Currie Cup, Round Six - teams and predictions

PREVIEW: As the Currie Cup moves into the second half of the league phase, the race for the semifinal spots is heating up, with four more exciting encounters lined up for the long weekend.

After stringing together five wins in a row against the Lions since the opening round of the competition in 2021, the Pumas saw their winning run dry up, with their rivals from Gauteng winning the last two clashes between the teams.

At Ellis Park on Saturday, the men from Mpumalanga will be eager to make amends for their 21-75 drubbing when the two teams last met at the beginning of last month in Nelspruit.

These two teams, as well as the Cheetahs (second on the log), all have 18 league points, with the Lions third and the Pumas fourth on points differential.

Sandwiched in the middle of the three Saturday games, log leaders, the Bulls, host the last-placed Griffons at Loftus Versfeld. It will be a case of the league’s best defensive team against the one that has leaked the most points so far.

It is fair to say that the Bulls will keep their unbeaten record and their top spot in the standings with relative ease while the visiting Griffons might surprise with a sterling try or two, but they will be hard-pressed to record a victory.

Lions coach Mzwakhe Nkosi included two Springboks in their line-up with Ruan Venter (flank) and Quan Horn (fullback) both ready to face the Pumas.

Jarod Cairns switches to No. 8 in place of the injured Ruhan Straeuli, and young Bronson Mills steps into the flyhalf berth in place of the exciting Sam Francis, who injured his shoulder against the Griffons last week.

For Western Province playing at home means a must-win against the Cheetahs if they want to stay within touch of the top four.

Experienced Sevens Springbok Justin Geduld will start in midfield for Western Province in one of only two changes to the starting backline which also sees the return of Jurie Matthee at flyhalf.

There are two changes to the forward pack as Hendre Stassen returns from injury and JJ Kotze starts at hooker in a rotational switch with Scarra Ntubeni.

Flank Sibusiso Sangweni and scrumhalf Asad Moos and centre Joshua Boulle are set to make their debuts for Western Province from the replacement bench.

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“It will be a different game to the Griffons. Even though we scored four tries, there were still a few things in our game that we could have done better, a few opportunities we missed,” said assistant coach Dawie Snyman.

“The Cheetahs will be a different ballgame, they are a quality side, and playing at seven o’clock at night will be a little bit different.”

A glance at the last five results between the Sharks XV and Griquas shows a trend of a win every other game for the team from Kimberley, meaning three wins from five starts.

Springbok scrumhalf Jaden Hendrikse will return from injury when he runs out for the Sharks XV in Sunday’s Carling Currie Cup clash with the Suzuki Griquas in Durban.

Hendrikse suffered a shoulder injury four months ago but has been passed fit once again, being named as the starting scrumhalf, with Bradley Davids playing off the bench.

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“Obviously excited for Jaden to play after his long-term injury. I think it is a great opportunity to get some game time under his belt.

“As a coach, you can’t say no to a guy who is a World Cup-winner and all the experience he’s got,” head coach JP Pietersen said.

All the round six teams and predictions follow below …

Saturday, August 10

Lions v Pumas
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Lions by six points

Teams:

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Kelly Mpeku, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Bronson Mills, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 SJ Kotze
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlman, 18 Sivu Mabece, 19 Etienne Oosthuizen, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Luca Ribbens, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Zander du Plessis

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 Deon Slabbert, 6 Ruward van der Merwe, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Darnell Usuagwu, 17 Deward Maritz, 18 Munashe Mhere, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Anele Lungisa, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Wian van Niekerk, 23 David Brits

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Bulls v Griffons
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 17:05, 15:05 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by 25 points

Teams:

Bulls:15 Canan Moodie, 14 Henry Immelman, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Cornal Hendrickse (captain), 11 Sibongile Novuka, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Zak Burger, 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Jannes Kirsten, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Juann Els, 1 Tielman Nieuwoudt
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jacques van Rooyen, 19 Merwe Olivier, 20 Celimpilo ‘Mpilo’ Gumede, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Stravino Jacobs

Griffons: 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Qamani Kota, 13 Keanu Vers (captain), 12 Chris Hollis, 11 Gurshwin Wehr, 10 Dewald Human, 9 Keegan Schaefer, 8 Calla Pienaar, 7 thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Matthew Gray, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Moango Ngundue, 2 Chadley Wenn, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede
Replacements: 16 Willem van den Hever, 17 Zolani Jacobs, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Lugisile Mbiko, 20 Curtly Thomas, 21 Mingo Piti, 22 Cheslin Arendse, 23 Duan Pretorius

Referee: Peter Martin (IRFU)

Western Province v Cheetahs
(Cape Town Stadium – Kick-off: 19:05, 17:05 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Western Province by 12 points

Teams:

Western Province: 15 Luke Burger, 14 JC Mars, 13 Justin Geduld, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Imad Khan, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Divan Fuller, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Hendre Stassen, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Vernon Matongo.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Zachary Porthen, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 Sibusiso Sangweni, 21 Asad Moos, 22 Kyle Smith, 23 Joshua Boulle.

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Daniel Kasende, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Dameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Oupa Mohoje, 21 Neels Volschenl, 22 Marco Janse van Vuren, 23 Reinhardt Fortuin

Referee: Christopher Allison

Sunday, August 11

Sharks XV v Griquas
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 15:00, 13:00 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Sharks by 10 points

Teams:

Sharks XV: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 LItelihle Bester, 12 Jurenzo Julius, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Bathobele Hlekani, 3 Mawande Mdanda, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Braam Reyneke
Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Hennie Sieberhagen, 20 Siya Ningiza, 21 Bradley Davids, 22 Chris Horak, 23 Anthony Volmink

Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 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 Hanru Sirgel, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Zinedine Robinson, 23 Jay-Cee Nel

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen