We review the games to be played in Round 11 of the Premier Division of the Currie Cup.

Four matches are to be played and they are ALL important as we head for positions in the semi-finals of this Domestic Competition.

Only one game will be played on Friday 18 September 2009:

Leopards v Western Province (Olën Park, Potchefstroom – 19.10, 17.10 GMT)

Three Games will be played on Saturday 19 September 2009:

Boland Cavaliers v Blue Bulls (Boland Stadium, Wellington – 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

Griquas v Golden Lions (Hoërskool Diamantveld, Kimberley – 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

Sharks v Free State Cheetahs (Absa Stadium, Durban – 17.05, 15.05 GMT)

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Friday 18 September:

Leopards v Western Province (Olën Park, Potchefstroom – 19.10, 17.10 GMT)

Logically there should only be one outcome, 5 Log poits for WP, but we all know that the Leopards are never easy in Potchefstroom and do not believe in logic.

WP has still assembled a strong Team, considering that they have lost the services of Chris Jack and will not be bolstered by returning Springboks.

In addition the absence of other key players like Willem de Waal, Morgan Newman and lock Adriaan Fondse (also long-term injury losses) and lock Andries Bekker might hamper WP somewhat.

For the first time in many seasons WP are well placed in the race for final positions and they also showed they still have plenty of class.

I still predict that WP should comfortably win… WP by 20 PLUS

Teams:

Leopards: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Basil de Doncker, 11 Jan van Zyl, 10 Cecil Dumont, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 RW Kember, 7 Thabo Mamojele, 6 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Rynard Landman, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Nardus Lombard.
Replacements: 16 Pellow van der Westhuizen, 17 Dietlov Coetzee, 18 Bennie Adams, 19 Christo van Niekerk, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Nicky Kritzinger.

Western Province: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Juan De Jongh, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Anton Van Zyl, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 JD Moller, 18 Hilton Lobberts, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Paul Bosch, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.

Referee: Ian Smith (Australia)
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee

Saturday 19 September:

Boland Cavaliers v Blue Bulls (Boland Stadium, Wellington – 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

The Blue Bulls should be on a mission to drag themselves back into the top-four, who will take part in the semi’s. They are bolstered by some returning Bokke in Guthro Steenkamp, Chilliboy Ralapele and Wynand Olivier, who all have not seen much rugby in the last months. How game-ready they will be remains to be seen.

Though the Cavaliers have struggled and have had some dismal performances to look back on this season, they now have a New Director of Rugby, Chester Williams, who changed quite a few personnel in the Team for this match.

I predict a focussed Blue Bulls performance and a determination to gather 5 Log Points, yet I also predict a gutsy performance from Boland. The rythm in the Bulls will not be what it should be, due to the changes in the Team and players coming into the Team ICY cold from a lack of match awareness.

All in all the Bulls should take this game comfortably though… Bulls to take 5 Log Points and win by 18 PLUS.

Teams:

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Hayden Groepes, 14 Alvin Hugo, 13 Danré Gerber, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Ernie Kruger, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Junior Bester, 7 Rito Hlungwane (captain), 6 David Hendricks, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 George Earl, 3 Kobie Adriaanse, 2 Harry Vermaas, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Charlie King, 17 Hein Myburgh, 18 Justin Peach, 19 Clemen Lewis, 20 Jané du Toit, 21 Wendal Wehr, 22 Zolani Mofu.

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Francois Hougaard, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dewald Potgieter (captain), 7 Jacques Burger, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Derick Kuün, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 Dries van Schalkwyk, 20 Francois Brummer, 21 Stefan Watermeyer, 22 Marius Delport.

Referee: Paul Marks (Australia)
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Marc van Zyl
TMO: JC Fortuin

Griquas v Golden Lions (Hoërskool Diamantveld, Kimberley – 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

Both the Lions and Griquas will be more than desperate to win this game. Griquas are in the unique position that with a win here they can almost certainly eliminate the Lions from the semi’s and in so doing move up enough on the Log that they only really need 3 Log points from a further 3 games to still reach the semi’s. This makes this game a must win game for them.

On the other hand, the Lions are fighting for survival in the competition and will look to claw their way back by achieving an important win here.

Neither Team will be bolstered by returning Bokke, so the playing field is absolutely level.

We won’t see spectacular rugby, we will see hard, uncompromising rugby, focussing on a win.

I predict that this is a step too far for Griquas and for the Lions to win… Lions to bag 4 Log Points and winning by 9

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Trompie Nontshinga, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Dewald Pretorius, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (captain),  Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Jacques Lombard, 4 Heinrich Stride, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Rayno Barnes, 1 Zane Killian.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Albertus Buckle, 18 Nolan Clarke, 19 Sean Plaatjies, 20 Donald Stevens, 21 Wilmaure Louw, 22 Gavin Passens.

Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Wouter Moore, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Walter Venter, 22 Pieter Engelbrecht.

Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Magda Jordaan
TMO: Michael Cupido

Sharks v Free State Cheetahs (Absa Stadium, Durban – 17.05, 15.05 GMT)

This is rightfully the last match of the weekend and a clash of the Titans.

The Sharks are employing 3 returning Bokke in the starting 15 and a further 4 on the bench and have the wonderful situation that they can assure a semi-spot with a 5 point haul here. They have awesome depth and will be favourites for the match.

Vodacom Free State Cheetahs have a habit though to pull out all the stops against the Sharks and the Bulls and have become somewhat of a bogey-team for the Sharks.

The Cheetahs we saw in the beginning of the season has been replaced by a very determined unit, with a strong front row, very capable loossies and a back thre with heaps of pace.

My prediction though is that the Sharks will continue on their winning way, without gathering a bonus point for tries… Sharks by 11.

Teams:

The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Juan Hernandez, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens,
Replacements: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 John Smit, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Ruan Pienaar, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Adrian Jacobs.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Lionel Mapoe, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Frans Viljoen, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Hendro Scholtz, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 JW Jonker.

Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen