The race towards the Currie Cup semi-finals will intensify this weekend with the Lions and Western Province embroiled in a scrap that will go a long way in determining their fate.
There is also a top of the table clash between the Sharks and Cheetahs in Durban that could see the Durbanites knocked off top spot.
The Blue Bulls will be looking to cement their place in the top four when they square up against the Pumas in Nelspruit tomorrow night.
With only eight points separating the table topping Sharks to Province in sixth place, the next three weeks are going to be critical in seeing which four teams will make the semi-finals.
Golden Lions v Western Province
The defending Currie Cup champions have had a poor start to their title defence mainly because of their large contribution to the national team and not enough time for their team to gel as a unit after their Super Rugby final appearance.
However, coach Johan Ackermann doesn’t believe in making excuses for his team’s two losses so far and knows that tonight’s game against Western Province could all but determine if they will make it to the semi-finals or not.
While the Lions have not lost at home since the 2014 Currie Cup season, they will come up against a WP team that is high on confidence after beating the Sharks last weekend
“We don’t want to get too far ahead of ourselves but the reality is that it is an important because it is a home game. If you lose your home games, then I doubt you will ever make a play-off. There are a lot of permutations after this but we can only control what will happen (tonight). It is going to be a massive game for both sides and they’ve created a lifeline for themselves by beating the Sharks. Now it is do-or-die for both sides,” said Ackermann.
Lions STARTING XV: Andries Coetzee, Selom Gavor, Jacques Nel, Rohan Janse van Rensburg, Anthony Volmink, Jaco van der Walt, Ross Cronje (capt), Fabian Booysen, Ruan Ackermann, Kwagga Smith, Lourens Erasmus, JP du Preez, Ruan Dreyer, Robbie Coetzee, Dylan Smith; Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Jacques van Rooyen, Andries Ferreira, Cyle Brink, Ruaan Lerm/Steph de Wit, Ashlon Davids, Howard Mnisi
WP STARTING XV: Cheslin Kolbe, Werner Kok, EW Viljoen, Johnny Kotze, Leolin Zas, Robert du Preez, Jano Vermaak, Kobus van Dyk, Jurie van Vuuren, Rynhardt Elstadt, Chris van Zyl (capt), Jan de Klerk, Wilco Louw, Michael Willemse, JC Janse van Rensburg; Replacements: Neil Rautenbach, Alistair Vermaak, JP Smith, Jacques Vermeulen, Eital Bredenkamp, Dewaldt Duvenage, Scott van Breda
Sharks v Cheetahs
This will be a battle for top spot on the log and could be a precursor to the Currie Cup final if both teams continue playing the brand of rugby they have adopted under their respective coaches.
“Free State are playing good rugby at the moment and we will definitely need to show great intensity and intent (tomorrow).
“It is an honour for us to play in front of our home crowd, and we want to make our fans proud,” said Sharks coach Robert du Preez.
The Cheetahs, on the other hand, remain the only unbeaten side in the competition and will be buoyed by their 57-25 hiding of the Eastern Province Kings last week that was their most assured signal of intent.
Sharks STARTING XV: Curwin Bosch, Odwa Ndungane, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, S’bura Sithole, Inny Radebe, Stefan Ungerer, Philip van der Walt, Jean-Luc du Preez, Keegan Daniel (captain), Stephan Lewies, Etienne Oosthuizen, Thomas du Toit, Franco Marais, Juan Schoeman; Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, John-Hubert Meyer, Ruan Botha/Jean Droste, Jean Deysel/Francois Kleinhans, Michael Claassens/Hanco Venter, Heimar Williams, Rhyno Smith
Cheetahs STARTING XV: Clayton Blommetjies, Rayno Benjamin, Nico Lee, William-Small Smith, Raymond Rhule, Fred Zeilinga, Tian Meyer (captain), Henco Venter, Uzair Cassiem, Paul Schoeman, Reniel Hugo, Carl Wegner, Tom Botha, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Ox Nche; Replacements: Jacques du Toit, Charles Marais, Justin Basson, Niell Jordaan, Shaun Venter, Niel Marais, Michael van der Spuy
Pumas v Blue Bulls
On paper it might look like the Blue Bulls are certain of a semi-final place once considering the opposition they face in their three remaining games.
But games against the Pumas, Griquas and the Boland Cavaliers are all potential banana skin fixtures that could deny Nollis Marais’ side a place in the penultimate stage of the competition.
Pumas STARTING XV: Devon Williams, Bernado Botha, Hennie Skorbinski, Marlou van Niekerk, JP Lewis, Francois Brummer, Emile Temperman, Renaldo Bothma (captain), Lambert Groenewald, Brian Shabangu, Jannie Syander, Wiehan Hay, Marne Coetzee, Frank Herne, De Jay Terblanche. Replacements: Simon Westraadt, Louis Albertse, Stephan Greeff, Carel Greeff, Kevin Luiters, Leighton van Wyk, Ruwellyn Isbell
Blue Bulls STARTING XV: Ulrich Beyers, Travis Ismaiel, Dries Swanepoel, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Tian Schoeman, Piet van Zyl, Hanro Liebenberg (captain), Nic de Jager, Ruan Steenkamp, Marvin Orie, RG Snyman, Jacobie Adriaanse, Bandise Maku, Lizo Gqoboka. Replacements: Jaco Visagie, Martin Dreyer, Irné Herbst, Roelof Smit, Andre Warner, Joshua Stander, Divan Rossouw
Rohan Janse van Rensburg is tackled by Arno Botha of the Bulls during the Currie Cup game between the Bulls and the Lions at Loftus Versveld last weekend.
The Star