Preview: Currie Cup, Round Two

Trans-Jukskei rivals the Golden Lions and Blue Bulls will look to maintain the early pace they set by putting 50 points past their respective opposition last week.

The Lions have a slightly more testing outing when they host the Pumas in Johannesburg, while Bulls will look to continue their early-season try-scoring form when they host Griquas 50-odd kilometres north in Pretoria.

Ellis Park will be where the attention will be focussed in the two Friday games – as the Pumas also opened with an impressive first-round win, over the Sharks.

At Loftus Versfeld on Friday the Bulls will have to guard against complacency when they face a Griquas team looking exhausted after coming through a demanding qualifying tournament and injuries beginning to mount.

Western Province, the defending champions, also need to guard against complacency when they host the demoralised Free State Cheetahs team in the first of the two Saturday games. New Cheetahs coach Franco Smith could not have wished for a worst start to Currie Cup career than the 19-57 loss they suffered at home last week.

Another new face on the Currie Cup coaching scene, WP mentor John Dobson, will hope for better fortunes when he makes his first appearance at Newlands.

In the final fixture of the weekend the Sharks face a beleaguered EP Kings team in Durban – both looking for their first win of the season after very disappointing starts to their respective campaigns.

We look at all the weekend's matches!

Friday, February 14

Golden Lions v Pumas

(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 19.10; 17.10)

The Pumas, more than any other team, will have some real insights into the inner workings of the Golden Lions.

Not only are their Super Rugby partners, but a few of their players featured regularly for the Johannesburg-based outfit in Super Rugby.

Pumas coach of coach MJ Mentz will not waste the valuable input players such as Springbok training squad member Francois de Klerk, prop Corne Fourie and centre Stefan Watermeyer can provide.

However, he felt the Lions will have a few aces up their proverbial sleeves.

"Players who were involved with the Lions – Faf [Francois de Klerk], Corne [Fourie} and to a lesser extend Stefan [Watermeyer] – will know a lot of the Lions' strengths and weaknesses and also their game plan," Mentz said.

"I suspect the Lions will change things for this game," he said, adding: "Johan Ackermann is a wily coach.

"Yes, we know what type of game the Lions want to play and can play."

The Pumas, despite an impressive win over the Sharks last week, will need to cut out the errors that contributed significantly to the period when the Sharks got back into the game.

And the Lions will also ask some serious questions of their pack.

"Their loose forwards – with players like Jaco Kriel and Kwagga [Albertus] Smith – move very quickly around the park and get to the breakdown in double-quick time.

"We have to find a way to neutralise that strength.

"The Lions play an expansive game and enjoy taking it from side to side. They will attempt to run us ragged.

"We all know the Lions can score tries from anywhere on the park, so our defence will have to be spot on.

"It is something we worked on all week."

The Lions made just one change for their first home match – Springbok Sevens flyer Sampie Mastriet is bracketed alongside Anthony Volmink. The rest of the team that beat the Eastern Province Kings on Saturday in Port Elizabeth was left unchanged.

Mentz has named an unchanged side.

Recent results:

2014: Golden Lions won 29-15, Johannesburg

2011: Golden Lions won 34-20, Nelspruit

2011: Golden Lions won 31-27, Johannesburg

2010: Pumas won 34-27, Johannesburg

2010: Golden Lions won 33-30, Witbank

Prediction: This is going to be a close affair – a hardened Pumas team giving the youthful Lions outfit a good run for their money with a late score sealing it for the Lions – by seven points or less.

Teams:

Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Sampie Mastriet/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.

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 Marius Coetzer, 4 Lubabalo Mtyanda, 3 De-Jay Terblanché, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Khwezi Mona.

Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Jason-Colin Fraser, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz.

Referee: Stuart Berry

Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Oregopotse Rametsi

TMO: Johan Greeff

Blue Bulls v Griquas

(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 19.10; 17.10)

The Bulls will look to continue their stampede against a Griquas team that is looking very vulnerable this year.

Whether he was just being courteous or genuine meant it, is hard to say, but Bulls captain Pieter Labuschagne dismissed Griquas' [19-43] loss to Western Province as "misleading".

"They do have a solid team and enjoy an expansive game," Labuschagne told rugby365, adding that the Kimberley-based outfit has some good experience as well.

"Griquas will also bring a physical game."

The Bulls captain, who said they will look to continue with the expansive approach that saw them run six tries past the Cheetahs last week, felt they need to improve their handling.

"We will grow as a team, as the competition progresses – last week was only the start," Labuschagne said.

"We want to play a game of high quality, but we are not there yet," the captain said, adding that they have plenty of room for improvement.

Bulls coach Nollis Marais retained the same starting line-up which won in Bloemfontein last weekend for. He only one change to the bench, where fit-again prop Dayan van der Westhuizen replaces Nqobisizwe Mxoli, who returned to the Under-21 side. Griquas also welcome back fit-again Springbok Hilton Lobberts and fellow flank RJ Liebenberg.

For Griquas Springbok Sevens utility back Ruhan Nel moves from the midfield to the wing. Jonathan Francke comes in at centre, while Nel replaces Ederies Arendse in the No.14 jersey.

Recent results:

2014: Blue Bulls won 46-12, Pretoria

2013: Blue Bulls won 15-9, Pretoria

2013: Blue Bulls won 52-10, Kimberley

2012: Blue Bulls won 35-20

2012:  Griquas won 49-34, Kimberley

Prediction: You would have to be a staunch supporter to put any money on Griquas, after last week's opening salvos. Griquas will give the Bulls a run for their money for the first hour, before the men from Pretoria will produce a few late scores and win by about 15 points.

Teams:

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 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Rudolph Snyman, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Dries Swanepoel.

Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Michael Van Der Spuy, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 RJ Liebenberg, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Jonathan Adendorf, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 Abraham Le Roux, 1 Danie Mienie.

Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ewald Van Der Westhuizen, 18 Jaco Nepgen, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Rudi Van Rooyen, 21 Clinton Swart, 22 Jacquin Jansen.

Referee: Quinton Immelman

Assistant referees: Sindile Nqcese, Archie Sehlako

Saturday, August 15

Western Province v Free State Cheetahs

(Newlands, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Western Province coach  John Dobson is hoping Cape Town's notorious cold front – with its accompanying winds and wet conditions – give them a break.

The much-talked about expansive game that delivered six tries against Griquas in Kimberley last week will have to be put on the back burner if the rain and gusts arrives in mid-afternoon.

Dobson hopes the cold front holds out till later in the evening.

"We have worked on some plans if the rains comes down during the game," Dobson told a media briefing in Cape Town.

"We are fine either way.

"We are keen to develop the style of rugby we played last week, but you can't do that in the wet at Newlands."

The WP coach described the Cheetahs' 19-57  loss to the Bulls last week as a "complete aberration" – pointing out that the Bulls made only 11  errors and the Cheetahs 30.

"I am not reading too much into it," the Province coach said.

Dobson named an unchanged starting line-up, but lock Jan de Klerk and back Kobus van Wyk come in on the bench.

The Cheetahs' new flyhalf recruit Fred Zeilinga will make his first start for the Bloemfontein side, after taking over the No.10 jersey from rookie Niel Marais – who has dropped out of the match squad completely. Former Western Force flyhalf Sias Ebersohn is back in Bloemfontein and he will provide cover for Zeilinga.

Recent results:

2014: Western Province won 34-29, Bloemfontein

2013: Western Province won 15-14, Cape Town

2013: Western Province won 29-27, Bloemfontein

2012: Western Province won 36-15, Cape Town

2012: Western Province won 29-22, Bloemfontein

Prediction: Western Province is an established and settled group, even with a number of Springboks away on international duty. The Cheetahs always have a chance of an upset, but we feel  WP will win by at least 10 points.

Teams:

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 (vice-captain), 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 Jan de Klerk, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Kobus van Wyk

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Adriaan Coertzen, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Johannes Prinsloo, 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 Hugo Reniel, 19 Gerhard Olivier, 20 Zee Mkhabela, 21 Tertius Kruger, 22 Sias Ebersohn.

Referee: Jaco van Heerden

Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Rodney Boneparte

TMO: Willie Vos

Sharks v Eastern Province Kings

(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT)

It is too early in the season to start speaking of desperation, but neither team showed anything in the opening week that suggested they could be contenders for the title.

The Kings were never rated anyway, but the Sharks – given the disaster that was their Super Rugby campaign – will require a massive step up if they are to chase away the circling vultures waiting to pick pieces off a decaying carcass.

Sharks Director of Rugby Gary Gold said that they have enough time to salvage the season.

"From our point of view, it's still early days," Gold said.

"I'm happy with some of the performances of some of the youngsters," he said of players like Monde Hadebe, Thomas du Toit, Juan Schoeman and Dave McDuling.

Then they also have veteran Springbok Michael Claassens waiting on the fringes.

"There is lots to be positive about, but obviously it's a very disappointing result first up.

"There's lot of work to do and we'll just stay in the fight."  

The Kings have issues of their own – especially their malfunctioning set pieces.

With the scrum being a major issue, Kings coach Brent Janse van Rensburg opted for a five-forwards-two-backs split on the replacement bench – allowing him an additional front row player on the bench.

"We have focused on our scrums to make sure we fix what the problems were and we know we have to focus on the scrum as a united effort," Janse van Rensburg said.

Captain Luke Watson acknowledged the Sharks were a good side, but said they were looking forward to the opportunity to give an improved performance this week.

"The Sharks have a strong set piece and big backs, so it will be a tough match," Watson said.

"The Lions game was a bit of a wake-up call, but we know what areas we have had to work on and hopefully we will come back a bit more polished this week."

Sharks loose forward Jean Deysel returns to the Sharks starting team, with centre Paul Jordaan also making a welcome return to the team. Fit-again Odwa Ndungane is also back, on the right wing and replaces the injured Sibusiso Sithole. Injured flank Jean-Luc du Preez makes way for Deysel, while his twin-brother Dan comes in for Khaya Majola. Juan Schoeman will scrum at loosehead and Thomas du Toit at tighthead.

For the Eastern Province Kings wing Siyanda Grey received an early birthday present when he was included in the matchday-23 for the Durban clash. Grey, who turns 26 on Sunday, replaces Sylvian Mahuza on the wing and he is the only change to the PE-based side that lost 51-14 at home to the Golden Lions last weekend. The was a late injury-enforced change, with Paul Schoeman replaced on the bench by Thembelani Bholi.

Previous result:

2014: Sharks won 53-24, Durban

Prediction: There awaits a long season for the EP Kings if last week is the standard they are at. Even an under-performing Sharks team should put them to the sword and win by at least 15 points.

Teams:

Sharks: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Wandile Mjekevu, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Andre Esterhuizen, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Daniel du Preez, 6 Jean Deysel, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Juan Schoeman.

Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Gerhard Engelbrecht, 18 David McDuling, 19 Francois Kleinhans, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Paul Jordaan, 22 SP Marais.

Eastern Province Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Siyanda Grey, 13 Phillipus du Plessis, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Luke Watson (captain), 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 Jacques Engelbrecht, 21 Kevin Luiters, 22 Karlo Aspeling.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni,  Tahla Ntshakaza

TMO: Christie du Preez

Compiled by Jan de Koning

@King365ed

@rugby365com