week in Port Elizabeth in 2012, where the former Maritzburg College star scored three of KwaZulu-Natal’s 10 tries. 

 

Kriel was duly selected for the SA Schools team at the conclusion of the week-long tournament and started in two of their three matches in their unbeaten series against England, France and Wales.

 

This weekend, Kriel is due to play in his third Vodacom Cup match for the Blue Bulls. He started both of their first two matches at left wing and scored a try against the Pumas last week.

 

As far as versatile forwards go, 19-year-old Aidon Davis of the EP Kings is right up there with the best. 

 

Last year, he played senior rugby in every position in the pack except in the front row and this versatility makes him a strong contender to represent South Africa Under-20 at his second Junior World Championships, in New Zealand in June.

 

Davis was selected for all five of the Junior Springboks’ matches at the 2013 JWC in France and played in three of them, including starting at No 8 in the impressive third-place play-off victory over New Zealand.

 

Not long after, he was selected for the Southern Kings against the Sharks in Vodacom Super Rugby, which was one of his eight senior appearances in 2013. 

 

It wasn’t a surprise when Davis was named as EP Rugby’s U21 Player of the Year and also received an Achievement Award from the union for representing South Africa at the JWC. A knee injury cut his season short though and last week’s game against the Border Bulldogs marked Davis’ return to the field.

 

At 1.91m tall and weighing in at over 100kg, Davis would rank as a pretty big loose forward, which is why he can easily make the shift to lock if needed. He is a superb option at the back of the line-out, strong, fast and a great defender.

 

Davis, who turns 20 next month, is an EP man through and through. He first donned the famous red and black hoops at the U13 Craven Week in Krugersdorp, and also represented Eastern Province at the Grant Khomo Week for U16 teams, as well as the U18 Craven Week on home soil in Port Elizabeth.

 

SA Schools selection followed that year and in 2013, his first out of school he made his senior debut for the EP Kings, playing in four Vodacom Cup and later three  Currie Cup First Division matches.

 

 

 

Kick-off: 14.00

Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom

Referee: Christie du Preez

 

Kick-off: 15.00

Venue: Clive Solomon Stadium, Heidedal, Bloemfontein

Referee: Quinton Immelman

 

Kick-off: 16.00

Venue:  Park, Kimberley

Referee: Marius Jonker

 

 

Kick-off: 15.40

Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park

Referee: Pro Legoete

 

Kick-off: 15.00

Venue: Buffalo City Municipality Stadium, East London

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

 

Kick-off: 15.30

Venue: City Park, Cape Town

Referee: Rodney Boneparte

 

Kick-off: 16.00

Venue: Swellendam 

Referee: Tahla Ntshakaza

 

Kick-off: 16.30

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Referee: Craig Joubert