Currie Cup, Round Nine - Teams and Predictions

SPOTLIGHT: The penultimate round of the Currie Cup season sees a top-of-the-log tussle between the Bulls and Lions on Friday, while a couple of teams will realise it’s make or break as the semifinals loom.

The Jukskei Derby – the second clash of the ninth round – kicks off at Midstream College in Olifantsfontein near Pretoria.

In the early game on Friday, in Kimberley, Griquas and Cheetahs clash in a crucial meeting for the defending champions from the Free State, who must return to Bloemfontein with a win if they want to stay in contention for a semifinal spot.

Only one match takes place on Saturday when the in-form Sharks host the Griffons in Durban. That clash will be followed by Sunday’s final match of the round in Stellenbosch, between Western Province and the Pumas.

As things stand, the Bulls are leading the standings with 36 points, courtesy of seven wins and a draw from their eight games, which is three more than their Gauteng neighbours.

With just two more league matches remaining, including this weekend’s fixtures, it comes down to a race between the chasing pack of three – the Sharks (26), Cheetahs and Pumas (both 24) – for the remaining two semifinal spots.

Griquas get the weekend action started when they welcome holders Cheetahs to the Diamond City on Friday afternoon when the hosts will look to add some spark to what has been a below-par campaign in the famous provincial competition.

The 2022 runners-up are languishing second from bottom, and they will be determined to give a much better account of themselves in their two remaining games.

As demonstrated last week during the opening quarter of their match in Pretoria, Griquas have the potential to play good rugby, however, inconsistency has hampered their campaign. They remain a dangerous outfit though, especially on the hard surface in Kimberley.

The Cheetahs will travel to their neighbours knowing what needs to be done to remain in the play-off race, but after losing at home to the Lions last weekend, they will have to up their game if they want to leave Kimberley with a crucial win.

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“I’ve said it earlier in the season, it doesn’t bother me when we are behind at half-time as long as we win,” said Cheetahs Director of Rugby Frans Steyn.

“The last couple of weeks we haven’t been able to pull it through, so I think it is important that we start better.

“The guys must just play well.

“It doesn’t bother if we lose, but then we must lose against a better team.

“This past Saturday, the Lions got on top of us from our mistakes, so we need to make fewer mistakes and give away fewer penalties.”

The Bulls are taking their derby with the Lions to Midstream College in Olifantsfontein, south of Pretoria, as an initiative to take the game closer to their young fan base.

The unfamiliar venue should have no bearing on their status as favourites.

This will be the first time the 2021 & 2022 champions play in front of a school crowd since their last exhibition match at HS Merensky.

Lions head coach Ivan van Rooyen and his management are set to take charge of Friday’s clash, using it as an opportunity to assess squad depth as well as providing a chance for new signings to obtain much-needed game time.

The Lions have bolstered their matchday squad with some big names and one of them is Sanele Nohamba, who will play off the bench.

Springboks Quan Horn and Morne van den Berg will both start, while captain Marius Louw is back in the No.12 jersey.

“It’s exciting to incorporate a few of the guys who have not played Currie Cup this season to get a few minutes under their belts ahead of the 2024/25 international season, combined with guys who have been doing well in the competition so far,” said Van Rooyen.

“It’s important for us to keep the momentum going and keep going forward as a collective group.

“We are looking forward to playing the Bulls. We know they are a good side with good plans, so we need to be sharp as we continue to march forward.”

Meanwhile, Bulls head coach Phiwe Nomlomo says the trip to Midstream is timely, considering that his team boast a lot of youth within the ranks.

“Our team, in fact, most times when we field a Bulls side in any of the competitions, it will always celebrate the exceptional young people we have at this franchise,” said Nomlomo.

“So being able to take them to a school environment will do the game we love a world of good.

“I hope it also inspires the youth who will be attending the game and the many who will watch this historic derby around the country. This is why the Currie Cup is important to the game.”

The Bulls have both history and form in their favour against their Gauteng neighbours.

The log leaders have not lost to the Lions in the last five years and their strong player pool means they can easily rotate without sacrificing any of their strengths.

An exciting clash is in the offering against the team from Johannesburg, who this year have played a style of rugby built on solid defence, attacking panache and a hardworking forward pack.

A win for the hosts will seal their No.1 status on the log with a game to spare.

This clash could be a potential Final in a few weeks and Bulls scrumhalf Keegan Johannes knows what it takes to win a play-off.

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“In play-offs, it doesn’t matter how you play, you just have to win the game,” said Johannes.

“I feel like this weekend it is going to be the same.

“Everybody is wondering who will finish on top and that’s the goal, but we would just like to win the game by any margin.”

Elsewhere, the young and exciting Sharks are the in-form side with an unbeaten run of five games, and they are firm favourites at home against the Griffons in Saturday’s only fixture.

JP Pietersen, who has done a sterling job, has returned to his Under-21 duties with their campaign continuing again this week, while head coach John Plumtree takes over the reins for the remainder of the tournament.

Plumtree has brought in some of his players currently in United Rugby Championship pre-season training, as well as selecting new signings Ruan Dreyer at prop, Emmanuel Tshituka at flank and Jordan Hendrikse at fullback.

Nick Hatton continues in his role as captain, leading the side as he has done so well all season.

He will call on the experience of players both in the starting line-up and off the bench and the return of wing Makazole Mapimpi from the Springboks is a big boost, as are the likes of young Ethan Hooker, James Venter, Fez Mbatha, Dylan Richardson and Vincent Tshituka.

“The plan was set in motion at the backend of last season on our we are going to utilise the coaching and playing squads in these rounds of the Currie Cup,” said Sharks attack coach David Williams.

“I think we are committed to five competitions with Rugby Champs, Currie Cup, URC, Under-21 and U19, so this was always going to be the week where we slowly blood the guys back into our Currie Cup squad as we move forward.”

On Sunday, the Pumas – champions in 2022 and runners-up last year – travel to Stellenbosch for a crucial clash with WP, with the knowledge that only a win will keep them in contention for a semifinal spot.

The young Cape side has struggled to make an impact this season and managed only two wins from eight games to date. The team from Mpumalanga have an experienced coach in the seasoned Jimmy Stonehouse, who knows that only a win will be good enough for their knock-out ambitions.

Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok will make his Western Province debut along with three other players.

Libbok is joined by replacements Joseph Dweba, Brian le Roux and Dave Ewers in pulling on the blue and white hoops for the first time for Western Province’s final home league game of the campaign.

Libbok is joined by Steven Kitshoff in the starting line-up after both players were released from the Springbok squad this week.

Centres Wandisile Simelane and Damian Markus, scrumhalf Imad Khan, flank Hendre Stassen, locks Gay Porter and Adre Smith and hooker JJ Kotze all make their return to the starting line-up.

Lock Ruben van Heerden will also make his first appearance of the season, having been named among the replacements.

Director of Rugby John Dobson said that the players coming in are all expected to make a big impact on Sunday.

“We have got some top players coming in this week and the challenge will be for them to slot in and ensure we put together a cohesive performance.

“We want to put together a convincing display against a dangerous Pumas side and give our fans a performance they can be proud of,” he said.

See below for this weekend’s teams and predictions!

Friday, August 30:

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

Prediction

@rugby365com: Cheetahs by nine points.

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Connor Mahoney, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Dandré Delport, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Jac van der Walt, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Zinedine Robinson, 23 Jay-Cee Nel.

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

Referee: AJ Jacobs
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron

Bulls v Lions
(Midstream College, Olifantsfontein – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Bulls by five points.

Teams:

Bulls: 15 Canan Moodie, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacob, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Corné Beets, 6 Nizaam Carr (captain), 5 Sintu Manjezi, 4 Merwe Olivier, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Juann Else, 17 Tielman Nieuwoudt, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Ghudian van Reenen, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Lionel Mapoe, 23 Mihlali Mosi.

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Marius Louw (captain), 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Nico Steyn, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 JPJ Botha, 1 Morgan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Jarod Cairns, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.

Referee: Morne Ferreira
TMO: Quinton Immelman

Saturday, August 31:

Sharks v Griffons
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 13.00; 11.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Sharks by 45 points.

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Ethan Hooker, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Makazole Mapimpi, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 James Venter, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Corne’ Rahl, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Braam Reynecke.
Replacements: 16 Dylan Richardson, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Litelihle Bester.

Griffons: 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Qamani Kota, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Dewald Human, 8 Mingo Piti, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Jared Kruger, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Matthew Gray, 3 Moango Ngundue, 2 Willem van der Hever, 1 Xolani Jacobs.
Replacements – from: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Edwin Nxumalo, 19 Wikus Niewenhuis, 20 Rian Olivier, 21 Calla Pienaar, 22 Keegan Schaefer, 23 Cheslin Arendse, 24 Joshua Paris, 25 David Bunduki, 26 Gilroy Philander.

Referee: Paul Mente
TMO: Egon Seconds

Sunday, September 1:

Western Province v Pumas
(Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Western Province by seven points.

Teams:

Western Province 15 Luke Burger, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Gino Cupido, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Divan Fuller, 7 Hendre Stassen, 6 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 5 Gary Porter, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Joseph Dweba, 17 Vernon Matongo, 18 Brian le Roux, 19 Ruben van Heerden, 20 Dave Ewers, 21 Sibusiso Sangweni, 22 Dewaldt Duvenage, 23 Jurie Matthee.

Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 David Brits, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 LLewellyn Classen, 1 Etienne Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Marvellous Mashimbyi, 21 Ross Braude, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 Phiko Sobahle.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Archie Sehlako