Weekend's Currie Cup action
2008-07-03 22:14
Johannesburg - Defending Currie Cup champions Free State Cheetahs play resurgent Western Province at Newlands on Saturday in what is one of the two glamour Currie Cup matches on a weekend where none of the eight sides can afford to lose their encounters.
The other high-profile match is between the Blue Bulls and the Sharks at Loftus, also on Saturday, while the Xerox Lions, winless after two outings, not only have to win at Ellis Park but also have to beat the Falcons convincingly on Friday night.
In the other match, Griquas will also strive for their first win against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Friday afternoon.
The Free State were not convincing in their 22-18 win over the Lions last weekend and scraped through against Griquas in Kimberley the previous week.
Whether they can lift their game enough to provide adequate support for their new match-winner Chris Rossouw at flyhalf will hold the key to this match.
Free State simply have to concentrate for 80 minutes, withstand WP's onslaught up front and do more to breach the defences of the opposition than last week when they scored only one try.
Enjoyable rugby
The home side, on the other hand, will be upbeat. They dominated possession against the Blue Bulls last Saturday, have a lively backline and a good set of loose forwards where Francois Louw was outstanding.
Their tight five are also much better than given credit for.
Their new approach to revive the traditional WP running game under coach Allister Coetzee could make for some enjoyable rugby - and all WP have to do is add the quality of last week to stay on course.
The Sharks have two home wins from two outings. They struggled to get the better of WP and only came to light in the second half against the Cavaliers last weekend.
They need to play at that intensity and level for 80 minutes if they hope to beat the Blue Bulls at Loftus - something they have done all to frequently in recent times for the Bulls to be comfortable.
As it is, the Sharks have the type of game to break the defensive pattern of the Bulls which was outstanding against WP.
The Bulls, on the other hand, will have to win more possession than against WP and grab their chances. A home loss will do their aspirations no good at all.
The Lions, with a single log point from two matches, simply have to beat the high-riding Falcons at Ellis Park. Eugene Eloff's charges must be doubting their own ability and if they want to make a consecutive final a turnaround is urgently needed in Friday night's match.
Whether this can be achieved with a reshuffled side only time will tell. The Falcons, even away from home, can be a difficult proposition once they get into their stride.
Griquas have lost both their matches - to the Free State and the Falcons - thus far, and need an away win to keep in touch. The Cavaliers, especially at home, are always a difficult side. They also have plenty of talent and came from 17 points behind against the Falcons to win. They also had the Sharks on the rack for about half their match last weekend before succumbing.
This should be a good match as well with Griquas probably slightly better equipped but always on their heels when away from home.
Fixtures:
Home teams first
Premier Division:
Friday: Cavaliers v Griquas, 15:30; Lions v Falcons, 19:10.
Saturday: WP v Free State Cheetahs, 15:00; Blue Bulls v Sharks, 17:05.
First Division:
Friday: Bulldogs v Griffons, 19:00.
Saturday: Mighty Elephants v Leopards, 15:30.
Teams
Boland Cavaliers v Wildeklawer Griquas:
Boland: 15 Justin Peach, 14 John Daniels, 13 Piet van Zyl (captain), 12 Lionel Cornelius, 11 Alvin Hugo, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Frankie Horne, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Bradley Mockford, 4 Coenie Basson, 3 Andries Human, 2 Clemen Lewis, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Pieter Wium, 17 WP Nel, 18 Cecil Kemp, 19 Whalied Heyns, 20 Dewaldt Duvenage, 21 Deon Scholtz, 22 Stefan Basson.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Gavin Passens, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Herkie Kruger (captain), 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Tobie Botes, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Stefan Gerber, 6 Frans Viljoen, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 James van der Walt, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Dean Hopp, 17 Stef Roberts, 18 Cilliers Coetzer, 19 Gareth Krause, 20 Sarel Pretorius, 21 Lafras Uys, 22 Egon Seconds.
Xerox Lions v Falcons:
Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Louis Ludik, 13 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Heini Gordon, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Wilhelm Koch, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Ethienne Reynecke, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Heinke van der Merwe, 19 Justin Wheeler, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Michael Killian, 22 Dusty Noble.
Falcons: 15 Jacques Schutte, 14 Ernie Kruger, 13 Rouan Cloete, 12 Hanno Coetzee (captain), 11 Luvo Sogidashe, 10 Riaan Smit, 9 Gerrie Odendaal, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Emile Verster, 6 Uwe Sauer, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Wouter Moore, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Gavin Whittingham.
Replacements: 16 Frik Venter, 17 Rassie van Vuuren, 18 Reggie Perkins, 19 Warren Perkins, 20 Morné Adams, 21 Len Olivier, 22 Dewald Pretorius.
Vodacom Western Province v Vodacom Cheetahs:
Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Dylan des Fountain, 12 Gcobani Bobo (captain), 11 Wylie Human, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Alastair Siegelaar, 8 AJ Venter, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Ross Skeate, 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Schalk Ferreira, 18 Francois van der Merwe, 19 Justin Melck, 20 Paul Delport, 21 Isma-eel Dollie, 22 Morgan Newman.
Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Eddie Fredericks, 13 Hendrik Meyer, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Chris Rossouw, 9 Neil Powell, 8 Schalk van der Merwe, 7 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Jaco du Toit, 17 Phillip Lemmer, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 JW Jonker, 22 Fabian Juries.
Vodacom Blue Bulls v Sharks:
Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Pedrie Wannenburg, 7 Wikus van Heerden (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Francois van Schouwenburg, 19 Jacques Burger, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Derick Hougaard, 22 Zane Kirchner.
Sharks: TBC.
- SAPA