Yes, my friends, the Currie Cup does indeed start this weekend, with the two teams who contested the Super Rugby semi final at Newlands just two weeks ago contesting the main game of the weekend … Minus the Boks of course, and those players whose bodies simply cannot carry on any more …
The country’s once premier domestic competition, thankfully reduced to six teams this year, gets underway on Friday night when the Blue Bulls host Griquas as Loftus … The Lions host the Cheetahs at 17h00 on Saturday, and then Western Province host the Sharks at the ridiculous time of 19h05! What happened to the good old 15h00 kickoff?
It’s not all bad though, as a few exciting players make their way back to the field … And I am pretty sure we will all get into it as soon as the action gets under way … A bit of a lottery when it comes to predicting winners though, as many of the sides have a pretty experimental look to them …
A look at the weekend’s games then …
Blue Bulls vs Griquas
Date: Friday, 10 August, Kickoff: 19:10
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistants: Craig Joubert, Attie Buitendag
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Last meeting: 8 October 2011 in Kimberley (Premier Division): Griquas won 48-44
Pretty spicy with two ex Bulls Nel and Watermeyer teaming up in the centres to take on their old team mates. The Bulls have been hammered by Bok call ups, and miss vital combinations – half backs and locks most notably, and have to be ripe for the picking this weekend. Also in Le Roux and Downey, Griquas boast two players who made an impression at Super Rugby level.
My prediction: Griquas by 3
Blue Bulls: 15 Jürgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Ulrich Beyers, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Clayton Blommetjies, 10 Louis Fouchè, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Dewald Potgieter (c), 7 Arno Botha, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Dawie Steyn.
Griquas: 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Luzuko Vulindlu, 13 JP Nel, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Jonathan Adendorff, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Ligtoring Landman, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Stef Roberts.
Golden Lions vs Cheetahs
Date: Saturday, 11 August, Kickoff: 17:05
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistants: Joey Salmans, Cobus Wessels
Last meeting: 1 October 2011 in Bloemfontein (Premier Division): Drew 25-25
So this is where Bok call ups do NOT play a big part in matters Currie Cup. There is a whole heap of poo going down in Lions land, and it just simply has to impact on what goes on between the white lines. On paper, they are not a bad side though, and at home, if the snow stays away, as the defending champions, they will be tough to beat.
My prediction: Lions by 5
Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 JR Esterhuizen, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Butch James, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Derick Minnie, 7 Josh Strauss, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (c).
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn (c), 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Pieter van Zyl, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Lappies Labuschagné, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen (v/c), 4 Waltie Vermeulen, 3 Marcel van der Merwe, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Western Province vs Sharks
Date: Saturday, 11 August. Kickoff: 19:10
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Assistants: Jason Jaftha, Marc van Zyl
TMO: JC Fortuin
Last meeting: 1 October 2011 in Durban (Premier Division): WP won 15-10
They may have met two weeks ago, but these are basically 2 very different sides. Very exciting to see JP du Plessis take on Paul Jordaan. Anyone’s game if I had to be honest, so am going with the side with the better front row, and the one playing at home. Although by all accounts, and rightfully so given the time the game is being played, Newlands will be home to the echo!
My prediction: WP by 5
Western Province: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Jebb Sinclair, 7 Tyrone Holmes, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Don Armand, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Deon Carstens.
Sharks: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 S’bura Sithole, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Jean Deysel (c), 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Jandre Marais, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Below the Sportingbet odds for the weekend:
Blue Bulls 9/50 v Griquas 15/4
Lions 5/6 v Cheetahs 11/10
Western Province 8/13 v Sharks 6/5
Tournament Winner:
Bulls 11/4
Western Province 11/4
Sharks 3/1
Cheetahs 6/1
Golden Lions 8/1
Griquas 20/1
CLICK HERE to have a dabble …
And below our preview video …
Enjoy …
Hi Tank, I fully agree with you re the 19.05 kick-off. Why not 15.00 and 17.00 ?? It’s still winter and therefore it will be ice cold at Newlands. As you rightly said, there will be an echo in the stadium – how many people will be brave enough to brace the wet, windy and cold night ? ..not too many
Griquas backline might be the x-factor, but the forwards will lack in the match.
Will have see and judge afterwards.
Hoped for the Sharks win … head said naaa they cannot do it but what a great second half. The bounce of the ball went their way in the second 40 mins but that negated the shoddy reffing bias in the first half. Deysel was to stand his ground and have his say if he is going to stand up as a leader of the side. The ref walked all over him in a rather pedantic way. Did not hamper the end result. WELL DONE SHARKS