Currie Cup, Round Six - teams and prediction

PREVIEW: Jake White does not have the luxury of his full United Rugby Championship squad at his disposal this week, but he is courageously pushing ahead with his two-pronged assault on domestic and international competitions.

Having ended the Bulls’ winless start to their 2023 Currie Cup campaign last week, he reverted back to a ‘mix-and-match’ selection for the Round Six trip to Durban and a clash with the much-improved Sharks.

Last week’s impressive win over the defending champion Pumas was a huge statement of intent and the Sharks are determined to produce another quality performance – as they look to stay in touch with the table-topping Pumas and Cheetahs.

Sharks Currie Cup coach Joey Mongalo spoke of the need for his players to “connect” and get “cohesion”.

He said if they show the same resilience as they did last week – when going down to 13 players – the results will take care of themselves.

“The first 20 minutes of our clash with the Pumas [last week] was as close as we have come to a perfect game,” Mongalo told @rugby365com.

“However, our second-half performances are when we struggle to maintain momentum or finish off teams.

“It is about getting that consistency in the second half of our games.”

(Article continues below the Joey Mongalo interview …)

White has named a number of Springbok veterans in his matchday squad, with Nizaam Carr to lead the Bulls in Durban.

Lionel Mapoe, Morné Steyn and Cornal Hendricks are the players with international experience that must guide a very young-looking side through a tricky encounter in the Shark Tank.

In the pack he has six players who still qualify to play at Under-21 – going up against a solid-looking Sharks pack led by Reniel Hugo.

The Bulls boss admitted they are playing ‘catch-up’ after their poor start and winning is now at a premium.

“We have to find a way in which we can keep a strong team on the field every week,” White said about the desire to reach the play-offs of the Currie Cup and URC.

He admitted his hand has been forced and they are now in a ‘must-win’ situation for the rest of the season.

“They [the Sharks] will take a lot of confidence out of their win over the Pumas last week,” White said, adding: “We need to get results and must ensure we play well.”

* Cape Town is the other venue where there could be a significant change to the look of the Currie Cup standings

The Cheetahs, the early pace-setters until their ‘A-Team’ had to travel to Toulon for a Challenge Cup Round of 16 encounter with the French giants, are looking to reclaim first place on the standings.

What makes their Round Six outing so much more important is that they travel to Cape to face Western Province – a team that is looking menacing in third place, just five points behind the Cheetahs.

The hosts will be confident after securing a 47-28 win against Griffons in the Mother City last week, as will the men from Bloemfontein, following their 52-15 victory against the Lions in Johannesburg.

Having put the disappointment of their European loss behind them, the Cheetahs are now putting all their effort into getting some domestic silverware.

He said the Currie Cup players are likely to impress Stormers coach John Dobson – who is also in charge of the Currie Cup team – and earn some game time in the URC.

The other advantage for WP is the same coaches taking charge of the URC and Currie Cup teams, meaning they play the same style.

“They will be dangerous on counter-attacks from turnovers,” Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie told @rugby365com.

“We will have to be sharp on defence and well-organised on attack.”

Having changed their attacking approach before the start of the Currie Cup season, Fourie believes the Cheetahs are beginning to reap the rewards – creating more line-breaks.

“It is now a case of executing well and finishing those opportunities.

“I am happy with the direction we are going in, but we know there is still a lot of work to do and a lot of growth.

“We are happy with our defence and kicking game, but we are working on improving our attack.”

* The first of two matches on Sunday will see the Griffons battling the Pumas in Welkom.

The hosts will be looking to bounce back after a loss to WP, while the defending champs will be keen to atone for their recent defeat to the Sharks, and they will have a point to prove at the NorthWest Stadium.

What’s more, the men from Mpumalanga have no reason to take the Griffons lightly, as the Northern Free Staters claimed a historic win against the Bulls at home as recently as two weeks ago.

The Lions will play Griquas on Sunday in Johannesburg.

The hosts are in fifth place on the standings, while the visitors are in sixth.

Both sides will be determined to secure a win that propels them up the standings, and strengthens their chances of qualifying for the play-offs.

The hosts will be aiming for a sharper all-round performance after conceding eight tries and 52 points to the Cheetahs last week.

They should be wary of a dangerous Griquas side that has already claimed a couple of big scalps this season – after beating the Sharks and WP.

Currie Cup Round Six teams and predictions follow below …

Friday, April 14

Sharks v Bulls
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 15.30; 13.30 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Sharks by eight points

Teams

Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Phikolomzi Sobahle, 13 Josh Jonas, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 James Venter, 7 Ockie Barnard, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Khutha Mchunu, 19 Athi Khethani, 20 Mpilo Gumede, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Zee Mkhabela.

Bulls: 15 Franco Knoetze, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Izak Burger, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Cameron Hanekom, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Jacques Du Plessis, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 Jan Hendrik Wessels, 1 Simphiwe Matanzima.
Replacements: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Tiaan Lange, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Phumzile Maqondwana, 20 WJ Steenkamp, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cornal Hendricks, 23 Kabelo Mokoena.

Referee: AM Jacobs
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Egon Seconds

Saturday, April 15

Western Province v Cheetahs
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Cheetahs by five points

Teams

Western Province: 15 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Labib Kannemeyer, 22 Cornel Smit, 23 Luke Burger.

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Evardi Boshoff, 12 David Brits, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Andisa Ntsila, 7 Sibabalo Qomo, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Arnanos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Rynier Bernardo, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Siyamthanda Masuku, 23 Tapiwa Mafura.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Marius Jonker

Sunday, April 16

Griffons v Pumas
(NorthWest Stadium, Welkom – Kick-off: 14.00; 12.00 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: The Pumas by 25 points

Teams

Griffons: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 Keanu Vers, 12 Marquit September, 11 Duren Hoffman, 10 Robbie Petzer, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Ludio Williams, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Jean Pretorius, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Neo Mohapi, 2 Hendrik van Schoor, 1 Stephan de Jager.
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Doctor Booysen, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 21 Jaywinn Juries, 22 Duan Pretorius, 23 Carl-Jan Coetzee.

Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Deon Slabbert, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Andre Fouche, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Lundi Msenge.

Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant referees: Local
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni

Lions v Griquas
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 16.05; 14.05 GMT)

Prediction

@rugby365com: Griquas by seven points

Teams

Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Bronson Mills, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Cal Smid, 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Conor van Buuren, 20 Johannes Pretorius, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Vaughen Isaacs, 23 Zeilinga Strydom.

Griquas: 15 Lubabalo Dobela, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 7 Michael Amiras, 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Cebo Dlamini, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Neil Otto, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Sango Xamlashe, 23 Sako Makata

Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Local

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* Additional reporting: SA Rugby