2011 Currie Cup: Round 10 preview and predictions

The Currie Cup nears its business end for 2011, with only five rounds of regular-season play to go ahead of the semi-finals. While the Lions can all but seal semi-final qualification with a big win this weekend, all the other teams still have plenty of work to do in order to ensure a top four finish – as well as avoid relegation next year.

Leopards v Lions

The Friday night game in this round is an easy one to call. The Lions have had a pretty good draw in that in both halves of the competition, they had to face the three “minnow sides” in succession, thus allowing them to build up a head of steam ahead of their tougher matches and if they pick up five points here, they’ll be in the enviable position of being able to lose all four of their upcoming games and (probably) end no lower than fourth. The Lions will win, by 20 or so.

Leopards: Hoffman Maritz; Charl Weideman, Hennie Skorbinski, Joubert Engelbrecht (capt), Wynand Willis; Wesley Dunlop, Whestley Moolman; Spanner Pretorius, MB Lusaseni, Robert Kruger, Roan van Heerden, Brendon Snyman, Stoof Bezuidenhout, Gavin Williamson, BG Uys.
Reserves: Stoffel Duvenhage, Snoepie Coetzee, Bêrend Botha, Philip de Wet, Johan Laker, Clayton Durand, George Tossel.

Lions: 15. Jaco Taute, 14. Jannie Boshoff, 13. Doppies la Grange, 12. Alwyn Hollenbach, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Michael Bondesio, 8. Joshua Strauss (Captain), 7. Michael Rhodes, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Johan (Joe) Snyman, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Bandise Maku, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: 16. Martin Bezuidenhout, 17. Jacobie Adriaanse, 18. Warren Whiteley, 19. Jaco Kriel, 20. Rudy Paige, 21. Burton Francis, 22. James Kamana

Griquas v Pumas

A match that could go either way, with the embattled Pumas still seeking that elusive first win, despite being competitive in all of their matches to do date, bar one. Griquas will be too strong at home, though and will win to keep the semi-final race interesting. Griquas by 5.

Griquas: 15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Dusty Noble, 13. Jean Stemmet, 12. Hanno Coetzee, 11. Rocco Jansen, 10. Earl Rose, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Jonathan Mokuena (Captain), 7. Davon Raubenheimer, 6. Marnus Schoeman, 5. Jaco Nepgen, 4. Frikkie Spies, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Ryno Barnes, 1. Ivann Espag
Replacements: 16. Simon Westraadt, 17. Steph Roberts, 18. Leon Karemaker, 19. Justin Downey, 20. Marnus Hugo, 21. Matthew Rosslee, 22. Rudi Vogt

Pumas: 15. MJ Mentz, 14. Wilhelm Hendrik Loock, 13. JW Jonker, 12. Siviwe Magaba, 11. Johan Jackson, 10. Ricardo Croy, 9. Hendrik van der Nest, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Jaco Bouwer, 6. Corne Steenkamp (Captain), 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Rudi Mathee, 3. Brett Nel, 2. Pellow van der Westhuizen, 1. Dawie Steyn
Replacements: 16. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17. Michael de Neuilly-Rice, 18. Willem Serfontein, 19. JP Mostert, 20. Carl Bezuidenhout, 21. Dewald Pretorius, 22. Deon Scholtz

Cheetahs v Sharks

The first of two big matches that will have quite some bearing on the semi-final placings. The Cheetahs are back in a chasing pack of three teams, all seeking a single spot, while the Sharks have managed to pull away from them just slightly and are assured of third spot, regardless of this result. That said, the visitors will want to win to avoid losing touch with Western Province. The sides are very evenly matched and have both been maddeningly inconsistent, but I fancy the Sharks to take it, by about 7 points, based on having a slightly stronger match day 22.

Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Riaan Smit, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Philip Snyman, 11. Cameron Jacobs, 10. Johan Goosen, 9. Piet van Zyl, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Pieter Labuschagne, 6. Boom Prinsloo, 5. Izak van der Westhuizen, 4. Francois (FS) Uys, 3. Coenie Oosthuizen, 2. Adriaan Strauss (Captain), 1. Marcel Van Der Merwe
Replacements: 16. Hercu Liebenberg, 17. Trevor Nyakane, 18. Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19. Johan Wessels, 20. Tewis de Bruyn, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. Andries Strauss

Sharks: 15. Stefan Terblanche, 14. Sibusiso Sithole, 13. Marius Joubert, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Frederic Michalak, 9. Conrad Hoffmann, 8. Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Anton Bresler, 3. Eugene van Staden, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Julian Redelinghuys, 18. Jandre Marais, 19. Marcell Coetzee, 20. Ross Cronje, 21. Adrian Jacobs, 22. Louis Ludik

Blue Bulls v Western Province

Another big game between two teams who have everything to play for. Province have been quietly ticking over for a few weeks now, getting the points they need to stay safe in second spot, without really exerting themselves, although their injury toll continues to mount. The Bulls, on the other hand, stumble from one disaster to another, but still have a hugely-experienced squad which can hammer anyone on their day – just ask Griquas. I know that the smart money should be on Province for this one, but I smell an upset, because I feel the Bulls will simply be too bloody-minded to lose another big game at home. Blue Bulls to squeak it, by about 2 points.

Blue Bulls: 15. Zane Kirchner, 14. Akona Ndungane, 13. Wynand Olivier, 12. Francois Venter, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Louis Fouche, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. CJ Stander, 7. Jacques Potgieter, 6. Dewald Potgieter, 5. Juandre Kruger, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha (Captain), 1. Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19. Arno Botha, 20. Dustin Jinka, 21. Francois Brummer, 22. Jurgen Visser

Western Province: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Marcel Brache, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Isma-eel Dollie, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Tertius Daniller, 6. Nick Fenton-Wells, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Hilton Lobberts, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg (Captain), 1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Nizaam Carr, 19. Siya Kolisi, 20. Quinn Roux, 21. Nick Groom, 22. Berton Wesley Klaasen