Bulls v Griquas - teams and prediction

FRIDAY PREVIEW: The Bulls will be chasing a rare hat-trick of titles when they host a tricky Griquas team in the first Currie Cup semifinal at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.

Only three teams - Western Province, the Bulls and Cheetahs have managed to win three or more successive titles.

However, Griquas are determined to add a new chapter to the competition's legend and lore by turning the clock back more than five decades.

It was in 1970 when a team of true 'cinderellas' relied on the attacking skills of their backs - who later became Springbok legends - to upstage the mighty, Springbok-laden Northern Transvaal in the Final.

However, the Griquas class of 2022 have to overcome the 'Pretoria hurdle' in the semifinal.

Centre Sango Xamlashe made no secret of the fact that Griquas are backing their 'attacking prowess', adding that they showed what they are capable of with a second-half comeback in a 38-48 loss in their most recent trip to Loftus, last month.

Xamlashe admitted the five-decade drought in South Africa's premier domestic competition has come up in team discussions this week.

It was against Northern Transvaal (now Bulls) in 1970 that Griquas claimed the last of their three Currie Cup titles, with an 11-9 win in Kimberley.

That team included legends of the game like Piet Visagie, Mannetjies Roux (the captain on the day), Buddy Swartz, Piet van Deventer, Peet Smith )the flank that kicked the match-winning penalty from inside his own half), Tos Smith and Joggie Viljoen - to name just a few.

The class of 2022 hope to add a new chapter to the Kimberley outfit's storied history by reaching the final for the first time in five decades.

"You draw a lot of inspiration from what your team has done historically," Xamlashe told @rugby365com.

"It motivates the guys to be part of [making] history.

"It is definitely something we have mentioned this week and top create our own legacy and write our own story."

He said only a few of them are still alive, so it would be great to show those guys Griquas can repeat the heroics of 1970.

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Bulls coach Gert Smal is well aware of the danger posed by the visitors, adding that they have their own 'historical motivation' driving them.

"It has been a highly competitive season of Currie Cup with no easy games," Smal said.

"It now gets even tougher in the knockout stages, and we are expecting what could potentially be the toughest match so far.

"Griquas are always motivated when they visit Loftus, and they will even be hungrier now that they are a step closer to the Final.

"We have had to work hard this week following the [5-35] defeat to the Cheetahs last week.

"We will need an improved performance. We hope to give our supporters something to smile about in what is a big weekend for the Bulls."

He expects the set pieces and discipline to be key.

"They will come at us through their mauls," Smal said, adding that was an aspect they worked hard on in the build-up to Friday's outing.

Countering Griquas' high-tempo game will require a step up on defence, after leaking four tries inside the first half-hour against the Cheetahs last week.

"As the saying goes, defence wins you trophies," the coach said.

"We know they can pick up the tempo in the latter part of the game and that is the challenge we face."

He said 'accuracy in execution' is another key aspect if they are to achieve their goal of reaching the Final.

Griquas coach Pieter Bergh admitted that getting their 'attack' going is key for them, as they did in the second-half comeback at Loftus - when utility back Zander du Plessis came off the bench to pull the strings at flyhalf.

Du Plessis, one of the form players for the Kimberley out, will combine with midfielders Rynhardt Jonker and Sango Xamlashe in a potent attacking force.

"They blew us away with the speed and intensity they played in the first minutes," he said of their clash at Loftus last month - which saw the Bulls take a 36-5 half-time lead, before Griquas a gallant Griquas team scored five second-half tries in a 38-48 loss.

"We made some tactical changes at half-time," he said of their previous trip to Loftus, adding: "Since then we have increased the tempo and intensity of our game.

"I don't think we'll be caught napping again," he said of a Bulls side described as 'flippen good'.

He added that "belief and confidence" are two key words for the visitors.

"We have momentum and have scored 26 tries in our last four matches," he said, adding that they want to be the first team since 1970 to take Griquas to a Currie Cup Final.

Prediction

@rugby365com: The Bulls by eight points

Teams

Bulls: 15 Richard Kriel, 14 Tharquinn Manuel, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 11 Stedman Gans, 10 Juan Mostert, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Muller Uys, 7 Ruan Delport, 6 Jaco Labuschagne, 5 Reinhardt Ludwig, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Lizo Gqoboka (captain).

Replacements: 16 Sidney Tobias, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Willie Potgieter, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Niel Beukes, 23 Quewin Nortje.

Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Luther Obi, 10 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 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.

Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Andries Schutte, 19 Cameron Lindsay, 20 Werner Gouws, 21 Fiela Boshoff, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Christopher Hollis

Date: Friday, June 17

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Kick-off: 19.00 (17.00 GMT)

Referee: Griffin Colby

Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Phumzile Mbewu

TMO: Ben Crouse

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