Currie Cup, Round Five - teams and predictions

PREVIEW: South Africa’s premier domestic competition reaches the halfway point, with some intriguing and crucial encounters.

The defending champion Cheetahs host the only team that has beaten them this season, the Bulls, in Friday’s only fixture.

It could have a significant impact on the race for the top spot in the standings and the right to host the play-off matches.

It is not surprising to see both teams load up on some ‘heavy hitters’.

Cheetahs Director of Rugby Frans Steyn made it clear they are putting their best team out in their drive to get back the points they conceded in the 13-25 loss at Loftus Versfeld a fortnight ago.

Despite being in a transition phase – needing to blood some youngsters after the retirement of veterans like Steyn and fellow Free State Springbok Ruan Pienaar – they are determined as many games as they can and retain their title.

However, a settled Bulls team – boosted by the return of Springbok wing Canan Moodie and versatile back row forward Cyle Brink – is a monumental challenge, even in Bloemfontein.

Steyn said they are ‘learning’ and ‘growing’ as a team, as the season progresses.

However, they are not about to discard their desire to be the Currie Cup champions.

“There will be some teething problems,” the Bok legend said, adding that the youthful nature of the side lends itself to “mistakes”.

“We are at a stage where winning should not be everything.

“We need to build – the team, the company and the people outside.

“We want to change how we play. We want to play an expansive game and that will take time.”

The Currie Cup also serves as a building block to the Challenge Cup in December, when the Cheetahs will enjoy their third season in Europe’s second tier.

Steyn said they desire to win every week, but developing a unique and entertaining playing style is more important than the weekend’s results.

“If we continue to focus on the pressure that comes with winning or losing, we are not going to get to where we want to go,” he added.

“If you look at the Lions – the style they play – that took time.”

(Article continues below the Frans Steyn preview …)

The Bulls will rely heavily on their available Springbok muscle – with utility back Moodie returning to action after being sidelined by a hand injury since early June.

Flank Cyle Brink, sidelined with injury since February, brings with him the experience of more than 100 first-class games with the Lions, Leicester Tigers and the Bulls.

Brink will be on a powerful bench that features Tiaan Lange, Jacques van Rooyen, Francois Klopper, Sintu Manjezi, Keagan Johannes, Lionel Mapoe and Devon Williams.

Bulls coach Phiwe Nomlomo said his team wants to be “more ruthless” than their previous encounter with the Cheetahs.

“The last time the Bulls beat the Cheetahs in a Currie Cup game in Bloemfontein was in 2018,” he told @rugby365com, adding that they are “excited” by the enormity of the challenge.

He said the Cheetahs’ point of difference is their kicking game, to get field position and force the opposition into mistakes.

“They have a really good set piece – strong scrum and a maul – but that is driven through their kicking game.”

He added that Bloemfontein – the field, the dressing room, the spectators and the trip from the hotel to the stadium – all contribute to the challenge.

“We need to get our mindset right,” he said, adding: “We have a job to do and do that to the best of our ability.”

* The early game on Saturday will see the Sharks travel to Nelspruit to get revenge against the Pumas – who beat them 31-21 in Durban a fortnight ago.

The encounter in the Lowveld is followed by the meeting between Western Province and the Griffons in Cape Town.

In the final match of the weekend, Griquas will host the Lions in Kimberley on Sunday.

The Sharks are determined to follow their maiden win for the season – 29-21 over the Lions in Johannesburg last week – with another away win.

Coach JP Pietersen, who welcomed back veteran Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane, said the team took great confidence from their bonus-point victory at Ellis Park.

He said, like last week, the team has the freedom to “express themselves” and continue to grow.,

“The Pumas have been together for a few years now and there is massive belief in their team,” he said of last year’s beaten finalists.

“We respect them as a team, because you saw what they did against us when we played them at home [in Durban].”

Pietersen said they are not looking for ‘revenge’, but rather consistency in terms of their performance.

He expects the Pumas pack to give them a bigger challenge than what the Lions did at Ellis Park.

“They scored a couple of maul tries against us at home,” he said for the Pumas’ win a fortnight ago, adding: “They are direct with their pick-and-goes through the middle.

“They have been working hard for the last two years.

“You don’t get to a final if you don’t work hard.

* Western Province will be hoping to get back on the winning track after last weekend’s loss to the Bulls in Pretoria, while the Griffons are still looking for their first win of the season.

In the final match of the round Griquas will be eager to regain lost ground as they host the Lions, a side equally determined to bounce back from a loss.

After four rounds of action, with two matches in the groups remaining before the four single-round cross-group encounters start, a clear picture is emerging regarding the league contenders.

All the round five teams and predictions follow below …

Friday, August 2

Cheetahs v Bulls
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bulls by six points

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Jeandre Rudolph, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Neels Volschenk, 22 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 23 Reinhardt Fortuin.

Bulls: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Izak Burger, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Merwe Olivier, 6 Nizaam Carr (captain), 5 Jannes Kirsten, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Khuthazani Mchunu, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Ghudian van Reenen, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Devon Williams.

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant referees: Ashton Ockhuys, Scott Olivier
TMO: Ben Crouse

Saturday, August 3

Pumas v Sharks
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Pumas by three points

Teams

Pumas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Darren Adonis, 13 De-an Ackermann, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Phiko Sobahle, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart (captain), 1 Etienne Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Lundi Msenge.

Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Jaco Williams, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Batho Hlekani, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Abraham Reyneke.
Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Hennie Sieberhagen, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Scott Nel.

Referee: Sean Muller
TMO: Archie Sehlako

Western Province v Griffons
(Cape Town Stadium – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Western Province by 22 points

Teams

Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 JC Mars, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Andre Goedhals, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 JJ Kotze, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Enos Ndiao, 20 CJ Velleman, 21 Labib Kannemeyer, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 Justin Geduld.

Griffons: 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Qamani Kota, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Robbie Petzer, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Dewald Human, 9 Keegan Schaefer, 8 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Mingo Piti, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Matthew Gray, 3 Moango Ngundue, 2 Chadley Wenn, 1 Simon Westraadt.
Replacements: 16 Willem van den Hever, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Mthokozisi Gumede, 19 Joshua Paris, 20 Jared Kruger, 21 Calla Pienaar, 22 Cheslin Arendse, 23 Chris Nollis

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Quinton Immelman

Sunday, August 4

Griquas v Lions
(Griqua Stadium, Kimberley – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Lions by eight points

Teams

Griquas:  15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Connor Mahoney, 10 Lybabalo Dobela, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Hanru Sirgel, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Stephan Smit (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Thabo Ndimandse, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Zinedine Robinson, 23 Tertius Kruger.

Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Kelly Mpeku, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Ruhan Straeuli, 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Raynard Roets, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naude
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Tiaan Wessels, 20 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 21 Luca Ribbens, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Zander du Plessis

Referee: Griffin Colby
TMO: Ben Crouse

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