Currie Cup, Round 10 - Teams and Predictions

LOCAL IS LEKKER: The Currie Cup resumes on Friday and the six teams in action this weekend will be eager to make a push for the play-offs as the race for the top four places on the league table intensifies.

The action will kick off in Durban on Friday when the Sharks host the Pumas at Kings Park.

That encounter is followed by the Lions’ home match against the undefeated Cheetahs.

On Saturday in Pretoria, defending champions the Bulls face the Griquas in what promises to be another exciting clash between the two rivals.

Western Province have a bye this weekend.

Pumas in the Shark Tank

The match in Durban will see teams currently in third and fifth positions on the log going into battle against each other. The Durbanites won the first encounter between them by 42-10 in March at the Mbombela Stadium.

As things currently stand, the KwaZulu-Natalians have Griquas breathing heavily down their necks. The men from Kimberley are just four points further back on the log and the black and white jerseys cannot afford any hiccups against a tricky Pumas team.

The Sharks’ previous home match, against log-leaders Bulls, was cancelled on April 16 due to the devasting floods in KwaZulu-Natal, with both teams earning two league points as a result of the enforced draw.

Sharks head coach Etienne Fynn described the long break between matches as a “double-edged sword”.

“You don’t want to lose the necessary match sharpness, but we have been training as a group together with the URC team and if you look at the quality of the training sessions the intensity is right up there,” said Fynn.

“From a match preparation point of view, we are more or less on the money.

“When I say a double-edged sword, we would like to play actual games, but that is the situation and we just got to deal with it.”

Fynn said his team are bracing themselves for a tough battle as the Pumas want to remain in the play-off race.

“I expect them to come out guns blazing from the outset,” the Sharks coach added.

“The Currie Cup has real SA derbies where guys just get stuck into it, so we expect a physical component.

“But also the Pumas have shown some inventive play. They target all aspects on the field – from kicking in behind to probing in close and wide from the breakdown.

“We just got to prepare and to react to what unfolds.”

#NEWS: Big announcement for @TheCurrieCup and @Federugby fans! https://t.co/2P81gjIZ8M

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) May 5, 2022

‘We got to show up’

Friday’s late fixture in Johannesburg features a Lions outfit desperate to register their first win of the campaign against the high-riding Cheetahs, after coming so close against the Peacock Blues two weeks ago at the Wits Rugby Stadium. The Northern Cape side won that encounter by scoring the winning try in the dying seconds of the match.

The men from Bloemfontein are currently on an unbeaten run of seven games, and judging by previous results between the two teams, one can expect another high-scoring affair.

The match-up between them this season finished 66-14 to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein, while this previous fixture in the Free State capital produced a thrilling 44-44 draw.

Hawies Fourie’s team boast an excellent pack of forwards and a very experienced backline led by evergreen Springbok Frans Steyn (centre) and skipper Ruan Pienaar (scrumhalf). On current form, though, the white jerseys should hold too much firepower.

However, Lions head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi says his team are better prepared this time around.

“We got to show up and put in a strong performance and try and get a win. That is the first thing,” he explained.

“Having said that, our preparation when we played the Cheetahs [in Round Five] wasn’t ideal. We got one or two guys who came in the day before we left [for Bloemfontein].

“There were times throughout the season where our preparation wasn’t ideal, but the Lions Rugby Company has got to field a team and that is what we had to do.

“In terms of tomorrow [Friday], there is no real revenge. It’s about our group putting in a quality performance.”

Meanwhile, Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie is looking forward to teams being bolstered by United Rugby Championship stars.

It includes his team’s opponents on Friday.

“It will help. The Currie Cup is a bit watered-down, which is also due to the space between matches,” said Fourie.

“In seven weeks we played one match, which is difficult. From here on in it will be somewhat of a normal season.

“I think the Bulls always had a strong Currie Cup team so that is good for the tournament. I think the Lions will do the same this weekend and I think the Sharks will also give a few players from the URC a chance so it will lift the standard of the competition and the competition needs it.”

The Loftus cauldron

The Bulls, coached this year by Gert Smal, downed Griquas 56-33 two months ago in Kimberley, with the men from the Northern Cape giving a good account of themselves despite the big winning margin.

They will travel to Pretoria with the knowledge that the defending champions will be a tough nut to crack at Loftus Versfeld, where they seldom have an off day.

Bulls assistant coach, Pine Pienaar, is wary of the threat that their opponents will pose in the return match on Saturday afternoon.

“This weekend we expect a strong onslaught from the Griquas,” he said ahead of the match.

“They are currently doing really well, and they had a great win against the Lions in Kimberley. On that day, the Lions had a couple of their URC players in the mix.”

With the Bulls on a break in the United Rugby Championship before their next fixture against Ospreys in Wales on Friday, May 20, the side are going to make use of some of the players who have been in action in the cross-hemisphere competition this weekend while also attempting to find a balance in resting a few of their playing personnel.

“There will be guys resting this weekend, but there will also be some guys coming in for the Currie Cup,” said Pienaar.

“For us, it is about how well we can plan and how well we can manage our players.”

Griquas assistant coach Barend Pieterse knows how important it is for his team to come away with log points in Pretoria this weekend.

“It’s a vital game for us,” he said.

“Going to Loftus and winning is something that we always want to do.

“I think it’s vital for us to get points out of this game.

“It’s a vital game because the Pumas are breathing down our necks and they are playing the Sharks this weekend, so it’s vital for both of us.”

Check out all the Round 10 teams and predictions are below!

Friday, May 6:

Sharks v Pumas
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 16.45; 14.45 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Sharks by 18 points.

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Ethan Fisher, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Jeandré Labuschagne, 6 James Venter (captain), 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Emile van Heerden, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Thembelani Bholi, 22 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 32 Joaquin Bonilla.

Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Sebastian de Klerk, 13 Alwayno Visagie, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Tapiwa Mafura, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Simon Raw/Etienne Janeke, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Japie Kleinhans.

Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Sean Muller, Sanele Mdlalose
TMO: Egon Seconds

Lions v Cheetahs
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 15 points.

Teams:

Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Manuel Rass, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Andre Warner (captain), 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Cal Smid, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Jean-Pierre Smith.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Heiko Pohlmann, 18 Jannie du Plessis, 19 Junior White, 20 Lindo Ncusane, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Luke Rossouw, 23 Ilunga Mukendi.

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Duncan Saal, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Jeandrè Rudolph, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Marne Coetzee, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Siya Masuku, 23 Robert Ebersohn.

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: Morne Ferreira, Hernus Coetzee
TMO: Quinton Immelman

Saturday, May 7:

Bulls v Griquas
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT)

Prediction:

@rugby365com: Bulls by 20 points.

Teams:

Bulls: 15 Canan Moodie, 14 Stravino Jacobs, 13 Cornal Hendricks, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Madosh Tambwe, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Arno Botha (captain), 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Walt Steenkamp, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Replacements: 16 Schalk Erasmus, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Dylan Smith, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Muller Uys, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Stedman Gans.

Griquas: 15 Rynhardt Jonker, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Alex-Zander du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Sibabalo Qoma, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Gustav du Randt, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Edward Davids, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Luyolo Dapula, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 Christopher Hollis, 23 Ashlon Davids.

Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Local appointment
TMO: Quinton Immelman

Additional source: SA Rugby