Currie Cup Round Four: Teams & Predictions
SATURDAY AND SUNDAY PREVIEW: It seems like Western Province are in for another bleak weekend when they take on the Cheetahs in Round Four of the Currie Cup this Saturday.
The two teams will go head-to-head in Bloemfontein, while the Pumas face the Lions at the Nelspruit Rugby Club ground.
The weekend’s action concludes on Sunday when the Boland Cavaliers battle the Bulls in Wellington.
WP have endured a horrendous start and find themselves at the bottom of the table with zero log points.
They have scored just eight tries while leaking 135 points, and head to Bloemfontein with very little hope of overturning their fortunes.
For Frans Steyn’s side, this is an ideal opportunity to build on their current momentum. The team has won three of their last five, including their last two in a row.
On the back of a frustrating 7-5 win over the Sharks, the Free Staters will want to produce a much better performance as they seek a seventh consecutive Currie Cup win over WP.
Cheetahs head coach Steyn said the next three weeks are of utmost importance in his team’s quest for the play-offs.
The Cheetahs are second on the log, tied on points with the Pumas (1st) and Boland (3rd).
“We’re heading into a block where it’s really important for us to play well and to take the points that we can.
It’s really going to be a tough block.
“It’s going to be a hard three weeks for us, but I think we’re all aiming for three good wins.”
Looking at WP, Steyn admitted the Capetonians’ unpredictability makes them a big threat.
“The analysis we did on Western Province – I don’t think the scores they’ve got, or the way they play, give them the justice they deserve,” said Steyn.
“They’re a very good team, they play well, and you don’t know what to expect from them. They throw the ball around, and I think for us, we need to be awake and just expect anything.
“That’s the plan for the weekend. We need to be alert, and hopefully we can play in the right areas and be on the same page.”
*Article continues below…
WP captain Gary Porter has urged his team to produce a better performance against the Cheetahs.
“A lot of the guys have played in Bloemfontein, so we kind of know what to expect,” said Porter.
“The team is really excited about it. We’re going to try and stick to our brand of rugby.
“We just need to learn how to play it better. But we’re really going to have a go and carry on just putting one foot in front of the next, and hopefully the results will come.”
The Pumas will look to stay at the top of the table when they host the Lions at the Nelspruit Rugby Club.
Jimmy Stonehouse’s men made a massive statement with their 41-7 win over the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld.
The team played directly and outscored the Bulls six tries to one.
Now back at home, they will want to hold onto the No.1 spot with another big performance against the Lions, who suffered a shock 10-29 defeat to Boland last weekend.
“Last week’s result against Boland was not one that we wanted and certainly not a performance that we are proud of,” said Lions head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi.
“We have got to make amends in terms of performance, and we hope that if we do that, the result will go our way. We feel we let ourselves down in many aspects last week and it’s on us to give a positive response this weekend against the Pumas.”
Nkosi identified the Lowvelders’ set-piece execution as a key threat, and one they are hoping to counter.
“We are very much aware of what we’ll be up against in terms of set-pieces against the Pumas, especially looking at what they did against the Bulls last week.
“We are under no illusions as to the type of set-piece we are going to face – it was an effective tool for them, and no doubt they’ll be looking to employ that again on Saturday.”
Sunday’s fixture between the Bulls and Boland in Wellington is set to be an entertaining one.
Hawies Fourie’s Bolanders have secured home wins over the Lions and Cheetahs on either side of a nine-point loss to the Griquas, and they’ve proven to be a force to be reckoned with in Wellington.
The team from the Jacaranda City, though, will be smarting from their loss to the Pumas, and the Cavaliers – even though they are playing in front of their passionate supporters – can brace themselves for a tough encounter against Phiwe Nomlomo’s side.
Fourie has been forced to tweak his pack, as lock and captain Marlyn Williams has been ruled out due to a facial fracture. Ameer Hendricks takes his place in the second row, with number eight Thurlow Marsh assuming the captaincy.
The experienced Sibusiso Sangweni has recovered from the ankle injury he picked up in Round Two and replaces Ludio Williams at blindside flank. Williams moves to openside, replacing Sauliegh Arendse.
In the front row, Mthokozisi Gumede gets his first start at loosehead prop, with Wayrin Losper moving to the bench. Tighthead Doctor Booysen will be in action for the first time in the competition, replacing Dayan van der Westhuizen, who now plays a role from the bench.
Saturday, August 16
Pumas v Lions
(Nelspruit Rugby Club, Nelspruit, Kick-off: 14.00; 12.00 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Pumas by 15 points
Teams:
Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashle, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude (vice-captain), 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisante, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Zuki Sali, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouché, 21 Russwell Fredericks, 22 Tiaan Pretorius , 23 Dalvon Blood
Lions: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Kelly Mpeku, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Sebastian Lombard, 19 Johnre Stopforth, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Sam Francis, 23 Tapiwa Mafura
Referee: Christopher Allison
Assistant Referees: Hanru van Rooyen, Paul Mente
TMO: Archie Moko
Cheetahs v Western Province
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 14.00;12.00 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 20 points
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Banie Britz, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Franco Smith, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Mihlali Mosi, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Juan Venter, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Hencus van Wyk.
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Vuren, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Frankie Dos Reis, 19 Thabang Mahlase, 20 Sasko Ndlovu, 21 Jandre Nel, 22 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 23 Clayton Blommetjies.
Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Shilton van Wyk, 13 Gino Cupido, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Joel Leotlela, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Asad Moos, 8 Louw Nel, 7 Riley Norton, 6 Gideon van Wyk, 5 Gary Porter (captain), 4 Alex Groves, 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo.
Replacements: 16 Luca Bakkes, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Adam de Waal, 20 Enos Ndiao, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Luke Burger, 23 Jared Africa.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant Referees: Sean Muller, Daniel Canhenga
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
Sunday, August 17
Boland v Bulls
(Boland Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Boland by five points
Teams:
Boland: 15 James Tedder, 14 Donavan Don, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Ashlon Davids (vice-captain), 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Ludio Williams, 5 Jurie van Vuuren, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Wayrin Losper, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht
Bulls: 15 Stravino Jacobs, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Zak Burger, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Sintu Manjezi, 6 Nama Xaba (Captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Juann Else, 1 Ruan Swart.
Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Bryan le Roux, 19 Marco Ferreira, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Brooklyn Newman, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Cheswill Jooste.
Referee: Robbie Jenkinson
Assistant Referees: Dylen November, Juan de Bod
TMO: Egon Seconds
