Round 12 of the ABSA Currie Cup is upon us and it’s time to gaze into the crystal ball a little and predict what we think will happen.
There’s a lot riding on this one. Getting the result right can help you make serious progress in our Last Man Standing competition, as well as making your way up the log over at SuperBru. For those of you who prefer to take a more direct financial stake in things, perhaps using an online sports betting site, such as Marshalls World of Sport to place a bet on the results will be more your thing. Knowing who’s playing (and who isn’t) is also pretty important for Fantasy League managers.
Game 1: Cheetahs v Pumas
The Barloworld Toyota Pumas were far more Corolla than they were Land Cruiser against Province last week and one gets the feeling that after doing well to stay in touch for so many rounds, the wheels are now coming off for Jimmy Stonehouse’s boys. The Cheetahs now have a pretty nice run-in, but will know that they need to rack up BIG points differentials in their remaining games in order to leapfrog Province and the Bulls on the Currie Cup log. Expect the Cheetahs to win by 20+, but it could easily be by 50.
Cheetahs: 15. Riaan Smit, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Jongi Nokwe, 10. Louis Strydom, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Christoffel Philippus Van der Walt, 6. Kabamba Floors, 5. David de Villiers, 4. Francois (FS) Uys, 3. Willem Petrus (WP) Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. Kobus Calldo, 18. Izak van der Westhuizen, 19. Hendro Scholtz, 20. Tertius Carse, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Corné Uys
Pumas: 15. Johan Jackson, 14. Conrad Marais, 13. Shaun Venter, 12. Siviwe Wilmot Magaba, 11. Vainon Willis, 10. Elgar Watts, 9. Hendrik van der Nest, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Jaco Bouwer, 6. Corne Steenkamp, 5. Willem Jacob Serfontein, 4. Eduan Van Der Walt, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Hannes Franklin (Captain), 1. Dawie Steyn
Replacements: 16. Hansie van Dyk, 17. Brett Nel, 18. Luan Velthuizen, 19. Martin Sithole, 20. Jacques (Pumas) Coetzee, 21. Ricardo Croy, 22. Ashwin Scott
Game 2: Western Province v Griquas
It’s time for the Griquas boys to stand up and show us how much pride they still have. This is literally last-chance saloon for them and if they don’t beat Province, they will not make the semi-finals. Province, on the other hand, will know they need to get maximum points here to keep pressure on the Sharks, who they’ll be hoping will come unstuck in Joburg. Unfortunately for Griquas, passion and guts alone will not be enough to take out a very strong Province side and I fear the Capetonians will win, but perhaps not as easily as they think. 10 or so points in it for me.
Western Province: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. JJ Engelbrecht, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Jean de Villiers, 11. Gio Aplon, 10. Willem de Waal, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Pieter Louw, 5. Anton van Zyl (Captain), 4. De Kock Steenkamp, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie, 1. Wicus Blaauw
Replacements: 16. Hanyani Shimange, 17. JC Kritzinger, 18. Adriaan Fondse, 19. Nick Koster, 20. Conrad Hoffmann, 21. Gary Jacques Van Aswegen, 22. Paul Bosch
Griquas: 15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Rocco Reginald Jansen, 13. Wilmaure Louw, 12. Barry Geel, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Naas Olivier (Captain), 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Danie Burger Schoeman, 7. Davon Raubenheimer, 6. Justin Downey, 5. Cecil-John Kemp, 4. Edwin Westley Hewitt, 3. Jacobus Petrus Adriaanse, 2. Ryno Barnes, 1. Jean Botha
Replacements: 16. Simon Westraadt, 17. Steph Roberts, 18. Frederik Albertus Spies, 19. Petrus Gerhardus (Gerhard) Human, 20. Marnus Hugo, 21. Jean Hermanus Stemmet, 22. Rudi Vogt
Game 3: Leopards v Blue Bulls
Bulls are approaching every game like a knockout and for them to claim a home semi, they know that they need to quite simply annihilate the Leopards. They will do so. 50-point snotting on the cards, set your watch by it.
Leopards: 15. Hendrik Daniel Petrus Dames, 14. Jovan Bowles, 13. Kempie Rautenbach, 12. Walter Venter, 11. Dumisani Matyeshana, 10. Clayton Durand, 9. Tiaan Arno Dorfling, 8. Riaan Swanepoel (Captain), 7. RW Kember, 6. Christo van Niekerk, 5. Bradley Peter Mockford, 4. Anthonie Johannes Gronum, 3. Johan Coetzee, 2. Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1. Bennie Geldenhuys Uys
Replacements: 16. Gavin Williamson, 17. Eric Meyer Coetzee, 18. Victor Hugo Joubert, 19. Wilhelm Koch, 20. Charles King, 21. Cecil Dumond, 22. Deon Scholtz
Blue Bulls: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Jaco Pretorius, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9. Francois Hougaard, 8. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7. Petrus Johannes Juandre Kruger, 6. Derick Kuun, 5. Fudge Mabeta, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha (Captain), 1. Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16. Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17. Rossouw De Klerk, 18. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19. Okkie Kruger, 20. Ruan Snyman, 21. Hayden Gareth Groepes, 22. Jaco Engels
Game 4: Lions v Sharks
The only reasonably tricky game to call this weekend, although I don’t really see it as such. For the Sharks, the only really tricky thing here is the fact that the Lions simply HAVE to win, or else miss out on the semis. That is going to make them hugely hungry and motivated and the Sharks will remember how they capitulated and ultimately lost to a Bulls side in a similar position a few weeks ago. The Lions aren’t as good as the Bulls, though – nor are they anywhere near as good as the Sharks and if the Durbanites stick to their structures, control possession and improve even slightly on last week’s showing, they’ll leave Coke Park with all 5 points. Sharks by about 15, for me.
Lions: 15. Jaco Taute, 14. Jannie Boshoff, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Thomas Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Joshua Zac Strauss, 7. Wikus van Heerden, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (Captain), 4. George Earle, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Martin Bezuidenhout, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: 16. Edgar Marutlulle, 17. Wayne Swart, 18. Johan (Joe) Snyman, 19. Trevor Hall, 20. JP Joubert, 21. Burton Francis, 22. Deon van Rensburg
Sharks: 15. Louis Ludik, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Stefan Terblanche (Captain), 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Eugene van Staden, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Pat Cilliers
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Wiehahn Herbst, 18. Michael Rhodes, 19. Jacques Botes, 20. Rory Kockott, 21. André Pretorius, 22. Riaan Swanepoel
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Agreed. Similar predictions on my side.
Jeeez, a lot of my bluebull “friends” in my SB pool are giving this one to the lions…
@Crock (Comment 2) : wishful thinking
Hi everyone
me out of LMS 😥 and FL i don’t know wasn’t here to do me pred 🙁 but what great work done by our Sharks
gee that was a great couple of weeks
@robdylan (Comment 3) : great avatar 😉
@chaz (Comment 4) : hey chazzie babew hoe gaan dit skat? 😀
@Megatron (Comment 5) : gee i forgot all about you 🙄 on holiday etc and my you still on me case but at least you still think about old chaz its going great but what the hell missed all my friends on SW but back and alot to catch up
sharks by 15? at ellis park? ive got a feeling its going to be WAY closer than 15… 😐
@VanWilder (Comment 7) : got sharks by 8 i got a feeling about this one its going to be a hard game lions looking for 1st place so we hvto give all out best 🙂
@VanWilder (Comment 7) : Nope 15 sounds about right, just the other way around 😆 😆 😆 😆
@Greg, meaning 51?
@chaz (Comment 4) : welcome back! Where’ve you been?
@Crock (Comment 10) : I like you 🙂
@Crock: Sharp! 😆
@Crock (Comment 10) :
Lions are without Whiteley, I think that might be a big blow for them
@chaz (Comment 6) : you know chaz babe you’re my one & only, it was not nice here without you 😳 glad u back
@war1 (Comment 15) : we seemed to manage ok without him… 🙂
@Megatron (Comment 16) : watching this development with some interest… 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 12) : I don’t 😆
@robdylan (Comment 17) : we did, but he has been an important player for the lions
@Greg (Comment 19) : you are single-minded, I’ll give you that!
I also feel this will be a lot closer. Think the Sharks will take it but this is a different Lions side. Well coached, dangerous backs and a good goalkicker! We have to be on our guard!
@robdylan (Comment 11) : @Megatron (Comment 16) :
On holiday 😛 and my it was good just missed the SW world so much if anyone wants to go on holiday go to Sabi river camp in Sabi its great place to chill out we even went to the Kruger National Park and my had buffels in front of the car got out and took a pic one of the best also saw Rino’s beutiful animals 🙂
@Megatron (Comment 16) : oh and don’t get started only friends on SW and thats thats my friend 👿 @robdylan (Comment 18) : like i said nothing is going to develop only friends 👿 😉
@Greg (Comment 19) : Glas to c that the Lions are back and no me a Shark
and the cup is on its way in Sharks Tank 
😉 great avatar
Referee for the Lions showdown is Jason Jafta.
Sharks by 5 – 8 I think.
Like I said before, Lions might have a slight edge in the backs but I don`t think their forwards will be enough.
Sharks forwards will have to come through for us again in a big way . . .
Gonna be a cracker. Can`t Wait!
I have the same picks, but my Bulls margin is not that high though. Maybe I’m misjudging them 😳 . If all the above teams win as predicted I can get my 3rd GSP in as many weeks 😎
@chaz (Comment 25) : Welcome back Chaz 🙂
@chaz (Comment 5) : meg are you the local cassanova or what?
@robdylan (Comment 18) : jealousy makes you nasty boet!
@chaz (Comment 24) : chazzie don’t listen to these haters babe, there’s some jealous guys on this blog. Chaz & Meg: Nothing Else Matters 😀
@Megatron (Comment 30) : go meg you stud you!!!
@Jarson (Comment 28) : thanks Jarson its great to be back but while i was gone my SB went down but hoping to get to go up
😉
@ruggabugga (Comment 29) : 😛 😉
@Megatron (Comment 30) : @ruggabugga (Comment 31) : 🙄 hey rugga didn’t you miss me 2 😳 😉
@chaz (Comment 34) : what the hell [email protected]Megatron (Comment 30) : 👿 😈 get hold of [email protected]Megatron (Comment 30) :
😉
you got it all wrong Troll Chaz and SW is all that matters
@chaz (Comment 35) : i love it when you talk like that chazzie, will call you on your mobile in wee bit 😉
Megs, you’re one creepy little dude! 😉
@chaz (Comment 34) : missed you baia,something was definatly missing lol!!
@robdylan (Comment 37) : robbo, just coz me & chazzie are an item, you don’t have to be churlish mate. I know chazzie is a peach but back-off bra. 😀
Once an ass always an ass 🙄
WTF are the punctuation police when you need them?
The Lions have been in “must win” situations many times before and that didn’t make much difference to their success rate. Can’t see it being any different on Saturday.
One can hardly compare the Bulls mentality and resolve in a “must win” situation to the Lions’.
@rhineshark (Comment 42) : fairy muff
@rhineshark (Comment 42) : i dont reckon its about the lions “must win” attitude, its more a case of them playing better rugby, with youngster, who believe in themselfs and playing with confidence. Reminds me of a few years back when dick made wholesale changes with youngsters coming through the ranks at the sharks (Pienaar, Steyn, Barritt, Petersen, bismarck). in previous years, the lions already lost the game mentally before kick-off.
@VanWilder (Comment 44) : Look, no one can deny that the Lions are playing good rugby right now. But so are we and we have by far the better pack.
You’re right about the youngsters, although I reckon their positive attitude and spirit will only get them so far.
The Sharks game plan of keeping the ball for long periods will eventually force the Lions to play high risk rugby in their own half, which will lead to errors and the 15+ win predicted by Rob.
Unless the Lions play out of their skins and we have a really off day I can’t see it panning out any other way 😀
@robdylan (Comment 43) : Sounds wonderful 😉
@rhineshark (Comment 45) : yip, i have to agree with you. Only point i still want to make is that the Lions is a confidence team… if you give them a bit of space or let your grip on the game slip for 10minutes they will punish you and give them confidence (look at the cheetahs game, their wp game at ellis and the bulls game).
we need more of what we did against the cheetahs and wp. Use the ball for LONG periods of time, tackle them backwards and force the errors and subsequent turnovers.
in a nutshell, if we give them a finger, they will rip our hands off. we need another 80min game from the sharks.
I believe we need to focus and bring our A game to beat a spirited Lions team, but if we lose it will just be because we didn’t do ourselves justice.
Yes the Lions are good to watch and playing a lot better, but ffs: who in that team would even make the Sharks side???
People are talking up their backline, but while Taute and Jantjies are phenomenal, they have some good, not great players amongst the rest.
I fear our own inconsistency more than the Lions apparent strength.
@Big Fish (Comment 48) : I’m with you on that. It’s our to lose, but we can definitely lose it if we do our “regular thing”
Who in their team would make ours? Good question. None of the forwards, that’s for sure. I’m not even sure I’d have Taute over Ludik at 15… he’s the only potential candidate
Other possible options are Vermaak over McLeod and La Grange over Strauss, but again, I’d take neither.
All predictions correct accept for the WP Griquas margin. griquas to get a snotting.
WP want a HUGE PD
Griquas demoralized by the loss of Basson just when they felt they were getting a good team together, they have to start over.
@robdylan (Comment 49) :
Who in their team would make ours?
That reminds me of Jake White just before the Ireland test. 😆
We ALL know how that ended. 😛
I would of given the Lions a bit more credit, and i don’t think the Bulls will give such a high-scoring game but otherwise pretty much agree.
@KSA Pink Shark © (Comment 51) : at least Rob is not the coach 😉 saying those things
@war1 (Comment 53) : I am aiming for CEO and will make Letgo the coach.
Come on, keep up guys 🙂
@robdylan (Comment 37) : yep but the attenttion is what the old Troll needs i think hey shit maybe thats all that he gets on Sw by some of us poor old TROLL but still evil and wicked 😉
@ruggabugga (Comment 38) :
@Megatron (Comment 39) : 👿 😈
@Jarson (Comment 40) : u can say that again 😉
@robdylan (Comment 54) : oh my and Chazi under coach and what a win we will hv will standby the other team and just hv fun if u get me grip 😳 😉