Currie Cup Round Five - Teams and Predictions

PREVIEW: Things are heating up as all teams apart from the Bulls have a shot at making the semifinals with three rounds to go.

The action starts on Friday afternoon with the Lions hosting Boland in Johannesburg, followed by table-toppers Griquas welcoming the Sharks to Kimberley.

On Saturday, the Stormers XXIII travel to Mbombela to battle the Pumas, and on Sunday, the struggling Bulls host the Cheetahs in Pretoria.

Boland head coach Hawies Fourie emphasised the importance of this weekend’s fixture for his team following their narrow defeat to the Sharks in Round Four.

“We’re looking forward to this weekend’s challenge. We have a lot to play for.

“A lot of teams are within two or three points of each other on the log, so every game will be vital for all the teams involved.”

Heading to Kimberley, Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh emphasised the importance of the clash as the defending champions aim for a top-two finish to secure a home semifinal.

“Every week I say it’s a big game, but with a single-round competition every game is a big one.

“We’ve reached that stage now, and hopefully we’ll see some separation this week on the log. We know it can still be a condensed log after this week if the results go a certain way.

“But we’ve reached the stage now where we can almost eliminate teams from catching us.

“Currently the Sharks are six points behind us, and if we beat them and get five [log] points, we’ll almost eliminate them in terms of catching us.

“Should we lose, they’ll be a point or two behind us again, but we don’t want to look too far ahead.

“We’ve got the opportunity to continue our winning run at home, and hopefully we’ll stay on top of the table before our two away fixtures.

“And hopefully it’s not our last home game. The supporters in Kimberley have been brilliant for us throughout the season and in the SA Cup as well.

“Our goal is for this not to be our last home game; we want to make it special for the supporters tomorrow [Friday] and secure them another home game in a few weeks time.”

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Sharks head coach Mike Vowles is positive about his team selection despite several changes made to the side that defeated Boland in Round Four.

“We had a really good week of preparation and took a lot of confidence from our performance against Boland, which we are looking to build on come Friday evening.

“We’re really excited for the opportunity to play against Griquas in Kimberley. We know they’re a tough team and never easy to play at home.

“It’s a battle we prepared well for and one that we’re confident going into and looking to build on the success of last week.”

The Stormers, currently in sixth position, will have a tough nut to crack when they face the Pumas in Mbombela.

Assistant coach Sentle Lehoko said his side is ready for the challenge and highlighted key threats Jimmy Stonehouse’s team will pose.

“The Pumas are a tough and experienced side with a good set piece and kicking game and very physical to play against away from home,” Lehoko said.

“We have to be focussed and ready for the challenge, and it will be a challenge, but one we’re excited for.

“We know we’ve got a lot of energy and positive focus in the group. There’s no doubt that will be a big challenge but one we’re excited and can’t wait for.”

Lehoko added that they have focussed on their maul-stopping game, an area the Pumas are traditionally strong in when afforded the opportunity.

“Most definitely, and not just for the Pumas. The new laws around the maul have seen it gain a lot of traction and power, so we have to be super prepared for that.

“Of course, our forwards coach Helmut Lehmann spends a lot of time and effort to ensure we’re prepared for that.

“We are aware of how big a part the maul is to their game, and it’s important for us to be locked in and be able to stop it.”

The Stormers have been guilty of letting the opposition in through soft moments and poor game management throughout this season.

Captain Jean-Luc du Plessis admitted that it is an area of concern and that the team is working hard to correct it ahead of their trip to the lowveld.

“It’s definitely been a talking point, both after the [Cheetahs] game and this week in our review we saw that there are small patches in games where we have some soft moments,” Du Plessis told Rugby365.

“Whether it’s decision-making, execution or discipline – we tend to allow the opposition to get back in the game without having to work too hard.

“So it’s definitely an area we looked at, and I’m sure we’ll sharpen up on it this coming weekend.”

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The Cheetahs will look to seal top spot when they face the Bulls in Pretoria on Sunday afternoon.

Head coach Frans Steyn warned against the danger the Bulls possess despite being stone last on the table, having pushed the Pumas close at Loftus Versfeld in Round Four.

“They’ve got a bunch of young guys in that team, but talent-wise, the same for the Stormers; they have enough in abundance.

“On the day when they’re switched on, we need to be on top of our game.

“We will work hard this week, and hopefully we can have another good one this weekend.”

Captain Neels Volschenk added to Steyn’s thoughts:

“The Bulls are talented rugby guys, and we’ve seen against the Lions and the Sharks it’s not a case of you can just pitch up and win.

“You have to work hard and be on it and clinical.”

Volschenk highlighted the importance of their last-gasp victory over the Stormers after both sides were deadlocked at 26 all before Faf de Klerk sealed the deal for the full house of points.

“It’s crucial for us. If you want a home semifinal, those three extra points become massive going forward in the competition as we progress towards the final rounds of the tournament.

“It was a big win for us – those final five minutes showed we took some learnings from our defeat to Griquas; it could’ve been different as well.

“It’s nice to see that we took the lessons from that [Griquas game] and had the patience to finish off the game.”

Steyn called on his team for improvement despite their healthy position on the table.

“If you asked me [before the tournament], after four rounds we’d be tied at the top, we would’ve taken it.

“We’re happy, but I still don’t think we’re at the level where we want to be. We need to play much better if we want to win this competition.

“And we want to do it in style as well. We want to play. We want to play old winning Free State rugby; we’re not there yet, but we have a few weeks to go.

“I’m definitely excited and looking forward to the next couple of weeks, but there’s still a lot of work to do.”

*See the teams and predictions below!

Friday, August 14

Lions v Boland Kavaliers

(Wits Rugby Stadium, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 15.00 SAST; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Lions by six points

Teams:

Lions:15 Gilermo Mentoe, 14  Keagan Smith, 13 Exauce Kevani, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane, 10 Sam Francis, 9 Layton Horn, 8 Jarod Cairns (captain), 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Thando Biyela, 5 JD Hattingh, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Ruan Swart, 2 Mahle Sithole, 1 Cecil Parson
Replacements: 16 Armand Combrinck, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19  Marco Ferreira, 20  Renzo du Plessis, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Likhona Finca, 23 Luke Cannon

Boland Kavaliers: 15 Jayden Bantom, 14 Cornell Engelbrecht, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Marlyn Williams (c), 4 Johnré Stopforth, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Joshua Eras, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Jeandré Leonard, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Thurlow Marsh, 22 Godlen Masimla, 23 James Tedder

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Assistant referees: Dylen November, Juan de Bod
TMO: Egon Seconds

Griquas v Sharks XV

(Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley – Kick-off: 17.05 SAST; 15.05 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Griquas by 14 points

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Carel van der Merwe, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 IG Prinsloo, 2 Janus Venter, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Dillon Smith, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Liam Koen, 23 Sako Makata

Sharks XV: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Christie Grobbelaar, 13 Lyle Matthews, 12 Albie Bester, 11 Khuthi Rasivhaga, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Ross Braude (captain), 8 Hanu Pieterse, 7 Wasi Vyambwera, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Meno Barnard, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Liam van Wyk, 1 Jaco du Toit
Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Phiwayinkosi “Rambo” Kubheka, 18 Simphiwe Ngobese, 19 Danio Botha, 20 Sphephelo Mbonambi, 21 Juan Loots, 22 Janco Purchase, 23 Chijindu Okonta

Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Jonathan Lottering
TMO: Quinton Immelman

Saturday, August 15

Pumas v Stormers XXIII

(Mbombela Stadium, Mbombela – Kick-off: 17.00 SAST; 15.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Pumas by 12 points

Teams:

Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Alfondso Isaacs, 13 Sango Xamlashe (vice-captain), 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Banie Britz, 10 Nevaldo Fleurs, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Chyle van Zyl, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Zukisa Sali, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 De Wet Marais, 21 Russell Fredericks, 22 Jaycee Nel, 23 Darren Adonis

Stormers XXIII: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Joel Leotlela, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Keke Morabe, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo
Replacements: 16 Altus Rabe, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Luan Botha, 20 Xola Nyali, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 JC Mars

Referee: Christopher Allison
Assistant referees: Giana Viljoen, Stiaan Marx
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen

Sunday, August 16

Bulls v Cheetahs

(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 15.00 SAST; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction:

Rugby365: Cheetahs by five points

Teams: 

Bulls XV: 15 Aka Boqwana, 14 Riyaad Bam, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Christiaan Vlok, 11 JJ Mothlodi, 10 Devon Williams, 9 Keagan Johannes (captain), 8 Dieter Schubert, 7 JJ Theron, 6 Kebotile Maake, 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 Johnathan Eloff, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Jon Hobson, 17 Sandi Msengana, 18 Dian Coetzee, 19 Cephas van Biljon, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Mpilo Gumede, 22 Brooklyn Newman, 23 Marnus Rademeyer.

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Jooste Nel, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Simon Miller, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Arno van der Merwe, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Juan Smal, 1 Tebogo Nkosi
Replacements:16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 John-Kelly Okonkwo, 19 Curtly Thomas, 20 Sisonke Vumasonke, 21 Jandre Nel, 22 Tiaan Swanepoel, 23 De-An Ackermann

Referee: Jonathan Lottering
Assistant referees: Hanru van Rooyen, Juan de Bod
TMO: Egon Seconds