Rugby
Tsimba is hoping to cap a remarkable comeback─── 12:43 Thu, 09 Oct 2008
Andy Colquhoun
Cape Town. - Zimbabwean-born flyhalf Kennedy Tsimba is hoping to cap a remarkable comeback to top-class rugby when the Griffons travel to Potchefstroom to take on the Platinum Leopards in the 2008 Absa Currie Cup First Division Final at Olen Park on Friday evening (kickoff 7-10pm CSN/SuperSport 1)
The evergreen Tsimba, a former Vodacom FS Cheetahs regular, seemed to have disappeared off the rugby map after a serious knee injury kept him sidelined for nearly two years after joining the Vodacom Blue Bulls. Since then he had made only 12, relatively low-key appearances for the Pumas last season.
But his return to his self-professed "spiritual home" - the Free State region - this season has once again seen his rugby take off, with the multi-skilled playmaker collecting a whopping 104 points in just six appearances for the Welkom-based side.
"It's ironic you know," said Tsimba to www.sarugby.co.za<http://www.sarugby.co.za/>, "when I started out playing for the Cheetahs, MJ Smith was my inside centre. Now, that I'm back in the area and playing for the Griffons, MJ is my backline coach and he's also the man responsible for getting me back into the region."Tsimba first made his mark for the Cheetahs back in 2000, but the record-breaking pivot is feeling remarkably fresh as he contemplates his fairytale-like rugby renaissance some eight seasons later.
"Actually, I read somewhere during the week that I was 34 years old," chuckled Tsimba, "to set the record straight, I'm 32 years old - those two years make a big difference you know!"
He added: "I can't exactly put my finger on why we're (the Griffons) doing so well... Except, I must say, we have a great balance within our team and the coaching staff allow us to play the game as we see it. Of course, if you're given that freedom, you need to reward the coaches and I'd like to think we've done that (this season)."
The Griffons did start the season slowly compared to the table-topping Platinum Leopards, but the Men from Welkom, who finished second on the First Division log, have not lost since Tsimba took over the No.10 shirt against the Pumas on August 8 - a fact not lost on the man himself.
"I was hoping nobody would notice that - but to be absolutely honest, it's not something any of us are thinking about," he said.
"Yes, we're on a roll and things are going nicely for us, but there's no reason for us to suddenly change anything just because we're in a Final now.
"I'd say we are the underdogs, but that suits us fine; we're just going out there to do what we've been doing over the past few weeks. It's served us well up till now and hopefully it will help us pick some silverware."
Tsimba, who was born in Harare, has played Test rugby for Zimbabwe and club rugby in England for Bath. He has played Absa Currie Cup Premier Division rugby for the Cheetahs and Super Rugby for the Cats and the Bulls.
But, according to him, his return to the First Division has opened his eyes to the significant depth available in South African rugby.
"The First Division has a place, in fact, it has a crucial place in South African rugby," he said. "It's given somebody like myself a second chance, but it has also unearthed some new talent along the way too.
"There are some players in our team who would not look out of place in the Premier Division, but without the First Division those players would not have the opportunity to get regular game or to prove themselves."
The Griffons have announced an unchanged line-up for the Final, whilst Leopards coach Chaka Willemse has once again named his try-scoring ace Jan van Zyl on the bench - as he did in last week's semifinal.
In changes from his side's 50-18 semifinal triumph over the Pumas, Willemse has selected Basil de Doncker at inside centre ahead of Japie Nel and regular first-choice hooker Gavin Williamson also returns to the starting XV, replacing Pellow van der Westhuizen.
Speaking about his selections, Willemse told www.sarugby.co.za<http://www.sarugby.co.za/>: "(Flyhalf) Clayton Durand was in doubt this week after taking a knock to his eye against the Pumas (last week), but he is fit and raring to go, which is a bonus for us."
Looking ahead to the match, Willemse - whose team topped the First Division log after the regular season - added: "This is a big game for us. We are determined to move up into the Premier Division next season and this match is very important for us to build our confidence before the promotion/relegation matches later this month.
"The Griffons are a good team and they have some good players, but we won't change our approach. We've played together as a team all year long, so I see no reason to change things just because this is a Final."
Aside from the exciting rugby action on offer, Francois Henning - aka Snotkop - will be performing live. Snotkop, the so-called 'bad boy rapper' of Afrikaans music, is a self-confessed rugby nut, whose dream is to perform the national anthem before a Springbok Test match.
One man who has performed the national anthem before a Springbok Test is George Meiring, who will also be in 'action' on Friday evening at Olen Park.
Meiring, who performed at Aardklop last Friday, sang his well-known 'African medley' before Tests in Wellington and Johannesburg this year. He will perform that same song shortly before kick-off this Friday.
Players to watch:
For the Leopards: Top points-scorer Clayton Durand might have benefited in this respect from playing more games than Kennedy Tsimba, but he is as important to the Leopard as Tsimba is to the Griffons. The former Lions, Leopards and Valke No.10 has been under an injury-cloud this week, but coach Chaka Willemse declared his points-machine fit for action. Jan van Zyl and Vuyo Zangqa are both try-scoring wingers of note and men to keep an eye on, but such is the Leopards' depth that Willemse has once opted to utilise Van Zyl off the bench.
For the Griffons: The obvious man to keep an eye on is Tsimba, the heartbeat of this Griffons side. However, another dangerman in their backline is SA Sevens winger Howard Noble, who scored two breakaway tries against the SWD Eagles in last week's semifinal victory. If he gets half an inch on attack, he could flourish in the Final. Powerhouse No.8 Ashley Johnson is another key man for the Griffons and he loves nothing more than running off Tsimba's shoulders when given the opportunity and, of course, some front-foot ball.
The teams for Friday:
Platinum Leopards: 15 Anvor Schooney, 14 Vuyo Zangqa, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Basil de Doncker, 11 Colin Lloyd, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Riaan Swanepoel (captain), 7 RW Kember, 6 Jaco Bouwer, 5 Draad Linde, 4 Antonie Gronum, 3 Diedlov Coetzee, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Divan Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 17 Nardus Lombard, 18 Ligtoring Landman, 19 Bennie Adams, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Paul Bosch, 22 Jan van Zyl.
Griffons: 15 Cecil Afrika, 14 Darryl Coeries, 13 Jacko Jackson, 12 Werner Griesel, 11 Howard Noble, 10 Kennedy Tsimba, 9 Danny Theron, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Albert Parsons, 5 Windpomp van Rooyen, 4 Ockie van Zyl, 3 Gert Greyling, 2 Andries Kruger, 1 Sarel Louw (captain).
Replacements: 16 KleinJan Ferreira, 17 Jaco Louw, 18 Isak van der Westhuizen, 19 Jonothan Mokuena, 20 Shaun Botha, 21 Hugo Kleynhans, 22 Shane Hancke.
