We have a full round of matches this week (with only WP not playing). Also, we actually have a little bit of form to guide us, so perhaps we can make some decent predictions. Not that last week went badly, mind you, with all three going the way we thought they would.
Game 1: EP KINGS vs BOLAND
Well, Boland came unstuck against the Cheetahs, as we suspected they would, in the first round, a clear indication that there really are two tiers in this year’s competition. That said, Boland are a good, well-coached side benefiting from decent continuity. The Kings are a pick-up side this week who have only been together for a few days, so expect Boland to hammer them by a good 12 points.
EP Kings – 15 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 14 Alcino Izaacs, 13 Johan Tromp, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Kobus Marais, 9 Ricky Schroeder, 8 Christiaan de Bruin, 7 Sebasian Ferreira, 6 Vince Jobo, 5 Cornel Hess, 4 Tazz Fuzani, 3 Vukile Sofisa, 2 Mike Willemse, 1 Schalk Frerreira (c).
Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Justin Forwood, 18 David Antonites, 19 Brandon Brown, 20 Jacques Fick, 21 Berton Klaasen, 22 Lungelo Goza.
Boland – 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Sergio Torrens, 13 Ryan Nell (captain), 12 Christopher Bosch, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Zandré Jordaan, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Kenan Cronje, 5 Hanno Kitshoff, 4 Shaun McDondald, 3 Basil Short, 2 Chadley Wenn, 1 Stephanus Wessels.
Subs: 16 Francois Esterhuizen, 17 Francois Hanekom, 18 Joubert Horn, 19 Chaney Willemse, 20 Jovelian de Koker, 21 William van Wyk, 22 Craig Pheiffer.
Game 2: SHARKS vs GRIQUAS
Griquas didn’t play last week, so we don’t know how strong they are. They dominated a weak Currie Cup Qualifying tournament, as one would expect, but against a team like the Sharks, boasting a full-strength Super Rugby pack, they may not find the going quite as easy. With an abrasive backline (up against some raw youngsters in black and white) the ‘kwaste could cause trouble, provided they get the ball. The Sharks will look to build a dominant platform up front, but with a rookie tighthead up against the experienced Steph Roberts, may not find the scrums one-way traffic this week. The loss of Jean-Luc du Preez also alters the back row dynamic for the Durbanites and they will look to play a faster game, with more offloads and fewer breakdowns. All round, the Sharks should have too much class, but I don’t think it will be all that easy. Sharks by around 8 points.
Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Neil Maritz, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 S’bura Sithole, 10 Inny Radebe, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Tera Mtembu, 7 Philip van der Walt, 6 Keegan Daniel (c), 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 John-Hubert Meyer, 18 Ruan Botha, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Michael Claassens, 21 Heimar Williams/Odwa Ndungane, 22 Rhyno Smith.
Griquas – 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 JW Jonker, 12 Johnathan Francke, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Poerie van Rooyen, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 RJ Liebenberg (c), 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jono Janse van Rensburg, 4 Mzanele Zito, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 Marius Fourie, 1 Steph Roberts.
Subs: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Devon Martinus, 18 Liam Hendricks, 19 Sias Koen, 20 Steph Vermeulen, 21 Renier Botha, 22 Elgar Watts.
Game 3: GOLDEN LIONS vs PUMAS
We’ll need to see how quickly the Lions bounce back form their Super Rugby final defeat – and also just how well they adjust to losing 2/3 of their first-choice team to the Springboks and/or Japan. The Pumas showed last week, though, that they’re a shadow of their former selves, so expect a big bonus-point victory for the men in red here. Lions by 20 or more.
Golden Lions – 15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Koch Marx, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi , 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ross Cronjé (captain), 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Steph de Wit, 5 Lourens Erasmus, 4 Martin Muller, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Armand van der Merwe, 1 Corné Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Justin Ackerman, 18 Luvuyiso Lusaseni, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Dillon Smit, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Jacques Nel.
Pumas – 15 Justin van Staden, 14 Jean-Paul Lewis, 13 Hennie Skorbinski, 12 Marlou van Niekerk, 11 Marcello Sampson, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Reynier van Rooyen, 8 Renaldo Bothma, 7 Nardus van der Walt, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Hugo Kloppers (captain), 4 Wiehan Hay, 3 Louis Albertse, 2 Francois du Toit, 1 Kwezi Mona.
Replacements: 16 Herne Frank, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Jannie Stander, 19 Carel Greef, 20 Emile Temperman, 21 Deon Helberg, 22 Devon Williams.
Game 4: FREE STATE CHEETAHS vs BLUE BULLS
This is the game of the round, pitting two traditionally strong teams against one another. The Bulls were the surprise package of Round 1, easily downing WP at home, although their flagging defence in the closing quarter will be a concern. The Cheetahs took time to get going against Boland but clicked in the second half and ran away with matters. They’re at close to Super Rugby strength, although they have lost a key strike weapon on Sergeal Pietersen this week. My feeling is that the combination of home ground advantage and a greater degree of experience will swing this one in the Cheetahs’ favour – they’ll win by around 5 points.
Free State Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Francois Venter, 12 William Small-Smith, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Tian Meyer, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Paul Schoeman, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1 Ox Nche.
Subs: 16 Jacques Du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Justin Basson, 19 Henco Venter, 20 Shaun Venter, 21 Niel Marais, 22 Maphutha Dolo.
Blue Bulls – 15 Ulrich Beyers, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Dan Kriel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha (c), 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jason Jenkins, 3 Entienne Swanepoel, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Pierre Schoeman.
Subs: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Martin Dreyer, 18 RG Snynman, 19 Hanro Liebenberg, 20 Andre Warner, 21 Joshua Stander, 22 Duncan Matthews.
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I think Bulls will be too good for the Cheetahs, could be a comfy win. Sharks will win easy if forwards come to the party. Boland/Kings will be scrappy but i think Boland will take it easy in the end. Lions look good on paper- could win by plenty
i see Renaldo Bothma is back at the Pumas . Do you guys know what is going on with him ?
@Zibbie (Comment 2) : Apparently he was on loan at the Sharks, then just transferred to the Bulls but is still under contract with the Pumas till end of October after which he is a fulltime Bulls player
@SheldonK (Comment 3) : bliksems . ok . good times
@Zibbie (Comment 4) : At least he seems fit to play. The other Sharks escapee Potgieter seems eternally injured
@SheldonK (Comment 5) : must say not sad that Pottie escaped!
My picks for the weekend:
Boland
Lions
Sharks
Bulls
@JD (Comment 6) : Ya look my thoughts on the matter are prob different to most. But i think he could have added value to the Sharks. But he is gone now and he could also add a lot of value to the Bulls and thus make them stronger. And the stronger local teams are the better it is for the Boks. So ya just my thinking
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : But with his history he will probably complete his rehab he started at the Sharks,at the Bulls expense ,then head straight off to Japan or Europe
@The hound (Comment 9) : He is getting married..in other words he has no free will anymore..he goes where he is told 😉
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : My wife has told me to tell you that that is such a bullshit statement…
@Culling Song (Comment 11) : My wife concurs 🙂
@SheldonK (Comment 8) : my problem is Sharks paying another injured player not able to play not against him as he could add value to any SA team if he’s not injured.
@SheldonK (Comment 10) : @Culling Song (Comment 11) : hahaha I’m the boss in my house and I can tell the world (as my wife gave me permission to say it)!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 1) : Agreed, the Bulls played a good game of rugby against WP.
@The hound (Comment 9) : That is very likely! He’s a mercenary…
@The hound (Comment 9) : @Quintin (Comment 15) : some say mercenary other says make as much money while you’re young enough to still play rugby.
Yes crowds at CC games are less than sr, but why do the sharks play boland in wellington at 3pm on a friday. I would have driven through from cape town if it had been on a saturday, or later on a friday.
I might yet take the day off and drive through anyway.
Then we fly back to durbs to play the bulls on a sat and then back to western cape to play western problems at newlands the following weekend, why not just stay in the western cape, all that traveling
Kick off at Emirates Airline Park. Lions vs Pumas. Will the Pumas bounce back after their loss to the Sharks. Will the Lions still be able to produce the goods without their Springboks and rested players?
Try Lourens Erasmus
Converted vd Walt
Lions 7
Pumas 0
1min
Yellow Card to Akker vd Merwe
Penalty missed by Brummer
Pumas 0
Lions 7
7min
Try Jaco vd Walt
Converted
Lions 14
Pumas 0
10min
Yellow Card Jaques van Rooyen. Now 13 vs 15
Try Anthony Volmink
Converted by vd Walt
Lions 21
Pumas 0
21min
Tackles missed
Lions 0
Pumas 13
23min
Try Marlou van Niekerk.
Converted by Brummer
Pumas 7
Lions 21
26min
Lions back to 15
Cyle Brink scores the bonus point try for the Lions
Converted by vd Walt
Lions 28
Pumas 7
28min
Try by Pumas prop
Converted by Brummer
Pumas 14
Lions 28
33min
Try Sylvian Mahuza
Converted
Lions 35
Pumas 14
38min
Halftime
Lions 35
Pumas 14
It is official. Lourens Erasmus has the record for the fastest try. 8.5seconds.
Brummer starts the 2nd half
Try by the Angry Warthog
Converted
Lions 42
Pumas 14
46min
Try Howard Mnisi
Conversion missed
Lions 47
Pumas 14
49min
Try by Justin van Staden
Conversion missed
Pumas 19
Lions 47
55min
Try Koch Marxs
Converted by Boshoff
Lions 54
Pumas 19
63min
Try Boshoff
And converts his own try
Lions 61
Pumas 19
72min
Volmink scores his 2nd try
Converted
Lions 68
Pumas 19
79min
Devon Williams scores the bonus point try for the Pumas
Fulltime
Lions 68
Pumas 26
Man of the Match
Howard Mnisi
Pumas really suck without Stonehouse.
@coolfusion (Comment 56) : ja think they’re missing him big time!!!
@Mutley (Comment 54) : Big win……did we soften them up for you, or is this win putting our (away) win into perspective as to how good or bad the Pumas really are.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 58) : The Pumas were horrible against the Lions…they looked like they came to lose and just make up numbers. They werent great against the Sharks but were a lot better than they were against the Lions. Even EP would have beaten them playing like that
@Mutley (Comment 55) : I see Mnisi is trying to develop a kicking game. Nice to see. Interesting selection when Van Rensburg comes back into it. Van Rensburg at 13?
@SheldonK (Comment 59) : Ok, good to hear.
@SheldonK (Comment 60) : and where do you play Mapoe?
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 58) : @SheldonK (Comment 59) : to be totally honest I’ve always believed that Stonehouse got more out of the Pumas than any other coach could and for now it seems as if I might have been right
@JD (Comment 63) : I think it was a combo of Stonehouse knwoing how to get the most out of that group of players but also they had a combo of guys that at the time were playign well and really gelling…Giant, Bothma, Marnus Schoeman, Koch created a serious pack and Watermeyer, Coenie Van Wyk etc and co were doing the basics in the backline
@JD (Comment 62) : I was thinking more in terms of this CC. With Mapoe back- id probably play Van Rensburg and Mapoe as first choice combo currently…but you cant just have 2 guys and Mnisi is improving every week…far cry from the player that played Vodacom Cup for the Sharks…funny enough also under Swys DeBruin if im not mistaken