Rugby bonanza heading PE’S way

IT is the first derby for both coaches, but they are dealing with it like old hands.

Roger de Sa of Orlando Pirates and Stuart Baxter of Kaizer Chiefs both realise that the matches leading up to the big one will have little influence at Soccer City tomorrow.

De Sa could only manage a goalless draw in Pirates’ midweek game against Chippa United, while Chiefs registered a 3-0 victory against Ajax CT.

Baxter reckons he would be naive to think Chiefs are favourites for tomorrow’s match, given the two teams’ current form in the Absa Premiership.

“I am not sure Tuesday was that important going into this game. You think you did well, but it is a different story when it’s kick-off time,” said Baxter.

De Sa said form did not count – a diplomatic answer given the Buccaneers are going into the match having dropped two valuable points.

“It is more than the three points on offer on the day. I hope it is an open match because I feel like for the first time in a while, both teams are equally matched going into the derby. That hardly happens,” De Sa said.

Baxter got a taste of derby fever in the pre-season Carling Black Label Cup encounter between the two sides, although supporters were responsible for picking the starting line-ups for both teams.

He is salivating at the potential cracker of a match, but the pitch, subjected to a concert a week ago, remains a concern. Amakhosi use Soccer City as their home ground, but haven’t set foot on the pitch since beating rivals Swallows 3-2 there on November 20. Chiefs are top of the Premier League table and have a three-point lead at the summit with Pirates, patiently waiting for a slip-up, in second place.

AByrong@timesmedia.co.za PORT Elizabeth’s presence on the international rugby stage took another big step forward yesterday when it was announced that Scotland would visit the city to play against the Springboks in 2014.

With the South African leg of the World Sevens Series being played in Port Elizabeth this weekend and the Southern Kings making their debut in Super Rugby next year, fans can look forward to a rugby bonanza over the next couple of months.

It is expected that the date for the Scotland test at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium will be released shortly.

This will be the third test played at the new stadium as the city continues to make its presence felt on the international stage.

Earlier this year England played the Springboks in Port Elizabeth and last year the All Blacks visited the city to play in the first rugby test hosted by the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.

The South African Rugby Union (Saru) has paved the way for tests to take place at venues built for the 2010 Fifa World Cup after yesterday announcing that it had taken full control of Springbok match allocations.

Traditionally Saru sold the hosting of tests to various rugby unions, who then hosted the matches at their preferred stadiums. Now Saru can dictate where games will be played.

“Saru was the only major union in world rugby that didn’t properly own its own test matches . . . The key benefits will be in allowing us to plough a share of the profits back into all the provincial unions . . .,” Saru chief executive Jurie Roux said.

A new-look quadrangular tournament for next year is between the Springboks, Italy and ironically their Rugby World Cup 2015 opponents, Scotland and Samoa.

The tournament – which will be played on a log basis over two rounds to determine finalists – will open at the Mbombela Stadium on June 8.