Griquas v Lions - teams and prediction
FRIDAY PREVIEW: Griquas coach Pieter Bergh put the status of the competition into perspective when he said the ‘quality’ of the Currie Cup this year is at a higher level than in 2022.
This is the result of the four main franchises using their United Rugby Championship players more regularly – as opposed to last year when junior and fringe players mostly featured on the domestic stage.
As a result, the race for semifinal positions remains wide open, with only six points separating the third-placed Sharks and the seventh-placed Bulls on the standings.
Round Nine South Africa’s premier domestic competition will serve up another dosage of spicy clashes – starting in Kimberley on Friday, with the 2022 beaten finalists Griquas hosting a very powerful Lions team.
The Lions ended their three-game losing streak when they beat the defending champion Pumas in Johannesburg in Round Eight.
With the bulk of their URC players in tow, the Lions (fifth on 19 points) will be targeting an important win against Griquas (sixth on 19) to stay in tough with the Sharks (third on 23) and Western Province (fourth on 21).
The team from the Northern Cape is coming off a disappointing loss to the Sharks in Durban.
A win at home against the Lions could also propel them into the top four.
In the previous encounter between the two sides, Griquas secured a 25-18 win.
“The Lions was a completely different team last week,” Bergh said of a Johannesburg team with 10 URC players in their squad.
“You need good players if you want to be successful and it showed that when they brought in quality players they get the results,” the Griquas coach added.
He said they are looking forward to testing themselves against the best and it is up to the Griquas players to show they are good enough to play at a higher level.
He said much of Griquas’ problems this season is related to ‘inconsistency’, with too many players not producing the same form as last year and not playing to their full potential.
With four of their last six games in Kimberley, Bergh is adamant that his team can get up to their 2022 standard if they maximise their home games.
(Article continues below the Pieter Bergh interview …)
The Lions’ set pieces, with their URC muscle, is one of the major threats to the home team.
“Their maul is very strong and they the team that stops the Pumas’ maul the best,” the Griquas coach said of the opposition.
Having prevented the free-running Pumas from scoring a try for the best part of 80 minutes, defence is another key aspect of the visitors’ game.
“They were also very physical against the Pumas, who has been one of the most physical teams in the competition,” Bergh added.
“We have to put their decision-makers, their go-to players under pressure.
“However, the biggest improvement they have made for me is their defence.
“They work hard and they have a lot of tackle-fight.”
Winning the collisions is also going to be important against a Lions team that is much stronger than they were in Round One.
“Against the top teams you need to control the gain line,” Bergh said.
The Lions have made a number of changes to their starting XV – the most significant of those among the forwards.
Burly prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye comes in at tighthead this week, with Ruan Dreyer being rested.
Emmanuel Tshituka has recovered from his hand injury and slots in at No.7.
Francke Horn is also being rested.
Former University of the Free State flank Thabo Ndimande will be on debut for Griquas.
Ndimande has been at the Griquas since last year, following the Varsity Cup and this week will slot in at blindside flank in the starting XV.
The Griquas have made several other changes to their team.
In the backline, Ashlon Davids, earns a start at fullback, while Sako Makata will play on the left wing, with Rosko Specman back on the right.
Jay-Cee Nel moves back to outside centre, while Lubabalo Dobela returns to start at flyhalf.
Up front, Ndimande replaces Stefan Smit on the flank, while Derik Pretorius returns to replace Johan Retief in the second row.
Prediction
@rugby365com: Lions by eight points
Teams
Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Cebo Dlamini.
Replacements: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Justin Forwood, 19 Dylan Sjöblom, 20 Niel Otto, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Sango Xamlashe.
Lions: 15 Vaughen Isaacs, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Travis Gordan, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Rhynardt Runsburger.
Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Morgan Naudé, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Tyler Bocks, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel.
Date: Friday, May 5
Venue: Griqua Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15.30 (13.30 GMT)
Referee: Morné Ferreira
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Christie du Preez
@king365ed
@rugby365com
