Currie Cup, Round 13 - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: With the top two positions on the Currie Cup log are all but sewn up, the battle for the other two spots in the semifinals will move up in intensity this weekend.
Griquas, Sharks and the Pumas are all in a race to reach the top four.
Two Currie Cup fixtures take place on Friday, with the action kicking off at 16.00 (14.00 GMT) in Stellenbosch where Western Province host Griquas at the Danie Craven Stadium, followed by the clash in Bloemfontein between the Cheetahs and the Pumas, which starts at 18.00 (16.00 GMT).
The Sharks host the Lions in Saturday’s only game at the Kings Park in Durban, which starts at 17.00 (15.00 GMT).
The Bulls, who are the defending champions and current log leaders, have a bye this weekend.
In the penultimate round of league matches this season, WP will attempt to atone for last week’s 10-33 away loss to the Lions by delivering a winning performance against the high-flying Griquas.
The Northern Cape side delivered the shock result of last weekend’ action when they outplayed the Cheetahs 46-18 to end the Free Staters’ run of nine consecutive wins. That win also pushed them up into third place with 26 points from five wins in 10 games.
The Cape outfit have struggled to find their rhythm this season, winning only twice in 10 outings, so they will be under pressure to deliver a successful result against the hard-running visitors. Apart from their current superior league position, the men from Kimberley will also feel confident having won the previous three meetings between the two sides, stretching back to last July.
The white and blue hooped jerseys suffered a narrow 20-22 defeat in the two teams’ fourth-round fixture played in February in Kimberley, and Jerome Paarwater’s side will be determined to make amends for that on Friday in Stellenbosch. The last time WP won this fixture was in January 2020, by a score of 34-17 in Cape Town.
Despite heading to Cape Town as firm favourites, Griquas coach Pieter Bergh warned his team about the dangers of being overconfident.
"The confidence is there, however, we have seen in this tournament when the team has had a good victory and then the next week they lose a game everyone expected them to win.
"So, we had a lot of talks and we don't want to be overconfident and become arrogant.
"However the players' minds are in the right place and heads are in good space and we look forward to match on Friday."
He added: "We are three wins in a row against the WP and we have not forgotten what their management said about the defeats. I think they labelled it as an embarrassment.
"So, we know how they feel about us, however, we are not focused on that.
"We know if we beat them, we will get the chance to go to the semifinals.
"WP can't qualify for the semifinal anymore, which makes them dangerous because there is no pressure, so we have to be ready for a Province team who will play for a lot of pride."
WP head coach Jerome Paarwater admitted Friday's fixture is going to be an uphill battle.
"Griquas are on a high, it is not any team that can give Cheetahs a hiding, so it is going to be very tough," Paarwater said.
"We have lost a lot of weight in the scrums, losing both locks is a major challenge but we will have to manage it."
WP captain Tim Swiel added: "The Griquas have a good pack and we should just stick to our discipline and not give too many penalties away because I think that will give them a chance to maul and their maul is strong.
"Having said that, our pack stood up against the Lions last week, so if we can get some good momentum from last week's game we will be good."
Meanwhile, both the Cheetahs and Pumas tasted defeat during last weekend’s dramatic round.
The side from Bloemfontein saw their nine-game winning run clipped by Griquas, while the 14-man Pumas lost 26-31 in Pretoria, where the Bulls staged a successful second-half comeback.
The Free Staters rule this fixture having won four of their previous five – the latest by a margin of 28-17 in February when they met in Nelspruit. The men from Mpumalanga’s only success during this time was last August, which was a 28-19 win in Nelspruit.
"We have as much to play for or even more than the Pumas," Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie said.
"We disappointed ourselves and the supporters last week, so we have to come back strong and we have an opportunity this Friday.
"It is a home game and we want to put in a big performance and turn the tables around."
Captain Ruan Pienaar will play in his 50th cap for the Cheetahs, which will be added motivation for the team.
"It is a very proud day for the family," Pienaar said, adding: "I think my dad [Gysie Pienaar] played like more than a 100 games for the Cheetahs so it is nice to be back at home.
"However, as coach Hawies said, there are more important things than my 50th cap. We let ourselves down last week and we would like to rectify all the mistakes."
In Saturday’s only fixture, staged in Durban, hosts the Sharks return to action after a bye the previous round. The Durbanites and the Lions have each won twice during their previous five-game stretch against each other, with one cancelled game in-between. The coastal side won 45-31 in Johannesburg the last time they met in February.
However, the Joburg outfit will be buoyed by their first win of the campaign last week at home against WP. A second win won’t come easy against a quality Sharks side stacked with experience and equally eager to win in order to safeguard their position in the top-four.
Friday, June 3
Western Province v Griquas
(Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch - Kick-off: 16.00; 14.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Griquas by 10 points
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Timothy Swiel (captain), 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Ben-Jason Dixon, 4 Simon Miller, 3 Sazi Sandi, 2 Jacques van Zyl, 1 Ali Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Hilton Lobberts, 20 Shaine Orderson, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 23 Ebenezer Tshimanga.
Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Alex-Zander Du Plessis, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Sibabalo Qoma, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Simon Westraadt,, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Werner Gouws, 21 Stefan Ungerer, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Christopher Hollis.
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant Referees: Stephan Geldenhuys, Local
TMO: Marius Jonker
Cheetahs v Pumas
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein - Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by seven points
Teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Chris Smith, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar (captain), 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Replacements: 16 Marius van der Merwe, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Marne Coetzee, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Mihlali Mosi , 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 David Brits
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Tapiwa Mafura, 13 Sebastian de Klerk, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Jade Stinghling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Kwanda Dimaza, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Aliqhayiya Mgijima, 23 Diego Appollis.
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant referees: Dylen November and Clearance Khumalo
TMO: Quinton Immelman.
Saturday, June 4
Sharks vs Lions
(Kings Park, Durban - Kick-off: 17.00; 15.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Lions by five points
Teams:
Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Marnus Potgieter, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Joaquin Bonilla, 9 Mthokozisi Mkhabela, 8 Mpilo Gumede, 7 Jeandre Labuschagne, 6 James Venter (captain), 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Thembelani Bholi, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Kwezi Mona, 18 Keagan Glade, 19 OJ Noa, 20 Nick Hatton, 21 Geraldo Jaars, 22 Jordan Chait, 23 Siviwe Zondani.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Henco Van Wyk, 12 Matt More, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Emmanual Tshituka, 7 Francke Horn, 6 Vincent Tshituka, 5 Reinhard Nothnagel (captain), 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Morne Brandon, 1 JP Smith.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Sti Sithole, 18 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 19 Jarod Cairns, 20 Sbibusiso Sangweni, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Jordon Hendrikse, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: AM Jacobs, Local
TMO: Egon Seconds
@rugby365com
*Additional Source: SA Rugby