Preview: Semifinal - Lions v WP
The second semifinal in this year’s Currie Cup pits the consistently strong Golden Lions up against a Springbok-clad Western Province at Coca-Cola Park on Saturday.
It’s difficult not to feel for the Lions, who have had a fantastic season and been the outstanding side in the competition after so many long barren years. However, the return of the Springboks has dampened their hopes of lifting a trophy this season, with only CJ van der Linde and Butch James coming in to bolster their ranks.
Province have conversely had a timely injection of a host of Boks and suddenly become of the favourite to reach a second consecutive Currie Cup Final.
Backline coach Robbie Fleck could hardly believe his luck with the luxury of so many stars to choose from after a tough season full of injury setbacks.
“It’s the first time the doctor has walked in and said there is a clean bill of health and if you add the fact that we’ve got some Springboks back it’s been a great week,” Fleck told this website.
“It’s been a tough old season with somebody injured every week, but all the youngsters who have worked so hard to get us to this semifinal can be proud of their achievements.”
The Cape Town side have had their fair share of big matches over the past few seasons, reaching the Super Rugby semifinals this year and the final of both the Super 14 and Currie Cup last year. However, they are more than aware of the fact that the trophy cabinet at Newlands has been bare for some time now.
“Semifinals and finals are won on a conservative approach and it’s about pressure rugby and who cracks first,” Fleck explained.
“We’re not going to change too much and the Boks coming in have learn a few tricks at the World Cup and bring some defensive experience from the Super Rugby campaign.
“You can’t get too loose because if you give the Lions the chance their cut you and they’ve done that to most teams this season. They put teams under a lot of pressure with their running game and forcing you to make tackles.”
Lions coach John Mitchell has warned that his side will need a much stronger defensive effort this weekend, after losing 53-9 to the Sharks last week.
“Province are quite unpredictable on attack at times and they can be tight,” Mitchell told this website.
“They play both sides of the ruck and they’ve got quite a bit of [their] attacking strength back [with the Boks returning] – also, Jaque Fourie is very dangerous from broken play – [Bryan] Habana is extremely good on first phase – you also have Jean de Villiers, who is very experienced.
“That backline is extremely good and they can attack you from all areas.”
While it wasn’t a full strength Lions side that took the field against the Sharks last weekend, such a humbling defeat is always a difficult pill to swallow and it will take a gutsy effort to lift themselves just a week later.
Players to Watch:
For Lions: Jaco Taute has been the star of the Currie Cup this season and is a very strong runner from deep and one of the most exciting young attacking weapons in South Africa. Big centre Doppies le Grange will have his hands full marking two Springbok centres, but his defence is rock solid and he can create turnovers as regularly as a loose forward. Up front the skipper Josh Strauss is an inspirational leader and has developed a cult following with his giant beard and physical approach to the game.
For Western Province: Boks Jaque Fourie and Jean de Villiers are an imposing midfield combination who will both be eager to secure a first Currie cup winners medal and will test the defence of the Lions. The biggest danger for the Lions comes in the form of Schalk Burger, who was a colossus at the World Cup and will look to lead from the front.
Head to Head: The two flyhalves have both made names for themselves this season, as Elton Jantjies appears to improve with every game he plays and under the guidance of Carlos Spencer has that air of unpredictability about him. Amid all the injury woes in the No.10 jersey in the Cape this year the silver lining has been Demetri Catrakilis. The UCT pivot has made the most of his opportunity and has the ability to create space for the backs outside of him.
Recent Results:
2011: Lions won 42-25, Johannesburg
2011: Western Province won 28-26, Cape Town
2010: Western Province won 32-0, Cape Town
2010: Lions won 46-28, Johannesburg
2009: Lions won 27-25, Johannesburg
2009: Western Province won 25-20, Cape Town
2008: Western Province won 14-6, Cape Town
2008: Lions won 27-13, Johannesburg
2007: Lions won 19-16, Johannesburg
2007: Western Province won 18-13, Cape Town
2006: Lions won 42-36, Johannesburg
2006: Western Province won 30-28, Cape Town
2005: Western Province won 23-17, Cape Town
2005: Western Province won 38-23, Johannesburg
Prediction: The Lions may well throw caution to the wind in an effort to disrupt the careful calculated Province approach, but ultimately it is all down to whether or not the Province pack turn up and provide a platform for their outstanding backline. Province to edge it by less than five points.
The teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Doppies la Grange, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Warren Whiteley, 19 Cobus Grobbelaar, 20 Butch James, 21 Dylan Des Fountain, 22 James Kamana.
Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Jean de Villiers, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Schalk Burger (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JC Kritzinger.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Tertius Daniller, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Conrad Jantjes.
Date: Saturday, October 22
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Expected weather: Sunny with a moderate northerly wind high of 27°C, dropping to 13°C.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry, Cobus Wessels
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
By Timmy Hancox
