Currie Cup, Round Two - teams and predictions
ENDING THE BULL RUN: The Free State Cheetahs, the last and only team to beat them in the current season, will look to end the Blue Bulls’ winning streak.
Not since the two-point squeaker, a 17-19 loss in Super Rugby Unlocked on October 16 in Bloemfontein, has a team managed to lower the Bulls’ colours.
“The Cheetahs are the only team to have beaten us in the last [Unlocked] round, so we are truly looking forward to this one,” Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White said.
“I’m also excited about the changes we have made to our team, and I’m keen to see our new combinations.”
However, there is another very interesting – and intriguing – statistic in favour of another Cheetahs upset.
The last time these two teams met in Currie Cup encounters in Pretoria, the Cheetahs won – scoring more than 40 points on both occasions. The Free State outfit won 41-40 at Loftus in their 2017 Currie Cup clash and also beat the Bulls 43-27 last year.
Despite these statistical anomalies, the Cheetahs are under pressure after their loss to the Stormers in the latter stages of the Unlocked leg of the domestic season.
Coach Hawies Fourie admitted that if they don’t beat the Bulls this week, they are unlikely to finish first on the standings and have home ground advantage in the play-offs.
“If we do lose, we could still finish in the top four [and earn a play-off spot] and perhaps even second,” Fourie told a virtual media briefing.
“[However,] it is crucial to finish first and in that regard it is an important game.”
The other important aspect of the Currie Cup competition is the impact the weather has – with these games at the height of the summer season.
It brings with it the unexpected influence of Highveld thunderstorms that could interrupt or even cancels games – as happened after 47 minutes in the Griquas versus Lions outing in Kimberley last week.
Western Province coach John Dobson, speaking ahead of his team’s crucial Round Two encounter with the Lions at Ellis Park on Saturday, admitted their approach will have to change.
“We have to have massive energy from the start,” Dobson told a virtual media briefing.
“I really felt for Griquas last week, as they were on the attack when the referee stopped the game [in Kimberley].
“We have all learnt a lesson,” Dobson said, adding: “The fact is, we have to lead at half-time [the cut-off for a game to be declared and the result stands].
“It looks like it might be wet [in Johannesburg], so it changes the dynamic a bit.”
Of course there is the risk of ‘burn-out’.
“If you get out the blocks fast and it goes deep into 80 minutes, it will be tough for a team like ourselves, who come from the coast,” the WP mentor said.
“We are a slow-burn team, wear the opposition down. We won’t have that luxury this week.”
We look at all the Round Two matches!
Friday, December 4
Pumas v Griquas
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)
The Pumas and Griquas will get the Round Two action underway in what is effectively a battle for the wooden spoon.
Both teams have had their ‘Sparta moments’ – where they were seemingly ready to beat the odds, only to ultimately lose.
The Pumas’ only win was against Griquas.
They also had a heartbreaking loss against the Stormers in what many experts still claim was a disputed forward pass for the winning score.
Griquas, only last week, looked on their way for an upset win over the Lions. However,, in eight agonising minutes they conceded their leads, before a Highveld thunderstorm put an end to their hopes of an boilover.
Griquas will be looking to build on their impressive track record against the Pumas in the Currie Cup.
The men from Kimberley have won five of the last seven matches between the teams since 2014 – with two of those victories in Nelspruit, which is expected to fuel their determination to work their way off the foot of the table.
With only six points separating the teams on the scoreboard in their Unlocked clash earlier in the season, it could prove to be a tightly fought affair.
Last 10 Currie Cup outings
2011: Griquas won 40-33, Nelspruit
2011: Pumas won 34-31, Kimberley
2014: Pumas won 33-15, Nelspruit
2014: Griquas won 31-27, Kimberley
2015: Griquas won 32-15, Kimberley
2016: Griquas won 41-35, Nelspruit
2017: Pumas won 27-21, Kimberley
2017: Griquas won 38-35, Nelspruit
2018: Pumas won 42-19, Nelspruit
2019: Griquas won 37-29, Kimberley
Prediction
@rugby365com: Pumas by five points
Teams
Pumas: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Erich Cronje, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Devon Williams, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Darrien Landsberg, 6 Phumzile Maqondwana, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Ruan Kramer, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Dewald Maritz.
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Ignatius Prinsloo, 18 Brandon Valentyn, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Tiaan Botes, 22 Wayne van der Bank, 23 Liam Hendricks.
Griquas: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Eduan Keyter, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger (captain), 8 Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Hendrick Luus, 1 Nqobisizwe Mxoli.
Replacements – from: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 John-Roy Jenkinson, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Carl Els, 21 Theo Maree, 22 Andre Swarts, 23 Enver Brandt, 24 Zandre Jordaan, 25 Ewan Coetzee, 26 Ashlon Davids.
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Paul Mente and Morne Ferreira
TMO: Willie Vos
(Continue below … )
Saturday, December 5
Blue Bulls v Free State Cheetahs
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 16.30; 14.30 GMT)
Recent history may be favouring the visitors from Bloemfontein, but it is a much-changed team that will arrive at Loftus on Saturday.
It is in the pack, in particular, where the Cheetahs could be in for a tough day at the office and what is a vital match for them.
“To be fair, they lost a couple of tighthead props,” Bulls coach Jake White pointed out, when asked about his expectations of this week’s opposition.
“I would think they are going to be vulnerable in the forwards.
“Not only have they lost Oupa [Teboho] Mohojé, they have lost Junior Pokomela [both to injury], Walt Steenkamp [who will start for the Bulls] and Jasper Wiese [who moved to Leicester Tigers in the English Premiership].
“It is difficult and no doubt it is a different [Cheetahs] team.”
White also pointed to the travel factor, with the Cheetahs having to undertake a five-hour bus ride from Bloemfontein to Pretoria, as there’s no flights to and from Bloemfontein.
“That [bus trip] is certainly not ideal.
“I would like to use that as an advantage, but they are the Currie Cup champions and they are very well coached.
“They will play with tempo and pace and try to move us around.
“I expect then to give it a full go.”
Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie said he has been monitoring the weather, given the likelihood of a Highveld thunderstorm having an impact on the game.
“At the moment the prediction is that there will be very little or no rain on Saturday, but that could change by Saturday,” Fourie said.
“We are preparing for both situations, as we played in a very wet game against Griquas. We know what to do if it is wet and if it is dry, we are prepared and equipped to adjust as well.”
The Cheetahs mentor said discipline will be vital.
“We have conceded a lot of penalties [this season],” Fourie said, adding: “[Flyhalf] Morne [Steyn] and [back-up No.10] Chris [Smith] are two very good goalkickers.
“We also need to execute our own game well and can’t afford to make mistakes.
“The set piece will definitely determine the outcome. The Bulls have a big, strong pack.
“The contest at the breakdown, line-outs and scrums will be key.”
Last 10 Currie Cup outings
2013: Cheetahs won 22-7, Bloemfontein
2014: Bulls won 31-22, Bloemfontein
2015: Bulls won 57-19, Bloemfontein
2015: Bulls won 24-17, Pretoria
2016: Cheetahs won 43-20, Bloemfontein
2016: Cheetahs won 36-16, Bloemfontein
2017: Cheetahs won 41-40, Pretoria
2017: Bulls won 64-36, Bloemfontein
2018: Bulls won 34-12, Bloemfontein
2019: Cheetahs won 43-27, Pretoria
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by nine points
Teams
Blue Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 David Kriel, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Duane Vermeulen (captain), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Ruan Nortje, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Ivan van Zyl, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Marnus Potgieter.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Howard Mnisi, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Victor Sekekete, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Carl Wegner (captain), 4 Ian Groenewald, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Boan Venter.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Chris Massyn, 20 George Cronjé, 21 Ruben de Haas, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 William Small-Smith.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron and Paul Mente
TMO: Johan Greeff
Lions v Western Province
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)
This could easily be billed as ‘the dance of the desperates.
The hosts, the Lions, sit just outside the top four – a play-off spot – four points behind the third-placed Province team.
The visitors, WP, still harbours hope of hosting at least a semifinal, but have to win all their remaining outings.
Western Province Coach John Dobson said that his team have embraced the challenge that awaits them in Johannesburg.
“We know that we will have to be at our best for 80 minutes this weekend if we are going to get the result that we are looking for,” Dobson said.
“We have prepared well for this game and everyone is looking forward to the opportunity to show what it means to us to play for Western Province,” he added.
Lions coach Ivan van Rooyen also believes there might be a touch of desperation in the Province camp, after their loss to the Bulls last week.
“They would like to bounce back after what happened last week,” he said of a Province team that managed to lose a game from a position of strength against a 14-man Bulls team.
“We are also in need of some game time,” he said of their Round Seven Unlocked bye and the game against Griquas in Kimberley that was cut short last week.
“You will see two desperate teams,” Van Rooyen said, adding: “We are getting the sprint phase of the Currie up competition.
“We can get past the fact that we lost two games [through COVID-19-enforced cancellations], so it is vital that we win our two remaining home games.
“It should be a great game.”
Last 10 Currie Cup outings
2014: Lions won 35-33, Johannesburg
2014: WP won 19-16, Cape Town
2015: Lions won 62-32, Johannesburg
2015: Lions won 32-24, Johannesburg
2016: Lions won 58-32, Johannesburg
2017: WP won 39-3, Cape Town
2017: Lions won 29-20, Johannesburg
2017: WP won 19-5, Cape Town
2018: WP won 65-38, Johannesburg
2019: Lions won 30-28, Cape Town
Prediction
@rugby365com: Western Province by eight points
Teams
Lions: 15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Ross Cronjé, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sithembiso Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Roelof Smit, 22 Morné van den Berg, 23 Dan Kriel.
Western Province: 15 Damian Willemse, 14 Seabelo Senatla, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Ernst van Rhyn, 6 Siyamthanda Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Salmaaan Moerat, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements – from: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Johan du Toit, 22 Paul de Wet, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Jaco Coetzee, 25 Kade Wolhuter, 26 Rikus Pretorius.
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen and Rasta Rasivhenge
TMO: Marius Jonker
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* Statistics provided by Eddie Grieb
