South Africa warms up in the heat

Super 14 cometh

It is the middle of summer heat in South Africa at present but warm-up matches are about to happen, for the Samoans are in the country, the Super 14 is at hand and the Vodacom Cup will soon be on the go.

Celebrations notwithstanding, squads have been sweating it out and now they go to harden themselves for the long year's battles.

Samoa have a young side of amateur players whom they seek to set free to play the rugby the Pacific Islands play best. They start the year in the steamy Lowveld.

The venues are a little off the well-beaten track as rugby seeks to go to the South African grassroots.

Matches with match officials:

6 January

Pumas vs Samoa at Rob Ferreira High School, White River
Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARU)

10 January

Blue Bulls vs Samoa at Peter Makhobo Stadium, Polokwane
Referee: George Roper (Blue Bulls)

12 January

Pumas vs Lions at Secunda Stadium
Referee: Local

13 January

Sharks vs Wildebeest
Referee: Chris Healey (Nat)

Cheetahs vs Samoa at ABSA Park, Kimberley
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (FS)

Bulls vs Stomers at Loftus Versfeld
Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU)

19 January

Blue Bulls ‘A’ vs Blue Bulls ‘B’ at Loftus Versfeld B, Pretoria
Referee: Local

20 January

Sharks vs Wildebeest
Referee: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Boland vs Stomers at Boland Stadium, Wellington
Referee: JC Fortuin (SARU)

Bulls vs Cats – A at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARU)

Bulls vs Cats – B at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Willie Roos (SARU)

Cheetahs vs Central SA at North West, Welkom
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SARU)

24 January

Sharks vs Cheetahs at ABSA, Durban
Referee: Marius Jonker (SARU)

Wildebeest vs Border at ABSA Stadium, Durban
Referee: Craig Joubert (SARU)

26 January

Blue Bulls vs Boland – B at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Local

Blue Bulls vs Boland – A at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Willie Roos (SARU)

2/3 February

Eastern Province vs Border at EPRU Ground, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Phillip Bosch (SARU)

10 February

Blue Bulls vs FS at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Pro Legoete (GL)

Eastern Province vs Valke at EPRU Ground, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Mtheleni Msileni (EP)