Preview: Currie Cup, Round One
Fri, 10 Jul 2009 00:21
Sir Donald Currie's donation: The Currie Cup trophy
The excitement of the British and Irish Lions tour is slowly subsiding, even though the postmortems continue. However, there is a new event that is stirring and inciting the South African public's interest.
It is one of the longest running domestic competitions in the world, the Currie Cup - South Africa's premier domestic contest.
And you can't ask for a better start to the season than a few traditional derbies.
The weekend's action gets underway when the Leopards, newcomers to the Premier Division, travel to Wellington on Friday to face the Boland Cavaliers. And later in the day there's the Central Unions derby between the Free State Cheetahs and Griquas in Bloemfontein.
On Saturday the action starts with the trans-Jukskei derby between the Blue Bulls and a rebuilding Lions team in Pretoria, before the defending champion Sharks arrive in Cape Town to face Western Province.
We look at all the weekend's action!
Friday, July 10:
Boland v Leopards
(Boland Stadium, Wellington - Kick-off: 15.30, 13.30 GMT)
It will, inevitably, be billed as a battle of the minnows - two teams that are not really expected to challenge for overall honours after 14 weeks of dramatic rivalry.
However, this is an ideal opportunity for both to at least get their season off to a winning start.
And what a battle it promises to be.
The Leopards earned promotion into the Premier Division after beating the Falcons in the promotion-relegation battle last year. They would want to show they deserve their place among the competition's big guns.
The Cavaliers barely escaped relegation last year. But they have competed in the top flight for a few years and know what is required.
Boland captain Conrad Burke feels his side has more than enough quality to compete with the best teams in the country.
"We have been in the Currie Cup long enough to know what it's all about," Burke said, adding that they are ready to shake off their also-rans tag.
"This year we are aiming high. Initially we want to ensure we finish above the promotion-relegation places, but we won't settle for just that. We know we are better than that."
Cavaliers coach Deon Davids echoed similar sentiments.
"If we play to our true potential we will have a good season."
However, potential alone is not enough and the coach fully appreciates that, "the competition is amongst the toughest in the world, physically and mentally, and if we want to do well we have to win our home matches, and that's exactly what we plan on doing."
Leopards coach, Chaka Willemse, understands that it will be a tough season for his side but he believes that they have what it takes and will be looking to some key players to put up their hands.
Willemse also has some realistic expectations.
"If we finish anything above sixth and out of the promotion-relegation places we will be more than happy," Willemse said.
"This is new territory for the players, but I think a couple of them will make the step-up to the Premier Division and those are the players we will look to."
Boland will more than likely play a very physical game against the Leopards following their tough six month training regime in the off season that has seen their players come back bigger and stronger.
Talking about his side's plans for their opening match Burke said: "We have identified a couple of key players in the Leopards side and we plan on cutting down their space and isolating them. One person we are looking at pressurising is definitely their flyhalf Clayton Durand who is a pivotal figure for them."
Durand is certainly one of the Leopards key players finishing the top point scorer in the First Division last year with a staggering 176 points in only 12 games.
The flyhalf missed the majority of the Vodacom Cup due to injury and has only recently regained his fitness.
The Leopards coach is ecstatic to have him back in the side.
"Clayton makes a big difference for us and we certainly missed him when he was out. We are glad to have him back."
rugby365 Prediction: We feel the Leopards may find the step up from the First to Premier Division a tall order. They may well pull off a surprise or two, but the occasion of their first match back may just get to the players and allow the Cavaliers' greater experience to win the day. The Cavaliers to sneak a hard-earned win - by 10 points or less.
Teams:
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Luvo Sogidashe, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Junior Bester, 7 Wendall Wehr, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Rito Hlungwane, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jacobie
Adriaanse, 2 Conrad Burke (captain), 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Jané du Toit, 18 Grant le Roux, 19 Carel Hoffman, 20 Angelo Brinkhuys, 21 Mark Harris, 22 Hein Myburgh.
Leopards: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Colin Lloyd, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Bom Samaai, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Christo van Niekerk, 7 RW Kember, 6 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 5 Ligtoring Landman, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Os van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Nardus Lombard.
Replacements: 16 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 17 Philip Lemmer, 18 Draad Linde, 19 Bennie Adams, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Jovan Bowles, 22 Jan van Zyl.
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Archie Sehlako
Free State Cheetahs v Griquas
(Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein - Kick-off: 19.10, 17.10 GMT)
Griquas are not exactly a bogey team for the Cheetahs, but there is no doubt that they have the ability to give their Central Unions rivals a good run for their money.
The fact that these two teams are Super 14 partners means the players are also very familiar with each other.
In fact this year Griquas provided more than their usual quota of Super 14 participants - especially in the backline where players like Bjorn Basson, Naas Olivier and Sarel Pretorius played significant roles in the latter stages of the competition.
And Griquas will definitely be looking to kick on from their success in the Vodacom Cup, which saw them walking away with the title after defeating the Blue Bulls in the Final.
However, Griquas coach Dawie Theron knows that past titles stand for nothing in the Currie Cup.
"We realize the Currie Cup is a massive step-up from the Vodacom Cup and we will have to work even harder to succeed," Theron said.
There have also been a lot of questions asked off the inexperienced centre paring of Wilmaure Louw and Barry Geel, who earned their starting spot in the Kimberley-based side as a result of injuries to their normal combination of Hanno Coetzee and Richard Lawson.
Theron is confident the newcomers have the talent to make the step up.
"I believe this centre combination can establish itself as one of the best in the Currie Cup.
"They are two very capable players - Louw is a raw talent with quick feet and good hands, while Geel has a lot of experience. He has been out of action for a while and has worked hard to get himself back into the mix. I have faith in both of them."
Free State coach Naka Drotské is never one for many words, but he has faith in his team's ability.
"We know that the Griquas are hungry for victory and we expect a hard game on Friday," Drotské said.
"But we have trained hard and are prepared for anything they might throw at us. We have plenty of depth in our side and can compete at every position."
Theron believes that the Cheetahs' forward pact is a bit suspect at times and that is where he will look to attack on Friday.
"Their forward pack looked to struggle a bit in the Super 14. We will look to take them on there, putting a lot of pressure on them and hopefully they will crack."
But it is behind the pack where Griquas may hold the biggest aces - in the halfback pairing of No.10 Naas Olivier and scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius.
Pretorius is convinced he will be a Cheetah target, as they would have taken note of his qualities when he played for them in the Super 14.
rugby365 Prediction: Griquas will make a good fist of it and with plenty of experience an upset can't be ruled out. However, we feel the Cheetahs will have enough in the tank to ease away in the latter stages of the game. The Cheetahs to win by 10 to 15 points.
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Francois Uys, 7 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 6 Johan Wessels, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Frans Viljoen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 JW Jonker.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Egon Seconds, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Devon Raubenheimer, 6 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Brendon Snyman, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Andries Kruger, 17 Albertus Buckle, 18 Sean Plaatjies, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Jaco
Bekker, 22 Gavin Passens.
Referee: Phillip Bosch
Assistant referees: Willie Roos, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Michael Cupido
Saturday, July 11:
Blue Bulls v Lions
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - Kick-off: 15.00, 13.10 GMT)
It would be stretching it to say the Blue Bulls are fielding their B-Team, but in many cases they are indeed back-up players rather than first-choice selections.
Not many teams can watch starts like Victor Matfield, Bakkies Botha, Fourie du Preez, Pierre Spies, Morné Steyn and Bryan Habana sit on the sideline and still say they are fielding a formidable outfit.
But such is the Bulls' depth - and the fact that a number of Springboks have been released - that the new-look Lions selection will start the Loftus showdown as underdogs.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke have the luxury of fielding Springboks like fullback Zane Kirchner, centres Wynand Olivier and Jaco Pretorius.
Add to that Emerging Springbok captain Dewald Potgieter, along with fellow Emerging Boks Werner Kruger and Wilhelm Steenkamp and you are beginning to get the idea of exactly how much depth there is in the Bulls camp.
It doesn't end there. In the absence of regular captains Matfield and Du Preez, hooker Derick Kuün will lead the Bulls - with Kuün having captained the Southern Kings against the British and Irish Lions. Other Bulls who played for the Kings against the B&I Lions were prop Jaco Engels and scrumhalf Francois Hougaard - who ironically will be on the wing.
Bulls coach Frans Ludeke believes that Hougaard has all the attributes of becoming a successful wing in the future.
"Francois has a good kicking game and I am fully confident that he will be able to stand his ground on the wing," the Bulls coach said, adding: "He can do everything a wing needs to do and he is definitely the right man for Saturday's game."
Compare that to a Lions team that is not only in a rebuilding phase after changing coaches, but will also be without the services of numerous senior players - Jaque Fourie (on Bok duty and on French club Clermont's wishlist), Doppies la Grange (injured), André Pretorius (injured and heading to Perth), Ernst Joubert (Saracens), Jannes Labuschagne (injured), Gerhard Mostert (injured), Anton van Zyl (Western Province), Heinke van der Merwe (injured), Willie Wepener (Clermont) and Ethienne Reynecke (Saracens).
With Jake White 'advising' new coach Hans Coetzee there is plenty optimism in the Lions camp, but they remain an unknown quantity.
Coetzee has made no secret of the fact that he will lean heavily on the experience of imports like Herkie Kruger and Nico Luus, while Emerging Springbok Earl Rose, at fullback, and captain Cobus Grobbelaar will also have important roles to play.
While the Lions have their own goals and ambitions, the Bulls look the team most likely to challenge for top honours in October.
Kuün is confident the Bulls can take it a step further this year, after losing to the Sharks in the Final last year.
Having last won the Currie Cup in 2004, they are determined to score a rare Super Rugby and Currie Cup double - something that has been achieved only once - when Transvaal won the Super 10 and Currie Cup back in 1993.
"Yes, our goal is to win the Currie Cup, but we can't look further than Saturday's showdown with the Lions, Kuün said.
He added that they will look to lay a solid foundation against the Lions and then take it "one game at a time", just as they did in winning the Super 14 this year.
rugby365 Prediction: Experience counts for a lot in these derbies and the Bulls have that in abundance. The Lions will no doubt produce an adrenaline-charged performance, but in the end the Bulls' greater class should win the day. The Bulls by 15 points.
Teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün (captain), 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 20 Francois Brummer, 21 Marius Delport, 22 Tiger Mangweni.
Golden Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17
Kevin Buys, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Robert Kruger, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Pieter Engelbrecht, 22 Michael Killian.
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Western Province v Sharks
(Newlands, Cape Town - Kick-off: 17.05, 15.05 GMT)
These two teams have been talking each other up all week and so they should. It is going to be a cracker - a game with a host of sideshows that could be worth the entry fee itself.
While Sharks coach John Plumtree was talking about the need to play a "winning game" against quality opposition, Western Province coach Allister Coetzee labelled his rivals a "formidable team".
The Sharks will field a very impressive combination - even without Springboks like Frans Steyn, Ruan Pienaar and John Smit.
Players like Stefan Terblanche, Odwa Ndungane, Rory Kockott, Keegan Daniel, Jean Deysel, Jacques Botes, Johann Muller (as captain), Steven Sykes, Jannie du Plessis and Deon Carstens will hold the key.
That group includes four Boks who featured in the third Test against the British and Irish Lions, and a couple of Emerging Boks.
The only WP Bok that will be featured in this game is scrumhalf Ricky Januarie, but there are few Emerging Boks in Peter Grant, Willem De Waal and Tiaan Liebenberg - not to forget the experience that veteran All Black lock Chris Jack brings to the game.
Not surprising then that the Sharks mentor, Plumtree, spoke of being conservative in their approach.
"We have to be able to find a way to win, if we have to be defensive and play a 10-man game to get the victory, it's what we will do on the day," said Plumtree.
"We definitely want to play a 15 man game but if it's not going to work for us, we will be fairly direct and disciplined in the game plan we believe we can win with."
The Province mentor, Coetzee, said there is a good reason why the Sharks are the defending champions.
"We are expecting a very tough game against a formidable side," Coetzee said.
He added that the Sharks are a very "experienced" side that showed against the British and Irish Lions they still have the qualities that made them Currie Cup champions last year - even though they struggled a bit in the latter stages of the Currie Cup.
But Coetzee feels the biggest asset for his team is in the versatility that the backline has - flyhalf Willem de Waal can play at fullback as well; inside centre Peter Grant is a regular flyhalf, swing Frikkie Welsh regularly plays at centre and fullback Joe Pietersen has previously featured at wing, centre and even flyhalf.
rugby365 Prediction: Without doubt the game of the weekend. Encounters between these two sides are often brutal, especially in the forward exchanges. The number of international stars on display also makes it worth the entry fee. But to pick a winner is not that easy, given that there is no previous Currie Cup form to go on. Based on the qualities of the individuals in the teams and the experience they have, we tend to lean towards a Sharks win - by less than 10 points.
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Frikkie Welsh, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Willem De Waal, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Pieter Louw, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Anton Van Zyl, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Deon Fourie, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Juan De Jongh, 22 Tonderai Chavhanga.
The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Luzuko Vulindlu, 10 Guy Cronjé, 9 Rory Kockott, 8
Keegan Daniel, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Justin Downey/Ryan Kankowski, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Chris Jordaan.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: François Veldsman, Cobus Wessels
TMO: JC Fortuin
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