Preparation Series

The Preparation Series was a South African rugby union tournament organised by SA Rugby. The tournament was used to be a number of preparation fixtures were announced by SA Rugby.[1] It served as preparation for the 2021 British & Irish Lions tour to South Africa and South African teams entering the Pro14 Rainbow Cup, who had missed out on significant rugby game time due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 8 sides took part in the competition; the four joining the Pro14 Rainbow Cup (the Bulls, the Lions, the Sharks and the Stormers), along with the Cheetahs, Griquas and Pumas, who had taken part in Super Rugby Unlocked and the 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division, and the Eastern Province Elephants who had not played any competitive rugby since the 2019 Currie Cup First Division.[2]

Preparation Series
CountriesSouth Africa
Date26 February 2021 – 28 March 2021
Matches played16
Attendance0
(average 0 per match)
Top point scorerKade Wolhuter
(Stormers, 47)
Top try scorerHJ Luus (Griquas) &
Joe van Zyl (Bulls)
(both 4)

Although there was no trophy for this tournament, the Bulls ended up in top spot in Pool A and the Sharks topped in pool B.[3]

Regular season

Format

The eight teams have been split into two groups and will play cross-pool matches. Each team played four matches. Two at home and two away. The tournament spanned from Friday, 26 February until Sunday, 28 March.[1]

Pool A

Preparation Series Pool A
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Bonus Points Points
1Bulls4301181115+662614315
2Cheetahs4301159105+542012214
3Lions4301141136+51818113
4Griquas4202108195+131313210

Pool B

Preparation Series Pool B
Team Played Won Drawn Lost Points For Points Against Points Difference Tries For Tries Against Bonus Points Points
1Sharks4202158104+542414412
2Stormers4202144112+321515311
3Pumas4103103118−15111026
4Eastern Province Elephants400446255−20973800

Matches

Round 1

26 February 2021 Lions 32–28 Pumas Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg  
19:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Jaco Peyper
27 February 2021 Stormers 33–34 Cheetahs Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town  
17:15 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
28 February 2021 Bulls 87–10 Eastern Province Elephants Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  
15:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Stuart Berry
28 February 2021 Sharks 35–10 Griquas Jonsson Kings Park, Durban  
17:15 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: AJ Jacobs

Round 2

9 March 2021 Griquas 32–38 Stormers Tafel Lager Park, Kimberley  
16:45 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Griffin Colby
9 March 2021 Pumas 31–48 Bulls Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela  
19:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
10 March 2021 Eastern Province Elephants 24–54 Lions Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth  
16:45 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: AJ Jacobs
10 March 2021 Cheetahs 39–38 Sharks Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein  
19:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Round 3

17 March 2021 Eastern Province Elephants 0–43 Griquas Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth  
19:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
19 March 2021 Pumas 22–15 Cheetahs Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela  
16:45 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Stuart Berry
19 March 2021 Bulls 34–29 Stormers Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria  
19:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: AJ Jacobs
20 March 2021 Lions 43–40 Sharks Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg  
16:15 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Round 4

26 March 2021 Sharks 45–12 Bulls Jonsson Kings Park, Durban  
19:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
27 March 2021 Griquas 23–22 Pumas Tafel Lager Park, Kimberley  
15:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
27 March 2021 Stormers 44–12 Lions Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town  
17:15 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: AJ Jacobs
28 March 2021 Cheetahs 71–12 Eastern Province Elephants Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein  
15:00 Summary Attendance: Behind closed doors
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Player statistics

Top point scorers [4]
No Player Team Points
1Kade Wolhuter Stormers47
2Eddie Fouché Pumas40
3Chris Smith Bulls38
Tiaan Swanepoel Lions
4François Steyn Cheetahs31
5Ruan Pienaar Cheetahs26
Top try scorers [4]
No Player Team Tries
1HJ Luus Griquas4
Joe van Zyl Bulls
2Wilmar Arnoldi Cheetahs3
Rosko Specman Cheetahs
Gideon van der Merwe Griquas
Leolin Zas Stormers

See also

References

  1. "Revised fixtures for preparation series". www.sarugbymag.co.za. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  2. "EP Elephants join the fray as SA Rugby announces 'preparation series' for 2021 season". News24. 12 February 2021. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  3. "Franchise Cup". www.ultimaterugby.com. Retrieved 8 October 2021.
  4. "The 2021 Kick-off Pools". SA Rugby. Retrieved 9 October 2021.
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