Currie Cup, Round Seven - Teams and Predictions
BUSINESS END: The first-placed Cheetahs will be aiming for their sixth straight win of the 2022 Currie Cup campaign when they tackle the Sharks in another important clash in Durban on Wednesday.
Defending champions, the Bulls will be hoping to build on last week’s win when they travel down the N1 to Johannesburg to face the Lions in a Jukskei derby.
A clash between Western Province and the Pumas in Cape Town complete the midweek fixture list, with Griquas enjoying a bye.
The game at Stadium will get the proceedings underway and that will be followed by the match at Kings Park between the Sharks and the Cheetahs.
The Jukskei derby between the Lions and Bulls at Ellis Park will conclude Wednesday's action.
In the first match of the day in Cape Town, WP will be determined to land a second win after falling to four losses in their previous five outings.
After spending some time on the road, the Capetonians now have three back-to-back home matches and will be hoping that home ground advantage will lead to better results, starting with the Pumas on Wednesday.
In their two meetings last season, the Cape side beat the Lowvelders 37-23 in Nelspruit, while the sides played out to an exciting 40-40 draw in the Mother City.
The encounter is very crucial for both teams, as WP found themselves fifth on the log and Pumas are in sixth place.
"In terms of where we are on the log, both teams will want to get points," WP captain Nama Xaba said, adding: "They [Pumas] brought a heavy pack to Cape Town and would want to get some ascendancy from that, but we will look to play to our strength."
WP made just one change to the starting XV, with Godlen Masimla starting at scrumhalf.
Jimmy Stonehouse's team show five changes. Chriswill September starts at scrumhalf in place of Lucky Dlepu in the only change to the backline.
Stalwart Darrien Landsberg returns after a long injury lay-off and starts at lock in place of Malembe Mpofu.
The front row has been completely re-jigged.
"They are a quality side, very physical," WP head coach Jerome Paarwater said when asked what does he expect from the men from Nelspruit.
"The Pumas picked a very heavy pack of forwards and changed their backline. Lucky Dlepu is not playing so it means they would want to play more of a kicking game.
"They also incredibly good at playing the ball out wide."
He added: "However we are well prepared for anything. "
Hawies Fourie’s Cheetahs – the only unbeaten side left in the competition – are enjoying a rich vein of form which gained them five straight wins, with the latest a solid 24-17 triumph over WP in Bloemfontein.
However, the Sharks will be looking to their double dose of wins last year over the Free Staters as motivation for their intention to bounce back from last week’s 21-35 loss in Pretoria.
In 2021, the team from KwaZulu-Natal ran out winners 38-31 and 47-30 against the Cheetahs. However, the Cheetahs – with experienced Springboks Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar in sublime form and fit-again Clayton Blommetjies now back at fullback – are a far more dangerous proposition this season.
"It's nice to have a few stalwarts back," Cheetahs coach Fourie said.
"We've had some injuries and Covid cases in the camp which was a bit disruptive and it probably contributed to our poor performance against Province - despite the win.
"Our planning has been such that we target being unbeaten in this section of the Currie and we owe it to ourselves to end on a good note in Durban."
Sharks coach Ettiene Fynn believes if his side take their opportunities they will find some shortcomings in the Cheetahs set-up.
"I'm hesitant to say it's a must-win because every game has to be taken on its merit," Fynn said.
"We certainly want to secure points and will go out to win. There will be opportunities against the Cheetahs and if we take them, we should have a positive result."
He added: "We have a decent side with quality individuals and it doesn't really matter the opposition, all it matters is our intent."
On current form, the Bulls should have the measure of their Gauteng neighbours in Johannesburg. The defending champions are placed nicely in second spot on the log with only one loss in five games, while the Lions are still hunting their first win of 2022.
Last year, the men in the light-blue jerseys won their two fixtures between the sides 48-21 and 40-21 respectively. Springbok prop Lizo Gqoboka will lead an otherwise youthful-looking Bulls against the Lions in Johannesburg.
And it seems like the Lions are targeting this match to turn their season around.
"The Currie Cup is very difficult, especially with the two tournaments [URC and Currie Cup] running at the same time, it is easy for the teams with the bigger squad.
"However, we have to make the best with what we have.
"Think the guys are really keen to turn the season around and to their best.
" We know the Bulls have been doing well, but we are looking forward to a good performance from our guys and we know a step up is possible."
Despite fielding a very youthful team, Bulls coach Gert Smal revealed he does not underestimate the winless Lions.
"They [Lions] will be desperate," Smal told reporters.
"They have talented players. They love to play with the ball in hand and definitely like to go wide.
"They are very solid at the breakdown, so we have to make keep possession and attack well."
Wednesday, March 23
Western Province v Pumas
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town - Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: WP by 15 points
Teams
Western Province: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Nama Xaba (captain), 5 Ben-Jason Dixon, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 JJ Kotze, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Ali Vermaak, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 Simon Miller, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Timothy Swiel, 23 Rikus Pretorius.
Pumas: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Sebastain de Klerk, 13 Alwayno Visagie, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht (captain), 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Shane Kirkwood, 4 Darrien Landsberg, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Etienne Janeke, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Lucky Dlepu, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Devon Williams.
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant Referees: Dylen November, Local
TMO: Marius Jonker
Sharks v Cheetahs
(Kings Park, Durban - Kick-off: 17.45; 15.45 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by five points
Teams
Sharks: 15 Jordan Chait, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Jeremy Ward, 12 Ethan Fisher, 11 Curwin Gertse, 10 Joaquin Diaz Bonilla, 9 Cameron Wright, 8 Celimpilo Gumede, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 James Venter (captain), 5 Hyron Andrews, 4 Emile van Heerden, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Fezokuhle Mbatha, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Braam Reyneke, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 Jeandre Labusagne, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 OJ Noha, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Lloyd Koster
Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar (Captain), 8 Mihlali Mosi, 7 Andisa Ntsila, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Aidon Davis, 3 Marne Coetzee, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Ockie Barnard, 20 Jeandré Rudolph, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Robert Ebersohn
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant Referees: Christopher Alison, local referee
TMO: Quinton Immelman
Lions v Bulls
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg - Kick-off: 20.00; 18.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by five points
Lions: 15 EW Viljoen, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 James Molentze, 12 Luke Rossouw, 11 Zeilinga Strydom, 10 James Tedder, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Cal Smid, 7 Lindo Ncusane, 6 Mark Snyman, 5 Simon Dionisio, 4 Lunga Ncube, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (captain), 2 Morne Brandon, 1 Kayden Kiewit.
Replacements: 16 Ebot Buma, 17 Jacque-Lois du Toit, 18 Chergin Fillies/Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Connor Van Buuren, 20 Sasko Ndlovu, 21 Jurich Claasens, 22 Tyler Bocks, 23 Fred Zeilinga/ Vaughen Isaacs.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stravino Jacobs, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Bernard van der Linde, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Werner Gouws, 6 WJ Steenkamp, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Schalk Erasmus, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain).
Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Cebo Dlamini, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Delport 20 Jaco Labuschagne, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Morne Steyn, 23 James Verity-Amm
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Paul Mente, Local
TMO: Egon Seconds