South African national club semi-finals today

Tony Munro - 29/1/2012

Should recent national team experience mean anything, Brakpan and University of Pretoria-Tuks should win their Rhino Cup semi-finals today (Saturday) against Middlesburg Tigers and Bloemfontein Roosters respectively.

Both teams feature a host of players who represented South Africa last year and are possibly favourites to meet in next week's final of South Africa's premier club competition.

The Gauteng-based Bears include Rhinos' halves Franna Gleyvenstein and Andre Loader who should provide sweet service to fellow Rhinos, Rudi Prinsloo (centre) and fullback Andre Ousvagen. Second-rower, Christo Jouberg, is expected also expected to make an impact.

Tigers' five-eighth, Johan Fritz will undoubtedly enjoy his joust with Gleyvenstein for the Mphumalanga club.

Meanwhile, UOP-Tuks will perhaps keep things tight to utilise their five forwards with recent South African experience. The back-row of lock Jonathon Soares, and second rowers, Mpondo Siviwe and Gerhard De Wit will look to capitalise on the hard yards made by prop Christo Louw.

Behind that pack, Tuks' halfback Pieter Van Der Nest should have an advantage over fellow Rhino and half, Gerrie Slabber, who is part of a strong Roosters' scrumbase also including pivot, Christof Swanepoel and lock Steve Meyers.

Representative guernseys don't guarantee wins though.

What is guaranteed is that all four clubs will be keen to win the last Rhino Cup played without the strong Western and Eastern Cape sides who will play in South African Rugby League competitions from next season.