Preview: Currie Cup, Round One
However, there is still plenty to be excited about as South Africa' premier domestic competition gets underway this weekend – even with the Springboks playing Argentina in the final round of the Rugby Championship.
It all kicks off with two matches on Friday – Griquas hosting Western Province in Kimberley and the Pumas at hoe to the Sharks Nelspruit.
The most significant feature this season is that six of the eight teams who will do battle for Sir Donald Currie's donation to South Africa, will do so with new coaches at the helm.
Only Johan Ackermann (Golden Lions) and Hawies Fourie (Griquas) remain fro last year.
Nollis Marais (Blue Bulls), Gary Gold (Sharks), John Dobson (Western Province), Franco Smith (Free State Cheetahs), MJ Mentz (Pumas) and Brent Janse van Rensburg (Eastern Province Kings) are all new to the scene.
One of these newcomers, Dobson, said highlighted the breakdown as a key area in this year's competition.
"One of the areas they [referees] are going to focus on is the breakdown," Dobson told a media briefing at his team's Cape Town base.
"They are going to try and move away from 'beaten by the ruck'. As long as your tackler behaves, they will let the stealers get in. They are going to be petty relaxed about the entry.
"If the referees stick to this plan, fetchers will be quite important."
The new Bulls coach, Marais, felt the scrums could be the other area where match officials will play an important role with ho they interpreted the laws.
We look at the weekend's action!
Friday, August 7
Griquas v Western Province
(GWK Park, Kimberley – Kick-off: 15.30; 13.30 GMT)
The defending champions, Western Province, know they will have a massive target on their backs.
However, with four Springboks in the squad and the only one Super Rugby back, Damian de Allende, missing, they certainly field a powerful team. They also have a bench that can make a real impact.
There are may be seven Currie Cup debutants in the WP team – two in the starting team and five on the bench. However, the playing squad includes 13 members of the squad that did duty in last year's Final against the Golden Lions at Newlands last year.
New WP coach John Dobson felt his team is in a catch 22 situation as defending champions. Nothing but another outright win will be good enough.
"I can only mess it up," Dobson said, adding that "winning the competition will be par".
He dismissed the notion that his team is outright favourites.
"The Bulls and Sharks are both looking at it as their Super Rugby redemption.
"The Bulls are desperate, as they haven't made a Currie Cup Final for six years. The Sharks, we know the traumas they went through [in Super Rugby].
"The Lions will be good and Franco [Smith] is doing a great job up in Bloemfontein [with the Cheetahs].
"It is going to be a lot tougher than last year, when there were two clear bolters."
Recent results:
2014: Western Province won 36-12, Cape Town
2013: Western Province won 19-13, Cape Town
2013: Western Province won 20-19, Kimberley
2012: Western Province won 45-21, Cape Town
2012: Western Province won 25-20, Kimberley
Prediction: Griquas have some serious talent and are a genuine threat the to the visitors from Cape Town. While they may lack the depth of Western Province, a first-round upset is not a distinct possibility. However, we feel Western Province will sneak a late winner – by eight points or less.
Teams:
Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Nardus van der Walt, 6 RJ Liebenberg, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Abraham le Roux, 1 Danie Mienie.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Stephan Kotze, 18 Jaco Nepgen, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Rudi van Rooyen, 21 Jacquin Jansen, 22 Ngcobo Sandile.
Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Chris van Zyl, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Johnny Kotze, 23 Charlie van Jaarsveld.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
TMO: JJ Wagner
Pumas v Sharks
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT)
Travelling to Nelspruit for your opening match of the season is one of the toughest assignments you can get.
The Pumas are the Vodacom Cup champions and have a settled team – built up over the last few years.
On top of that the Sharks have lost a host of senior players to the Springbok cause.
However, Director of Rugby Gary Gold admits the spotlight will be firmly on the Sharks in the wake of their dismal Super Rugby campaign – where they finished outside the top 10 for the first time in decade.
"We have to turn things around from Super Rugby, that's our expectation," Gold said.
"No coach can say we want to win everything, but this team are up for it and the expectation is that they give 100 percent effort, 100 percent of the time.
"Win or lose, we want everyone to enjoy watching the way we play and know it's a committed team."
Youthful exuberance has its advantages, but Gold cautioned against leaning too much towards a careless approach.
"We have to make right decisions in the right areas of the field," he said.
"With a team like we have, we want to play, but we must be pragmatic and sensible. There will be times when it's on and when it's not, and making the right decisions is that when it's on, we must play. We are going out to play rugby."
The Pumas are also not in the habit of handing out freebies.
"The Pumas pose a huge challenge," Gold said, adding: "They went through the Vodacom Cup practically unbeaten and won their semifinal and Final away from home.
"They're a real good bunch of good, old heads, they have very good coaches and technically they will be good, they will be up for it. They're a big, physical bunch and Nelspruit is not an easy place to go.
"We have a great amount of respect for them, we know it will be a tough, physical challenge."
Recent results:
2014: Pumas won 32-22, Nelspruit
2014: Sharks won 34-17, Durban
2011: Sharks won 33-20, Durban
2011: Sharks won 23-22, Witbank
Prediction: Like most of the first round matches, this is a tough game to call. The Sharks have enough quality to suggest they can and should win on the road. However, the visitors may be a bit rusty and the Pumas could take the points – by five or less.
Teams:
Pumas: 15 John-Wessel Bell, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (captain), 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 Juan-Claude Roos, 9 Francois de Klerk, 8 Lambert Groenewald, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 De-Jay Terblanché, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Jason-Colin Fraser, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz.
Sharks: 15 Joe Pietersen , 14 Sibusiso Sithole, 13 Wandile Mjekevu, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Andre Esterhuizen, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Marco Wentzel (Captain), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Dave McDuling , 19 Daniel du Preez , 20 Francois Kleinhans, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 SP Marais.
Referee: Jaco van Heerden
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Renier Vermeulen
TMO: Johan Greeff
Saturday, August 8
Free State Cheetahs v Blue Bulls
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 14:15; 12:15 GMT)
Two former Varsity Cup coaches will go head-to-head on the Currie Cup stage – both trying to revive two once proud unions.
Both the Cheetahs, now under Franco Smith, and the Bulls, under Nollis Marais, will look to introduce a more entertaining game to their fans.
However, they also know that winning remains top priority in unions where expectations are at times unrealistic.
Marais, who admitted that he may need more than just a four-week pre-season to introduce his new ideas, said it is vital that the players believe in what they are trying to implement.
"Let's not beat about the bush, we desperately want to win the first match," Marais said, when asked about his team's goals.
The Bulls have made a determined effort to shore up their scrum, one set-piece that has not been on an acceptable standard in recent years.
"The scrums and how it will be interpreted [by referees] remain a concern for me," Marais said, adding that set pieces are always important.
"We've had some injuries at prop, but we have worked very hard. As Dean Greyling said, in 10 years at the Bulls this is the most scrumming he has practiced – what we did in the past five weeks.
"It is a big aspect of the game at present – just look at our Vodacom Cup semifinal, there were 13 scrum penalties."
Smith admitted the Bulls may have a few new aces up their proverbial sleeves.
"There will definitely be something different from them, but they will stick with certain qualities where I believe they will still carry the ball with their physical and big players," the Cheetahs coach said.
"They will certainly make a mind-set shift, I've seen Nollis Marais and David Manuel coaching in the Varsity Cup and they have a look-to-play approach.
"There will be more passes in their game, and they will play with more freedom after they were forced into a building phase."
Recent results:
2014: Blue Bulls won 31-22, Bloemfontein
2013: Free State Cheetahs won 22-7, Bloemfontein
2013: Blue Bulls won 26-10, Pretoria
2012: Free State Cheetahs won 32-18, Bloemfontein
2012: Blue Bulls won 34-30, Pretoria
Prediction: This could be the match of the weekend – an entertaining affair. The Cheetahs have the home ground advantage and that may be enough to help them secure a one-try win.
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Neil Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Nicolaas van Dyk, 18 Burrie Uys, 19 Hugo Reniel, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga.
Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Pieter Labuschagne (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Nqoba Mxoli, 18 Rudolph Snyman, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Dries Swanepoel.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Jaco Pretorius
TMO: Willie Vos
Eastern Province Kings v Golden Lions
(Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth – Kick-off: 14.15; 12.15 GMT)
Controversy and the Kings go hand-in-hand. Whether their fans like it or not, off the field there is always something bubbling under the surface.
Whether it is a coach walking out (read Carlos Spencer) over unpaid wages, or players threatening action for the same reason, it has not been the ideal build-up to the start of the season.
However, Lions coach Johan Ackermann believes his team needs to be extra cautious against a side that has some great talent the their line-up.
Despite what some pundits say, he feels the Lions can't ride in the Currie Cup on the back of their impressive Super Rugby performances.
"There are a lot of changes to the team, so we will have to find our rhythm very quickly if we want to play a quality game," Ackermann said.
"All the teams want to do well and play in the Final.
"The Pumas have their own expectations, the Blue Bulls are looking to draw the crowds back to Loftus Versfeld, so it goes with every team.
"That is why I am expecting a very tough and competitive Currie Cup competition."
The Lions mentor said he is expecting teams to be very even and this could be one of the most competitive seasons in a long time.
"All teams will have their own disruptions and we all have to get over that. We have to start from the base level.
"It will serve no purpose to talk of play-offs and finals now, there is simply too much rugby to be played.
"If you are not focussed on Week One, you will be in trouble.
"What has worked very well for us in past years is that we focus on the game we have to play that week and not look too far ahead."
Recent results:
2014: Golden Lions won 41-22, Port Elizabeth
Prediction: There is no doubt that the Lions will start as outright favourites. Some bookmakers are giving the Kings as much as a 15-point start. However, it is a very young Lions team and mistakes could creep in. You still expect the Lions to win, but it may not be by much more than 10 points.
Teams:
Eastern Province Kings: TBC
Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Albertus Smith, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Martin Muller, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 19 Steph de Wit, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Nicolaas Hanekom, 22 Jaco van der Walt.
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Francois Pretorius
TMO: Marius Jonker
Compiled by Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
