Currie Cup Round Eight - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: The two top teams in the Currie Cup, the Pumas and Cheetahs, will be out to put daylight between them and the rest of the field this weekend.
The defending champions (Pumas) extended their lead when they edged Western Province in Nelspruit last week, and may be favourites to topple the Lions when they travel to Johannesburg on Friday. The Pumas won the previous match-up 34-27 in Mpumalanga.
The Lions have been bolstered by eleven stars who are no longer required for United Rugby Championship duty and will be desperate to bounce back. These include names like Ruan Dreyer, Ruben Schoeman, Francke Horn, Morne van den Berg, Gianni Lombard, Sibahle Maxwane, Manuel Rass and Andries Coetzee in the starting line-up.
Lock Darrien Landsberg will once again come face-to-face with his former team. The versatile forward still rates the Currie Cup highly and believes it remains a massive platform with a lot to play for.
“The URC players coming down is a massive boost and they have bought into what we want to do. The Pumas are playing like defending champions but that being said, when we do play, we can play seriously dangerous rugby,” Landsberg concluded.
Some players have earned a well deserved rest which include Edwill van der Merwe, Sanele Nohamba, Marius Louw, PJ Botha, Asenathi Ntlabakanye and Quan Horn while Willem Alberts, Emmanuel Tshituka, Reinhard Nothnagel and Henco van Wyk were not available due to injuries.
The Cheetahs went down to the Sharks in Bloemfontein last week, and may have a point to prove when they host the Griffons in the Free State Derby this Friday.
It will be a special occasion for Cheetahs loose-forward Teboho ‘Oupa’ Mohojé as he reaches the milestone of his 100th cap in a Cheetah jersey.
Ruan Pienaar moves to the bench as Rewan Kruger gets a run at scrumhalf. The wings are Munier Hartzenberg and Andell Loubser.
Janus Venter, Jean Droste and George Lourens are new to the bench.
Cheetahs forwards coach Izan van der Westhuizen is of the opinion that the bruising loss to the Sharks last weekend was a timely wake-up call for his charges.
“We fell asleep at the wheel in that clash and I think I have now woken up. Sometimes a team needs a wake-up call like that.
“With the Griffons it's always a bit personal. I think the Griffons have grown a lot throughout this competition. Physically up front they’ve come a long way and we’re in for a good fight this Friday.”
A win against the bottom-placed side will ensure that Hawies Fourie’s charges stay in touch with the Airlink Pumas at the top of the standings. The game will mark Springbok flanker Oupa Mohoje’s 100th appearance for the team.
As things stand, only five points separate the teams ranked third and seventh on the Premier Division table.
The Cheetahs romped to a 52-12 win over the Northern Free State outfit earlier in the tournament. However, the Purple People Eaters have progressed since then, and claimed a four-try bonus point in their recent defeat to Griquas.
Griquas will be without Kudzwai Dube, who had his hearing on Thursday after an ugly spitting incident, while Rosko Specman will also sit this encounter out due to an injury he picked up against the Griffons last weekend. Zander du Plessis suffered a groin injury which will keep him out for the remainder of the Currie Cup.
The Bulls have enjoyed a great run of form over the past few weeks, winning three matches on the bounce. Another victory this weekend will catapult the Pretoria-based side into the top four on the Premier Division log.
Friday, 28 April
Lions v Pumas
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 17:00; 15:00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Pumas by 12 points
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee; 14 Prince Nkabine, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Sibahle Maxwane, 10 Gianni Lombard, 9 Morne van den Berg, 8 Francke Horn, 7 Travis Gordon, 6 JC Pretorius, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), Rhynhardt Runsburger.
Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Kayden Kiewit, 18 Ruan Smith, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 Ruhan Straeuli, 21 Nico Steyn, 22 Vaughen Isaccs, 23 Stean Pienaar.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Jade Stighling, 13 Stefan Coetzee, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Lundi Msenge, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Ruwald van der Merwe, 7 Andre Fouche, 6 Jaco Labuschagne, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Njabulo Gumede, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Cameron Dawson.
Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Simon Raw, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Franna Kleinhans, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Andrew Kota
Referee: AM Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Archie Sehlako
Cheetahs v Griffons
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 19:05; 17:05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 20 points
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Andell Loubser, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain ), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Arnanos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jean Droste, 20 George Cronje, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23George Lourens
Griffons: 15 Duren Hoffman, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 CJ Coetzee, 12 Marquit September, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Robbie Petzer, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Jean Pretorius, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 HP van Schoor, 1 Xolani Jacobs
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Doctor Booysen, 19 Michael Benadie, 20 Thato Mavundla, 21 Jaywinn Juries, 22 Duan Pretorius, 23 Keanu Vers
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant referees: Johre Botha and Jason Marrow
TMO: Ben Crouse
Saturday, 29 April
Sharks v Griquas
(Kings Park, Durban – Kick-off: 13:30; 11:30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Sharks by 19 points
Sharks: 15 Thaakir Abrahams, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Joshua Jonas, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Marnus Potgieter, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Ockie Barnard, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Khwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Marco de Witt, 20 Damon Royle, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Fred Zeilinga, 23 Murray Koster.
Griquas:15 Jay-Cee Nel, 14 Sako Makato, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Eddie Fouche, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Harnu Sirgel (captain), 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Johan Retief, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Cebo Dlamini.
Replacements: 16 Sean Swart, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Niel Otto, 21 Reagan Orange, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Ashlon Davids
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Quinton Immelman
Saturday, 29 April
Western Province v Bulls
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town – Kick-off: 18:30; 16:30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by 12 points
WP: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Luke Burger, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis (captain), 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Marcel Theunissen, 6 Willie Engelbrecht, 5 Connor Evans, 4 Dylan de Leeuw, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Andre-Hugo Venter, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Gary Porter, 20 Adre Smith, 21 Junior Pokomela, 22 Thomas Bursey, 23 Damian Markus.
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Wandisile Simelane, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 David Kriel, 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig (captain), 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Janko Swanepoel, 4 Charlie Ewels, 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Simphiwe Matanzima, 17 Johan Grobbelaar, 18 Mornay Smith, 19 Ruan Vermaak, 20 Cyle Brink, 21 Embrose Papier, 22 Chris Smith, 23 Harold Vorster.
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Marius Jonker