ABSA Currie Cup round 4 is upon us, and with a multitude of close encounters expected for this weekend, let’s see how the teams line up, and where do we think the teams will pull through.
LEOPARDS VS PUMAS, 19H00, POTCHEFSTROOM
The first of this weekend’s Currie Cup games, one of two on Friday night, is one of four that will all be very evenly matched games. The Leopards will feel that this is their opportunity to finally win a game in the Currie Cup, after going without a win last season and it is not likely that another opportunity will avail itself. The Pumas will also have chosen this game as the must win game, and will throw everything and a kitchen sink at the Leopards. I predict a narrow win for the Pumas in what should be an entertaining match.
Leopards: 15. George Tossel, 14. Danie Dames, 13. Charl Weideman, 12. Joubert Engelbrecht, 11. Vainon Willis, 10. Wesley Dunlop, 9. Whestley Moolman, 8. Morne Hanekom (Captain), 7. Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6. Philip de Wet, 5. Brendon Snyman, 4. Christo van Niekerk, 3. Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2. Gavin Williamson, 1. BG Uys
Replacements: 16. Marius Fourie, 17. Bêrend Botha, 18. Bradley Peter Mockford, 19. Juan Pretorius, 20. Theo van Wyk, 21. Walter Venter, 22. Clayton Durand
Pumas: 15. MJ Mentz, 14. Deon Scholtz, 13. JW Jonker, 12. Tiaan Marx, 11. Shandrè Frolick, 10. Coenie van Wyk, 9. Shaun Venter, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Jaco Bouwer, 6. Corne Steenkamp (Captain), 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Rudi Mathee, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1. Dawie Steyn
Replacements: 16. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17. De-Jay Terblanche, 18. Eduan Van Der Walt, 19. RW Kember, 20. Hendrik van der Nest, 21. Dewald Pretorius, 22. Carl Bezuidenhout
GRIQUAS VS SHARKS, 19H10, KIMBERLEY
The second game of the weekend, and another cracker Friday night game with the always difficult to beat at home Griquas team taking on the high flying Sharks team, who is yet to drop points this season. Griquas have made a few changes, some of which are injury enforced, while the Sharks have decided to keep their returning Springboks out of the starting team and will only play them off the bench. Another close game, but surely another win for a too strong Sharks team, especially with the Bok re-enforcements from the bench.
Griquas: Rudi Vogt; Riaan Viljoen, Jean Stemmet, Barry Geel, Dusty Noble; Earl Rose, Marnus Hugo; Burger Schoeman, Davon Raubenheimer, Jonathan Mokuena (Capt), Martin Muller, Hendrik Roodt, Lourens Adriaanse, Ryno Barnes, Jean Botha.
Reserves: Matthew Dobson, Ivann Espag, Frikkie Spies, Marnus Schoeman, Matthew Rosslee, Monty Dumond, Wilmaure Louw.
Sharks: 15. Louis Ludik, 14. Mark Richards, 13. Stefan Terblanche, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Sibusiso Sithole, 10. Frederic Michalak, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Jandre Marais, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Peet Marais, 19. Ryan Kankowski, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Patrick Lambie, 22. Marius Joubert
CHEETAHS VS WESTERN PROVINCE, 15H00, BLOEMFONTEIN
The first of the Saturday games, and we head to Bloemfontein for an intriguing game of rugby where the Cheetahs, who have been bulked by a few Springboks returning to their side, take on Western Province, who have not received any Springbok re-enforcement. The Cheetahs pack receive a massive boost and with the Province forwards already not the greatest in the competition, will surely struggle up front. The Province backline though is far superior and settled, and will make for an interesting battle. Province to take this one.
Cheetahs team: Hennie Daniller, Riaan Smit, Robert Ebersohn, Andries Strauss, Ryno Benjamin, Sias Ebersohn, Tewis de Bruyn, Ashley Johnson, Lappies Labuschagne, Johan Wessels, Waltie Vermeulen, Francois Uys, WP Nel, Adriaan Strauss (captain), Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: Hercu Liebenberg, Marcel van der Merwe, Izak van der Westhuizen, Heinrich Brussow, Piet van Zyl, Corne Uys, Philip Burger.
Western Province: 15. Conrad Jantjes 14. Danie Poolman 13. Johann Sadie12. Tim Whitehead11. JJ Engelbrecht10.Demetri Catrakilis 9. Dewaldt Duvenage8. Nick Koster 7. Siya Kolisi6. Rohan Kitshoff5. De Kock Steenkamp4. Hilton Lobberts 3. Brok Harris 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (C)1. Wicus Blaauw
Reserves: 16. Deon Fourie 17. Frans Malherbe18. Adriaan Fondse19. Pieter Louw 20. Nic Groom21. Berton Klaasen22. Marcel Brache
BLUE BULLS VS LIONS, 17H00, PRETORIA
The final game of this action packed weekend, and we close off with yet another tight game, which should make for some great viewing. The Bulls have been bolstered by 7 Boks, while the Lions have their pivot back in Elton Jantjies. The Bulls though, have a Springbok front row, with the backline strengthened by the likes of Bjorn Basson and Zane Kirchner in the back three. My thoughts are that the Bulls will have too much fire power for this Lions team, who are unbeaten in three rounds so far, and will win this match with some ease.
Blue Bulls team: Zane Kirchner, Akona Ndungane, Stefan Watermeyer, Francois Venter, Bjorn Basson, Francois Brummer, Dustin Jinka, CJ Stander, Dewald Potgieter (captain), Derick Kuun, Juandre Kruger, Flip van der Merwe, Werner Kruger, Chiliboy Ralepelle, Dean Greyling.
Replacements: Gary Botha, Rossouw de Klerk, Fudge Mabeta, Deon Stegmann, Lohan Jacobs, Marntiz Boshoff, Stephan Dippenaar.
Lions: 15 Michael Killian, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Lionel Mapoe, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (captain), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jaco Taute.
I’m not convinced that the Lions will win. They haven’t played a top side yet and with the returning Boks for the Bulls and the game being at Loftus I think the Bulls might just take this game.
@Pokkel (Comment 1) :
But that is what I said, not so?
Agree with 3 out of 4
think the Cheetahs will sneak a win with their Boks back.
Sharks to go top of the log if they beat Griquas!
.
I think the Lions might just sneak this one. If Jantjies fires he will put away his backline, he plays flat and that suits Hollenbach and Murrey. Go Lions
@Pokkel (Comment 5) :
i see the point you are trying to make
@Zibbie (Comment 7) : You know, between yourself and Greg you’ll still change my opinion of Lions fans being a bunch of humourless droogs…
@Zibbie (Comment 7) : Please inform me because I can’t see the point.
@Culling Song (Comment 8) :
somebody has to improve the Lions images
the world needs to be kept in balance hehe
I`m not so sure about the wp prediction here.
FS forwards could pull it through for them.
Overall very difficult predictions this week. . .
@Mutley (Comment 6) : I have to say I agree with this. None of the Bulls Boks were very impressive on tour, Basson especially, and the Lions are always up for a Bulls game. I think it will be hard and close but the Lions to sneak it.
On OFS – WP I think that Robert Ebersohn is better than Sadie and dont see the WP backs getting ascendancy in midfield – I’ll go with the Cheetahs here – the WP forwards are going to struggle in the front row.
@Pokkel (Comment 5) : do u really have to say so much
@Franshark (Comment 13) : maybe he was moderated
@steve (Comment 12) :
i see Basson is out of the game .
@rekinek (Comment 14) : Pokkel? Moderate? I don’t think so
Why is our centre pairing still Terblanche and Bosman?
They failed in the S15 this year.
Surely we should be blooding some new players NOW, well before the S15 next year?
As a Sharks fan I’m not happy with just winning the odd Currie Cup. Domestic success MUST be translated to S15 success – that is the main priority!
Rant over, have a good evening y’all.
3/4 the same
@JarsonX (Comment 18) : Did you go with the Griquas to win?
@Greg (Comment 16) :
If I have something nasty to say I go to the dark side cause k@k and leave.
@Ben (Comment 19) : Nope
Went with the Cheetahs. 
Is Lambie on yet?