Last chance for CC hopefuls
Three teams will fight it out this weekend for the final spot in the Currie Cup semifinals, with Western Province best placed to qualify for the playoffs.
The Blue Bulls at home against the Leopards and Griquas away to the Free State Cheetahs, linger in fifth and sixth position on the log and have a mathematical chance of making it through to the semifinals, but they don't have their destiny in their own hands.
A bit higher on the log, the Sharks, who take on the first-placed Golden Lions in Durban, and the Cheetahs are in a race to second position on the log.
Blue Bulls v Leopards
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - 19.10; 17.10 GMT)
Play and wait seems to be the mantra for the Bulls this weekend as they open the final round of Currie Cup league fixtures at Loftus Versfeld against the Leopards on Friday.
But even though they still have a small chance of reaching the semi-finals, they Blue Bulls will have to make sure they win this game before they can start hoping for a big favour from the Ford Pumas.
Pine Pienaar, coach of the Vodacom Blue Bulls, realises they can?t take anything for granted this weekend, not even a victory over the Leopards, who would like to finish their season on a high.
Had the Blue Bulls not lost against Griquas in Kimberley last weekend, they could have started the final round with their destiny still in their own hands.
"This coming weekend against Leopards we have to focus on ourselves.We are not in control with what happens with the Western Province and Puma game.It was the same principle we had against Griquas," said Pienaar.
"We can only blame ourselves for the past weekend against Griquas. We did not do well, and conceded too many turnovers. That is the position we put ourselves in and again we have to focus on this weekend, our last game at home."
Prediction: The Bulls with their returning firepower should be far too strong for the Leopards, and could blow them away with an ugly scoreline. Bulls to win by 25 or more.
The teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser/Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Wynand Olivier, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Arno Botha, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Jurgen Visser/Gerhard van den Heever.
Leopards: 15 Hofmann Maritz, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Charl Weideman, 12 Joubert Engelbrecht (captain), 11 Vainon Willis, 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Johann Laker, 8 Robert Kruger, 7 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6 Philip de Wet, 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Brad Mockford, 3 Dewald Coetzee, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Jean-Jacques Rossouw.
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Buhle Mxunyelwa, 18 Bêrend Botha, 19 Spanner Pretorius, 20 George Tossel, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Jovan Bowles.
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Joey Salmans, Attie Buitendag
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
Cheetahs v Griquas
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein - 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
The possibility of a home semifinal against pride and the slim chance of reaching the playoffs - that is what Saturday's Currie Cup derby between the Cheetahs and Griquas at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein is all about.
While both teams have aspirations - the Cheetahs to finish second and Griquas to sneak into fourth - neither of them have their destiny in their owns hands, which should make for an open and free flowing contest, as they will both be chasing a full house of five log points.
"Even though Griquas only have a very slim chance of making the semifinals, they are still a very dangerous opponent, because it could see them throw the ball around even more. They never give up, like we saw last week when they fought back to beat the Blue Bulls," said Cheetahs assistant coach Hawies Fourie.
"We also had a taste of their never-say-die attitude when we played them in Kimberley earlier in the season (and Griquas won 23-20). All we know is that we have to win and score a bonus point to stay in the hunt for a home semifinal. We will play against the Sharks, with the venue to be confirmed after their game against the Golden Lions."
Contests between these two neighbouring provinces are always close affairs and Saturday's game will in all likelihood be the same.
Prediction: Griquas are never an easy side to beat, and the fact that both sides are searching for a bonus point and have played attacking rugby this season could make this a cracker. Cheetahs should be too good on home soil and win by about 15.
The teams:
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Burger, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Cameron Jacobs, 10 Tewis de Bruyn, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Pieter Labuschagne, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Johan Wessels, 20 Enrico Acker, 21 Nico Scheepers, 22 Werner Griesel.
Griquas: 15 Rudi Vogt, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Matthew Rosslee, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 5 George Earle, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Ivann Espag.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Jaco Nepgen, 19 Burger Schoeman, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Earl Rose, 22 Fabian Juries.
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende, DeGoede Haasbroek
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
Western Province v Pumas
(Newlands, Cape Town - 17.05; 15.05 GMT)
Western Province have put last weekend's disappointing defeat behind them and will be looking to secure their place in the semifinals with a strong performance against the Pumas at Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
WP will know exactly what is expected of them when they take to the field against the Pumas and with their playoff chances better than those of the Bulls and Griquas, especially since the team from Cape Town will be buoyed by the return of a number of Springboks.
The return of six of his national players is something that WP coach Allister Coetzee is not frowning at, especially since WP have been decimated by injuries this season. He has selected Gio Aplon, Juan de Jongh, Jean de Villiers and Bryan Habana to start with Schalk Burger and Jaque Fourie on the bench.
"Injuries have been a problem the whole year, but we have responded well to it. Our semifinal destiny is in our own hands, so now we just need to go out there and get the result that we need," said Coetzee.
"The Boks bring an enormous amount to the team dynamic and our play. Griquas have given us another bite at the cherry and it's an opportunity we don't want to let slip, but it won't be easy against the Pumas - they took the Cheetahs very close last week. They are very physical and clearly won't be pushovers."
Prediction: Having rolled out the big guns and with a semifinal on the line Province should win comfortably. The Pumas have played well in recent weeks and will be no pushovers, but might struggle to sustain their intensity for 80 minutes. Province by 10 to 15.
The teams:
Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 JJ Engelbrecht, 13 Juan De Jongh, 12 Jean De Villiers (captain), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nick Köster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Adriaan Fondse, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 JC Kritzinger.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Tertius Daniller, 19 Schalk Burger, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Jaque Fourie, 22 Conrad Jantjes.
Pumas: 15 MJ Mentz, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Dewald Pretorius, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Carl Bezuidenhout, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Corné Steenkamp (captain), 5 Eduan van der Walt, 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1 Dawie Steyn.
Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Brett Nel, 18 JP Mostert, 19 RW Kember, 20 Hendrik van der Nest, 21 Coenie van Wyk, 22 Siviwe Magaba.
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
Sharks v Lions
(Kings Park, Durban - 19.10; 17.10 GMT)
The Sharks can secure a home semifinal is they can beat the Currie Cup table-topping Lions on Saturday in the final league match of the season. And how apt that it will be played by the two top teams in the competition.
As the Golden Lions have already qualified for a home semifinal - their first at Coca-Cola Park since 1999 - coach John Mitchell has decided to give a number of his players a break this weekend, while at the same time giving others some valuable game time ahead of the playoffs.
"It also gives other players the chance under match conditions, something which could be important in the playoffs if any of the regular players are injured. This is in no way an indication that we underestimate the Sharks," said Mitchell.
John Plumtree, coach of the Sharks, explained that Mitchell's team selections would not influence the way the Durbanites approached the game. They realise a full house of five log points would ensure an Absa Currie Cup semifinal at Kings Park next weekend.
The prospect of bolstering his pack with a number of returning Springboks is very appealing to Plumtree, the Sharks coach admitted.
"Ultimately, we need to get on with our preparation this week. We've trained really well," said Plumtree, who would be especially keen so see front rankers such as Tendai Mtawarira, John Smit, Jannie and Bismarck du Plessis back in action.
"We've struggled upfront all tournament, and no disrespect to the guys we've had, but the opposition had bigger men. This week, things can change for us in that department, and if not this week, then next," said the Sharks coach.
Prediction: Having beefed up their side considerably the Sharks will be dangerous at home against a Lions side without a few key players. Sharks by about 10.
The teams:
Sharks: 15 Patrick Lambie, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Stefan Terblanche, 12 Marius Joubert, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Frederic Michalak, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Marcell Coetzee, 6 Keegan Daniel (captain), 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Jean Deysel, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Eugene van Staden.
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Willem Alberts, 19 Jacques Botes, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 JP Pietersen.
Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Dylan Des Fountain, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 James Kamana, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Joshua Strauss (captain), 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Michael Rhodes, 4 Wikus van Heerden/David Bulbring, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Elton Jantjies, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach/Butch James, 22 Michael Killian.
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Assistant referees: Jaco Peyper, Christie du Preez
TMO: JC Fortuin