Currie Cup, Round 11 - teams and predictions

SATURDAY PREVIEW: The Trans-Jukskei Derby on Saturday between the Bulls and Lions will be particularly important as both teams are fighting for a play-off with just four rounds remaining.

The Bulls will head to Johannesburg with some confidence after their victory over Griquas last week.

The Pretoria side is seventh on the log with 22 points and need to keep winning if they hope to qualify for the playoffs.

“We can’t afford to slip up and lose one fixture,” Bulls flyhalf Chris Smith said.

“It is of utmost importance that we get a result against a quality Lions side.

“So if we do lose, our Currie Cup campaign might be over.”

Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White said his team have to win all their remaining games if they want to stay alive in the competition.

“I don’t think we can make it [the play-offs] if we lose a game,” White said.

“There is daylight between us and the top three and everyone is fighting for the fourth spot.

“We need to get a result, this weekend, next weekend and the following weekend.

“We worked hard its been a good week and looking forward to the game.”

White added: “It’s not going to be an easy game, its never easy at Ellis Park and its always a difficult place to play.”

The Lions should be equally desperate when they host their Gauteng neighbours.

They’re coming off an important win against the Cheetahs, and another victory may strengthen their position – fifth – in the standings.

However, with the log really congested, a loss could see them slipping to seventh place.

“It’s the business end of the competition,” Lions scrumhalf Sanele Nohamba said, adding: “Everyone is trying to get into that top fourth spot and we are gunning for that.

“This Saturday is another opportunity to try and achieve that goal.”

New pivots

In terms of team news, Gianni Lombard returns at pivot with Nohamba back at scrumhalf for the Lions.

Tyler Bocks and Manuel Rass combine in the midfield, while Boldwin Hansen comes in for the injured Sibahle Maxwane.

On the bench, PJ Botha provides cover at the hooker.

For the Bulls Johan Goosen is the only change to the team. He comes into the starting XV with Chris Smith moving to the impact squad.

Goosen links up with Embrose Papier (scrumhalf) as the halfback combination on the day.

Gerhard Steenekamp (loosehead), Johan Grobbelaar (hooker) and Mornay Smith (tighthead) packs down up front, as Ruan Nortje and Ruan Vermaak combine at lock. Marcell Coetzee (blindside) starts alongside Nizaam Carr (openside) with Elrigh Louw at eight, completing the forwards pack.

The backline remains unchanged, with the services of Marco Jansen van Vuren (left) and Sibongile Novuka (right)
retained at wing, whilst Harold Vorster and Stedman Gans line up at centre, with David Kriel at fullback.

Jan-Hendrik Wessels, Simphiwe Matanzima, Francois Klopper, Charlie Ewels, Cyle Brink, Keagan Johannes, Chris
Smith and Cornal Hendricks form part of the impact squad.

#ICYMI: Some great Currie Cup matches on Friday https://t.co/d47tdFDCsj

— rugby365.com (@rugby365com) May 19, 2023

Always tough in Welkom

Last season’s finalist, Griquas, travel to Welkom to face the Griffons.

The Griffons – known as the Purple People Eaters – have improved steadily over the course of the season and have claimed bonus points from their recent losses to the WP and the Pumas.

Griquas will need to be at their best if they are going to secure valuable log points from the visit to Welkom this Saturday.

A big win for the men from Kimberley may be enough to earn them a place in the top four – providing that other results go their way.

“The Griffons have shown that they belong in this competition,” Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh said.

“With a bit more luck they could’ve easily won more matches. I think coming back from 0-25 down against Western Province to almost winning that game just shows what they are about especially at home.

“We have always struggled in Welkom when we played friendlies, so it’s going to be a tough game.

“They are a very well-coached team. They have a very powerful maul, big ball carriers and are dangerous at the breakdown. They do pose a massive challenge.

“So we have to pitch up and be mentally ready for the match because we can’t look at the log and think it’s going to be easy.”

All the Saturday teams and predictions follow below …

Saturday, May 20

Griffons v Griquas
(NorthWest Stadium, Welkom – Kick-off: 13.00; 11.00 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Griquas by five points

Teams

Griffons: 15 Duren Hoffman, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 Domenic Smit, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Jaywinn Juries , 8 Jean Pretorius, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Rian Olivier, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Hendrik van Schoor, 1 Stephan de Jager.
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Curtly Thomas, 21 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 22 Jandre De Beer, 23 Randy Fielies,

Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Dylan Sjöblom, 3 Justin Forwood, 2 Sean Swart, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Sango Xamlashe.

Referee: Dylen November
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Egon Seconds

Lions vs Bulls
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 15.05; 13.05 GMT)

Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by five points

Teams:

Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Botha , 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Stean Pienaar, 23 Andries Coetzee.

Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Nizaam Carr, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Barend Smit, 23 Cornal Hendricks.

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen