Let’s have a look at the four Currie Cup games for the weekend, if for no other reason than to give everyone an excuse to stop obsessing about World Cup selection.
The Lions head to Nelspruit tonight (shudder – it’s a bit like Mordor, just without the volcano) to face a Pumas team that has won twice in the opening three rounds. The Lions, let’s face it, were pretty poor for much of last week’s game against the Sharks, but emerged with a relatively easy 5 points all the same. The Pumas held them well for 40 minutes in Johannesburg earlier in the season but will back themselves to be much more competitive at home.
The Lions are also without a number of key players – most significantly, captain fantastic Jaco Kriel. Call me crazy, but I think the Pumas are going to take their second big scalp this week, and could sneak a win by 2-3 points.
Pumas: 15 JW Bell, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (captain), 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 JC Roos, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marius Coetzee, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Jacques Momberg, 1 Corné Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Frank Herne, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Giant Mtyanda, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz.
Golden Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Sampie Mastriet, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje (captain), 8 Fabian Booysen, 7 Stephan de Wit, 6 Kwagga Smith, 5 Franco Mostert, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 Jacques van Rooyen.
Replacements: 16 Malcolm Marx, 17 Julian Redelinghuys, 18 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 19 Jano Venter, 20 Jaco van der Walt, 21 Alwyn Hollenbach, 22 Anthony Volmink.
Free State take on Province in Bloem at the same time (7pm) and will be on a bit of a high after dispatching Griquas last week. John Dobson took his inaugural PK as coach at Loftus last week and has reacted by dropping Dillyn Leyds, whose stupid post try “pole dance” manoeuvre appears to have irked his coach.
That kind of thing can go one of two ways – either Dobbo will have completely cemented his authority in the dressing room with this move or he will have lost them entirely. My feeling is, backlash or no, there’s enough doubt in the Province minds this week that the Cheetahs will sneak a win, maybe by 5 or so.
Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 BG Uys.
Replacements: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Caylib Oosthuizen, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Ruan van Rensburg, 21 Tertius Kruger, 22 Sias Ebersohn.
Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Godlen Masimla, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
Replacements: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 JP Smith, 18 Jan de Klerk, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Dillyn “Beyonce” Leyds.
The Bulls head to Kimberley to take on Griqas at 3pm on Saturday and there unfortunately is little to talk about. Griquas are a shadow of their former Currie cup glory days and the Bulls are quite simply going to murder them.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Sandile Ngcobo, 13 Michael Van Der Spuy, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 RJ Liebenberg, 7 Jonathan Adendorf, 6 Johan Wessels, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Jaco Nepgen, 3 Ewald Van Der Westhuizen, 2 AJ Le Roux, 1 Steph Roberts
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Luxolo Koza, 18 Hilton Lobberts, 19 Carel Greeff, 20 Rudi Van Rooyen, 21 Jonathan Francke, 22 Ruhan Nel
Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ivan van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Pieter Labuschagne (captain), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Corniel Els, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 Rudolph Snyman, 19 Nick de Jager, 20 André Warner, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dan Kriel.
Finally, the Sharks head to the bay for a very tricky return fixture against an EP Kings side that ran them far too close in Durban a fortnight ago (and picked up a try bonus point in the process). There’s been a lot of noise out of the camp this week regarding improvement against the Lions and if the Sharks can show the same attitude and commitment on defence that they managed in the first part of that Lions encounter, they’ll do better against the Kings this week.
I’m not hugely confident, but I’ll back the Sharks to do the business by around 8 points.
Eastern Province Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Siyanda Grey, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 JP du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Karlo Aspeling, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Luke Watson (captain), 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Lizo Gqoboka
Replacements: 16 Schalk Ferreira, 17 Edgar Marutlulle, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Stefan Willemse, 20 Paul Schoeman, 21 Dwayne Kelly, 22 Hansie Graaff.
Sharks: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 S’bura Sithole, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Michael Claassens, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Daniel du Preez, 6 Francois Kleinhans, 5 Marco Wentzel (captain), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Gerhard Engelbrecht, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 JC Astle, 19 Jean-Luc du Preez, 20 Stefan Ungerer, 21 Wandile Mjekevu, 22 Garth April
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I agree with the picks. Pumas are a different team at home, they have a solid set piece. Rudi Mathee will make a huge difference behind the front row.They have an exciting midfield with Watermeyer a very underrated player. Trompie is a strong bugger, and a naughty shit too. His only error in judgement was in driving a Landy 🙂
Met him at a “fishing” getaway that my son attended with his work colleagues. Specimen, Bell, and Botha are a more than useful back three. Marcus Schoeman is a terrier on the ground, and is deceptively strong with ball in hand. And of course the Faf factor. JC Roos, won’t miss many kicks at goal.
Lions, Cheetahs, Bulls, Sharks would be my calls. Pumas are a tough ask at home but the Lions will switch gears and bring the pain in the final 20.
Kick off. Pumas vs Lions
Penalty try to the Lions and Stephan Watermeyer yellow carded for diliberate knock down
Converted
Lions 7
Pumas 0
7min
Penalty missed by Roos.
Pumas 0
Lions 7
9min
Penalty again missed Roos
Pumas 0
Lions 7
16min
Watermeyer back on
Penalty Boshoff
Lions 10
Pumas 0
21min
And in Bloem its 18-3 to the Cheetahs. Zelinga missed 5 points in kicks.
Penalty Boshoff
Lions 13
Pumas 0
31min
Cheetahs 25 – 3 WP
29 minutes
Cheetahs 25 – 8 WP
33 minutes.
Penalty Roos
Pumas 3
Lions 13
39min
Massive Drop goal Boshoff!!!!!!
Lions 16
Pumas 3
Halftime
Cheetahs 25 – 15 WP
39 minutes.
Half Time
Cheetahs 25 – 15 WP
2nd half starts. Pumas vs Lions
Penalty Boshoff
Lions 19
Pumas 3
42min
Long range Penalty Roos
Pumas 6
Lions 19
46min
Penalty Boshoff
Lions 22
Pumas 6
51min
Try Faf de Klerk
Convertion missed by Roos
Pumas 11
Lions 22
52min
Score still the same.
Cheetahs 25 – 15 WP
50 minutes.
Try Kwagga!!!!!!
Conversion missed by Boshoff
Lions 27
Pumas 11
58min
Yellow Card Marnus Schoeman
Cheetahs 25 – 18 WP
56 minutes.
Try Jaques van Rooyen
Converted Boshoff
Lions 34
Pumas 11
63min
Cheetahs 25 – 21 WP
60 minutes.
Cassiem Yellow Card
4th Yellow Card. Monza off
Kwagga scores his 2nd and the Lions bonus point
Boshoff converts
Lions 41
Pumas 11
78min
Cheetahs 28 – 21 WP
73 minutes.
Fulltime
Lions 41(16) Tries: Kwagga Smith (2), Jaques van Rooyen, Penalty try. Conversions: Marnitz Boshoff (3). Penalties: Boshoff (4). Drop Goal: Boshoff
Pumas 11 (3) Tries: Faf de Klerk. Penalties: JC Roos (2)
FULL TIME
CHEETAHS 28 – 21 WP
Man of the Match – Jaques van Rooyen
Again the Pumas are roving just what a shock their win over the Sharks was.
The big teams beat the Pumas and today the Lions whipped them.
*proving
2 for 2 so far
@Mutley (Comment 35) : great win for the Lions!!! Going to be hard to beat this year!!!
@Orlok Tsubodai (Comment 40) : to be honest the Sharks were very poor in that game (and most of the other games)!!!!!
@vanmartin (Comment 42) : 1 out of 2 for me…I picked Province by 2…
I must say, I am enjoying how the Cheetahs are playing…
Bulls vs Lions final. Go Lions!
Ja bulls lions for 1 and 2. Cheetahs weepee for 3 and 4. Sharks to duke it out with the bottom of the barrel. Sad
@pastorshark (Comment 45) : @Ben (Comment 46) : @coolfusion (Comment 47) : Lions will be tough to beat!!!!!
Weet iemand wat met die U19 gebeur het – hoop vir goeie nuus.
@Leon Schrenk (Comment 49) : Rob answered your question already on the u21 thread.
@Leon Schrenk (Comment 49) : klink of hulle 26-7 verloor het.
Kick off. Griquas vs Blue Bulls
Penalty Dukisa
Griquas 3
Bulls 0
3min
Yellow Card. Lappies
Try Dukisa
Convertion missed
Griquas 8
Bulls 0
8min
Penalty attempt missed by Dukisa
Griquas 8
Bulls 0
13min
Wind having a huge effect on the game
Hugh Bladen again. 🙄
Penalty Dukisa
Griquas 11
Bulls 0
16min
Tian Schoeman really stuggling to cope with the wind
Penalty Schoeman
Bulls 3
Griquas 11
21min
Penalty attemp by Schoeman hit the posts
Bulls 3
Griquas 11
27min
Try Travis Ismail
Converted
Bulls 10
Griquas 11
28min
Try Jamba Ulengo
Converted
Bulls 17
Griquas 11
32min
Try Dries Swanepoel
Converted
Bulls 24
Griquas 11
38min
2nd try for Dries Swanepoel and bonus point for the Bulls
Converted
Bulls 31
Griquas 11
Halftime
2nd half underway Bulls vs Griquas
Try Carel Greef
Converted
Griquas 18
Bulls 31
45min
Penalty Schoeman
Bulls 34
Griquas 18
52min
Try AJ Le Roux
Converted by Clinton Swart
Griquas 25
Bulls 34
56min
Try no 2 for Jambo Ulenga
Converted
Bulls 41
Griquas 25
61min
Bonus point try for Griquas scored by Riaan Viljoen
Converted
Griquas 32
Bulls 41
73min
Yellow Card – Hilton Lobberts
Try Louis Fouche
Convertion missed
Bulls 46
Griquas 32
78min
Fulltime
Blue Bulls 46 (31) Tries: Travis Ismail, Jamba Ulengo(2), Dries Swanepoel (2), Louis Fouche. Penalties: Tian Schoeman(2). Conversions: Schoeman (5)
Griquas 32 (11) Tries: Ntabeni Dukisa, Carel Greef, AJ le Roux, Riaan Viljoen. Penalties: Dukisa(2) Conversions: Dukisa, Clinton Swanepoel (2)
Man of the Match – Jamba Ulenga
@pastorshark (Comment 45) : 4 from 4,two weeks in a row. Trust me to get predictions right when I’m no longer playing fantasy league or SuperBru
@vanmartin (Comment 87) : So I ended up getting 3 out of 4…with some margin points. I had to go and back Province, didn’t I?
@vanmartin (Comment 87) : I did have another good fantasy league weekend, picking Ulenga as my captain! Though I did drop from second to fourth on the global log…still up there though…