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Preview: Currie Cup Round Fourteen
October 02 2008
All eyes will be on one game this weekend: It's do or die time for Western Province as they need to convincingly bet the Lions at Newlands to make the semi-finals.
We'll spare you doing the maths - assuming the Free State Cheetahs score a five-pointer against Boland (and Bloemfontein will burn if they don't), WP must score four tries, beat the Lions by at least 19 points and ensure that their visitors don't score four tries themselves or lose by seven points for an all-important bonus point. No easy task for the Cape side.
Of course, it will all mean very little if the Cheetahs are docked five points for abusing the player loan system. A decision from SARU is expected on Friday.
Elsewhere, the Blue Bulls have settled for second place and are resting nearly all their big guns. The Sharks have done the complete opposite and have named their strongest side, including John Smit as the starting hooker, in the aim of maintaining momentum going into the semi-finals.
Though Boland currently share last place on the standings with the Falcons, they enjoy a 125-point advantage in points-difference, while the deficit between the Kavaliers and the sixth-placed Griquas puts the Kimberley-based team out of their reach.
Fixtures:
Friday, October 3
Blue Bulls v Falcons
Saturday October 4
Free State Cheetahs v Boland Kavaliers
The Sharks v Griquas
Western Province v Lions
Standings (with points difference)
1 The Sharks 52 (+153)
2 Blue Bulls 49 (+245)
3 Lions 41 (+137)
4 FS Cheetahs 37 (+114)
5 Western Province 36 (+101)
6 Griquas 19 (-95)
7 Boland Kavaliers 13 (-265)
8 Falcons 13 (-390)
Blue Bulls v Falcons
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
The Falcons' only chance of finishing above Boland in the standings is picking up a bonus point at Loftus Versfeld, their first in eight weeks, and then crossing their fingers and hoping that the Kavaliers can't do the same in Bleomfontein the next day.
With almost nothing to play for on Friday, the Blue Bulls have decided to keep their powder dry for the semi-finals and have told all their bigs guns to stay at home, put their feet up, have frequent siestas, brush their teeth slowly...anything to save their energy for the play-offs.
Of course, we exaggerate. But the Pretoria side are taking no risks with their stars in this dead rubber meaning young lock Wilhelm Steenkamp will captain the home side at Loftus Versfeld while Victor Matfield, Fourie du Preez, Bryan Habana, Wynand Olivier, Derick Kuün, Morné Steyn, Marius Delport and Pierre Spies take it easy.
Coach Frans Ludeke said that there are three reasons why he is going to rest these players.
"Firstly the Bulls would like to honour Peter de Villiers' request to give the Springboks a break during the Currie Cup," he said. How very convenient.
"We also managed their training schedules over the past few weeks in order to keep them from over-training but I still feel that they deserve a break," he added. Sure, sounds good.
"Secondly we have worked hard to get into the semi-finals. We are in the ideal situation where we are going to stay in the second place on the log no matter what happens on Friday," said Ludeke. That's more like it.
"Resting players is also the best way to get rid of niggling injuries. Players such as Morné (Steyn), Derick (Kuün), Wynand (Olivier) and Marius Delport have played in almost every game thus far and a break will do wonders for them."
So many players being rested has given some fringe players an opportunity to show off their skills.
Zane Kirchner will continue to search for his best form at full-back. SA U20 centre Stephan Dippenaar, who played Super 14 rugby for the Bulls earlier this year, will partner former Springbok Wayne Julies in the midfield.
Burton Francis and Heini Adams will form a young yet promising half-back pairing.
Pedrie Wannenburg, who would walk into most side's back row, gets a start while stand-in captain Steenkamp, who skippered the Bulls' U21 side in 2006, partners Juandré Kruger in the second row.
Ruan Vermeulen, back from an overseas stint, will form the front row with Chiliboy Ralepelle and Jaco Engels. Vermeulen has been training with the Bulls for a while now and gets an ideal opportunity to show his worth at tighthead.
Ludeke has also included three U21 players in Fudge Mabeta, Francois Brummer and Stefan Watermeyer on the bench with impressive young prop Dean Greyling and established seniors Bandise Maku, Jacques Burger and JP Joubert.
Meanwhile, Falcons coach Rudy Joubert has made seven changes to the team that conceded more than 70 points against Cheetahs last week in a desperate attempt to save their Currie Cup skins.
Joubert has made four changes to the back-line, two of those positional switches. Jeffrey Perkins comes in at full-back in place of Johan Jackson, who moves to outside centre in place of Rouan Cloete.
Poerie van Rooyen starts on the left wing, while Frank Wagenström switches from the left to the right wing, demoting Dewald Pretorius to the bench.
In the pack, the experienced Sean Plaatjies moves to number eight in place of Thabo Mamojele, who shifts to flank while Gert Lubbe gets a start on the other side of the scrum.
Prediction: This might be a second string Blue Bulls team, but it still looks pretty impressive. Blue Bulls to win by forty.
Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Tiger Mangweni, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Wayne Julies, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dewald Potgieter, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp (c), 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Ruan Vermeulen, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 Jacques Burger, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Stefan Watermeyer.
Falcons: 15 Jeffrey Perkins, 14 Frank Wagenström, 13 Johan Jackson, 12 Franco Booysen, 11 Poerie van Rooyen, 10 Hanno Coetzee (captain), 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Thabo Mamojele, 6 Gert Lubbe, 5 Nico Luus, 4 Wouter Moore, 3 Dewald Coetzee, 2 Jody Jeneker, 1 Zane Killian.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Gavin Whittingham, 18 Dupi du Preez, 19 Reg Muller, 20 Freddie van Zyl, 21 Daan-Roux van Coller, 22 Dewald Pretorius.
Kick-off: 19:10 (17:10 GMT)
Referee: JC Fortuin
Touch judges: François Veldsman, Cobus Wessels
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman
Saturday October 4
Free State Cheetahs v Boland Kavaliers
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Assuming SARU don't dock the Cheetahs any points, the Free Staters should be a safe bet to make the semi-finals and keep their hopes a fourth consecutive title alive. Juan Smith is back, which is a massive boost for the defending champs.
Injured Springboks Adriaan Strauss and Chris Rossouw and Sevens Bok Robert Ebersohn will be missing from the Cheetahs starting line-up. Jacques-Louis Potgieter retains his place in injured Rossouw's place, and Strauss is replaced at hooker by his cousin Richardt Strauss.
Veteran Free State Cheetahs winger Eddie Fredericks - who scored his 50th try for Free State against the Sharks - will play his 100th match for the defending champions this weekend while winger Jongi Nokwe is set to play his 50th Currie Cup match.
Meanwhile, Boland arrive with a settled team that features just three changes to the side that went down 23-7 to Western Province.
Coach Deon Davids call recalled flanker Zolani Mofu, lock Cecil Kemp and hooker Pieter Wium. Mofu replaces Angelo Brinkhuys on the open side and faces the daunting task of scrapping for the ball with the world class Cheetahs loose trio.
Kemp will partner Nico Esterhuyse in the second row in place of Bradley Mockford. Wium comes in for the injured Harry Vermaas, while Clemen Lewis wins a place on the bench.
A reshuffled bench sees Clemen Lewis take Wium's place, Johan Peacock provides lock cover and scrum-half Neil Papier displaces Dawie van der Merwe.
Prediction: There'll will be riot in Bloem if the Cheetahs don't skin Boland alive. Cheetahs to win by twenty-five points.
Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Duanne Vermeulen, 7 Juan Smith (captain), 6 Heinrich Brussow, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 PW van Vuuren, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Nico Breedt, 19 Schalk van der Merwe, 20 Jandre Blom, 21 Hennie Daniller, 22 Kabamba Floors.
Boland: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Piet van Zyl (capt), 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 David Hendricks, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 Cecil Kemp, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Pieter Wium, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Jean Botha, 18 Johan Peacock, 19 Angelo Brinkhuys, 20 Neil Papier, 21 Hein Myburgh, 22 Lionel Cornelius.
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
Touch judges: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Peet Badenhorst
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen
The Sharks v Griquas
The Absa Stadium, Durban
Sharks coach John Plumtree clearly doesn't fear that his players will pick up any injuries against the hard-hitting Griquas as he has named what many would argue is his strongest starting XV.
While the matchday 22 remains unchanged, there are three changes to the pack. The all-international back-line reamins intact.
Springbok captain John Smit will get to start a match for the first time since the beginning of July, swapping places with fellow Bok hooker Bismarck du Plessis.
With Smit in need of some vital game time, his selection will be one of the few that the Springbok management will be happy with as one must ask the question if it is necessary to risk some other players that have been playing almost non-stop for months.
The Sharks management have defended their decision by saying that some of the players rested for the match against the Falcons took a while to settle back in last week, and that cannot be afforded in a semi-final.
Jean Deysel does get a rest ahead of the knock-out phases, but, like Du Plessis, could well make an appearance from the bench. Keegan Daniel will wear the number seven jersey.
Expert impact player lock Albert van den Berg is on the bench, with Steven Sykes partnering regular Sharks captain Johann Muller in the second row.
The Griquas have been unable to shake their injury curse and have again been forced into changes, but with nothing to play for and nothing to lose, the team from Kimberley will play with no pressure.
Winger Egon Seconds, centre Alwyn Hollenbach and flanker Stephan Gerber have been called up by coach Dawie Theron to fill the gaps caused by injuries.
With Herkie Kruger ruled out, Hollenbach, who is on loan from the Cheetahs, will start his first game for the Griquas as Riaan Viljoen's midfield partner
Seconds replaces Bjorn Basson who is nursing tender ribs, on the right wing while Gerber takes the place of Frans Viljoen on the blindside of the scrum. Viljoen, who has signed with the Cheetahs for next season, is being rested as a precaution after taking a knock on the arm he broke earlier in the season.
The final change is a rotational switch as Jacques Lombaard bumps lock Brendon Snyman to the bench. Flanker Tyrone Holmes and centre Wouter Watermeyer join the replacements.
Prediction: The Sharks only have the complacency monster to beat, and at home in Durban, should win with ease. The Sharks to win by thirty points.
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Francois Steyn, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Johann Muller (c), 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 John Smit, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Deon Carstens, 18 Albert van den Berg, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Bradley Barritt, 22 Waylon Murray.
Griquas: 15 Conrad Barnard, 14 Egon Seconds, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Riaan Viljoen, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Gareth Krause (c), 7 Stephan Gerber, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Dean Hopp, 17 Ruaan du Preez, 18 Brendon Snyman, 19 Tyrone Holmes, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Wouter Watermeyer, 22 Gavin Passens.
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Jaco Peyper, Reuben Rossouw
Television match official: Michael Cupido
Western Province v Lions
Newlands Rugby Stadium, Cape Town
The match of the weekend is certain to be a cracker. An under-pressure Western Province side have for the last month been playing must-win games in the hope of finishing amongst the top four. They now face the very real prospect of not achieving that goal.
A decent defensive effort from the Lions would be enough for the team from Johannesburg to make the play-offs, but Eugene Eloff's team have always prided themselves on playing positive rugby.
Western Province will have to make do without Speedster Tonderai Chavhanga, who has been sidelined by a hamstring injury. His place is taken by utility back Joe Pietersen.
While Chavhanga has not been at his best on recent games, his abilty as a game breaker is undeniable.
While fly-half Peter Grant has been named to start, there are some doubts surrounding his particpation having sat out this week's traing sessions with an ankle injury. Veteran Springbok full-back Percy Montgomery has been named on the bench and will play if Grant fails a fitness test. Gio Aplon will take Montgomery's place on the bench if Grant does not play.
Montgomery needs to ignite the backs and create sufficient opportunity so that WP can reach their goal of four tries.
To reiterate, it's a big ask for someone who hasn't played since the Springboks' win over Australia on August 30. If Province do rise to the challenge, it will be a miraculous achievement.
In the pack, prop Brian Mujati and lock Adriaan Fondse have returned to full fitness and are back in the starting line-up at the expense of JC Kritzinger and AJ Venter.
Lions coach Eugene Eloff has made just two changes from the team that lost to the Sharks last week, with Justin Wheeler replacing Derick Minnie at flank and Wilhelm Koch taking his place on the bench and in the number 22 jersey. Jaco Van Schalkwyk comes in for Rayno Benjamin.
"For 60 minutes we had a team filled with Springboks up against the ropes, we just didn't knock them out," explained Eloff of last Saturday's loss at Ellis Park.
A handful of unforced errors cost the Lions the game last week. This time around, there will be no room for error.
If Western Province do rise to the challenge, it will be a miraculous achievement.
Prediction: Province will do enough to win, but not to make the play-offs. WP to win by twelve points.
Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Joe Pietersen, 13 Sireli Naqelevuki, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Wylie Human, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Schalk Burger, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 JC Ktitzinger, 18 Schalk Ferreira, 19 AJ Venter, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Percy Montgomery, 22 Morgan Newman.
Lions: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jaque Fourie, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Trompie Nontshinga, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Ernst Joubert, 7 Justin Wheeler, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (c), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Lawrence Sephaka, 18 Jannes Labuschagne, 19 Wilhelm Koch, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Jaco Van Schalkwyk.
Kick-off: 17:05 (15:05 GMT)
Referee: Craig Joubert
Touch judges: Sindile Mayende, Marc van Zyl
Television match official: Willie Roos