Preview: Currie Cup, Round Three
It is the BIG north-south derby – Blue Bulls hosting Western Province in the feature match of the weekend, when they meet in Pretoria on Saturday.
They are to of only three remaining unbeaten sides.
However, before we get there we have two Friday games – which will feature three teams still seeking their first win.
The winless Eastern Province Kings host an ambitious Pumas team in Port Elizabeth, while the central unions partners (and rivals) Griquas and Free State Cheetahs will meet in Kimberley.
Griquas and Cheetahs are also both still winless.
The Sharks, fresh from their first win of the season, host the high-flying Golden Lions in Saturday's early match before we get to the BIG derby at Loftus Versfeld.
The Blue Bulls are currently sitting at top of the standings – as a result of their greater points difference over their Gauteng neighbours, the Golden Lions – with both on a full-house 10 points.
Province are one point further back (nine) in third place.
The Sharks (five points), Pumas (four), Cheetahs, Kings (both one point) and Griquas (one) trail behind the pace-setters.
We look at all the Round Three matches!
Friday, August 21
Griquas v Free State Cheetahs
(Griquas Park, Kimberley – Kick-off: 19.10; 17.10 GMT)
Both teams were shocking in their opening round matches and subsequently suffered big defeats.
There was marked improvements for both outfits last week, despite both teams losing again.
Griquas coach Hawies Fourie showed faith in the team that gave the Blue Bulls a big fright last week – leading at half-time and only falling off the pace in the final quarter.
Not surprising his team talk this week included the need to maintain the intensity they displayed in the first half against the Bulls for a full 80 minutes
"We played good rugby for 60 minutes against the Bulls," Fourie told the media in Kimberley.
"That was the type and quality of game we want to play.
"Now we need to maintain that for a full 80 minutes," he added.
Cheetahs coach Franco Smith was forced into a number of changes – Sergeal Petersen coming in on the wing and Clayton Blommetjies moving to fullback in place of the injured Adriaan Coertzen (ankle). The other forced change up is Gerhard Olivier coming in at openside flank for the injured Johannes Prinsloo (broken jaw).
Smith said his team is growing with every outing and while they may have a long way to go yet, he is "excited" about the potential of hi team.
"Last week [against Western Province] in difficult conditions [in Cape Town] the backs did really well," the Cheetahs coach said.
"I think we created the opportunities we would ask in a game like that and hopefully playing in dryer conditions [in Kimberley] they'll be even more effective."
The most improved aspect of their game was defence – from coughing up six tries against the Bulls and none against WP a week later.
He felt the hard work is beginning to pay dividends and they will soon start reaping rewards.
Recent results:
2014: Free State Cheetahs won 34-27, Bloemfontein
2014: Free State Cheetahs won 36-25, Kimberley
2013: Free State Cheetahs won 40-20, Bloemfontein
2013: Free State Cheetahs won 52-21, Kimberley
2012: Free State Cheetahs won 35-20, Bloemfontein
2012: Free State Cheetahs won 29-16, Kimberley
Prediction: The Free State Cheetahs will have to be at their best or they could suffer another defeat. Griquas will take heart from last week's loss to the Bulls, as it showed their potential. We feel Griquas will end their drought and win by eight points.
Teams:
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Sandile Ngcobo, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Michael Van Der Spuy, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Jonathan Adendorf, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 AJ Le Roux, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Danie Mienie, 17 Martin Bezuidenhout, 18 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 19 Hugo Kloppers, 20 RJ Liebenberg, 21 Rudi Van Rooyen, 22 Clinton Swart.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Nicolaas van Dyk, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Tienie Burger, 20 Freddy Ngoza, 21 Ruan van Rensburg, 22 Sias Ebersohn.
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Renier Vermeulen, Pieter Janse van Vuuren
TMO: Johan Greeff
Eastern Province Kings v Pumas
(Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth – Kick-off: 19.10; 17.10 GMT)
Injuries are already beginning to take a severe toll on the Kings, depleting their already stretched resources to near breaking point.
Not only have they lost Tim and George Whitehead, but captain Luke Watson was a late withdrawal, after having been named in the initial squad. Karlo Aspeling takes over the flyhalf duties – with Elgar Watts and Gary van Aswegen both still injured.
Kings coach Brent Janse van Rensburg admitted his team is facing a "big challenge" against a "tough, abrasive" Pumas side.
"We know we had a chance to put away the Sharks last Saturday, but did not take our opportunities and we made it hard for ourselves," the coach said.
"But there has been improvement and lessons have been learnt, and it is up to us to keep working hard and to keep looking for consistent improvement each week."
The Pumas will be determined to bounce back from last week's loss to the Lions, but coach MJ Mentz admitted it will not be an easy task.
"The Kings in PE is never easy and last year's match didn't go well for us, we won't underestimate them and they have shown their character against the Sharks," Mentz said.
The Pumas have an ability to hold onto the ball and build pressure.
However, Mentz made it clear they will look to play a more expansive game that will bring their backs into the equation.
"It is a must win for us and we want to get our season back on track following last Friday's defeat to the Lions," the coach said.
"One of our strengths is our set pieces and we will look to apply pressure on them there and work our way into scoring positions."
Previous result:
2014: Eastern Province Kings won 26-25, Port Elizabeth
Prediction: The Kings are in for a long slog this season, given their mounting injury toll. The Pumas will win by as much as 20 points.
Teams:
Eastern Province Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Siyanda Grey, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Phillipus du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Karlo Aspeling, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Thembelani Bholi , 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Steven Sykes (captain), 3 Tom Botha, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Lizo Gqoboka, 17 Edgar Marutlulle, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Paul Schoeman , 21 Kevin Luiters, 22 Hansie Graaff.
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 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Corné Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Jaftha, Jason Meiring Ruhan
Saturday, August 22
Sharks v Golden Lions
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT)
The Sharks are aware that they have been well off the pace this season, despite beating the Kings last week.
Director of Rugby Gary Gold is backing a group of youngsters in the absence of a host of Springboks – some on national duty and others out injured.
The loss this week of seasoned Bok prop Lourens Adriaanse (shoulder injury) and Jean Deysel (tricep muscle strain) means the player resources are stretched even further.
While the young players will eventually come good, there may be a few painful lessons along the way.
Golden Lions coach Johan Ackermann was also forced into changes – most notably the loss of star centre Harold Vorster (out for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee).
However, they have enough resources – with the style and quality of their game of a bigger concern to the Sharks than the individuals on the pitch.
"Attacking rugby is the Lions' DNA and we have to improve our defence," Gold said.
"The talk this week has been about an immense improvement for this weekend against the Lions and we know we are going to have to pitch up physically against the Lions."
Gold knows that a win over the Lions will do wonders for a union struggling to lure fans back to Kings Park after a disastrous Super Rugby season.
"A really good performance and hopefully a victory out of that would definitely give us a lot of confidence going forward," the Sharks boss said.
"It will give us some confidence to know we can compete with what I believe are the bookies' favourites in this competition – and quite rightly should be.
"They had a fantastic Super Rugby competition, they're a very settled squad and they're playing great rugby."
Recent results:
2014: Golden Lions won 50-20, Johannesburg
2014: Sharks won 26-23, Durban
2013: Sharks won 31-25, Johannesburg
2013: Sharks won 33-25, Durban
2012: Sharks won 30-14, Durban
2012: Golden Lions won 28-22, Johannesburg
Prediction: The Sharks may well give the Lions a big fright, but on form and in terms of depth there can only be one winner – the Lions by about 15 points.
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan , 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Sibusiso Sithole, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Daniel du Preez, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Gerhard Engelbrecht, 18 David McDuling, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Stefan Ungerer, 21 Wandile Mjekevu, 22 SP Marais.
Golden Lions: 15 Jaco van der Walt, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Nicolaas Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Albertus Smith, 6 Jaco Kriel (captain), 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Ruan Dreyer.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Steph de Wit, 20 Ricky Schroeder, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Anthony Volmink.
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
TMO: Marius Jonker
Blue Bulls v Western Province
(Loftus Versfeld – Kick-off: 19.10; 17.10 GMT)
It is fitting that we finish the weekend's action with the big north-south derby – traditionally the biggest game on the domestic scene.
Both teams have lost key players to injury this week.
The Blue Bulls will be without William Small-Smith and Deon Stegmann. Western Province will be missing captain Juan de Jongh.
However, both teams still have enough quality players to ensure this encounter will live up to the traditional rivalry between the sides.
Despite having a host of seasoned players – like Cheslin Kolbe, Jaco Taute, Demetri Catrakilis, Nizaam Carr (the new captain), Rynhardt Elstadt, a and Bongi Mbonambi – in the starting line-up, WP coach John Dobson was looking at his bench for the biggest impact.
He spoke of loose forward Chris Cloete as a "freak of nature" and the fittest player in the team.
Dobson said he was looking to unleash the flank on a tiring Bulls team in the final quarter.
Not that the Bulls don't have their own game-breakers.
Province scrumhalf Nic Groom pointed to his direct opponent, Springbok Francois Hougaard as one of the big threats.
"He is one of those players that is a real threat with ball in hand," Groom said of Hougaard – who is on a mission to prove his value to Springbok coach Heyneke Meyer after being axed from the national team.
"We will have to be sharp [on defence], because he will take you on,"
Bulls coach Nollis Marais felt they key to victory can be captured into two brief sentences – "who will be most accurate" and "who will use their opportunities".
He said his team, who have switched from a static, structure – almost robotic – game to a more free-flowing an expansive approach still have a long way to go.
"However, we are on the right track," he said of his grand plan to make the Bulls one of the most entertaining teams in South Africa.
With more than half of the WP team having played Super Rugby, the visitors are the more settled outfit.
That is why the Bulls are determined not to concede early points – as they did in the opening weeks.
"We need a better start than the last two weeks, because once Province gets ahead of you they are tough to catch up to," he added.
Recent results:
2014: Western Province won 23-18, Pretoria
2013: Western Province won 29-18, Pretoria
2013: Western Province and Blue Bulls drew 24-all, Cape Town
2012: Blue Bulls won 26-13, Pretoria
2012: Western Province won 42-6, Cape Town
Prediction: The Bulls have looked impressive this season, although some cynics will argue that the Free State Cheetahs and Griquas were not really a test. Western Province do have a settled look about them, especially among the forwards and that may well be where the game will be decided. Western Province to sneak it by five points.
Teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Roelof Smit, 6 Pieter Labuschagne (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Rudolph Snyman, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dan Kriel.
Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Chris van Zyl, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Huw Jones.
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Ricus van der Hoven
TMO: Vos Willie
Compiled by Jan de Koning
@King365ed
@rugby365com
