Currie Cup Round Seven - teams and predictions
PREVIEW: The top four teams are facing off in the Currie Cup this weekend with the top two, the Cheetahs and Pumas, hosting three and four, the Sharks and Western Province.
Should the two home-sides manage to come out victorious, they will put daylight between them and the rest of the field on the log as there is a huge divide between the top two (both on 25 points) and the third and fourth positions (Sharks 15, WP 15).
Siya Masuku will be in the drivers seat for the Cheetahs back at ten and Reinhardt Fortuin moves to centre next to Robert Ebersohn. Tapiwa Mafura is the fullback.
In the front row, Rynier Bernardo and Mzwanele Zito switch places with Bernardo in the starting line-up. Jeandré Rudolph will wear the number eight jersey.
“The Sharks played very well against the Pumas, and at one stage, they managed to keep them out with 13 men. We know it will be difficult, but we have our own way of thinking.” said coach Hawies Fourie.
“I like to have two playmakers in our attack system so the option with Reinhardt that can also play ten, is a good one because he knows all the calls and he is confident to run the show,” Fourie said.
Although bonus points rule the roost once they come into play, Fourie was adamant that they should focus on winning first.
“First we have to make sure we win the game before we think about bonus points. The focus will be to make a step-up from last week against Western Province. We were not clinical, especially on attack, and we made a lot of errors while also conceded a lot of turn-overs.
“Ideally I would like to build on the second half we had against the Lions so we focused a lot on planning our attack and being clinical.”
Sharks coach Joey Mongalo made a number of changes to his side in this final game of the first round, mostly rotational to give those with plenty of game time an opportunity to freshen up – but still play a role – and deliver game time to those who will welcome the chance to shine.
He has rotated his front row with Khwezi Mona, Fez Mbatha and Khutha Mchunu swapping jerseys with Dian Bleuler, Dan Jooste and Hanro Jacobs respectively.
Ockie Barnard shifts to lock to replace Reniel Hugo, with the captaincy taken over by James Venter and his namesake Henco returning to the side, playing at eighth man.
Amongst the backs, Lionel Cronje starts for Fred Zeilinga at flyhalf while Marnus Potgieter comes onto the wing and Yaw Penxe takes over from Phikolomzi Sobahle who, like Murray Koster, gets a breather this week, playing off the bench. Alwayno Visagie comes in for Koster at centre in the final change to the starting XV.
“The team was gutted after that loss against the Bulls, especially so in fighting their way back to within a try of winning the game after being 19-3 down at half-time,” Mongalo explains.
“It was difficult to process after they worked so hard, but some soft moments against the Bulls let them in and we had to work really hard for our points which is discouraging. But to come back from 19-3 and potentially win the game was very encouraging.
The Pumas are coming off a big win against Griffons when they scored 64 points and 10 tries in Welkom last week. They may be in for a tougher encounter this Friday, though, when they host a WP side that is out to prove.
The Pumas coach, Jimmy Stonehouse, has put his faith in the same match 23 that defeated the Griffons last week.
WP coach John Dobson made four changes to the side for this weekend. Flyhalf Kade Wolhuter has been sidelined for some time by a knee injury picked up in training this week. As a result Jean-Luc du Plessis will start at pivot, with Cornel Smit at inside centre and young Damian Markus among the replacements.
The other changes to the backline see Suleiman Hartzenberg on the right wing and a fit-again Godlen Masimla at scrumhalf.
Kwenzo Blose starts at loosehead prop in the only change among the forwards.
WP skills coach Labeeb Levy said he was very wary of Jimmy Stonehouse’s team.
“The Pumas had a certain DNA in the past but they changed it this season. They have started giving the ball more air and trying to spread it more. They have definitely evolved this year, which is good for rugby.”
The Lions travel across the Jukskei for a big local derby which is also an important clash in terms of the log positions. The Bulls will have the chance to claim their third-straight win of the tournament – after losing their first four matches. By contrast, the Lions will be desperate to end a two-game losing streak.
The homeside could potentially surpass their Gauteng rivals – who are in sixth place – if they win this Saturday, and may even finish the round in the top-four if other results go their way.
Griquas claimed a dramatic win over the Lions in Johannesburg last week but forwards coach Barend Pieterse warned about the teams’ inability to play a full 80 minutes of rugby.
“It is something that bit us in the final last year and last weekend the Lions also made it difficult for us. We are too slow out of the blocks. All credit to the players for pulling things together in the second half, but it is definitely a huge work-on for us.”
A win against the Griffons, who are on the hunt for their second win in their campaign, will boost their playoff prospects.
Friday, April 21
Cheetahs v Sharks
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 14:30; 12:30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 10 points
Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandré Rudolph,
7 Sibabalo Qomo, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Arnanos Coetzee, 2 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 David Brits, 23 Cohen Jasper
Sharks: 15 Nevaldo Fleurs, 14 Yaw Penxe, 13 Joshua Jonas, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Marnus Potgieter, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Bradley Davids, 8 Henco Venter, 7 James Venter (captain), 6 Tinotenda Mavesere, 5 Ockie Barnard, 4 Corne Rahl, 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Khwezi Mona
Replacements: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Hanro Jacobs, 19 Marco de Witt, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Tiaan Fourie, 22 Murray Koster, 23 Phikolomzi Sobahle
Referee: Aimee Barrett-Theron
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Griffin Colby
Friday, April 21
Pumas v Western Province
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 16:30; 14:30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Pumas by 15 points
Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Jade Stighling, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Giovan Snyman, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Deon Slabbert, 6 Franna Kleinhans, 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 Andre Fouche, 20 Ruwald vd Merwe, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Brandon Thomson, 23 Lundi Msenge
Western Province: 15 Sacha Feinberg-Mngomezulu, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Juan de Jongh (captain), 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 10 Jean-Luc du Plessis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Keke Morabe, 7 Jarrod Taylor, 6 Junior Pokomela, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Connor Evans, 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Andre-Hugo Venter, 1 Kwenzo Blose.
Replacements: 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 Louw Nel, 21 Labib Kannemeyer, 22 Damian Markus, 23 Luke Burger.
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: AM Jacobs
Saturday, April 22
Bulls v Lions
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 18.30; 16:30 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Bulls by 20 points
Bulls: 15 Juan Mostert, 14 Sibongile Novuka, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Wandisile Simelane, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Zak Burger, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Reinhardt Ludwig, 6 Cameron Hanekom, 5 Charlie Ewels, 4 Jacques Du Plessis, 3 Sebastian Lombard, 2 Jan-Hendrik Wessels,1 Simphiwe Matanzima,
Replacements: 16 Jacques van Rooyen, 17 Tiaan Lange, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Merwe Olivier, 20 Mihlali Mosi, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Cornal Hendricks, 23 Kabelo Mokoena
Lions: 15 Vaughen Isaacs, 14 Prince Nkabine, 13 Stean Pienaar, 12 Tyler Bocks, 11 Boldwin Hansen, 10 Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 Travis Gordon, 7 Jarod Cairns, 6 Renzo du Plessis, 5 Darrien-Lane Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets, 3 Ruan Smith, 2 Jaco Visagie (captain), 1 Sti Sithole.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Kayden Kiesit, 18 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 19 PJ Steenkamp, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Cal Smid, 22 Andre Warner, 23 Rynhardt Jonker
Referee: Paul Mente
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Christie du Preez
Sunday, April 23
Griquas v Griffons
(Kimberley Stadium, Pretoria – Kick-off: 14:00; 12:00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: Griquas by 20 points
Griquas: TBA
Griffons:15 Duren Hoffman, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 CJ Coetzee, 12 Marquit September, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Jaywinn Juries, 8 Jean Pretorius, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Thato Mavundla, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Jaco Willemse, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Dandre Delport, 1 Stephan de Jager
Replacements: 16 HP v Schoor, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Buhle Nojekwa, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Michael Benadie, 21 Ludio Williams, 22 Keanu Vers, 23 Domenic Smit, 24 Rian Olivier, 25 Richman Gora, 26 Randy Fielies
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Stephan Geldenhuys