Ok so it’s time for the Currie Cup knock-out games!
The Cell C Sharks will be hosting the Xerox Golden Lions at JONSSON KINGS PARK on Saturday at 14h30.
One big chance is that a squad of 23 players were named instead of the usual 22 player.
Head coach Robert du Preez has stuck largely with the side he used for most of the competition.
Thomas du Toit (at 3) and Daniel du Preez (at 8) return to the team (after they were late withdrawals from the game against Griquas).
Marius Louw is back at inside centre, Robert du Preez shifts to flyhalf and Curwin Bosch is back to fullback.
On the bench Jean-Luc du Preez and Luke Stringer were included meaning that Tyler Paul will be covering lock.
With the Golden Lions side looking to add some Springbok flair they will not be to worried about their last 37-21 defeat at JONSSON KINGS PARK. With the addition of the Lions Bokke this should be a close and hard game.
The Cell C Sharks
- Juan Schoeman
- Akker van der Merwe
- Thomas du Toit
- Gideon Koegelenberg
- Hyron Andrews
- Jacques Vermeulen
- Tyler Paul
- Daniel du Preez
- Louis Schreuder (C)
- Robert du Preez
- Lwazi Mvovo
- Marius Louw
- Jeremy Ward
- Sbu Nkosi
- Curwin Bosch
Replacements
- Chiliboy Ralepelle
- Mzamo Majola
- Coenie Oosthuizen
- Luke Stringer
- Jean-Luc du Preez
- Cameron Wright
- Leolin Zas
- Aphelele Fassi
Tweet
Thats pretty much the best side we can name. Personally would have like to see the Bosch/RDP 10/12 combo continue but oh well, hopefully Bosch runs it from the back and not just kick. Should be a good game as Lions will name a usefull team
I’m concerned about Majola off the bench, other than that the bench seems solid.
Kobus van wyk not there, anyone know why
@jdolivier (Comment 3) : RDP Snr personal preference thats all.
@SheldonK (Comment 4) : Sad, the man is an absolute stalwart for us, always gives his all
Strong backline for the Lions:
15 Sylvian Mahuza, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Nic Groom (c), 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Pikkie de Villiers, 6 James Venter, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Rhyno Herbst, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Sti Sithole.
Subs: 16 Tiaan van der Merwe, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Chergin Fillies, 19 Vincent Tshituka, 20 Hacjivah Dayimani, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Shaun Reynolds, 23 Wandisile Simelane.
Last news after wp game was that he had a hamstring injury. Maybe he is injured.Saying that it is the coaches preference is not cool guys. Come on guys. Stop criticising and support the team,whoever plays or not. It’s a semi-final after all!
@sudhir (Comment 7) : I dont see what the issue is with saying it is the coaches preference? Every selection is a coach preferring one player over others. RDP Snr just rates Mvovo,Nkosi, Fassi higher than Van Wyk. Do i fully agree maybe not but also cant argue much with his selections for this game
Would have loved to see kobus ….he adds so much to defense and stability
@coolfusion (Comment 9) : Also has more than enough on attack.
Personally j would have added Meyer as prop backup.
@coolfusion (Comment 11) : I know he is a th but he can bring more even as lh.
@coolfusion (Comment 12) : Might be a good thing for him to move to loose head as Sharks needs cover if Beast is not available and currently there’s a lot more quality tight heads than loose heads in SA.
Lions are resting Marx & Mostert.
They might as well rest everybody.
Sharks by 20.
@McLovin (Comment 14) : Bulls by 24
@McLovin (Comment 14) : 😉
This weekend is a big game for Dan DuPreez because if he has a good game and beats up Whiteley in the tight then surely he puts his name forward for the NH tour over Whiteley. Can only have so many loosies playing on the wing in th NH and Kolisi has that job already secured. Vermuelen is our best 8th man but surely a guy like Dan or Marco Van Staden is a pretty much like for like sub
@coolfusion (Comment 12) : Meyer is a good player I think its time for Thomas to move back to 1.
I think it will be a tougher match than most think. Whiteley seems to lift the Lions team morale quite a bit and Elton performs better at CC level. I think we have too much for them at the front and from the bench though.
Anyone know who the Bulls are looking to replace Mitchell as coach? Stonehouse is out of the picture. Who else are they looking at? They need a serious shake up to turn things around and not just at the coaching level.
@Quintin (Comment 19) : Dont be surprised to see Matfield get the Bulls job
@SheldonK (Comment 20) : Might not be a bad option in terms of making things happen behind the scenes, don’t have enough to look at to rate his coaching skills. I was hoping for them to get in Stonehouse as I feel that type of guy is what the players needed but I don’t think he would’ve seen eye to eye with the board.
Regarding the Boks, who of the overseas players in the squad will we have a available for the NH tour? Duane, Faf and Willie ? Duane was great against England’s on the incoming tour.
@Quintin (Comment 21) : I dont think Faf is available. Also not sure on Willie. Duane i think so but dont kno if its for all the games. Same with Louw
@coolfusion (Comment 15) : Only if they start before Province take the field. 😈
@Quintin (Comment 19) : I wonder if Dobson may be in the picture for the Bulls.
@Quintin (Comment 19) : Elton usually struggles is the forwards are going backwards so Sharks needs to put huge pressure on the lions forwards and 9. Lions 10-15 is really good and will make you pay if given time and space.
@Quintin (Comment 19) : @SheldonK (Comment 20) : @Bokhoring (Comment 24) : wonder what PDiv and Jake White is doing? Maybe could get one or both of them!?
@JD (Comment 26) : I have heard some rumours about the Kings Deon Davids going there. I wouldnt be surprised if it was quite a left field pick. Have a feeling they will announce once Bulls CC season is over
@JD (Comment 26) : Jake is eating sushi and Pdiv is drinking Zambezi.
@Bokhoring (Comment 24) : Maybe he should make it into our picture. Bulls can have slap chips and matfield under Stonehouse.
@coolfusion (Comment 29) : Nope. Just read Stonehouse withdrew. Dobson said he would like to stay at WP. So maybe bulls should have a look across borders…
@coolfusion (Comment 28) : @coolfusion (Comment 30) : yes in sushi and Zambezi land! 2 excellent SA coaches! 😈
After a draining year so far I get to go to the rugby tomorrow. Yay! Looking forward to it…
@pastorshark (Comment 32) : great!!! Enjoy it!!!
I hope Dan still retains his progress on form we will need the loosies to compete hard up front and pressure the pivots I still don’t trust our backline defense.
@pastorshark (Comment 32) :
Enjoy it. Hope you could catch the under 19s winning their semi final.
It comes down to our forwards against their backs
Dan scores after Mvovo manages to keep the ball alive close to the line. 7-0
Great start…
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 35) : Unfortunately not…had a funeral this morning…But am here now…what happened in that game?
Zur Sharks have got off to a great start…10-0 after 12 minutes and totally on top…
Try tiiiiiiime…
Great try that…brilliant stuff by the Sharks!!
Nkosi scores at the end of an attack that he started.
15-0 after 21 minutes…
Mvovo takes a hard knock – looks knocked out. Pity – he has been full value
@Bokhoring (Comment 45) : Out…just bad luck…
What else can the lions get away with at a mail without being penalised
Side entry, lifting legs…. Essshh
Lineout struggles again – should have put the Lions away there
Sharks are all over the Lions…just silly mistakes in the last 5 minutes keeping us out…
Still 18-0…
We end up taking the 3 at least
Ahahahahaha…Jeremy Ward!!! What a hit…
Thanks for coming Elton Jantjies…
He felt that one
18-3
Lineout woes continue – this time no Akker’s fault
Without the silly errors we’d be close to 40 by now…
Usual Sharks rugby – sublime and rubbish in the same match
I would have loved to see the Sharks put that last penalty into the corner and crush the Lions’ spirit with a try…
…good half overall though…
Nkosi gets his second – 23-3
@Bokhoring (Comment 61) : superb start to the second half
Box kicks not really working for us
Coenie on
How forward was that?!?!?!? My word ref!!
Lions score their first try. 23-10
Sharks need to look after possession – the Lions team starting to run more
And these silly passes not helping
Lions running everything now, and finding plenty of gaps. Sharks need to slow this game down
@Bokhoring (Comment 66) : Mapoe’s offload was a mile forward!
@pastorshark (Comment 69) : For sure. But you want to control the game yourself – not rely on the ref
Oh…my…word!!!
WTF was that
@Bokhoring (Comment 70) : fair enough…but keepers, crap officiating doesn’t help…
Fassi chases Diyanti down, Sharks run back and then some idiot passes straight to Skosan.
Andrews the idiot
How the fuck was skosan not offsides
Sharks busy throwing the game away
@jdolivier (Comment 76) : Last ruck was way behind from where he got passed the ball
@Bokhoring (Comment 78) : So after every ruck you can just wait in the opposition backline without falling back
Only offside lines at set pieces and rucks
Skosan scores from the old Jantjies cross kick
Mentally Sharks very poor.
26-24.
Sharks are not worthy of going to finals. We can even be consistent over two halves nevermind two games.
@sharks_lover (Comment 82) : Playing the totally wrong game now. You don’t want to go into a sevens game with the Lions
Dan scores a much needed power try
And his boet kicks a much needed 2 points. 33-24
Cool heads now boys
@coolfusion (Comment 84) : 😯
We’re just delaying the inevitable if this team is playing next week. WP are going eat us up in the first half….
We closed that out very nicely…
…closer than it had to be, but we were much the better team today!
What us it with us and the second half. We just love opening the doors after 50 minutes is our backline unfit do they lose interest or focus?
Sharks wins an unnecessarily close match
I’m thinking wp will match us score for score the first 40 minutes or at least stay in touch. By 50mins they will start hitting the line hard and sharks will hope to hang on or scrape through but wp finish very well and we will hand them the game.
Unless something or someone changes this routine and we can play for 80 full and like a professional outfit. They will need to bring everything….
@coolfusion (Comment 92) : we just got too loose…
@pastorshark (Comment 96) : Yes. And we started well and we had sparkling moments…im just afraid of that implosion second half we will know how to exploit that. It’s a pity because when they play to their potential I don’t doubt they will beat any SA team currently. But as things stand…I have doubts…big ones.
@coolfusion (Comment 97) : Meant to say WP will know how to exploit.
@pastorshark (Comment 39) : The youngsters beat Province something like 45 – 23, apparently a great game. Youngsters still undefeated after a double round of CC games plus this semi.
Egon Seconds reffing the Province vs Bulls semi – I would not be happy if I was a Bulls player or fan. It makes no sense to introduce such a possible infuencing factor into such an important playoff game.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 100) : Maybe it’s justice for the many times we had to face a bulls ref and tmo in same game…
Not only are the bulls no match for WP, but they seem determined to give them as many penalties as they can …or is it the hand of seconds…either way tick tock bulls….
@coolfusion (Comment 101) : Ja but having a ref that leans towards a team is bad enough but when the guy leans one way and used to play in the same colours will always be judged as dicey.
Well done bulls you gave away 5 penalties in one half. Either bulls suck at discipline or egon seconds is killing it for WP.
@coolfusion (Comment 102) : Bulls reduced to living off scraps – but they are living well off those scraps.
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 105) : Don’t know it’s a real pattern or not but I see we doing build up and then an all out push at 50 55 min. I want to see if it’s true
@coolfusion (Comment 106) : WP doing the push
Now it’s crunch time for bulls they need a quick reply in the next 10 min
Bulls need to score and shut out WP in the next 10 else it’s a WP game, bar some last minute luck.
Honestly did not think the Bulls would still be in the lead at 58 minutes. However WP has now managed to squeeze into the lead
@Bokhoring (Comment 110) : Bulls didn’t survive the push. They also hurt themselves with all the penalties they conceded first half.
Who is the WP scrum coach?
Bulls coach changing a pivot at a critical time. Does he study under Rassie? Not a safe choice.
Bulls manage 24 phases of 1 pass 1 ruck rugby before the inevitable mistake.
Skelm Seconds, skelm,
Bulls equalize on 82 minutes.
Ok I now believe Dobson uses 50-60 min all out push. Bulls should have kept ball in hand kept focus on discipline and starve them while making metres no matter how slow.
And Libbok misses
So 20 more minutes
Whoever we play against next week will be fairly knackered after this
@Bokhoring (Comment 119) : Can you believe the WP luck?
WP just have to keep the score even to go through
@coolfusion (Comment 121) : Was a difficult kick – seems windy as well
WP gets the scrum penalties, but earlier Seconds refused to give the Bulls any when they folded the WP scrum
@Bokhoring (Comment 124) : Ja dude I’m not shocked anymore. Lions fans on all sites have the audacity to claim the ref was sharks biased and stunted their fightback really after that five Mile forward pass during their “fightback”
Bulls will need to score in the next 10 if they want to travel to Kings Park. WP will be happy with 0-0
Late and no arms in the tackle, Kempson and Seconds.
6 penalties turned to points. Bulls gave WP this game. No real flash from WP. In fact they looked quite vulnerable today. We need to watch that push window if theirs…
Sharks flying down to Cape Town then. If they can put together an 80 minute game, they can beat WP at their home.
See you boys next week. 😈
@coolfusion (Comment 128) : If you put them under pressure, they make mistakes.
Still WP fought so I can respect that. Lions fans who are wailing about the ref don’t mind being gifted a wildly forward passed try and a gifted pass into their hands by Andrews. So much for this great fight back which consited of illegal tries and fluke brainfart gifts…
@Bokhoring (Comment 131) : Still man if you have access to previous matches watch them around the 50 55 mark that seems a golden window. We need to counter that. First stay in touch if course but also watch that mark.
Bulls have done us a favour … WP are gonna be stiff and sore for a week
@byron (Comment 134) : Better not lose then.
Good on you Butch James for giving an honest assesment of some of the iffy decisions. There was some blatant crap on show there tonight.
And finally, Blue Bulls take a bow, you guys showed real heart. Well done.
@McLovin (Comment 130) : Could be a cracker if the right Sharks team pitch in Cape Town!
In other news, the U19s won again!!!
@Salmonoid the Subtle (Comment 137) : Great character shown by the Bulls. They do need a coaching team that can help them build up some attacking plays – 1 pass 1 ruck rugby does not work against a good defense.
Kudos to Fassi to chase down a flying Diyanti. I like the attitude and commitment that Fassi is showing game after game.
@byron (Comment 134) : 100 mins of CC semi final rugby….I feel sorry for both this teams….
I must say I’m glad SA teams still show so much respect for the CC and fight so hard for it. Even if this year it’s only half a competition. WP Bulls game was just the kind of spectacle we were used to for CC before SR.
@coolfusion (Comment 143) : both games was hard with the teams going all out!
@Bokhoring (Comment 141) : for sure! He looks committed always giving 100%!
i will say it again. Fassi has to play some sevens rugby as it will improve his game even more. i seriously doubt he will be on the year end tour so a few rounds of sevens rugby will be an ideal improvement oppurtunity.
NZ has always used sevens rugby to improve ball handling skills for up and coming youngsters. They generally have a core of sevens players and 2-3 youngsters are taken on tour prior to intergrating into their superrugby franchises.
@McLovin (Comment 130) : Province by 73… 😀
@Bokhoring (Comment 141) : Fassi caught him easily. I do think Dyanti is quicker than that but looks tired and jaded. But yeh Fassi caught him at a canter…and then Hyron Andrews 🙄
Sharks were very good in the first half, and then woeful in the second half but managed to right the ship before disaster struck. Really not sure what causes such highs and lows in their performances. Yes every team goes through good and bad patches but not to the extent the Sharks do. Just one point i think needs to be made- Dan DuPreez has copped a lot of flak and rightly so for some of his handling and discipline etc but over the last few weeks and on Saturday again he was very good and was a mature performance. Just wondering if that is down to Nick Easter being involved. For me its Dan over Whiteley for end of year tour.
@SheldonK (Comment 149) : I have been a big Dan du Preez critic but he has worked hard on his handling(still more work needed) I would like him to tour but these sharks youngsters are having to work harder that others to get a bok chance which may be helping them in the long run.
@SheldonK (Comment 149) : Agree with you on Dan he totally outclassed Whitely on Saturday and his second try was one of the strongest acts of pure physicality I have seen since Andre,not A.J ,Venter in his prime.
Also thought Nkosi schooled Dyanti,smashed him twice and ran right over him, but for me the stand out player on the field was Jeremy Ward,he gets better every week and should be given the captains arm band, he is a former Bok under 20 captain.
The other point that most of the opinionated on this site fail to consider was the howling wind on Saturday for the first half it was on our side and the second half against us.The Lions had a full Springbok back row from 10 to 15,and they failed with all that going for them.
I walked away from the game on Saturday totally happy and satisfied with a great young team, and i reckon W.P are going to need everything on Sat ,that includes their own referee their 24th man Egon Seconds who seems to be be both their home and away ref, their own commentators both in the studio and on the field, and the whole news24 team ,to beat us.
Plus that blood substitution on Saturday was the most blatant act of dishonesty on a rugby field since the NewZealand ref giving Hewson the penalty that sank the 81′ Boks.
@The hound (Comment 151) : Glad I am not the only one questioning the “Blood”
For those who didn’t watch the Province game, what was the issue with the blood sub?
@pastorshark (Comment 147) : Don’t be silly. It’s a final. Province by 71. 😉
@Karl (Comment 153) : I also want to know. And I watched it. ❓
One thing I noticed regarding Dan’s handling is that when he scored both tries, he had the ball in one hand reaching out which he didn’t need to. Now it’s obviously better to tuck the ball under one arm when falling over the line, but for me it shows that he’s working so hard on his hands that it’s now become engrained into him to get the ball in one hand to get the offload away
@McLovin (Comment 154) : I didn’t watch but isn’t it rolling subs now which means there would be no point anyway?
@Karl (Comment 153) : I stand to be corrected but Province has subbed their starting scrum half and his replacement got injured so they were forced to field a wing at scrum half. Almost as soon as extra time started a back went off covered in blood which allowed the Starting scrum half back on. The also made another blood sub during extra time to get a replaced player back and refresh the team.
Could be completely legit but the blood capsule has been used in Rugby before.
@Byron Wright (Comment 158) : Wilco Louw was as Butch James said bleeding after the first scrum of the game, but was blood substituted by the original scrum half in extra time. The rolling subs rule was not in place for this game as the teams consisted of 23 players.You could see during the end of the game that Sergeal Peterson was forced to play scrum half when the replacement scrum half was injured. but lo and behold in extra time wilco is led off for blood and subbed by the original scrum half .
This is actually cheating, but then when the ref actually has 99 jerseys for the home team what do you expect.
@The hound (Comment 159) : Thanks Hound I had made it two subs in my mind but agree that bit of blood on Wilco’s jersey and chin had been there all game.
@The hound (Comment 151) : That wind was crazy on the weekend- can you imagine if the game was at Moses Mabhida- would have almost been impossible to kick the ball. Agree on Ward- probably the best defensive 13 in SA currently. Not a bad shout for captain, Am would have to move to wing then?
@SheldonK (Comment 161) : I was at the game on Saturday and Ward was immense! He tackled anything which moved, marshalled the line, his attack was great. He just seemed to take a big step up.
@JR (Comment 157) : No idea to be honest.
@JR (Comment 157) : Not for the knockout games. I think it’s because we have 23 players in the squad as opposed to the 22 for the league games.
Who wants bet Seconds gets his home final?????
@The hound (Comment 165) : He’s so good you always want Seconds.
@The hound (Comment 165) : My mate who refs thiks it could be Peyper or Rasta
@SheldonK (Comment 167) : Not much to choose between the three all incompetent,
but at least neither of the last two has a province tattoo on his dick
.Peyper probably has a cheetah on each arse cheek, and Rasta probably has a tattoo of himself
@The hound (Comment 168) : Is it just the letters W & P or the full Western Province?
@McLovin (Comment 169) : It is just a W. The P is inferred
Sharks team for the final?
1. Schoeman 2. Chilliboy 3. DuToit 4. Koegelenberg 5. Andrews 6. Vermuelen 7. JL DuPreez 8. D DuPreez 9. Schreuder 10. R DuPreez 11. Mvovo 12. Louw 13. Ward 14. Nkosi 15. Bosch
Bench: Majola, Akker, Coenie, Paul, Stringer, Wright, Fassi,Van Wyk
@Bokhoring (Comment 170) :
@McLovin (Comment 169) : My understanding is he had it inked with “w(elcome to the home of the currie cu)p”, with the bits in parenthesis on display during times of… er… excitement.
@Culling Song (Comment 172) : the only real estate capable of handling all that ink ,is Theleo Wakefields’ copious arse.
@Culling Song (Comment 172) : Very good. 🙂
“>The hound (Comment 168) : @Bokhoring (Comment 170) : @Culling Song (Comment 172) : @The hound (Comment 173) : 😆 😆 😆 😆
@SheldonK (Comment 171) : I would have Tyler Paul at 6. He’s been the form loose forward this CC.
@GreatSharksays (Comment 176) : Yeh i wouldnt mind that. Think coaches see him as a 4/7 but yeh i wouldnt be opposed to your suggestion
Jaco Peyper to ref the final
@GreatSharksays (Comment 176) : @SheldonK (Comment 177) : think the main problem is all our loosies (Dan, JLdP, Ginger, Vermeulen, Paul & Stringer) is basically the same type of players. Big and strong runners with ball in hand but not all that fast (like Kriel, Kanko, Daniel, etc). However that’s only my perception and I could be wrong.
@JD (Comment 179) : Stringer is a bit smaller and quicker and plays to the ball but the rest yes. Even a guy liek Wian Vosloo is the same mould as the others. A gameplan can work with them but does take its toll physically