With the Lions, EP Kings and Griquas playing their first games this weekend, this year’s Currie Cup competition will be well underway after making a quiet start last week.
Here, rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen previews this weekend’s matches
Friday, 5pm
EP Kings v Boland
The men from the Eastern Cape cannot be in the best of spaces after suffering a string of defeats in Super Rugby and then having to witness the liquidation of their mother body. It’s been a trying time for all involved at the Kings, but they can bring some joy to their region with a good showing in the Currie Cup.
After having a bye in round one, they tackle the newcomers to the Premier Division, Boland, and both will be keen to bag some early competition points. The Bolanders suffered a 44-16 defeat to the Cheetahs last weekend, but will be confident of picking up a first win after seeing off the Kings in the qualifiers in April.
EP Kings: Siviwe Soyizwapi, Alcino Isaacs, Johan Tromp, Waylon Murray, Sampie Mastriet, Kobus Marais, Ricky Schroeder, Christiaan de Bruin, Sebastian Ferreira, Vince Jhobo, Cornell Hess, Tazz Fuzani, Vukile Sofisa, Mike Willemse, Schalk Ferreira (captain); Replacements: Martin Bezuidenhout, Justin Forwood, David Antonites, Brandon Brown, Jacques Fick, Burton Klaasen, Lungelo Goza.
Boland: Nico Scheepers, Sergio Torrens, Ryan Nell (capt), Christopher Bosch, Danwel Demas, Adriaan Carelse, Marnus Hugo, Zandre Jordaan, Jacques Engelbrecht, Kenan Cronje, Hanno Kitshoff, Shaun McDonald, Basil Short, Chadley Wenn, Stephanus Wessels; Replacements: Francois Esterhuizen, Francois Hanekom, Joubert Horn, Chaney Willemse, Jovelian de Koker, William van Wyk, Craig Pheiffer
Friday, 7.10pm
Sharks v Griquas
The Robert du Preez-coached Sharks got off to the perfect start last week, whipping the Pumas 33-10 in Nelspruit and while they will be confident of making it two from two, they’ll know Griquas will be no pushovers.
The men from Kimberley registered 11 wins from 14 matches in the qualifiers and also beat the Sharks on their last two visits to Durban.
Some interesting selections for the Sharks are Curwin Bosch at fullback and Inny Radebe at flyhalf, while Tera Mtembu, who captained the team not so long ago, is at eighthman.
Sharks: Curwin Bosch, Neil Maritz, Lukhanyo Am, Andre Esterhuizen, S’bura Sithole, Inny Radebe, Stefan Ungerer, Tera Mtembu, Jean-luc du Preez, Keegan Daniel (capt), Stephan Lewies, Etienne Oosthuizen, Thomas du Toit, Franco Marais, Dale Chadwick; Replacements: Chiliboy Ralepelle, John-Hubert Meyer, Ruan Botha, Jean Deysel, Michael Claassens, Heimar Williams/Odwa Ndungane, Rhyno Smith.
Griquas: 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.
Saturday, 5pm
Lions v Pumas
The defending champions are straight back into the action after the Super Rugby team’s final in Wellington last Saturday, but the team is much-changed from the one that ran out against the Hurricanes.
Not one of the starters from a week ago will be in action at Ellis Park, coach Johan Ackermann opting to rest those starters who aren’t involved with the Springboks. “It’s going to be a big challenge for us this year, without all those Bok players, but at the same time it gives me an opportunity to test our depth and build a bigger pool from which to select for next year,” he said.
Ross Cronje and Howard Mnisi will share the captaincy responsibilities.
The Pumas are coming off a defeat by the Sharks and will fancy their chances of causing an upset against this very changed and untried Lions team, especially with seasoned operators such as Francois Brummer, Renaldo Bothma and Marnus Schoeman in the side.
Lions: Sylvian Mahuza, Koch Marx, Stokkies Hanekom, Howard Mnisi, Anthony Volmink, Jaco van der Walt, Ross Cronje, Ruan Ackermann, Cyle Brink, Steph de Wit, Lourens Erasmus, Martin Muller, Jacques van Rooyen, Akker van der Merwe, Corne Fourie; Replacements: Ramone Samuels, Justin Ackerman, MB Lusaseni, Victor Sekekete, Dillon Smit, Marnitz Boshoff, Jacques Nel
Pumas: Justin van Staden, Jean-Paul Lewis, Hennie Skorbinski, Marlou van Niekerk, Marcello Sampson, Francois Brummer, Reynier van Rooyen, Renaldo Bothma, Nardus van der Walt, Marnus Schoeman, Hugo Kloppers (capt), Wiehan Hay, Louis Albertse, Francois du Toit, Kwezi Mona; Replacements: Frank Herne, De-Jay Terblanche, Jannie Stander, Carel Greef, Emile Temperman, Deon Helberg, Devon Williams
Saturday, 5.10pm
Cheetahs v Bulls
The big game of the weekend sees the Cheetahs host the Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein, both teams coming off impressive wins in round one.
The Cheetahs hammered Boland 44-16 while the Bulls surprised by easily getting the better of Western Province, 45-26 at Loftus Versfeld. With both teams seemingly in good form and shape, this promises to be a thrilling affair. Let’s also not forget that both outfits are looking to make up for lost opportunities in Super Rugby.
Cheetahs boss Franco Smith has picked Rayno Benjamin on the wing in place of the injured Sergeal Petersen, while Tian Meyer and Torsten van Jaarsveld also get starts.
In the Bulls team, packed with several Super Rugby players, utility back Ulrich Beyers will run out at fullback, with Dan Kriel at outside centre alongside Burger Odendaal. Marvin Orie and Jason Jenkins are the second row pairing.
Cheetahs: Clayton Blommetjies, Rayno Benjamin, Francois Venter (capt), William Small-Smith, Raymond Rhule, Fred Zeilinga, Tian Meyer, Niell Jordaan, Uzair Cassiem, Paul Schoeman, Reniel Hugo, Carl Wegner, Tom Botha, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Ox Nche; Replacements: Jacques du Toit, Charles Marais, Justin Basson, Henco Venter, Shaun Venter, Niel Marais, Maphutha Dolo
Bulls: Ulrich Beyers, Bjorn Basson, Dan Kriel, Burger Odendaal, Jamba Ulengo, Tian Schoeman, Piet van Zyl, Arno Botha (capt), Jannes Kirsten, Ruan Steenkamp, Marvin Orie, Jason Jenkins, Entienne Swanepoel, Jaco Visagie, Pierre Schoeman; Replacements: Edgar Marutlulle, Martin Dreyer, RG Snyman, Hanro Liebenberg, Andre Warner, Joshua Stander, Duncan Matthews
The Star