Right – thanks to Rich for doing this last week but I’m back at my post for the last round in the first half of the season. Things remain as tight as a Cape Town tourist’s buttocks, making each result a bit of a lottery. Let’s look at round 5.
Game 1: Griquas v Lions (Saturday 3:00pm)
After a poor start to the campaign, the Lions really drew the spotlight firmly onto themselves by virtue of a huge win at Loftus in round 3. The young side showed plenty of grit last week too, in salvaging a draw against Western Province after being well beaten in the first half. I’d be hard-pressed to say I see the Lions winning the Currie Cup this year, but they look like genuine semi-final contenders at the least, which is more than can be said for their unfortunate hosts. Griquas’ injury woes continue unabated and while their Kimberley home ground should mitigate the damage, it won’t be enough to ensure victory this weekend. Lions to win a scrappy game by 5 points.
Griquas: 15 PJ Vermeulen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Burger Schoeman, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Victor Kruger, 4 Patrick O’Brien, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Ryno Barnes (captain), 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Dalton Davis, 19 RJ Liebenberg, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Du Randt Gerber, 22 JP Nel.
Golden Lions: 15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Andries Coetzee, 13 Robert de Bruyn, 12 Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie (captain), 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Ruan Venter, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 JJ Breet, 19 Warwick Tecklenburg, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Deon Helberg, 22 Ruhan Nel.
Game 2: Blue Bulls v Cheetahs (Saturday 5:05pm)
The Bulls have taken a bit of strain in recent weeks, conceding bonus point victories to both the Lions and the Sharks, after doing better than expected earlier in the competition.The Cheetahs that they’ll face have blown hot and cold, tending to run up big first-half leads which they battle to defend. This might play into the Bulls’ hands, who to date have tended to be far better in the first half than after the break. This one will go down to the wire, but I’m backing the young Bulls team to bounce back with a victory here. Blue Bulls to win by a scant 2 points in a thrilling tussle.
Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Akona Ndungane, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Jono Ross (captain), 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Grant Hattingh, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Werner Kruger, 18 David Bulbring, 19 Jacques du Plessis, 20 Rudi Paige, 21 Ulrich Beyers, 22 Clayton Blommetjies/Tiaan Schoeman.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Pieter Labuschagne, 6 Johannes Prinsloo (captain), 5 Lodewyk De Jager, 4 Teboho Mohoje, 3 Rossouw De Klerk, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Wian Du Preez, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Kevin Luiters, 21 Willie Du Plessis, 22 Piet Lindeque
Game 3: WP v Sharks (Saturday 7:10pm)
The game of the round features the two teams currently topping the standings. There is a huge amount at stake for both, with proud records on the line on both sides. Province have been held to two draws, but are otherwise unbeaten, while the Sharks “hot streak” extends to three wins in a row. Winning at Newlands against the best defence in the country, though, is a big ask and the Sharks will need to show that their new territory-based gameplan includes enough “spark” to unlock that defence, while still maintaining discipline. This could really go either way and while the smart money is on Province, I’m backing the Sharks to squeak it based on a stronger bench. Sharks to win by 3 points.
Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Deon Fourie (captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Gary van Aswegen, 22 Michael van der Spuy.
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Sizo Maseko, 13 Louis Ludik, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Butch James, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Jacques Botes (captain), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Peet Marais, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Danie Mienie.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Fred Zeilinga, 22 Jaco van Tonder.
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Mmmmmmm intresting predictions Rob…..
I have to say that I am not totaly with you this week….
My prediction are as follow.
Lions by 10+ (The Kwasse will do well 1st half then it wall fall apart)
Cheethas by 7 (just because I will never back the Bulls and hope they stay right down there 🙂 )
WP by 6 ( Jake the World Cup winning Coach giving advice and De Jong has got the Sharks number )
Lets see what happens… Good luck to all
Lions by 15
Cheetahs by 12
Sharks by 5
I am risking another 0 out of 3 weekend:
Griquas by 3
Bulls by 7
Sharks by 6
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : That might be a 1 out of 3 if we`re lucky.
Lions
Cheetahs
WP
Lions by 7
Cheetahs by 12
WP by a very conservative 100 as they are clearly favourites
@Lassy_lion (Comment 1) : “De Jong (sic) has got the Sharks number”
Wow… that’s deep reasoning that. No need to say any more.
WP by 100, jou lekker ding!
🙂
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Hahahaha I was waiting for your reply on that one…. I am actually on the Sharks on my Bru…. But the rest is correct.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : Jis JA!!! Jou lekke ding! If it was Flippy WP would have won by 300!!!
Here’s my thoughts:
Lions should kill the kwaste – Lions by 15odd
I CANT see the bulls loosing 3 in a row, but WANT to – mmm the 3rd draw this year????? NO Cheetahs by 3,
Sharks by just because I back my team EVERY TIME!!! However realistically I think WP by 3 (Only because of home ground) Is it raining in Newlands Saturday?
@R Hayward (Comment 9) : Nope nice and sunny…. Well Cape Town weather is like a ladies mood… You will just have to wait and see… 🙂 But the prediction is sunny…
WP by 7, thats been the difference in their last 2 encounters – thanks to Juan de Jong flummoxing our midfield.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 11) : He hasn’t faced the sharks midfield this CC season… So I guess it’s a draw then?
@Lassy_lion (Comment 10) : Whichever way the weather is going to be I’m backing da SHAAAKS!!!
@Lassy_lion (Comment 1) : I honestly reckon de Allende is a bigger threat this year than de Jongh (on current form).
WP going to destroy the sharks
WP by 15 – 20 points
Griquas by 2
Cheetahs by 9
@Flippie (Comment 15) : didn’t I ban you?
@robdylan (Comment 16) : Flip floped back on
What did I do to be banned
And how long I am banned for?? If I am banned
@Flippie (Comment 19) : JIS Flippy!!! Welkom terug boet! SAAAKS met 20???
Clearly whatever I did, didn’t work.
Bly maar, Flip, maar probeur toe bietjie harder om my nie so om te krap nie!
@robdylan (Comment 21) : lol
@robdylan (Comment 7) :http://www.quickmeme.com/meme/3vpcra/
@Flippie (Comment 15) : 15 – 20 punte. Jinne Flippie, dis 30 punte minder as gewoonlik! Alles okay by die huis?
@The Great Couch Shark (Comment 23) : very nice!
@vanmartin (Comment 24) :
Lions by 20
Cheetahs by 20
Sharks and Problems draw
Lions by 7
Cheetahs by 12
Sharks by 6
I see we’ve got Craig Joubert reffing our game. Anyone know how he’s been handling the new scrum laws so far?