Preview: Currie Cup - Round Three
Thu, 03 Jul 2008 21:52
With the Sharks sitting at the top of the standings and the defending champion Cheetahs just a point behind in second place, the penultimate provincial tournament is beginning to take shape.
Some evenly-weighted battles await in the third round of the Currie Cup, which should start refining further the favourites for the top four.
But alas, there's a surprise around every corner in this competition, as was seen last weekend with the Falcons stealing home their first victory in two seasons, putting them in third position thanks to two valuable bonus points.
They will take on the Lions at Ellis Park on Friday, who are sitting begrudgingly at the bottom of the Currie Cup table and will want to gain some credit after botched performances and unwanted floggings.
The Cavaliers take on the Griquas in Wellington on Friday, with the Kimberly faithful also hoping their side can pick up their heads and put on a winning hat for a change.
Four of the 'big five' can be spotted in two very diverse climates on Saturday. The Cheetahs take on a resurgent Western Province down in a wet and windy Newlands, whilst the Sharks travel up to the dry and hardened turf of Loftus for their encounter with the men in Blue.
With the Boks opening their Tri-Nations campaign against the All Blacks on Saturday, the Currie Cup will be there as always in the periphery, providing competitive and entertaining local rugby.
This weekend's fixture details are as follows:
Friday, July 4
Boland Cavaliers v Griquas
Boland Stadium, Wellington, 15.30 (13.30 GMT)
The Cavaliers have got off to a fairly strong start this season. Although going down to the Sharks last weekend, they raised the bar against the Durban side and put in a superb defensive effort.
It does however take a little more than character to play 80 minutes of rugby. Boland will be looking to work harder in the set phases, and no doubt the return of strongman Janro van Niekerk at loosehead prop will add value here.
New cap Bradley Mockford joins the pack, the towering London-Irish lock providing valuable resource in the line-out, whilst his companion Coenie Basson will be playing his last game for the Cavaliers and looking to put in a big performance.
The Griquas have their backs against the wall going into this game, and will surely be venting some frustration of having suffered two close defeats.
Dawie Theron's side have a fine loose trio on paper, whilst a new dynamic comes into the front row in the form of Ruaan du Preez and former Bulls hooker James van der Walt. The back three contains some exciting runners should the Kimberly side do what's required up front.
Prediction: Although results show otherwise, these are probably the two most evenly-matched teams in the Currie Cup, both having put in convincing efforts against stronger unions. This is however Boland's first home game, which gives added security to their progressively effective structures. Given the likely wet conditions in Wellington, Boland's pack seem to have the edge, with equally effective loose forwards to match those of the Griquas to secure possession for the home side. Cavaliers to win a tight and physical contest by 8 points.
Teams:
Boland: 15 Justin Peach, 14 John Daniels, 13 Piet van Zyl (captain), 12 Lionel Cornelius, 11 Alvin Hugo, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Frankie Horne, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Bradley Mockford, 4 Coenie Basson, 3 Andries Human, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Wium, 17 WP Nel, 18 Cecil Kemp, 19 Whalied Heyns, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Deon Scholtz, 22 Stefan Basson.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Gavin Passens, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Herkie Kruger (captain), 11 Bjorn
Basson, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Stefan Gerber, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 James van der Walt, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Dean Hopp, 17 Stef Roberts, 18 Cilliers Coetzer, 19 Gareth Krause, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Lafras Uys, 22 Egon Seconds.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Jerome America, Linston Manuels
TMO: Willie Roos
Lions v Falcons
Ellis Park, Johannesburg, 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
The only other side having suffered consecutive defeats after the first two rounds' botched efforts is that of the Lions, who have now found themselves in a cold and precarious seat at the bottom of the Currie Cup log.
The Lions aspirations of hosting the final at this stage is nothing but a taunting mirage, as coach Eloff has made no fewer than nine changes to his starting XV in an effort to put some generous points over a young and inexperienced Falcons outfit.
The most noticeable changes have been made up front, with Lawrence Sephaka marking his return to a completely new-look front row. Apart from other changes at lock and loose, a new halfback pairing comes in as Jaco van Schalkwyk moves to outside centre.
The Falcons will be coming off their first win since the 2006 season, looking to carry that momentum into this game for an (unlikely) upset.
The Falcons also hold an unlikely record, scoring the most tries of any team this season thus far which has given them two golden bonus points - that sees them sitting in third spot in the team standings.
Sticking with a winning formula and building on effective combinations is thus coach Rudy Joubert's primary incentive, as he named an unchanged starting XV to run out at Ellis Park on Friday evening. Joubert has also brought in sufficient cover on the bench to cover the injured Poerie van Rooyen and Showan Smith.
Prediction: Jo'burg's pride are feeling the prejudice, and will no doubt run out at home with everything to prove against admirable yet weaker and inexperienced opposition. Lions to win by a convincing 22 points.
Teams:
Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Heini Gordon, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Wilhelm Koch, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Heinke van der Merwe, 19 Justin Wheeler, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Michael Killian, 22 Dusty Noble.
Falcons: 15 Jacques Schutte, 14 Ernie Kruger, 13 Rouan Cloete, 12 Hanno Coetzee (captain), 11 Luvo Sogidashe, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Emile Verster, 6 Uwe
Sauer, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Wouter Moore, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Gavin Whittingham.
Replacements: 16 Frik Venter, 17 Rassie van Vuuren, 18 Reggie Perkins, 19 Warren Perkins, 20 Morné Adams, 21 Len Olivier, 22 Dewald Pretorius.
Referee: Phillip Bosch
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: Michael Cupido
Saturday, July 5
Western Province (WP) v FS Cheetahs
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
After last weekend's emphatic second-half performance, WP will take a lot of postives from their victory as they run out on home turf once more against another formidable member of the 'big five'.
The hype around this encounter has been heightened in recent times, no thanks to Stormers' coach Rassie Erasmus and points-machine Willem de Waal being two influential honchos in the Cape fraternity who were raised on Free State produce.
In an ironic 'swapping' of allegiances, De Waal's opposite number is in fact a former WP man (Chris Roussow), who is neither a stranger with the boot and scored all of the Cheetahs 22 points last weekend.
Coach Allister Coetzee has made only one change to his side that downed the Bulls, whilst the captaincy goes to the Springbok-capped Gcobani Bobo for the rest of the Currie Cup season. WP's scrum is building to be very competitive, and with revered pace on the wings, they will be no easy side to beat at a dreary Newlands.
The Cheetahs on the other hand have an equally competitive scrum, which looked devastating at times during last weekend's victorious 'cat-fight'. Coach Naka Drotske has also named an unchanged side bar one, bringing in the imposing Hendrik Meyer at No. 13.
The Cheetahs will be looking to work on communication this weekend to curb the error count from last Saturday, whilst the line-out battle should also be intriguing. Bloem's pride will be heading confidently to Cape Town with the winning spirit that has made this union so successful in recent years.
Prediction: This looks to be an evenly contested battle both in the fowards and out wide, with an abundance of Super 14 and Springbok caps in both camps. Home advantage and experience in wetter conditions may be the only extra weight the home side are bringing to the party. Western Province to grind out another win at home, by 6 points.
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Dylan Des Fountain, 12 Gcobani Bobo (captain), 11 Wylie Human, 10 Willem De Waal, 9 Alastair Siegelaar, 8 AJ Venter, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Francois Van Der Merwe, 19 Justin
Melck, 20 Paul Delport, 21 Isma-eel Dollie, 22 Morgan Newman.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Hendrik Meyer, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Chris Rossouw, 9 Neil Powell, 8 Schalk van der Merwe, 7 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Jaco du Toit, 17 Phillip Lemmer, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 JW Jonker, 22 Fabian Juries.
Referee: Craig Joubert
Touch judges: Theuns Jonker, Roderick Barry
TMO: Willie Roos
Blue Bulls v Sharks
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria, 17.05 (15.05 GMT)
Wikus van Heerden's speedy recovery sees him captain the Blue Bulls in their third-round crunch game against their coastal rivals at their intimidating Loftus Versfeld on Saturday.
An unchanged backline and the long-awaited return of Pretoria's favourite son, Derick Hougaard to the squad, should be the added punch to a venerable forward pack that sees Danie Roussouw making way for his captain and switching to his other effective role at lock.
The Sharks will travel to the Highveld with two successive wins under their belt, but looking to iron out inconsistencies at the breakdown which were revealed against the Cavaliers last weekend.
The Durbanites have suffered a number injuries this week, most noticably to star scrumhalf Rory Kockott who's delayed recovery brings Scott Mathie into the fold.
Kicking duties will no doubt be handed over to Monty Dumond, who comes into the starting XV on the wing.
Coach Plumtree has stressed the importance of playing 'clever rugby' against the Bulls in an effort to match their physical dominance up front, although Skipper Badenhorst has been brought into the front row as the preffered tough guy over Craig Burden.
Prediction: The Sharks are a winning outfit, much like the Blue Bulls who are notoriously strong at home in front of waves of Blue support. Elusive and expansive rugby will be the key for the Sharks, as they're likely to get out-muscled at the break-down. Bulls to win a close encounter by 5 points.
Teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Francois van Schouwenburg, 19 Jacques Burger, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Derick Hougaard, 22 Zane Kirchner.
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Monty Dumond, 13 Waylon Murray, 12
Andries Strauss, 11 Henno Mentz, 10 Brad Barritt, 9 Scott Mathie, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Nic Strauss, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Albert van den Berg, 3 BJ Botha, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Skholiwe Ndlovu, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Riaan Swanepoel, 22 Chris Jordaan.
Referee: JC Fortuin
Touch judges: Christie du Preez, Cobus Wessels
TMO: Michael Cupido
By Nick Pawson
