Western Province v Griquas - Teams and Predictions
TOP DOG: Western Province will look to consolidate their spot at the top of the Currie Cup standings this week as the competition starts to pick up steam, and with no unbeaten teams remaining.
The Capetonians have won two of their first three matches and host Griquas at Cape Town Stadium on Wednesday afternoon in a match that could put some daylight between the men in the hooped jerseys and the chasing pack.
But WP will have taken notice of Friday’s action, with the Pumas moving up to second spot on the log courtesy of a win over the men from the Northern Cape, who showed they will be no pushovers this season.
The Griquas left Mbombela Stadium with a losing bonus point.
The men from Kimberly are fifth on the table with six points.
#InjuryUpdate: @WP_RUGBY boss John Dobson confirmed the worst in regards to one of their key players! #rugby #news#WPRugby https://t.co/FXAxMVSLq1
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) July 6, 2021
Griquas attack
WP head into this encounter as firm favourites.
However, despite the WP’s favourite tag, Dobson knows all too well how dangerous the Griquas can be.
The last time these two sides met WP secured a hard-fought 38-32 win over Griquas during the Preparation series in Kimberley.
The Capetonians had to dig deep as Griquas proved lethal on the attack.
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“They [the Griquas] are a tough team to prepare against – very similar to the Cheetahs,” Dobson told reporters via a virtual media briefing.
“They have a good maul.
“They can score from anywhere, not so one dimensional where it’s just the pack.
“However it better to play them here in Cape Town than in Kimberley,”
The coach pinpointed his team’s to-do list for a victory over the visitors.
“We have to put them under pressure at set-piece,” Dobson said.
“We have to improve our systems around the maul defence and just be aware that they can run the ball from anywhere.
“Think the main focus for us is to play with the ball in hand, play direct, get through maul phases and put them under real pressure,”
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Last 10 Currie Cup outings
2013: WP won 19-13, Cape Town
2014: WP won 36-12, Cape Town
2015: WP won 43-19, Kimberley
2015: WP won 33-15, Cape Town
2016: WP won 52-31, Kimberley
2017: Griquas 44-34, Kimberley
2017: WP won 55-27, Cape Town
2019: WP won 38-12, Cape Town
2019: Griquas 27-23, Kimberley
2020: WP won 34-17, Cape Town
#TEAMANNOUNCEMENT: Loads of changes for @GriquasRugby as @WP_RUGBY loom#Rugby #WPvGRI@TheCurrieCup https://t.co/eA8rwZoEHX
— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) July 6, 2021
Prediction
@rugby365com: Western Province by 15 points
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Sergeal Petersen, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Rikus Pretorius, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Evan Roos, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 Ernst van Rhyn (captain), 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Reinach Venter, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 JD Schickerling, 20 Niel Otto, 21 Marcel Theunissen, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Abner van Reenen, 24 Andre-Hugo Venter, 25 Justin Basson, 26 Juan de Jongh.
Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Ruan Steenkamp (captain), 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Gideon Van Der Merwe, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Mox Mxoli
Replacements: 16 HJ Luus, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Raegan Oranje, 22 Tinus De Beer, 23 Ederies Arendse, 24 Tijde Visser, 25 Luyolo Dapula, 26 Christopher Hollis
Date: Wednesday, July 7
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15.45 (13.45 GMT)
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
