Currie Cup, Round Five - Teams and Predictions
PREVIEW: The Easter Weekend will serve up a sweet dose of Currie Cup action as the fifth round of matches are spread over three days, from Friday to Sunday.
First up, the Bulls, who will be desperate to get a first win under their belt when they host Griquas on Friday at Loftus Versfeld.
The team from Pretoria has faltered in all four of their games to date, including last week to the Griffons in Welkom, and as a result, they have made some changes to their coaching set-up, with Director of Rugby Jake White taking the reins.
Later on Friday, the Sharks welcome holders and current league leaders, the Pumas, to Kings Park in Durban, hoping to bounce back from their 22-34 loss to the Lions last week in Johannesburg.
There is only one fixture taking place on Saturday, when Western Province faces the Griffons at the Cape Town Stadium in Cape Town, with a late kick-off scheduled so that the match doesn’t clash with the Stormers’ quarterfinal in the Champions Cup in England.
The Sunday meeting between Lions and Cheetahs should make for a cracking affair when these two sides lock horns at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.
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White to get Bulls running
In the first match over the Easter weekend, the newly reinstated White will field a full-strength Bulls team as they look to register their first win in this campaign of the Currie Cup.
The side features mostly players who did duty in the Champions Cup knockouts game last weekend.
Springboks duo Kurt-Lee Arendse and Canan Moodie are part of the starting line-up, with scrumhalf Embrose Papier, No.8 Elrigh Louw and captain Ruan Nortje all making a return.
BlitsBoks Stedman Gans is in the midfield, with the likes of veterans Bismarck du Plessis, Nizaam Carr and Cornal Hendricks on the bench.
"This is the best team we can put on the field," Bulls Director of Rugby Jake White said, adding: "It is a must-win game.
"It is an opportunity for us to get some points on the board on the Currie Cup and keep our campaign alive.
"I can't expect that they [the players] won't be up for it and if they are not then we have to find ways in which we change those guys or we find ways to get the best out of them."
"We need to get some momentum at the back end of this competition."
Despite the vast changes, the struggling Pretoria outfit will also be mindful of the fact that when their Kimberley opponents last ran out at Loftus Versfeld, in the 2022 semifinal, the visitors from the Northern Cape won by 30-19.
The Bulls do however have a slight edge over their last five games by virtue of three wins.
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Pumas go Shark hunting
The defending Currie Cup champions Pumas face the Sharks in Duban on Friday.
The Pumas head to Durban off the back of a successful season so far, continuing their good form of last year when they won the domestic title for the first time.
They have won all four of their fixtures to date and head to Durban off the back of an impressive 61-21 victory over the Free State Cheetahs last weekend.
The Sharks, currently in fourth position on the eight-team table, will be looking for a strong showing on Friday. They were impressive in their first-half effort against the Lions last weekend and the previous round put one over their coastal rivals, Western Province.
Head coach of the Sharks Currie Cup side, Joey Mongalo, has made a number of changes to his team this week, starting with Dian Bleuler replacing Khwezi Mona in the front row and then lock Ockie Barnard coming in for Corne Rahl who shifts to the flank in place of Jeandre Labuschagne in the final change to the pack.
Amongst the backs, Tiaan Fourie makes a start after playing off the bench, replacing Bradley Davids at scrumhalf while Anothony Volmink comes in on the wing with Marnus Potgieter playing at outside centre and Murray Koster taking over from the injured Francois Venter at inside centre.
Nevaldo Fleurs is in for Yaw Penxe at fullback and is the final change to the starting XV.
The experienced Reniel Hugo leads the team in this clash.
"The Pumas are unbeaten, so if you looking for a proper challenge this is it," Mongalo said.
"We take pride in playing at Kings Park and look forward to taking on the unbeaten Pumas."
"They are a well-coached team, very set-piece dominant and a very long kicking game with Tinus de Beer and Devon Williams.
"They are the most complete team in the competition, but we have looked at one or two things that give us an opportunity to attack them."
WP to avoid defeat No.3
On Saturday, WP will be very wary of the Griffons’ liking for scoring points early in the first half. The purple jerseys have done it in all four games so far, including last week’s memorable win in Welkom over the Bulls.
Meanwhile, WP is still hurting from conceding 32 points with no reply at home against Griquas last weekend, while the side from Welkom will be full of confidence as a result of their victory over the Currie Cup champions of 2020 and 2021.
“The Griffons are quite a well-balanced team," WP Currie Cup coach Labeeb Levy said.
"They are a unit and are not a bad rugby team, although they came up from the First Division.
“What they’ve done the last three to four games, it’s gone very well – except for the Cheetahs, who knocked them out of the park. They were leading against the Sharks and Lions, and are having a good tournament.
“They were always in the game, for about 65 to 70 minutes, and they beat the Bulls at the weekend, so, we know we are in for a game-and-a-half.
"They have players like Jamba Ulengo and some real 'hardebaarde' [tough guys] and their pack is quite huge. Jaco Willemse, who used to play for us, is the size of Kobus Wiese, and has his threats and weaknesses.
“So, we know we’re in for it, and are trying to plan and prepare our team accordingly… Where we want to play the game, the set phase will be part of the challenge, and how we want to execute our general game and general attack, and structure our attack to manipulate them."
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The Catfight
The weekend’s action will conclude on Sunday when the Lions and the Cheetahs clash in Johannesburg.
The Highvelders hold the advantage in their last five games with three wins, a loss and an incredible 44-44 draw.
The Free Staters head to Johannesburg as firm favourites. Cheetahs head coach Hawies Fourie have the luxury of fielding an unchanged backline that face Toulon in the Challenge Cup last weekend.
The coach made some changes in the pack with Daniel Maartens starting at flank, and Gideon van der Merwe being rested.
Marko Janse van Rensburg starts at hooker and Alulutho Tshakweni will start at loosehead prop.
"I don't think the quick turnaround from Challenge Cup to Currie Cup or travelling from France to South Africa will have an impact on our performance," Cheetahs captain Victor Sekekete said.
"As we got back, the coaches managed us properly and we did a little bit of flush out, so I think body wise and recovery we are fresh
"And mentally we already set the bar so we are keen to get back to Currie Cup action."
Meanwhile, the Lions will field a very inexperienced team with the side taking on Glasgow Warriors in the Challenge Cup quarterfinal fixture.
All the Round Five teams and predictions are below …
Friday, April 7
Bulls vs Griquas
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - Kick-off 17.00; 15.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by five points
Teams:
Bulls: 15 Kurt-Lee Arendse, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Harold Vorster, 11 David Kriel, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Embrose Papier, 8 Elrigh Louw, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marco van Staden, 5 Ruan Nortje (c), 4 Ruan Vermaak, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Johan Grobbelaar, 1 Gerhard Steenekamp.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Janko Swanepoel, 20 Nizaam Carr, 21 Keagan Johannes, 22 Johan Goosen, 23 Cornal Hendricks.
Griquas: 15 Lubabalo Dobela, 14 Rocko Specman, 13 Jay-Cee Nel, 12 Eddie Fouche, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Carl Els, 7 Hanru Sirgel (captain), 6 Stephan Smit, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Eddie Davids.
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Kudzwai Dube, 18 Janu Botha, 19 Michael Amiras, 20 Neil Otto, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Sango Xamlashe, 23 Sako Makata
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Christopher Allison
Sharks v Pumas
(Kings Park, Durban - Kick-off: 19.05; 17.05 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Pumas by 15 points
Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Phikolomzi Sobahle, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Murray Koster, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Tiaan Fourie, 8 James Venter, 7 Corne Rahl, 6 Thembelani Bholi, 5 Reniel Hugo (captain), 4 Ockie Barnard, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Dian Bleuler.
Replacements: 16 Dameon Venter, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Weihahn Herbst, 19 Marco de Witt, 20 Tinotenda Mavesere, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Josh Jonas.
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Etienne Taljaard, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Jade Stinghling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Francois Kleinhans, 6 Andre Fouche, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 PJ Jacobs, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Juice Gumede, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Stefan Coetzee.
Referee: Paul Mente
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Quinton Immelman
Saturday, April 8
Western Province v Griffons
(Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town - Kick-off: 20.30; 18.30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: WP by three points
Teams:
Western Province: 15 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Bruce Sherwood, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Armand Maritz, 6 Paul de Villiers, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Matthew Coenraad, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Jarrod Taylor, 21 Imad Khan, 22 Damian Markus, 23 Tom Nel.
Griffons: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Carl-Jan Coetzee, 12 Marquit September, 11 Randy Fielies, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Jaywinn Juries, 8 Sokuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Ludio Williams, 6 Jean Pretorius, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Dandre Delport, 1 Stephan de Jager.
Replacements - from: 16 Hendrik van Schoor, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Curtly Thomas, 21 Mitchell Carstens, 22 Robbie Petzer, 23 Duren Hoffman, 24 Granwill Matthys.
Referee: Dylen November
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Cwengile Jadezweni
Sunday, April 9
Lions vs Cheetahs
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg - Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 12 points
Teams:
Lions: 15 Vaughen Isaacs, 14 Boldwin Hansen, 13 Matt More, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Ilunga Mukendi, 10 Jurich Claasens, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Ruhan Straeuli, 7 Peter-John Steenkamp, 6 Sibusiso Sangweni, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Morgan Naudé.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Sithembiso Sithole, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 20 Cal Smid, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Andre Warner, 23 Zeilinga Strydom
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Alulutho Tshakweni.
Replacements: 16 Chucky van der Westhuizen, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Lawrence Victor, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Cohen Jasper.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Christopher Allison