Griquas v Cheetahs - teams and prediction

CURRIE CUP ROUND ONE: South Africa's premier domestic competition gets underway in the Northern Cape capital, Kimberley, on Friday with a game between two teams with vastly differing goals.

Hosts Griquas will start their campaign at the venue where they suffered heartbreak in the Final against the Pumas eight months ago.

They want to ensure that visiting Kimberley remains a formidable assignment and are looking to reproduce the form and momentum that took them to the 2022 Final.

It is thus not surprising that Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie opted to send along seasoned Springboks Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn for this Central Unions derby.

Fourie installed Griquas as 'favourites' for the season opener, but admitted there is another reason for his team to hit the ground running.

With a trip to France for the Round of 16 Challenge Cup match against three-time European Cup champions Toulon on April 1 awaiting them, the Cheetahs are looking to use the first three rounds of the Currie Cup as preparation for that outing.

"It will help a lot to play these three games," Fourie said - pointing out that their four pool matches were split up in two legs of two matches each - a month apart, with Round One and Two played in December, followed by a Christmas break and Rounds Three and Four staged in January.

"While all the other teams were able to play in the United Rugby Championship, Premiership and Top 14, we had no games between the two blocks of [Challenge Cup] games.

"These three games will help us prepare [for the trip to Toulon]."

However, he said it is "hugely important" that they get as many points on the Currie Cup standings and "build a buffer" before taking the A-Team to Europe and leaving the second-string selection behind to continue with the Currie Cup quest.

(Article continues below Hawies Fourie interview ...)

In the Cheetahs' planning there is also the possibility that if they do upset Toulon, they will have to stay on for the Challenge Cup quarterfinal - leaving the second-stringers exposed back home for another week.

"We have planned for both scenarios," Fourie told @rugby365com, adding that they have recruited additional players to add depth to the squad for the Currie Cup encounters with the Pumas and Lions in early April.

For Griquas, the focus is purely on the domestic scene and a deep desire to make amends for last year's disappointment of losing in the Final.

Having beaten won four pre-season matches in the build-up to the 2023 Currie season - accounting for Namibia, South Western Districts, Sharks and the Griffons - Griquas start the regular season with considerable momentum.

However, the Griquas team show a host of changes from the side that featured in the Currie Cup Final loss to the Pumas - nine changes in all.

The most significant alterations are in the backline.

Griquas coach Pieter Bergh said he is "excited" about the prospect of unleashing former BlitzBok Lubabalo Dobela at flyhalf in the season opener - a player he has followed keenly since his Varsity Cup days at Shimlas.

Dobela joined Griquas following his recent stint with the national Sevens team in the World Series and will make his Currie Cup debut in Kimberley.

"What I have always liked about him, is his attacking ability," Bergh said, adding that his 'speed' as a No.10 is what makes him such a big threat.

The hosts make no secret of the fact that they plan to speed up the game against a Cheetahs team that has a few 'veterans' that are well into their 30s.

"In South Africa, we don't always have the quickest flyhalves, but he is one of our fastest backs - which we hope gives us a different dynamic to our attack.

"He attacks the line flat and has a good pass to both sides - left and right."

His defence was also improved during his stint with the Sevens team - where one-on-one tackling is a vital skill in every player's armoury.

The return of Niel Otto as captain, after missing the latter part of last season through injury, is another boost for the home team.

"We have been together [as a team] since August and the players can't wait to get started," the Griquas coach beamed.

Prediction

@rugby365com: Cheetahs by 12 points

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Munier Hartzenberg, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Jeandrè Rudolph, 7 Friedle Olivier, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (Captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Hencus van Wyk, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Schalk Ferreira.

Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Evardi Boshoff, 23 Cohen Jasper.

Griquas: 15 Jay-Cee Nel, 14 Rosko Specman, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Janco Venter, 7 Stephan Smit, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Albert Liebenberg, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Kudzwai Dube.

Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Cebo Dlamini, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Johan Retief, 20 Carl Els, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Malcolm Jaer.

Date: Friday, March 10

Venue: Griqua Park, Kimberley

Kick-off: 16.00 (14.00 GMT)

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Assistant referees: Jason Morrow and Dewald Smit

TMO: Quinton Immelman

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