Look, not to brag, or anything, but we’re two rounds in and I’ve yet to call a result wrong. That’s the kind of record that is bound to tumble soon.
Game 1: BOLAND vs SHARKS
This one is easy to call, though. The Sharks are in good form and are going to win at a canter if they do what they do. Sharks by 15 or so, hopefully with a bonus point.
Boland – 15 Nico Scheepers, 14 Sergio Torrens, 13 Christopher Bosch, 12 Ryan Nell, 11 Danwel Demas, 10 Adriaan Carelse, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Zandré Jordaan, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Shaun Adendorff, 5 Hanno Kitshoff, 4 Shaun McDonald, 3 Basil Short, 2 Francois Esterhuyzen, 1 Stephanus Wessels.
Subs: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Abongile Mnyaka, 18 Francois Hanekom, 19 Joubert Horn, 20 Kenan Cronjé, 21 Jovelian de Koker, 22 Theuns Kotzé.
Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Heimar Williams, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 S’bura Sithole, 10 Inny Radebe, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Tera Mtembu, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Dale Chadwick.?
Subs: 16 Franco Marais, 17 John-Hubert Meyer, 18 JC Astle, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 Wandile Mjekevu, 22 Garth April.
Game 2: WESTERN PROVINCE vs FREE STATE CHEETAHS
Now this one is tricky. Province were awful in their opener, but have had a week off to lick their wounds and think about things a bit. They have Notshe back to add a little bit more oomph to their back row, but have lost a star player in Shickerling. Inconsistent Jaco Taute could be a match winner at the back, but could equally be a liability. The Cheetahs are also a little unsettled, though and crucially, have lost talismanic captain Francois Venter. The smart money would be on the Cheetahs to win here, but I have a sneaky suspicion we might see them lose a little rhythm this week and with Province already a little desperate, an upset is on the cards. WP to win by 5 points.
Western Province – 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Kobus van Wyk, 13 Johnny Kotze, 12 Huw Jones, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Kobus van Dyk, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Chris van Zyl (c), 4 Jan de Klerk, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Alistair Vermaak.
?Subs: 16 Martin Ferreira, 17 JC Janse van Rensburg, 18 JP Smith, 19 Jurie van Vuuren, 20 Godlen Masimla, 21 Robert du Preez, 22 Cheslin Kolbe.
Free State Cheetahs – 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rayno Benjamin, 13 Nico Lee, 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 Johan Coetzee, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Charles Marais.
Subs: 16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Ox Nche, 18 Tom Botha, 19 Justin Basson, 20 Henco Venter, 21 Shaun Venter, 22 Niel Marais, 23 Michael van der Spuy.
Game 3: BLUE BULLS vs EP KINGS
Another simple one. Bulls to win by 20 or more.
Blue Bulls – 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Jamba Ulengo, 13 Burger Odendaal, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Piet van Zyl, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jannes Kirsten, 6 Ruan Steenkamp, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 RG Snyman, 3 Etienne Swanepoel, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboko.
Subs: 16 Edgar Maruthlulle, 17 Pierre Schoeman, 18 Jacobie Adriaanse, 19 Irne Herbst, 20 Hanro Liebenberg, 21 Andre Warner, 22 Joshua Stander.
EP Kings – 15 Johan Tromp, 14 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 13 Burton Klaasen, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Kobus Marais, 9 Ricky Schroeder (c), 8 Christiaan de Bruin, 7 Sebastian Ferreira, 6 Vince Jobo, 5 David Antonites, 4 Tazz Fuzani, 3 Vukile Sofisa, 2 Mike Willemse, 1 Justin Forwood.
Subs: 15 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Barend Potgieter, 18 Ettienne Oosthuizen, 19 Luke van der Smit, 20 Jacques Fick, 21 Minenhle Mthethwa, 22 Lungelo Goza.
Game 4: GRIQUAS vs GOLDEN LIONS
Let me say that better Lions teams than this one (on paper at least) have lost in Kimberley in the past. That said, the Lions are not a “paper” team these days and certainly don’t appear to have lost any Super Rugby momentum after their big win against the Pumas. Griquas are also not quite as strong as they once were, but will give a better account of themselves at home his week than they did in Durban in the last round. I don’t think this is going to be one-way traffic, but I also don’t feel that Griquas have enough to seriously challenge the Lions in 2016. Lions to win by 10 or more.
Griquas – 15 AJ Coertzen, 14 JW Jonker, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 RJ Liebenberg, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 4 Sias Koen, 3 Stephan Kotzé, 2 AJ le Roux, 1 Steph Roberts.
Subs:16 Marius Fourie, 17 Devon Martinus, 18 Mzwanele Zito, 19 Stephan Vermeulen, 20 Renier Botha, 21 André Swart, 22 Eric Zana.
Golden Lions – 15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Stokkies Hanekom, 12 Howard Mnisi (c), 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Ross Cronjé (c), 8 Ruan Ackermann, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Steph de Wit, 5 Lourens Erasmus, 4 MB Lusaseni, 3 Jacques van Rooyen, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Dylan Smith.
Subs: 16 Ramone Samuels, 17 Corné Fourie, 18 Bobby de Wee, 19 Ruaan Lerm, 20 Dillon Smit, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Jacques Nel.
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It seems the Super Rugby unions have moved another step or two up from the domestic unions
Congrats and not to jinx you but I’ve got it the same for this round so hope you’re record stays in tact.
I too have the same picks which means your glorious run ends this weekend Rob. I’m guessing WP will implode under the burden of our collectiove expectation. It may have been okay had it only been you and JD that picked them but I have just tipped the scales.
Well I’m looking to keep my run of having at least one pick incorrect every round. That would be with the 50/50 WP and Cheetahs game. I however gone the other way and picked the Cheetahs by 7. The rest all seem easy enough. Now if that isn’t jinxing it then I don’t know what is.
SHARKS
CHEETAHS
BULLS
LIONS
@vanmartin (Comment 3) : now I’m seriously thinking about changing the WP Cheetahs game! 😉
Not sure if anyone posted yet,but this is not bad
https://www.onedayonly.co.za/blk-men-s-sharks-2016-away-replica-jersey-3.html
@HeinF (Comment 7) : thanx for sharing, just ordered a new black one.
@HeinF (Comment 7) : Thanks for that. Ordered a black and red one.
@vanmartin (Comment 3) : @JD (Comment 6) : Boom
@vanmartin (Comment 10) : geez I just can’t win with the Cheetahs. If I pick them they lose and the second I pick them to lose they win!!!
Kickoff. Griquas vs Lions
Try Akker vd Merwe
Converted vd Walt
Lions 7
Griquas 0
1min
Penalty Swart
Griquas 3
Lions 7
16min
Wind making it difficult in the line outs. Both hookers strugling.
Try AJ Coertzen
Converted
Griquas 10
Lions 7
22min
Penalty Swart
Griquas 13
Lions 7
27min
Try Stephan Kotze
Converted Swart
Griquas 20
Lions 7
30min
Possesion
Griquas 59%
Lions 41%
Territory
Griquas 73%
Lions 27%
Try Howard Mnisi
Conversion missed by vd Walt
Lions 12
Griquas 20
34min
Yellow card to Jaco vd Walt
38min
Halftime
Griquas 20
Lions 12
2nd half starts
Try Cyle Brink
Converted by Boshoff
Lions 19
Griquas 20
42min
Penalty missed by Boshoff
Lions 19
Griquas 20
44min
Penalty missed by Swart
Griquas 20
Lions 19
47min
Try Rudi van Rooyen
Converted by Swart
Griquas 27
Lions 19
50min
Swart stretchered of the field after a collision. It looks bad.
Lions basics letting them down as they overthrow another line out.
60min gone and Griquas still leading 27-19
Penalty by Andre Swarts
Griquas 30
Lions 19
67min
Griquas looking to bury the Lions and end their unbeaten run.
Try Corne Fourie
Boshoff misses the conversion from the corner
Lions 24
Griquas 30
75min
5min left and it is the final push. Will the Lions pull this one out of the ash or will Griquas hold on
Griquas have possession in the form of a line out in the Lions half
2min left and the Griquas have a scrum in the Lions have. Great opportunity for them to finish the game
1min left. Griquas still in possession
En daar val die Leeus in Kimberly se gat
Griquas takethe win
Full Time
Griquas 30
Lions 24
That second halfin durban last week suddenly does not look too bad
@byron (Comment 48) : The Griquas are a different animal when they play in Kimberley.
@HeinF (Comment 7) : thanx for the link my jersey was delivered today!