After we’ve managed to gain a slightly better insight into the form of the respective team, let’s see if we can predict the winners in the four Currie Cup games this weekend.
Pumas v Sharks
While one would ordinarily expect this to be a reasonably one-sided affair, the Pumas really did upset the odds (and very nearly the Lions too) in playing surprisingly well in Johannesburg last Friday night. They’re a proud team, full of hard working players who are determined to make a mark on this year’s competition and the Sharks would write their hosts off at their peril. That said, the Durbanites were most impressive in downing the Bulls and have the luxury of naming an unchanged side for this match, while the Pumas are licking a wound or two already. Expect the young Sharks to battle a bit, but ultimately win comfortably, by about 10 points.
Pumas: 15: MJ Mentz, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Pieter Engelbrecht, 11 Ashwin Scott, 10 Tiaan Marx, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Christo le Roux, 7 Jaco Bouwer, 6 Corne Steenkamp (captain), 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 1 De-Jay Terblanche.
Replacements: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Brett Nel, 18 Eduan van der Walt, 19 RW Kember, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Coenie van Wyk, 22 Carl Bezuidenhout.
Sharks: 15. Stefan Terblanche, 14. Mark Richards, 13. Marius Joubert, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Louis Ludik, 10. Frederic Michalak, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7. Marcell Coetzee, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Ross Skeate, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Jandre Marais, 19. Frana Kleinhans, 20. Cobus Reinach, 21. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22. Sibusiso Sithole
Leopards v Western Province
The other Friday evening game sees the Leopards host WP. Both sides failed to win their openers, although there is little to suggest that the Leopards will be able to present anything other than token resistance against a Province side that will be smarting after their draw with Griquas. Expect the Cape Town lads to put in a big performance to silence their detractors and win by 15 or more.
Leopards: 15. George Tossel, 14. Danie Dames, 13. Joubert Engelbrecht, 12. Charl Weideman, 11. Vainon Willis, 10. Clayton Durand (Captain), 9. Whestley Moolman, 8. Morne Hanekom, 7. Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 6. Philip de Wet, 5. Roan van Heerden, 4. Brendon Snyman, 3. Stephan Bezuidenhout, 2. Gavin Williamson, 1. BG Uys
Replacements: 16. Chrisstoffel Duvenage, 17. Bêrend Botha, 18. Thabo Mamojele, 19. Christo van Niekerk, 20. Theo van Wyk, 21. Walter Venter, 22. Hoffman Maritz
WP: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Rohan Kitshoff, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Hilton Lobberts, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie (Captain), 1. Wicus Blaauw
Replacements: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Adriaan Fondse, 19. Nicholas Fenton-Wells, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Isma-eel Dollie, 22. Marcel Brache
Griquas v Lions
Aaah – the first of the really tricky ones to call this season. The Kwas were unlucky to not beat Province last week and on their home ground, against a Lions side that was poor against the Pumas, Griquas have to start as favourites. They’re still without two of their main strike weapons in Sarel Pretorius and Rocco Jansen, though, but the Lions appear to lack genuine x-factor in their backline too, which should even things out. I’m going to go with Griquas, by about 5 points.
Griquas: 15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Richard Lawson, 13. Wilmaure Louw, 12. Barry Geel, 11. Fabian Juries, 10. Monty Dumond, 9. Shannon Rick, 8. Jonathan Mokuena (Captain), 7. Davon Raubenheimer, 6. Justin Downey, 5. Martin Muller, 4. Hendrik Roodt, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Ryno Barnes, 1. Steph Roberts
Replacements: 16. Matthew Dobson, 17. Jean Botha, 18. Frikkie Spies, 19. Jaco Nepgen, 20. Matthew Rosslee, 21. Logan Basson, 22. Rudi Vogt
Lions: 15. Michael Killian, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies la Grange (Captain), 11. Lionel Mapoe, 10. Burton Francis, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Joshua Strauss, 7. Derick Minnie, 6. Cobus Grobbelaar, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Wikus van Heerden, 3. Jacobie Adriaanse, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. Pat Cilliers
Replacements: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. JC Janse van Rensburg, 18. Johan Snyman, 19. Dries van Schalkwyk, 20. Michael Bondesio, 21. Hein Cronje, 22. Alwyn Hollenbach
Blue Bulls v Cheetahs
Things just don’t get any easier for the Bulls, with the Cheetahs coming to Loftus to try and add a second loss to Pine Pienaar’s Currie Cup scorecard. The Bulls have made no changes to the side that was manhandled by the Sharks and it will take a braver man than I to predict a victory for the home side here. The visitors, though, have a late fitness concern to flyhalf Sias Ebersohn, which could even things up a bit. I still see the Cheetahs winning, by around 7.
Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Akona Ndungane, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Dustin Jinka, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Fudge Mabeta, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Gary Botha (captain), 1 Corné Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Okkie Kruger, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Ruan Snyman, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Francois Venter.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Andries Strauss (captain), 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Boom Prinsloo, 7 Pieter Labuschagné, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Francois Uys, 3 WP Nel, 2 PW van Vuuren, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Trevor Nyakane, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Pieter Myburgh, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Philip Burger.
Tweet
On the Kwas vs Lions game I have to go with the Kwas winning it, I meant to do a thread but lost my recording of the presser. Everyone went on about how happy they must be about coming away from Newlands with the draw, the thing is they werent happy, their coach was pissed, he went on and on about how it was not good enough and you could pick up he wasnt just saying words. He really backs his team and is confident they are going to knock over a few big games this year.
Cant agree more, but taking my non Grand Slam success rate into account, 1 or 2 games will go the other way.
@JarsonX (Comment 2) :
yea .. the Lions will probably win just cause i picked against them in Superbru …
@Zibbie (Comment 3) : Traitor
Rob – how do you Predict a Wiepie win, yet on SB you have the Leopards up for a win?
Solid
@Ice (Comment 5) : how do u do those eyes thing BIG POPING EYES 🙂
@Zibbie (Comment 3) : Traitor indeed 😛
@Franshark (Comment 7) : (:shock:) without the brackets
The Lions might just pull it threw against Griquas but only if they dominate upfront and not drop every single ball
@Ice (Comment 5) : SERIOUS finger trouble!
@robdylan (Comment 11) : added with a pint or two perhaps? 😆
@robdylan (Comment 11) : And the All Blacks/Fiji margin?
@Ice (Comment 12) : sadly, not 🙁
@robdylan (Comment 14) : Must be utter fatique then! 😉
how long Taute will be out? anybody any idea ?
@Ice (Comment 5) : ya – Rob’s pick is hard to go unnoticed
i hope the Cheetahs win this weekend and obviously hope the Sharks cream the pumas
oh and im doing this from my phone just to make sure i can do it fine on my phone for the live updates.
@G West (Comment 19) : 😛
@G West (Comment 19) : its not so easy jumping up and down and posting scores, remember to rather enjoy the game, that does not come around every day…
@G West (Comment 19) : if we have to wait a minute for the score nobody will be complaining…
Sharks will score 6 tries.
@rekinek (Comment 16) : between 1 and 3 weeks
i thought piet van zyl had been banned from all rugby stadia in south africa never mind playing for a team
FRIIIIIIIDAY!!!!!!
Game day 🙂
Have a good one all!
is the sharks game live on supersport?
@pete69 (Comment 27) : Nope – our game is not being broadcasted…it will be live streamed on Supersport.co.za
@RuckingFun (Comment 25) : it’s an amazingly common name that :). There was a Piet van Zyl who played for Boland at centre too
@robdylan (Comment 29) : Rob, found a decent proxy for the live streaming yet? I havent had much time to look…
@pete69 (Comment 27) : @Ice (Comment 28) :
Ya and i will be doing updates via the Stadium here on the site… Might have a laptop to take with, would make things even easier 😎
Firstly i think its shocking that the Sharks game is not televised!! This is the premier domestic competition in the country- every game should be shown live on one of the channels! Surely the teams sponsors cant be too thrilled! I also think there could possibly be a few upsets on the cards this weekend…
@SheldonK (Comment 32) :
I agree in full with you! I never understood why they cant have one game on S1 and the other on S3 i mean they have 9channels i’m sure they can make a plan!
I don’t know. I think the Lions slipped up last weekend and won’t make the same mistake this weekend.
I agree with the other 3.
The Cheetahs Bulls game is my game of the weekend. Cheetahs want to stay at the top and the Bulls want to try and turn their season around.
Leopards vs Western Province at Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Lesego Legoete
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende, Stefan Breytenbach
Television match official: Johann Meuwesen
Assessor: Arrie Schoonwinkel
Pumas vs Sharks
Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Joey Salmans, Johan Greeff
Blue Bulls vs Free State Cheetahs at Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Stuart Berry, Christie du Preez
Television match official: JC Fortuin
Assessor: Dennis Immelman
Griquas vs Golden Lions at GWK Park, Kimberley
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Mark Lawrence, Reuben Rossouw
Television match official: Shaun Veldsman
Assessor: Eugene Daniels
@SheldonK (Comment 32) :
@G West (Comment 33) :
Agreed, take a look at the tv schedule, there are a number of channels showing non-live events at the same time, coupled with the fact that they will have cameras at the ground anyway, in order to stream the game, so why not show them it live?
@Greg (Comment 36) : At the time of the pumas/sharks game, supersport blitz channel will be showing repeats number 22 – 27 of Blitz Bulletin July 22 ??????
Whoohoo Laptop sorted! this is going to be awesomE!
@G West (Comment 38) : You ready????? 😀
@G West (Comment 38) : fantastic!
@Greg (Comment 37) : lovely!
@Ice (Comment 39) :
Yip yip! Car washed! Suit Prepped! Laptop Sorted! Info Sorted!Even secured Media Parking pass to my dash board lolz!
@G West (Comment 42) : you washed your car? Now THAT is dedication to the cause!
@robdylan (Comment 43) : Yip inside and out! i am like that thou… Either everything is nice or nothing is lol!
@G West (Comment 44) : Is your route to the stadium planned? 😉
@JarsonX (Comment 45) : taking traffic disruptions into account…
Oh wait, I forgot… it’s Nelspruit.
Jarson… are you going to Brakpan tomorrow? It’s not THAT far from Vereeniging, is it?
@robdylan (Comment 46) : Unfortunately not. Going to Paris……..South Africa
Why Brakpan?
@JarsonX (Comment 45) : HAHAHAHA! good one! ill record a driving Vid to show u folks how far it is hehehe… oh wait i have to go fetch the laptop and friend before the time… ah well Tour of Nelspruit for u folks then hehehe!
@JarsonX (Comment 47) : Oh the Valke v Sharks game 😳
@JarsonX (Comment 49) : yup
@G West (Comment 48) : Please point out the places of interest while you’re at it 😎 😆
We`ve got Mark Lawrence tonight!
Sharks would have to stuff up in a big way to lose this.
Go Boys! .. er too early? 🙄
@Original Pierre (Comment 52) : never too early
@G West (Comment 42) : WHAT a way to attend your 1st live Sharks game. 😎
@KSA Shark © (Comment 54) : telling me… man, I’m jealous
@robdylan (Comment 55) : Damn right, same here. 😉
@KSA Shark © (Comment 54) : speaking of attending I’m 90% sorted for next weekend, one last hurdle 🙂
@Franshark (Comment 57) : is it a big one or a small one? 🙂
@Franshark (Comment 57) : great stuff!! hope it get’s sorted.
@Franshark (Comment 57) : How big is she? 😆
@robdylan (Comment 58) : small, that why only 10% allocated, the wife was all of 60% 🙂
@Franshark (Comment 61) :
@Ice (Comment 60) : she’s not big, the attitude is 🙂
@Franshark (Comment 63) : I know all about THAT! 😆
@KSA Shark © (Comment 54) : @robdylan (Comment 58) : @Ice (Comment 62) :
All because of you folks! i do appreciate all of it immensely! 😎
25 sleeps!!!! 😀
@Ice (Comment 66) :
en dan?
@Pokkel (Comment 67) : Then I’ll be covering the SLB for SW again!!! Me with Reki, Ness, Me2, Dudette and Kette!! 😀
@Ice (Comment 68) : woohoo
Damn wish the Sharks game was on tv tonight. Why the heck not dstv? Don’t see another rugby game being played when the Sharks game is on. 🙁
Hope some will keep us up todate here. If so will blog later during the game.
Go Sharks and Go Boks for tomorrow.
@Puma (Comment 70) : Leopards v WP on at the same time. 🙂
@Puma (Comment 70) : SW has GWest at the game giving live score updates on here.
@McLovin (Comment 71) : Damn missed that….hehe. BUT you okes don’t count when a Sharks game is on at the same time… 😛
What is dstv’s problem? They have enough sports channels to show both games? What the heck we pay our subscriptions for? 😈
@KSA Shark © (Comment 72) : Cheers ksa.
Will keep up with the game here then.