Currie Cup, Round 12 - teams and predictions

SATURDAY PREVIEW: The race for Currie Cup semifinal spots is reaching heading down the home stretch.

With the table-topping Bulls – also the defending champions – and second-placed Cheatahs having already secured home semifinals, there is a huge battle for the No.1 position over the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, the race for the two remaining play-off spots – for positions three and four – is a four-way fight, although Western Province is a long-odds bet.

The Sharks are currently in third place on 24 points (from 10 games), Griquas sitting fourth (21 points), the Pumas in fifth (20 points) and WP (13 points) the rank outsides.

Griquas, Pumas and WP have played nine games each.

WP need to win all their remaining matches and require other results to go their way.

The Lions, still winless after 10 games, complete the standing on five league points.

The Sharks have a bye in this round.

On Saturday, there are only two fixtures.

Griquas host their neighbours, the unbeaten Cheetahs, in Kimberley, while Lions face Western Province in Johannesburg.

Saturday’s first fixture will certainly be closely monitored by the Currie Cup supporters given its ramifications on the standings.

Having had a bye in Round 11, the Griquas have been out of action for three weeks and face a mammoth task of hosting the unbeaten Cheetahs.

Griquas coach Pieter Bergh said he expects an onslaught from the Cheetahs.

“We know the [Cheetahs’] plan is to play running rugby and the weather conditions are ideal for that.

“They make no secret that they want to ask questions from our defence and we have the same idea.

“We have confidence, following the [38-48] defeat to the Bulls where we manage to score five tries in the second half.

“We had Alex-Zander du Plessis at No.10 and Rynhardt  Jonker at No.12 so we looked at that match and want to replicate it.

“Both teams want to play attacking rugby and that will make for a great match.”

He added: “We have three matches to go and it is important that we win all three to book a semifinal.”

Despite having secured a place in the play-offs already, Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie admitted his team is still desperate for the win.

The coach also warned his team to be very wary of the ‘dangerous’ Griquas side.

“The Griquas, together with the Pumas and Sharks, are under pressure to qualify for the third and fourth place and they will be desperate to win, which makes them a dangerous side,” Fourie said.

“Griquas played good rugby so far this year and we won’t underestimate them.

“We are well prepared for the match.

“On our side, we are competing against the Bulls for the first place on the standings, so we have a lot to play for and we’ll be as desperate for a win.”

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Meanwhile, in Saturday’s other fixture the WP will want to secure a much-needed bonus-point win to boost their slim chance of reaching a semifinal.

Their  23-18 win over Pumas handed WP a great sense of belief ahead of Saturday’s fixture.

“We can still make the play-offs if we win on Saturday, ” WP head coach Jerome Paarwater said.

“I think we are up for the challenge against the Lions and we want to see if we can still make the semifinals, so it is indeed a lot to play for.”

Adding to his coach’s sentiments, Tim Swiel said: “The players’  mindset is pretty good.

” We have been training really well despite having our own struggles.

“But we certainly don’t need any extra motivation.”

Being the only side yet to record a win this season, the Lions’ assistant coach Ricardo Laubscher said they will use the last couple of weeks as a foundation for next season.

“Our plan over the last couple of weeks is just to lay a foundation for next season,” Laubscher said.

“We have a couple of new combinations – Matt More and Henco van Wyk in the midfield – and we just want to take a step forward, just to have alignment and get clarity.

“So we take this Currie Cup season as a foundation for next season.”

Commenting on WP, Laubscher said: ” They have very experienced players.

“Juan de Jongh is one of the names popping up.

” They have X-factor and a dangerous backline.

“From our point of view, we just want to limit their opportunities in terms of our kicking game so we have to make sure we are accurate.”

Saturday, May 28

Griquas v Cheetahs
(Griquas Park, Kimberley – Kick-off: 14.30; 12.30 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 12 points

Teams: 

Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Alex-Zander Du Plessis, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Sibabalo Qoma, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Carl Els, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Christopher Hollis

Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies , 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Siyabonga Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Cohen Jasper.

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Phumzile Mbewu, Local
TMO: Christie du Preez

Lions v Western Province
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: WP by five points

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Henco Van Wyk, 12 Matt More, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanual Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Morne Brandon, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 PJ Steenkamp, 20 Jarod Cairns, 21 Morne Van den Berg, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 James Tedder.

Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Ebenezer Tshimanga, 10 Timothy Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Junior Pokomela, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Adre Smith, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Ben-Jason Dixon, 20 Keke Morabe, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23 Rikus Pretorius.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant Referees: Ashleigh Murray-Pretorius, Local
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen