PREVIEW: Currie Cup, Round Three
IN THE SPOTLIGHT: The 2018 Currie Cup Premier Division enters the third round.
The action gets underway in Nelspruit on Friday, when the Pumas will go in search of only their third Currie Cup victory in 21 years against Western Province.
On Saturday, the Free State Cheetahs will welcome the Sharks and Round Three’s action ends in Pretoria when the Blue Bulls play host to the Golden Lions.
We take a closer look at all Round Three’s action!
Friday, August 31:
Pumas v Western Province
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 18.30; 16.30)
Both sides kicked the competition off with high-scoring bonus-point victories, which makes this a top-of-the-table clash.
And with only four pool games remaining for them following this round, there will be no love lost.
Western Province made four personnel changes for the clash, with Springboks Damian de Allende and Wilco Louw, as well as Sergeal Petersen and former Junior Springbok captain Ernst van Rhyn earning starts.
Pumas prop Khwezi Mona will earn his 50th cap for the Nelspruit team after being named in an unchanged starting line-up.
Jimmy Stonehouse’s bench shows three changes as Marko Jansen van Vuuren, Hilton Lobberts and Nardus van der Walt were drafted in.
Western Province head coach John Dobson said that his team is focused on delivering an accurate performance in Nelspruit.
“We know very well how tough it can be to play in Nelspruit, which is a challenge that we are looking to embrace.
“It has been a short week, but preparations have gone well and we are ready for a big effort away from home,” he said.
Recent results:
2017: Pumas won 22-12, Nelspruit
2017: Western Province won 34-19, Cape Town
2016: Western Province won 31-23, Cape Town
2015: Western Province won 50-19, Cape Town
2014: Western Province won 37-23, Nelspruit
Prediction: It should be an exciting encounter up in Nelspruit. We think Western Province will take it by eight points.
Teams:
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 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Marko Jansen van Vuuren, 17 Andrew Beerwinkel, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Hilton Lobberts, 20 Nardus van der Walt, 21 Reynier van Rooyen, 22 Trompie Pretorius.
Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds (captain), 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 SP Marais, 10 Josh Stander, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Ernst van Rhyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Herschel Jantjies, 21 Dan du Plessis, 22 Craig Barry.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Des van Wyk, Alex Jonker
TMO: Christie du Preez
Saturday, September 1:
Free State Cheetahs v Sharks
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 14.00; 12.00 GMT)
The Free State Cheetahs will be determined to make the most of their home ground advantage on Saturday after suffering defeats in their last two matches, which has left them at the foot of the log without a point.
With the Sharks coming off a bonus-point win, the hosts will be tested mentally and physically.
The Free State Cheetahs made wholesale changes to their side with their Pro14 team also in action, which sees only three players retain their places in the starting team, namely Dennis Visser (lock), Gunther Janse van Vuuren (prop) and Louis Fouche (flyhalf).
The Sharks, in turn, named an unchanged team.
Fullback Curwin Bosch said his team will be looking to play some exciting rugby in Bloemfontein.
“We’ve placed a lot of emphasis on turning our defence into attack, we did that against the Bulls, and together with the work ethic of our forwards, we can achieve that,” he explains.
“Coach Dick [Muir] has been helping there and we have been working hard on our attack. I think we can still improve and it’s something that will grow as the season progresses.”
Bosch added: “There’s always a possibility of them fielding a potentially weaker side because of their Pro 14 commitments, but we are well aware of the importance of achieving what we want to in this competition. It’s very short and there isn’t time to drop off after one good performance, so we need to keep focused on what we want to do and achieve.”
Recent results:
2017: Sharks won 45-15, Durban
2017: Free State Cheetahs won 47-12, Bloemfontein
2016: Free State Cheetahs won 38-30, Durban
2015: 34-all draw, Bloemfontein
2014: 30-all draw, Bloemfontein
Prediction: The Sharks are way too powerful for this Cheetahs team. The Sharks will win by 18 points.
Teams:
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Adriaan Carelse, 14 Ali Mgijima, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Lloyd Greeff, 10 Louis Fouche, 9 Rudy Paige (captain), 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Gerhard Olivier, 6 Stephan Malan, 5 Dennis Vissier, 4 Louis Conradie, 3 Gunther Janse van Vuuren, 2 Reinach Venter, 1 Kevin Stevens.
Replacements: 16 Jannes Snyman, 17 Johan Kotze, 18 Luigi van Jaarsveld, 19 Abongile Nonkontwana, 20 Dian Badenhorst, 21 Vuyani Maqina, 22 Reinhart Erwee.
Sharks: 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Robert du Preez, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Daniel du Preez, 7 Tyler Paul, 6 Wian Vosloo, 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg, 3 John-Hubert Meyer, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle (captain), 1 Juan Schoeman.
Replacements: 16 Kerron van Vuuren, 17 Khutha Mchunu, 18 Andrew Evans, 19 Luke Stringer, 20 Cameron Wright, 21 Johan Deysel, 22 Aphelele Fassi.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Divan Uys
TMO: Lourens van der Merwe
Blue Bulls v Golden Lions
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 16.05; 14.05 GMT)
The Golden Lions registered a convincing win in their opening game last week, while the Blue Bulls were unable to build on their winning start to the competition against the Sharks last week. That result is expected to fuel their motivation going into the clash.
The Blue Bulls made four personnel changes, with Springbok prop Trevor Nyakane making his first Currie Cup appearance among three changes up-front, while the only backline change sees JT Jackson returning to midfield.
The Golden Lions also made minor changes, with lock Marvin Orie taking over the captaincy from Ross Cronje, who is replaced by Dillon Smit, while Howard Mnisi and Lionel Mapoe will form a new centre pairing.
“We are back at home and as great as that is, our opponents will only make a short trip from Johannesburg, so will be keen to secure a win,” said Blue Bulls head coach Pote Human.
“There were some good things happening last weekend, but we need to make a huge step-up in execution this time around.”
Blue Bulls captain, Hanro Liebenberg agreed.
“This is going to be a typical Jukskei derby and whoever wants to win, will have to work very hard for it. We are at home and we want to make a stand in front of our Bulls Family. We will be determined and motivated, but also need to be smart and effective.”
Recent results:
2017: Golden Lions won 36-33, Johannesburg
2017: Blue Bulls won 54-22, Pretoria
2016: Blue Bulls won 31-17, Pretoria
2015: Golden Lions won 36-28, Pretoria
2014: Blue Bulls won 36-26, Pretoria
Prediction: The Blue Bulls will be fired up at home, but we think the Golden Lions will win by seven points.
Teams:
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 Jano Venter, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Eli Snyman, 4 Hendre Stassen, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Matthys Basson.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Conrad van Vuuren, 18 Ruan Nortje, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Tinus de Beer, 22 Duncan Matthews.
Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Dillon Smith, 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Len Massyn, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie (Captain), 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Johannes Jonker, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Jansen, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Vincent Tshituka, 21 Madosh Tambwe, 22 Wandisile Simelane.
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant referees: Jaco Pretorius, Ricus van der Hoven
TMO: Willie Vos
Currie Cup First Division
In the Currie Cup First Division defending champions, the Griffons, will look to build on their success last season when they take to the field in their opening match, while the other five teams will target momentum after kicking off their campaigns last week.
The Border Bulldogs and South Western District Eagles will kick off the action in East London on Friday, with the Leopards and Boland Cavaliers taking to the field in Potchefstroom later that evening, while the Griffons will host the Falcons in Welkom on Saturday.
In East London, Border and SWD will both be hunting their first wins of the season after going down in their opening matches, but the hosts will have to step up their defence significantly to achieve this after leaking more than 60 points last week.
The situation will be vastly different for the Boland Cavaliers and 2017 finalists, the Leopards, in Potchefstroom, as one of them could suffer their first defeat of the season. The Western Cape outfit were in top form last week scoring 70 points and leaking only 12, while the Leopards come off a narrow two-point victory, which means their defence will have to be solid to continue their winning ways.
The Griffons will have to hit the ground running against the Falcons in Welkom after the men from Kempton Park racked up an impressive score of 66 points last week, which will boost their confidence going into the clash. The hosts, however, have won the last three encounters between the sides, which sets the scene for an exciting match.
Currie Cup First Division Round Two fixtures:
Friday, 31 August:
Leopards v Boland Cavaliers
Venue: Fanie du Toit Sportfields, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
Assistant Referees: Jaco Pretorius and local appointment
Border Bulldogs v SWD Eagles
Venue: Buffalo City Stadium, East London
Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Bulelani Naka and local appointment
Saturday, 1 September:
Griffons v Falcons
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT
Referee: Egon Seconds
Assistant Referees: AJ Jacobs and local appointment
