Preparation Series
{{Short description|South African rugby union tournament}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use South African English|date=August 2023}}
{{Infobox rugby union season
| name = Preparation Series
| image =
| imagesize =
| caption =
| countries = South Africa
| date = 26 February 2021 – 28 March 2021
| champions =
| count =
| runnersup =
| promoted =
| relegated =
| matches = 16
| attendance = 0
| tries =
| top point scorer = Kade Wolhuter
(Stormers, 47)
| top try scorer = HJ Luus (Griquas) &
Joe van Zyl (Bulls)
(both 4)
| prevseason =
| nextseason =
}}
{{2021 in South African rugby union}}
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.{{Cite web|title=Revised fixtures for preparation series |url=https://www.sarugbymag.co.za/revised-fixtures-preparation-series/|access-date=8 October 2021|website=www.sarugbymag.co.za|language=en}} 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 {{Rut|Bulls}}, the {{Rut|Lions}}, the {{Rut|Sharks}} and the {{Rut|Stormers}}), along with the {{Rut|Cheetahs}}, {{Rut|Griquas}} and {{Rut|Pumas}}, who had taken part in Super Rugby Unlocked and the 2020–21 Currie Cup Premier Division, and the {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}} who had not played any competitive rugby since the 2019 Currie Cup First Division.{{cite news|url=https://www.news24.com/sport/rugby/ep-elephants-join-the-fray-as-sa-rugby-announces-preparation-series-for-2021-season-20210212|title=EP Elephants join the fray as SA Rugby announces 'preparation series' for 2021 season|work=News24|date=12 February 2021|access-date=8 October 2021}}
Although there was no trophy for this tournament, the {{Rut|Bulls}} ended up in top spot in Pool A and the {{Rut|Sharks}} topped in pool B.{{Cite web|title=Franchise Cup |url=https://www.ultimaterugby.com/franchise_cup/table|access-date=8 October 2021|website=www.ultimaterugby.com|language=en}}
Regular season
=Format=
=Standings=
==Pool A==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |
| colspan="14" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|
{|border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |
| width=0% style="border:0px"|
|style="border:0px"|Preparation Series Pool A |
|-
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="195"|Team
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Played
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Won
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Drawn
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Lost
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Points For
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Points Against
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Points Difference
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Tries For
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Tries Against
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Bonus Points
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Points
|- align=center
|1||align=left| {{Rut|Bulls}} || 4 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 181 || 115 || +66 || 26 || 14 || 3 || 15
|- align=center
|2||align=left| {{Rut|Cheetahs}} || 4 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 159 || 105 || +54 || 20 || 12 || 2 || 14
|- align=center
|3||align=left| {{Rut|Lions}} || 4 || 3 || 0 || 1 || 141 || 136 || +5 || 18 || 18 || 1 || 13
|- align=center
|4||align=left| {{Rut|Griquas}} || 4 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 108 || 195 || +13 || 13 || 13 || 2 || 10
|- align=center
|}
==Pool B==
| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |
| colspan="14" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0"|
{|border="0" width="100%" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" |
| width=0% style="border:0px"|
|style="border:0px"|Preparation Series Pool B |
|-
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="195"|Team
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Played
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Won
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Drawn
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Lost
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Points For
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Points Against
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Points Difference
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Tries For
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Tries Against
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Bonus Points
!bgcolor="#efefef" width="20" |Points
|- align=center
|1||align=left| {{Rut|Sharks}} || 4 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 158 || 104 || +54 || 24 || 14 || 4 || 12
|- align=center
|2||align=left| {{Rut|Stormers}} || 4 || 2 || 0 || 2 || 144 || 112 || +32 || 15 || 15 || 3 || 11
|- align=center
|3||align=left| {{Rut|Pumas}} || 4 || 1 || 0 || 3 || 103 || 118 || −15 || 11 || 10 || 2 || 6
|- align=center
|4||align=left| {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}} || 4 || 0 || 0 || 4 || 46 || 255 || −209 || 7 || 38 || 0 || 0
|- align=center
|}
Matches
= Round 1 =
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 26 February 2021
| time = 19:00
| home = {{Rut|Lions}}
| score = 32–28
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7488 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Pumas}}
| try1 =
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| stadium = {{Rus|Emirates Airline Park}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Jaco Peyper
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 27 February 2021
| time = 17:15
| home = {{Rut|Stormers}}
| score = 33–34
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7490 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
| try1 =
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| stadium = {{Rus|Cape Town Stadium}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Rasta Rasivhenge
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 28 February 2021
| time = 15:00
| home = {{Rut|Bulls}}
| score = 87–10
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7487 Summary]
[https://www.news24.com/sport/carnage-as-bulls-maul-hopeless-ep-elephants-20210228 Report]
| away = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}}
| try1 = Nizaam Carr (2)
Stravino Jacobs (2)
Joe van Zyl
Marco Jansen van Vuren
David Kriel
Tim Agaba
Marnus Potgieter
Keagan Johannes (2)
Jandre Burger
| con1 = Chris Smith (9)
Jandre Burger (3)
| pen1 = Chris Smith
| try2 = Sithembiso Befile
| con2 = Inny Radebe
| pen2 = Inny Radebe
| drop2 =
| cards2 =
| stadium = {{Rus|Loftus Versfeld}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Stuart Berry
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 28 February 2021
| time = 17:15
| home = {{Rut|Sharks}}
| score = 35–10
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7489 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Griquas}}
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| stadium = {{Rus|Jonsson Kings Park}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = AJ Jacobs
}}
= Round 2 =
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 9 March 2021
| time = 16:45
| home = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| score = 32–38
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7492 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Stormers}}
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| stadium = {{Rus|Tafel Lager Park}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Griffin Colby
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 9 March 2021
| time = 19:00
| home = {{Rut|Pumas}}
| score = 31–48
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7493 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Bulls}}
| try1 = Francois Kleinhans, Brandon Valentyn, Penalty Try, Dewald Maritz
| con1 = Neil Marais (2), Eddie Fouché
| pen1 = Neil Marais
| drop1 =
| cards1 =
| try2 = Joe van Zyl (2), Stravino Jacobs, Gerhard Steenekamp, Mornay Smith, Marnus Potgieter, Janco Uys
| con2 = Chris Smith (5)
| pen2 = Chris Smith
| drop2 =
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| stadium = {{Rus|Mbombela Stadium}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Rasta Rasivhenge
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 10 March 2021
| time = 16:45
| home = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}}
| score = 24–54
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7494 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Lions}}
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| stadium = {{Rus|Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = AJ Jacobs
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 10 March 2021
| time = 19:00
| home = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
| score = 39–38
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7491 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Sharks}}
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| stadium = {{Rus|Toyota Stadium}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Marius van der Westhuizen
}}
= Round 3 =
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 17 March 2021
| time = 19:00
| home = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}}
| score = 0–43
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7498 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Griquas}}
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| stadium = {{Rus|Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Cwengile Jadezweni
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 19 March 2021
| time = 16:45
| home = {{Rut|Pumas}}
| score = 22–15
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7497 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
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| stadium = {{Rus|Mbombela Stadium}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Stuart Berry
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 19 March 2021
| time = 19:00
| home = {{Rut|Bulls}}
| score = 34–29
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7495 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Stormers}}
| try1 = Richard Kriel, Joe van Zyl, Marco Jansen van Vuren, Ruan Nortjé, Penalty try
| con1 = Chris Smith (2)
| pen1 = Morne Steyn
| drop1 =
| cards1 =
| try2 = Leolin Zas (2)
| con2 = Kade Wolhuter (2)
| pen2 = Kade Wolhuter (3), Tim Swiel (2)
| drop2 =
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| stadium = {{Rus|Loftus Versfeld}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = AJ Jacobs
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 20 March 2021
| time = 16:15
| home = {{Rut|Lions}}
| score = 43–40
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7496 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Sharks}}
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| stadium = {{Rus|Emirates Airline Park}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Rasta Rasivhenge
}}
= Round 4 =
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 26 March 2021
| time = 19:00
| home = {{Rut|Sharks}}
| score = 45–12
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7501 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Bulls}}
| try1 = Fez Mbatha, Penalty Try, Siya Kolisi, Marius Louw, Ox Nche, Rynhardt Jonker, Sanele Nohamba
| con1 = Boeta Chamberlain (3), Sanele Nohamba
| pen1 =
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| try2 = Nizaam Carr, Dawid Kellerman
| con2 = Morné Steyn
| pen2 =
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| stadium = {{Rus|Jonsson Kings Park}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Marius van der Westhuizen
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 27 March 2021
| time = 15:00
| home = {{Rut|Griquas}}
| score = 23–22
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7500 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Pumas}}
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| stadium = {{Rus|Tafel Lager Park}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Cwengile Jadezweni
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 27 March 2021
| time = 17:15
| home = {{Rut|Stormers}}
| score = 44–12
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7502 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Lions}}
| try1 =
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| stadium = {{Rus|Cape Town Stadium}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = AJ Jacobs
}}
{{rugbybox collapsible
| date = 28 March 2021
| time = 15:00
| home = {{Rut|Cheetahs}}
| score = 71–12
| report = [https://sarugby.online/tournaments/match/id/7499 Summary]
| away = {{Rut|Eastern Province Elephants}}
| try1 =
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| stadium = {{Rus|Toyota Stadium}}
| attendance = Behind closed doors
| referee = Rasta Rasivhenge
}}
Player statistics
| class="wikitable collapsible sortable" style="text-align:center; line-height:100%; font-size:100%; width:60%;" | ||
| colspan=8 | Top point scorers {{hsp}}{{cite web | url=https://sarugby.online/tournaments/profile/tour/327#logs | title=The 2021 Kick-off Pools | publisher=SA Rugby | access-date=9 October 2021}} | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="width:6%;" | No
! style="width:34%;" | Player ! style="width:30%;" | Team ! style="width:6%;" | Points | ||
| 1 | style="text-align:left;" | Kade Wolhuter
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Stormers}} | | 47 |
| 2 | style="text-align:left;" | Eddie Fouché
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Pumas}} | | 40 |
| rowspan="2"| 3 | style="text-align:left;" | Chris Smith
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Bulls}} | rowspan="2"| 38 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Tiaan Swanepoel
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Lions}} | ||
| 4 | style="text-align:left;" | François Steyn
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | | 31 |
| 5 | style="text-align:left;" | Ruan Pienaar
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | | 26 |
| class="wikitable collapsible sortable" style="text-align:center; line-height:100%; font-size:100%; width:60%;" | ||
| colspan=8 | Top try scorers {{hsp}} | ||
|---|---|---|
| style="width:6%;" | No
! style="width:34%;" | Player ! style="width:30%;" | Team ! style="width:6%;" | Tries | ||
| rowspan="2"| 1 | style="text-align:left;" | HJ Luus
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Griquas}} | rowspan="2"| 4 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Joe van Zyl
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Bulls}} | ||
| rowspan="4"| 2 | style="text-align:left;" | Wilmar Arnoldi
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | rowspan="4"| 3 |
| style="text-align:left;" | Rosko Specman
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Cheetahs}} | ||
| style="text-align:left;" | Gideon van der Merwe
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Griquas}} | ||
| style="text-align:left;" | Leolin Zas
| style="text-align:left;" | {{Rut|Stormers}} |