The Springboks have grabbed the attention this week,but we shouldn’t completely forget about the oldest domestic rugby competition in the world.
It’s round three of this year’s Currie Cup and here rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen previews the matches.
Friday at 3pm in Wellington
Boland v Sharks
The action gets underway early in the Boland on afternoon and the locals will be hoping their team can pick up a win against one of the so-called big guns in this year’s Premier Division.
The Cavaliers were smashed first up by the Cheetahs but bounced back last weekend to register a win against the Kings (28-10), though the Sharks will be a different kettle of fish.
Robert du Preez’s side have been in excellent form, picking up bonus-point wins against the Pumas (away) and Griquas (home) and will fancy their chances of making it three in a row on Friday.
For the Sharks, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Ruan Botha, Heimar Williams and Odwa Ndungane get starts, while there are also new men on the bench, among them Garth April and Wandile Mjekevu.
For Boland, who haven’t beaten the Sharks in 13 matches since 1996, flank and former SA Under-20 star Shaun Adendorff and hooker Francois Esterhuyzen are included in the starting team.
Teams:
Boland: Nico Scheepers, Sergio Torrens, Christopher Bosch, Ryan Nell, Danwel Demas, Adriaan Carelse, Marnus Hugo, Zandre Jordaan, Jacques Engelbrecht, Shaun Adendorff, Hanno Kitshoff, Shaun McDonald, Basil Short, Francois Esterhuyzen, Stephanus Wessels. Replacements: Clemen Lewis, Abongile Mnyaka, Francois Hanekom, Joubert Horn, Kenan Cronje, Jovelian de Koker, Theuns Kotze
Sharks: Curwin Bosch, Odwa Ndungane, Heimar Williams, Andre Esterhuizen, S’bura Sithole, Inny Radebe, Stefan Ungerer, Philip van der Walt, Tera Mtembu, Keegan Daniel, Ruan Botha, Etienne Oosthuizen, Thomas du Toit, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dale Chadwick. Replacements: Franco Marais, John-Hubert Meyer, JC Astle, Jean Deysel, Hanco Venter, Wandile Mjekevu, Garth April
Friday at 5.10pm in Cape Town
WP v Cheetahs
Franco Smith’s Cheetahs have been the hottest team in the last two weeks, registering wins against Boland and the Blue Bulls, and right now look like a side who could make the semi-finals at the beginning of October.
Western Province, on the other hand, have looked a far cry from the team that won the Currie Cup just two years ago and played in the Super Rugby quarter-finals - as the Stormers, mind you. They took a big beating by the Bulls in round one (45-26) and will be desperate to register a first win after their bye last weekend.
Coach John Dobson has made seven changes to his team, including bringing back Jaco Taute at fullback and Brandon Thomson at flyhalf. Springbok loose forward Sikhumbuzo Notshe is at eighthman and on the bench is Cheslin Kolbe after helping the BlitzBoks to the Rio bronze medal.
There are also changes in the Cheetahs team, the most significant being at centre, where injured regular skipper Francois Venter is replaced by Nico Lee.
Teams:
WP: Jaco Taute, Kobus van Wyk, Johnny Kotze, Huw Jones, Leolin Zas, Brandon Thomson, Jano Vermaak, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, Kobus van Dyk, Rynhardt Elstadt, Chris van Zyl, Jan de Klerk, Wilco Louw, Scarra Ntubeni, Alistair Vermaak. Replacements: Martin Ferreira, JC Janse van Rensburg, JP Smith, Jurie van Vuuren, Godlen Masimla, Robert du Preez, Cheslin Kolbe
Cheetahs: Clayton Blommetjies, Rayno Benjamin, Nico Lee, William Small-Smith, Raymond Rhule, Fred Zeilinga, Tian Meyer, Niell Jordaan, Uzair Cassiem, Paul Schoeman, Reniel Hugo, Carl Wegner, Johan Coetzee, Jacques du Toit, Charles Marais. Replacements: Torsten van Jaarsveld, Ox Nche, Tom Botha, Justin Basson, Henco Venter, Shaun Venter, Niel Marais, Michael van der Spuy
Friday at 7.20pm in Pretoria
Blue Bulls v EP Kings
It’s been a topsy-turvy ride for Nollis Marais and his charges so far. The Bulls won handsomely at home in their opening game - a surprising 45-26 triumph over Western Province - but then they came unstuck against the Cheetahs last week, suffering an equally unexpected 43-20 defeat.
This weekend, though, the Bulls are likely to be back in the winner’s circle when the Kings visit Loftus Versfeld tonight, the men from the Eastern Cape unlikely to put up much of a fight. They’ve played only once so far but lost 28-10 to Boland, and that in Port Elizabeth.
Bulls boss Marais has made some changes to his side this week, the most significant being the return to the starting team of lock RG Snyman, who’ll boost the pack significantly. Lizo Gqoboka is also back in the starting side, as is young fullback Duncan Matthews.
Teams:
Bulls: Duncan Matthews, Jamba Ulengo, Burger Odendaal, Dan Kriel, Bjorn Basson, Tian Schoeman, Piet van Zyl, Arno Botha, Jannes Kirsten, Ruan Steenkamp, Marvin Orie, RG Snyman, Etienne Swanepoel, Jaco Visagie, Lizo Gqoboko. Replacements: Edgar Maruthlulle, Pierre Schoeman, Jacobie Adriaanse, Irne Herbst, Hanro Liebenberg, Andre Warner, Joshua Stander
EP Kings: Johan Tromp, Siviwe Soyizwapi, Burton Klaasen, Waylon Murray, Sampie Mastriet, Kobus Marais, Ricky Schroeder, Christiaan de Bruin, Sebastian Ferreira, Vince Jobo, David Antonites, Tazz Fuzani, Vukile Sofisa, Mike Willemse, Justin Forwood. Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Barend Potgieter, Ettienne Oosthuizen, Luke van der Smit, Jacques Fick, Minenhle Mthethwa, Lungelo Goza
Saturday at 2.10pm in Kimberley
Griquas v Golden Lions
The men from Kimberley will be fired up to give seasoned prop Steph Roberts a win in his record-equalling 161st appearance for Griquas, while at the same time, the home team will be keen to end a five-match losing run against the Lions.
The visitors, though, will be hard to tame after enjoying a good Super Rugby run and then kicking off the defence of the Currie Cup title they won last year with a 10-try romp against the Pumas last week.
Coach Johan Ackermann has included Dylan Smith at prop and Courtnall Skosan on the wing, as well as MB Lusaseni, in a team that looks every bit as lethal as the Super Rugby side. Griquas will have to be on top of their game if they’re to pick up their first win of the competition after going down to the Sharks (46-24) last weekend. Like the Lions, they had a bye in week one.
Teams:
Lions: Sylvian Mahuza, Courtnall Skosan, Stokkies Hanekom, Howard Mnisi, Anthony Volmink, Jaco van der Walt, Ross Cronje, Ruan Ackermann, Cyle Brink, Steph de Wit, Lourens Erasmus, MB Lusaseni, Jacques van Rooyen, Akker van der Merwe, Dylan Smith. Replacements: Ramone Samuels, Corne Fourie, Bobby de Wee, Ruaan Lerm, Dillon Smit, Marnitz Boshoff, Jacques Nel
Griquas (probable): AJ Coertzen, Ederies Arendse, JW Jonker, Johnathan Francke, Alshaun Bock, Clinton Swart, Poerie van Rooyen, Jason Fraser, RJ Liebenberg (capt), Wendal Wehr, Jono Janse van Rensburg, Mzanele Zito, Stephan Kotze, Marius Fourie, Steph Roberts. Replacements: AJ le Roux, Devon Martinus, Liam Hendricks, Sias Koen, Steph Vermeulen, Renier Botha, Elgar Watts
The Star