PREVIEW: Currie Cup, Round One
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The opening clash of the 2018 Currie Cup season will be in Nelspruit, where the Pumas will host Griquas, while the Free State Cheetahs and Blue Bulls will meet in Bloemfontein on Friday.
Defending champions, Western Province, 2017 runners-up, the Sharks, and the Golden Lions have byes this weekend. But all the teams are fully aware that every match will count this season, as they battle it out in a gripping single round, which will culminate in the semifinals and Final on consecutive Saturdays, October 20 and 27 respectively.
We take a closer look at all Round One’s fixtures:
Friday, August 17:
Pumas v Griquas
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT)
The Pumas and Griquas, who were involved in a pulsating SuperSport Rugby Challenge Final recently, have met in the Currie Cup Premier Division 22 times dating back to 1997, with the Nelspruit side winning only eight of those encounters.
But they will be determined to make the most of their home ground advantage on Friday.
The last three clashes between the sides were closely-fought, with the biggest winning margin six points, which will set the scene for a gripping battle at the Mbombela Stadium.
The Pumas team will feature Marnus Schoeman, who was a member of the Lions Super Rugby squad, in what will mark his 30th match for the side and his first appearance in the jersey in 20 months. Stefan Ungerer and Chris Smith will dictate play in the halfback pairing.
The Griquas named a settled squad featuring several experienced campaigners, including George Whitehead, Ederies Arendse and AJ Coertzen, while Godfrey Ramaboea (wing) and Kwezi Mkhafu (hooker) will make their debuts at this level, along with Junior Springbok scrumhalf Zak Burger, if he takes to the field from the bench.
Recent results:
2017: Griquas won 38-35, Nelspruit
2017: Pumas won 27-21, Kimberley
2016: Griquas won 41-35, Nelspruit
2015: Griquas won 32-15, Kimberley
2014: Griquas won 31-27, Kimberley
Prediction: The Pumas have a number of talented players in their starting XV and they are at home. The Pumas will take it by seven points.
Teams:
Griquas: 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Kyle Steyn (captain), 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Godfrey Ramaboea, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Christiaan Meyer, 8 Conway Pretorius, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendell Wehr, 5 FP Pelser, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Nicolaas Oosthuizen, 2 Khwezi Mkhafu, 1 Devon Martinus.
Replacements: 16 AJ Le Roux, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Ruan Kramer, 19 Pieter van Vuren, 20 Izak Burger, 21 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 22 Andre Swarts.
Pumas: 15 Gerrit Smith, 14 JP Lewis, 13 Ryan Nell, 12 Hennie Skorbinski (captain), 11 Neil Maritz, 10 Christopher Smith, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Cameron Lindsay, 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Marné Coetzee, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Kwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Frankie Herne, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Jeandré Rudolph, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Trompie Pretorius.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Ricus van der Hoven, Des van Wyk
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Free State Cheetahs v Blue Bulls
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)
In Bloemfontein, the Free State Cheetahs will look to make a strong opening statement after losing out on a semifinal berth last season. This is a replay of the 2016 Final, which the Free Staters won 36-16.
But the Blue Bulls will draw inspiration from their 64-36 victory against the Free Staters in Bloemfontein last season, and the fact they have won three of the last six outings between the teams at that venue.
The Free State Cheetahs team feature three Springboks, Oupa Mohoje, Rudy Paige and Ox Nche, while replacement hooker Jacques du Toit will play his 50th match for the team.
The Blue Bulls also named a squad featuring several Super Rugby players and capped Junior Springboks, which will be led by Hanro Liebenberg.
Thembelani Bholi (flank) will make his Blue Bulls debut in the starting team, while Theo Maree and Earll Dowrie could make their Currie Cup debuts off the bench.
Blue Bulls head coach Pote Human said there will be little room for error in this year’s tournament because there is only one round of fixtures.
“It is going to be tough to come back if you have a slow start in the competition, so every win will be crucial if you have ambitions to win the Currie Cup this year. It is going to be a very interesting and tense competition this season and we are looking forward to the challenge. Our preparations have gone well, and I think this squad will be very competitive.”
Human feels that the experience gained by the players in the Super Rugby tournament this year will help in the Currie Cup.
“Most of the players have been involved at that level, so should be able to cope with the pressures they will experience in Bloemfontein on Friday. That said, Toyota Park can become a very lonely place for a visiting team if you don’t front up to a Free State side that will be very motivated to do well at home.”
Recent results:
2017: Blue Bulls won 64-36, Bloemfontein
2017: Free State Cheetahs won 41-40, Pretoria
2016: Free State Cheetahs won 36-16, Bloemfontein (Final)
2016: Free State Cheetahs won 43-20, Bloemfontein
2015: Blue Bulls won 24-17, Pretoria
Prediction: We think the Blue Bulls will take it by five points.
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Malcolm Jaer, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Nico Lee, 11 William Small-Smith, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Oupa Mohoje (captain), 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 JP du Preez, 4 Justin Basson, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Ox Nche.
Replacement: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Erich de Jager, 18 Günther Janse van Vuuren, 19 Dennis Visser, 20 Gerhard Olivier, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Louis Fouché.
Blue Bulls: 15 Divan Rossouw, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 JT Jackson, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Manie Libbok, 9 Andre Warner, 8 Hanro Liebenberg (captain), 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Ruan Nortje, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 Conrad van Vuuren, 2 Edgar Marutlulle, 1 Matthys Basson.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Hendre Stassen, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Theo Maree, 21 Tony Jantjies, 22 Earll Douwrie.
Referee: Dan Jones (Wales)
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Lourens van der Merwe
