Currie Cup, Round 10 - teams and predictions
SATURDAY PREVIEW: The Bulls are in 'survival' mode, putting all their eggs into the Currie Cup basket.
Like the Sharks, the Bulls were eliminated from the United Rugby Championship and European Cup in recent weeks and are now looking at the Currie Cup for some redemption.
They have also struggled on the domestic scene and are sitting second from last with just five rounds of league action remaining.
Not surprisingly Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White has named a formidable team loaded with players who have extensive experience of the two European competitions.
The team is captained by URC/Euro Cup skipper Ruan Nortje, with several other Springboks in the pack - Marcell Coetzee, Nizaam Carr and Elrigh Louw.
White made no excuse for falling back on his most senior players.
"The only way we are going to survive and make the play-offs is to select our strongest team and play our best rugby," White said after naming the team on Friday.
"We don't have the luxury to leave our destiny in the hands of other teams.
"We have to win all five the remaining [league] games," he said adding that they have some way to make up in the play-off race.
It is also a period of 'experimentation' for the Bulls' coaching staff.
However, he dismissed the notion that some players are fighting for 'contracts'.
"We could have restructured our preparation for the Currie Cup differently.
"However, some players' contracts are coming to an end and we need change top get some 'new' energy into the team.
"Some players have done well and some have fallen a little behind.
"Some players want to join other franchises and some want to move abroad.
"It is a work in progress."
Griquas forwards coach Barend Pieters said the team played some of their best rugby of the season in the early stages of their win over the Lions last week, but consistency for 80 minutes will be required against a charged-up Bulls team.
"It is something we talk about," he said about the decision-making under pressure, adding: "In the heat of the moment things happen."
(Article continues below the Jake White interview...)
* With just five rounds remaining before the play-offs, the Cheetahs are looking to cement their slender lead at the top of the standings - just a point clear of the second-placed Pumas, who lost to the third-placed Sharks on Friday.
The Cheetahs host the Lions in Bloemfontein on Saturday and head into this match with confidence after winning their last two matches.
They also handed the men from Johannesburg a 52-15 defeat the last time the two sides met in the fifth round.
An upset win for the Lions would boost their play-off prospects, possibly leading to more movement at the top of the log.
Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie made a number of charges to his team, the most significant naming Reinhardt Fortuin to start at flyhalf in place of an out-of-form Siyamthanda Masuku.
Cohen Jasper moves from fullback to left wing, replacing the injured Munier Hartzenberg. Tapiwa Mafura will wear the No.15 jersey.
The centres are Robert Ebersohn and David Brits.
With only two home games remaining, the Cheetahs will be looking for a full-house five points.
"We haven't played well at home, so we have to rectify that," Fourie said, adding: "We have to get as many points as we can against the Lions and Griquas at home."
Their away games against the Sharks and Bulls will see them face URC-loaded opposition.
"We have to look after our own destiny and perform very well this weekend."
With rain predicted for Saturday, the Cheetahs may also have to 'adjust' their tactics.
"We've had two games in the rain now, so we know how to make that adjustment," he added.
It also helped that they did a lot of preparation for 'wet-weather' games during their build-up to the Challenge Cup competition in Europe.
The Lions team remains a mix between Currie Cup and URC regulars - with injuries ruling out players like Marius Louw, Reinhard Nothnagel and Willem Alberts, while Jean-Pierre Smith, Jordan Hendrikse and Henco van Wyk are on the road to recovery but not yet available.
Ruan Venter slots in at lock alongside Ruben Schoeman.
However, the most significant selection is Sanele Nohamba at flyhalf, with Morné van den Berg at scrumhalf.
The backline sees the introduction of Edwill van den Merwe and Quan Horn.
All Saturday's teams and predictions follow below ...
Cheetahs v Lions
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein - Kick-off: 13.00; 11.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by eight points
Teams
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 George Cronjé, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Nqobisizwe Mxoli, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Friedle Olivier, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Evardi Boshoff, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 George Lourens.
Lions: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Sibahle Maxwane, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Edwill van der Merwe, 10 Sanele Nohamba, 9 Morné van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Emmanuel Tshituka, 6 Johannes Pretorius, 5 Ruben Schoeman, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Rhynardt Rijnsburger.
Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Stean Pienaar, 23 Andries Coetzee.
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Griquas v Bulls
(Griqua Park, Kimberley - Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by 15 points
Teams
Griquas: 15 Ashlon Davids, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Sako Makata, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Dylan Sjöblom, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Sango Xamlashe.
Bulls: 15 David Kriel, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Nizaam Carr, '6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Ruan Nortje (captain), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 17 Simphiwe Matanzima, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Charlie Ewels, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Chris Barend Smit, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant referees: Local appointments
TMO: Ben Crouse
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