Well, it could never last…. and my perfect record really saw its ass in round three, with only two of the four results going the way I predicted. I’m going to predict, though, that I wasn’t the only one to get the Griquas-Lions result wrong!
Let’s look at round 4.
Game 1: GOLDEN LIONS vs BOLAND CAVALIERS
Ackies will, I’m sure, have read the riot act to his faltering charges after they somehow managed to lose to Griquas. He’s made big changes to the side this week – which could either work or backfire further – but you have to fancy that the Lions are going to put in a better performance this week either way. Boland are not a good enough side to win at Ellis Park, regardless of how close to peak performance the Lions are, so I anticipate a relatively handsome Lions win, by 15 points at least.
Golden Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Selom Gavor, 13 Jacques Nel, 12 Howard Mnisi (c), 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Dillon Smit, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Victor Sekekete, 6 Steph de Wit, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Ruan Ackermann, 3 Pieter Scholtz, 2 Ramone Samuels, 1 Corné Fourie.
Subs: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Bobby de Wee, 19 Cyle Brink, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Koch Marx, 22 JW Bell.
Boland Cavaliers – Not yet announced
Game 2: PUMAS vs GRIQUAS
This should be an entertaining match for sure. The Pumas are not themselves so far this year and certainly haven’t looked like the giant killers of old; meanwhile, Griquas are rediscovering a bit of their former swagger and showed that they will be formidable foes at home this season. It might be a tight one in Nelspruit, but I fancy Griquas to take this, even if the Pumas do put in a far better performance than they have to date. Griquas to win by 5 points.
Pumas – 15 Devon Williams, 14 Bernardo Botha, 13 Hennie Skorbinski, 12 Leighton van Wyk, 11 Jean-Paul Lewis, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Emile Temperman, 8 Renaldo Bothma (c), 7 Nardus van der Walt, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jannie Stander, 4 Wiehan Hay, 3 Louis Albertse, 2 Frank Herne, 1 De Jay Terblanche.
Subs: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Jacques Kotze, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Carel Greeff, 20 Kevin Luiters, 21 Marlou van Niekerk, 22 Hoffmann Maritz.
Griquas – 15 AJ Coertzen (c), 14 JW Jonker, 13 Johnathan Francke, 12 Clinton Swart, 11 Alshaun Bock, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Rudi van Rooyen, 8 Jason Fraser, 7 Sias Koen, 6 Wendal Wehr, 5 Jonathan Janse van Rensburg, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 AJ le Roux, 1 Steph Roberts.
Subs: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Liam Hendricks, 18 Hilton Lobberts, 19 Steve Meiring, 20 Renier Botha, 21 André Swarts, 22 Eric Zana.
Game 3: EP KINGS vs WESTERN PROVINCE
The Kings certainly didn’t roll over at Loftus alst week – in fact, they were pretty competitive for an hour against the Bulls. They’re battling for depth, though and have lost their captain to boot, so it’s hard to see them winning this game. Province have problems of their own after two opening defeats, but with John Dobson having thrown the kitchen sink in this week, a Blitzbok-heavy WP backline really should see the men in blue and white record a decent victory. WP by 15, with a bonus point.
EP Kings – 15 Johann Tromp, 14 Siviwe Soyizwapi, 13 JC Greyling, 12 Burton Klaasen, 11 Sampie Mastriet, 10 Kobus Marais, 9 Ricky Schroeder (c), 8 Christiaan de Bruin, 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Vince Jobo, 5 Sebastian Ferreira, 4 Tazz Fuzani, 3 Vukile Sofisa, 2 Mike Willemse, 1 Justin Forwood.
Subs: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Barend Potgieter, 18 Dylon Pieterse, 19 Luke vd Smit, 20 Brandon Brown, 21 Lungelo Goza, 22 Ganfried May.
Western Province – 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Huw Jones, 12 Dan du Plessis, 11 Leolin Zas, 10 Brandon Thomson, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Jurie van Vuuren, 6 Kobus van Dyk, 5 Chris van Zyl (c), 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Sub: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Oli Kebble, 19 Jan de Klerk, 20 Stefan Willemse, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Robert du Preez.
Game 4: SHARKS vs BLUE BULLS
The pick of the round as the table-topping Sharks go head to head with the third-placed Bulls. While Nollis Marais’s side has picked up two wins in their first three games, they’ve not been altogether convincing and certainly haven’t looked the part defensively, with an average of five tries conceded per game. The Sharks, on the other hand, have looked more clinical, albeit against weak opposition, so it’s anybody’s guess whether they’ll translate that form into a win against a strong foe. The smart money has to be on the Sharks pulling this one off and as long as they approach the game with the necessary focus, I anticipate a Sharks win by around 10 points.
Sharks – 15 Curwin Bosch, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Lukhanyo Am, 12 André Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Inny Radebe, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Keegan Daniel, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Thomas du Toit, 2 Franco Marais, 1 Dale Chadwick.?
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 John-Hubert Meyer, 18 JC Astle, 19 Jean Deysel, 20 Hanco Venter, 21 S’bura Sithole, 22 Rhyno Smith.
Blue Bulls – 15 Duncan Matthews, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 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 RG Snyman, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Lizo Gqoboka.
Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Martin Dreyer, 18 Nic de Jager, 19 Hanro Liebenberg, 20 André Warner, 21 Joshua Stander, 22 Ulrich Beyers.
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Ag hell no Rob again the same picks!!!
So Sevens stars Kolbe and Kok both start for Western Province.
Kok on the wing? I didn’t think he was fit for wing, but that’s just my opinion.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : Personally i would have played Kok at flank or 12. Interesting that nobody has picked up Justin Geduld who is actually a pretty good 15s player. Perhaps all the conditions that come with playing a contracted 7s player detracts other teams
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : ja would be interesting to see how he goes not that Kings should be a huge hurdle.
@JD (Comment 1) : Same here. I’m so sorry guys.
@vanmartin (Comment 5) : notnlooking good for one of the teams just hope it’s not the Sharks!
@JD (Comment 6) : changing my pick to Boland … sigh
@Zibbie (Comment 7) : hahaha ja please do 😉
The Lions 21 Koch Marx, is he a sibling to Malcolm Marx?
@SheldonK (Comment 3) :@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : I’m excited too see what Kok is going to do this weekend. I also think he is out of position though but lets wait and see.
@Quintin (Comment 10) : Yeh lets see. Looks a pretty decent WP team on paper.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : @SheldonK (Comment 3) : Im waiting for someone to pick Kolbe at scrumhalf. 😈
Not even one upset?
Either Boland or Kings to throw the cat amongst the pigeons this weekend…
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 12) : Cant see that ever happening. Picking him at 10 isnt the worst idea though.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 13) : maybe Pumas?
Took me a long time to pick the GWK/Pumas match. Would be easier had it been played in Kimberley. Ai Superbru.
@Bite me (Comment 16) : ja must say I do think that game can go either way (just like the Sharks game).
@JD (Comment 15) : That game and ours is 50/50….but Boland beating Lions, or Kings beating WP would be major upset.
@FireTheLooser (Comment 18) : ja can’t see Boland or Kings winning. Hope Sharks can beat Bulle!!!
@JD (Comment 1) : Snap…
@Quintin (Comment 10) : I really don’t understand. He played wing and centre at school. 7’s is a type of game that expects your all round skills to be very good. Didn’t Houggie play prop for the 7’s team for a few games? Same as the Hoff. Must Houggie now move to flank? Please guys. The guy is a centre and wing. Think with the skills 7’s has introduced, centre is best for him. Can understand WP starting him on the wing for a few games.
@pastorshark (Comment 20) : now I’m really worried!!!
@GreatSharksays (Comment 21) : I think its probably the way he plays 7s that people think flank for him. In the 7s team he is the tackling abrasive player not the silky runner. School was a while ago for him…at school JPP was a lock and Pierre Spies a wing and Craig Burden a centre…things do change. I think he could be a good number 8 or even a 12….not sure how he will go on the wing but WP do like their big wings so lets see
@SheldonK (Comment 23) : Bakkies Botha was a fullback at school.
@The hound (Comment 24) : Now that i didnt know. At which school again, cant remember?
@SheldonK (Comment 25) : He was also a provincial hurdler,think he went to school in Middelburgh,not sure.
@The hound (Comment 26) : I did know about the hurdles thing but not the fullback thing. Yeh just checked it was Middelburg.
@The hound (Comment 26) : @SheldonK (Comment 27) : ja time goes by and things change. Interesting that of all the players mentioned most is backs moving to become forwards and only one moved from the forwards to the backs. Just shows you deep inside most backs want to be forwards!!! It’s where it all happens!!!
LIONS
GRIQUAS
WP
SHARKS
@SheldonK (Comment 27) : f he was a New Zealander they probably would have kept him at fullback,shit could you imagine the legend he would have been
,Funny I can’t ever remember him kicking a ball,saw Victor do it,John Smit,but can ‘t remember Bakkies kicking,
@JD (Comment 28) : haha yes good point. But ir probably also shows the schoolboy coaches obsession with size in terms of selecting backline players…
@The hound (Comment 30) : The only time i remember Bakkies kicking a ball was that last conversion for the Barbarians. He must have taken to heart the old coaching instruction that forwards do not kick the ball…ever….even at practice. There was an old UKZN rugby coach when it was still Durban Varsity that used to arrive at practice early and if he saw 1 forward kick a ball at any stage even before practice he would make them run and hit tackle bags till they puked.
@SheldonK (Comment 31) : unfortunately that’s probably 100% correct!!!
@SheldonK (Comment 32) : Or else Bakkies just believed that he could run through anything,he was remarkably quick fora big man and used to love catching the little fellows,Gio Aplon,that Kiwi scrum half,and I remember him in a Welsh test running down that very fast tiny welsh wing from behind.As you have probably guessed by now he was my favourite rugby player,
@The hound (Comment 26) : he has some schooling in Vereeniging as well if i remember correctly
@The hound (Comment 34) : Surely you also remember him almost cutting Giteau in half during the one test? He was a remarkable player. Something the Boks are missing- true farmer strength
@SheldonK (Comment 36) : Agree Ethebeth is a total pretender to his crown,just doesn’t have Bakkies dog fuck,I am always suspicious of a guy who spends a lot of time flexing his muscles,you realise he is not used to them and start wondering how he got them and how long has he had them.
@SheldonK (Comment 23) : He was still elusive and good with ball in hand at 7’s. He’s now a complete player. He himself wants to play in the backline.
@The hound (Comment 37) : I just felt Etzebeth has been lead down the wrong path and perhaps needed a guy like Bakkies to mentor him. He had so much potential when i first saw him playing for UCT etc.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 38) : Im happy for him to play backline, just think he would be more effective at 12. He has hardly played any rugby this year. But his role in the 7s team of late seems to be one of tackling more than creating anything on attack.
Kick off.
Lions vs Boland
Try Selom Gavor
Converted by Boshoff
Lions 7
Boland 0
6min
Try Anthony Volmink!!!!!
Convertion missed
Lions 12
Boland 0
14min
20min gone, still 12-0 to the Lions
Penalty Boshoff
Lions 15
Boland 0
24min
Try Joubert Horn
Terrible tackling by Steph de Wit and Pieter Scoltz
Converted Kotze
Boland 7
Lions 15
28min
Great team try scored by Dillion Smit
Converted Boshoff
Lions 22
Boland 7
32min
Handling errors
Lions 6
Boland 1
33min
Try scored by Boland from the maul. Poor defence by the Lions.
Conversion missed by Kotze
Boland 12
Lions 22
37min
Try Jaques Nel
Convertion missed by Boshoff
Lions 27
Boland 12
Halftime
Kick off 2nd half
Try by Victor Sekekete from the driving maul
Converted by Boshoff
Lions 34
Boland 12
46min
Lions defence not very good. Better teams will exploit it
2nd try for Salom Gavor
Converted Boshoff
Lions 41
Boland 12
55min
Robbie Coetzee on after a long injury lay off
Try Howard Mnisi
Converted Boshoff
Lions 48
Boland 12
64min
Bobby de Wee. 3minutes on, conceded 2 penalties and yellow card.
Yellow card to Clermon Lewis for nearly decapitating Ross Cronje
Try JW Bell
Conversion missed by Boshoff
Lions 53
Boland 12
77min
Try Dylan Smith
Converted Boshoff
Lions 60
Boland 12
Fulltime
Beter performance by the Lions in the 2nd half. Mnisi looks like a better leader than Cronje as Mnisi was able to keep his troops calm
Man of the Match
Ruan Ackerman
@Mutley (Comment 73) : Mnisi looking better than in SR.
@coolfusion (Comment 75) : Agree, but in Super Rugby I rate him more as an impack player.
Kick off
Pumas vs Griquas
Penalty by Brummer
Pumas 3
Griquas 0
4min
Penalty Swart
Griquas 3
Pumas 3
7min
Try JP Lewis
Conversion missed
Pumas 8
Griquas 3
10min
Try Rudi van Rooyen
Converted
Griquas 10
Pumas 8
14min
Penalty Brummer
Pumas 11
Griquas 10
18min
Try Jannie Stander
Converted by Brummer
Pumas 18
Griquas 10
24min
Yellow Card to Frankie Herne
Penalty Swart
Griquas 13
Pumas 18
29min
Penalty Swart
Griquas 16
Pumas 18
36min
2nd try for Rudi van Rooyen
Converted Swart
Griquas 23
Pumas 18
Halftime
Kick off 2nd Half by Brummer
Try Alshaun Bock
Converted by Swart
Griquas 30
Pumas 18
42min
Try Marnus Schoeman
Converted by Brummer
Pumas 25
Griquas 30
51min
Try Frankie Herne
Converted by Brummer
Pumas 32
Griquas 30
55min
Actually not a bad game. Both teams throwing everything at each other and going hard.
Swart keeps his 100% record with another penalty
Griquas 33
Pumas 32
67min
10min left and 1 point in this
Swart attempting a long range attempt and over with meters to spare
Griquas 36
Pumas 32
72min
Wendel Wehr has just scored what should be the match winning try.
And Swart misses his 1st
Griquas 41
Pumas 32
74min
Penalty Brummer
Pumas 35
Griquas 41
77min
Dramatic finish on the cards
1min left. Scrum to Pumas 60m out
Pumas get a penalty and kick for touch. Line out 35m out
Overthrow at the line out and Griquas win it
Fulltime
Griquas 41
Pumas 35
Man of the Match
Clinton Swart
@Mutley (Comment 111) : Any idea when they will be cycling ruan Dreyer back in?