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Preview: Currie Cup, Round Four
July 31 2009
The Sharks head for their perennial bogey engagement in Bloemfontein on Friday, but the top-of-the table clash between the Griquas and Lions could prove to be the highlight of the Currie Cup weekend.
The only unbeaten team left in the competition, everyone's talking about the Griquas. If the team from Kimberly can avoid being handed a bonus-point hiding in Jo' burg, they'll extend their run at the top of the standings to five weeks. Needless to say they'll be out to do more than just avoid defeat and a fourth consecutive win is more than possible.
If you looked at the fixtures schedule at the start of the season, you would have picked the defending champions' visit to the Free State as the game of the weekend. Sharks fans need no reminding of the fact that their Super 14 campaign was derailed in Bloemfontein not long ago, and the winless Cheetahs need a result to kick-start their season. Ryan Kankowski is back in black and white to add to the intrigue.
Elsewhere, Western Province will be looking to pick up a full house of points against the Leopards at Newlands while in Pretoria the Blue Bulls should be too strong for the Boland Kavaliers.
Fixtures:
Friday, July 31
Lions v Griquas
Western Province v Leopards
Blue Bulls v Boland Kavaliers
Free State Cheetahs v Sharks
Standings:
1 Griquas 15
2 Lions 103 Sharks 9 4 Blue Bulls 9
5 Western Province 8 6 Boland Kavaliers 4
7 Cheetahs 1 8 Leopards 0
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Previews:
Lions v Griquas
Coca-Cola Park Stadium, Johannesburg
First visits second in the City of Gold in the first of four fixtures on Friday. As mentioned above the Griquas have been the season's pace setters with three bonus-point wins from three starts.
To be fair, the Kimberly side haven't played any of the real big guns so far and a road trip to the Lions will constitute their toughest assignment yet. They showed they can win on the road against the Cheetahs, so the Lions are in a for a real battle.
The hosts have only lost once themselves (to the Blue Bulls) but have had a setback or two this week that could hamper their preparations.
Both teams will be in buoyant mood following their comprehensive victories last weekend. The Griquas outclassed Boland by 73 points in Kimberley, while an under-strength Lions team also easily defeated the Leopards 40-19 in Rustenburg.
The Lions have had to make to two changes to the team they initially named on Tuesday. After resting a couple of key players last week, coach Hans Coetzee had planned to field his strongest side, but scrum-half Jano Vermaak has been forced to pull out with a lingering concussion and centre Walter Venter is ill.
Vermaak has be replaced in the starting XV by Chris Jonck, while Rouan Cloete steps in for Venter. The double blows gives Freddie van Zyl and Rouan Boshoff a chance to get on the bench.
Otherwise the team is the same as the one that beat the Free State Cheetahs two weeks ago, meaning Earl Rose starts at full-back and Herkie Kruger wears number ten. USA captain Todd Clever is a notable absentee.
"We are still not anywhere near our expected standards," said Coetzee this week.
"We are certainly happy with the progress we are making as a team, but we are letting too many scoring opportunities slip through. We are going to have to work on our finishing this week. Griquas come off a fantastic win last weekend...So we will have to be at our best in order to get a good result this weekend."
Griquas coach Dawie Theron has stuck with his winning formula, but has been forced to make one change to his starting XV.
Jaco Bekker will start at outside centre in place of the injured Wilmaure Louw to partner Barry Geel in midfield. The only other change to the matchday 22 sees Heinrich Stride come onto the bench for Nolan Clarke.
There has been more good news for the Griquas this week as scrum-half Sarel Pretorius - one of the stars of their season so far - has turned down a number of offers, including one from New Zealand province Taranaki, and has pledge his loyalty to the team from Kimberly.
"I spoke to my agent and will remain with Griquas," Pretorius told the Volksblad newspaper.
Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Rouan Cloete, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 John Snyman, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Freddie van Zyl, 21 Rouan Boshoff, 22 Henno Mentz.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Dewald Pretorius, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Brendon Snyman, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Rayno Barnes, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Heinrich Stride, 19 Sean Plaatjies, 20 Dougie Hellmuth, 21 Hanno Coetzee, 22 Egon Seconds/Gavin Passens.
Kick-off: 17.00 (15.00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
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Western Province v Leopards
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
Western Province are at home for the third time this season and will be looking to climb up the table against the winless Leopards.
The visitors are yet to secure a single competition point after three fixtures and face a tough task against a WP side strengthened by the return of a couple of first-choice players.
Full-back Joe Pietersen returns to Currie Cup action after an injury-enforced lay-off and will replace Gio Aplon in the WP number fifteen jersey. Aplon will run out on the left wing in the place of Sireli Naqelevuki, who is battling with a knee injury.
Province coach Allister Coetzee has made three changes in the pack and lock Hilton Lobberts will enjoy a rare start. He comes in for New Zealander Chris Jack, who gets a rest on the bench after making a massive impact so far this season.
Flanker Duane Vermeulen returns from injury, relegating in-form Pieter Louw to the bench. In the front row, Wicus Blaauw makes way for JD Moller in a rotation move.
Elsewhere on the bench, former Springbok scrum-half Bolla Conradie finally returns to the spotlight. His good form at club level has been rewarded with a place amongst the replacements.
In the visitors' camp, outside centre Berndt Theissinger will make his Currie Cup debut for the Leopards replacing Japie Nel, who was red-carded against the Lions.
Theissinger's inclusion is the only change to the starting XV that lost against the Lions.
Former Wildebeest and Valke flanker Thabo Mamojele has been included on the bench for the first time and Basil de Doncker takes up Theissinger's place on the bench.
Western Province: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Luke Watson (c), 7 Francois Louw, 6 Duane Vermeulen, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brock Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JD Moller.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Wicus Blaauw, 18 Chris Jack, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Morgan Newman, 22 Frikkie Welsh.
Leopards: 15 Jean Tiedt, 14 Jovan Bowles, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Berndt Theissinger, 11 Jan van Zyl, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 RW Kember, 7 Wilhelm Koch (c), 6 Bennie Adams, 5 Anthonie Gronum, 4 Ligtoring Landman, 3 Philip Lemmer, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Nardus Lombard.
Replacements: 16 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 17 Os van der Walt, 18 Rudi Mathee, 19 Thabo Mamojele, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Basil de Doncker, 22 Bom Samaai.
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Sindile Mayende
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Blue Bulls v Boland Kavaliers
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Two teams that suffered defeats last weekend and will be looking to bounce back to winning ways at Loftus Versfeld, but you can't help but feeling only one of them has a realistic chance of doing it.
The Kavaliers, who were smashed by the Griquas last week, face the prospect a being on the receiving end of the backlash from the Blue Bulls disappointing loss in Durban last week.
While the hosts will be without Emerging Boks skipper Dewald Potgieter, who has a fractured wrist, they do welcome stalwarts Deon Stegmann and Pedrie Wannenburg back to the fray.
Coach Frans Ludeke has selected Gerrit-Jan van Velze for the injured Potgieter. Van Velze will start in the loose trio alongside Dries van Schalkwyk and Jacques Burger with Stegmann and Wannenburg making their returns from the bench.
"I would like to use them as impact players and it was part of their rehabilitation plan that they will be on the bench, but I would like to stress that Gerrit-Jan thoroughly deserves his place in the run-on team after a splendid display against the Sharks," said Ludeke.
Francois Hougaard's groin injury is still keeping him on the sideline and as a result, Ruan Snyman will warm the bench as cover for scrum-half Heini Adams. Burton Francis is also back in the mix following a three-week conditioning plan.
For Boland, skipper Conrad Burke returns to lead the side from the front row. The experienced hooker's return is one of eight changes and a positional switch from coach Deon Davids.
With both full-backs Mark Harris and Justin Peach injured, Llewellyn Adonis makes his Currie Cup debut. He's back home after representing the Cheetahs in the Vodacom Cup earlier this season.
Hein Myburgh comes in at centre at the expense of Cornal Hendricks, who moves to left wing in the place of Alvin Hugo.
Up front, Junior Bester, David Hendricks and Zolani Mofu form a completely new loose trio while Namibian international Nico Esterhuyse gets the nod ahead of Frikkie Spies in the second row. At loosehead prop the experienced Jané du Toit comes in for the injured Janro van Niekerk.
Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni; 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Marius Delport; 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Heini Adams; 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün (c), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Pedrie Wannenburg, 19 Deon Stegmann, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.
Boland: 15 Llewellyn Adonis, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Hein Myburgh, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Cornal Hendricks, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Junior Bester, 7 David Hendricks, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Rito Hlungwane, 4 Nico Esterhuyse, 3 Kobie Adriaanse, 2 Conrad Burke (c), 1 Jané du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Johan Roets, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Wendal Wehr, 20 Danie van der Merwe, 21 Lionel Cornelius, 22 Ernie Kruger.
Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)
Referee: Joey Salmans
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Free State Cheetahs v Sharks
Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
The Free State Cheetahs will be desperate to secure their first Currie Cup win this season. The hosts have already suffered defeats to Western Province, the Lions and the Griquas while the Sharks will be brimming with confidence following their victory over the Blue Bulls last Friday.
The Cheetahs have had a knack for throwing the form book out the window and making life difficult for the Sharks in recent times, and the men in orange will be hoping the trend continues.
The Durban team will be boosted with the inclusion of Springbok number eight Ryan Kankowski, who has been released from Springbok duty. Keegan Daniel will ride the bench as a result.
Scrum-half Rory Kockott will also start after being cleared of foul play at a citing hearing on Wednesday.
However, there are injury concerns surrounding Odwa Ndungane, Michael Rhodes and Deon Carstens, and all three players have been bracketed in the match-day 22. If Carstens can't make the trip, Pat Cilliers will play at loosehead prop with promising Wiehahn Herbst starting at tighthead.
Guy Cronje is back from his one week suspension and will start at fly-half. Juan Martin Hernandez won't be on the bus to Bloemfontein - coach John Plumtree has given him an extra week to get fit after a long lay-off.
Free State Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske has made two changes to his team with number eight Frans Viljoen and Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe included in the starting XV.
Nokwe get the nod ahead of Lionel Mapoe, who returns to the Free State under 21 side this week. After the kick-fest at Newlands last week, Nokwe's return suggests the Cheetahs will be looking to send the ball through the backs' hand a little more this week.
Viljoen will add a physical edge to the Cheetahs back row as he comes in for the Johan Wessels, who has a thigh injury. Izak van der Westhuizen will take Viljoen's place on the bench.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corné Uys, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Tertius Carse, 8 Francois Uys, 7 Hendro Scholtz (c), 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 JP Joubert, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 JW Jonker.
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (c), 14 Odwa Ndungane/Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Guy Cronje, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Patric Cilliers/Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens/Patric Cilliers.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Wiehahn Herbst/Dale Chadwick, 18 Michael Rhodes/Nikolai Blignaut, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Waylon Murray.
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Willie Roos