Week 10 of the 2009 Currie Cup is on the doorstep, with 2 matches today (Friday) and 2 matches tomorrow (Saturday). The 2 easy matches to predict is scheduled for today, the 2 difficult matches for tomorrow.
The following matches are scheduled:
Boland Cavalliers vs Griquas, 11 September at 15:00, Boland Park, Wellington
Golden Lions vs Leopards, 11 September at 19:10, Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Free State Cheetahs v Western Province, 12 September at 15:00, Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Blue Bulls v Sharks, 12 September at 17:05, Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
The race to the semi-finals are hotting up and the 2 matches on Saturday will be important in defining the chances of the Blue Bulls and also the Cheetahs.
So, let’s look at the matches individually and make some bold predictions….
Friday 11 September:
Boland Cavaliers v Griquas
It’s been a hard season for the Boland Cavaliers, whereas the Griquas have surprised all and sundry, being right up there and seriously contending for a semi-position.
In the second round of this competition the bottom dwellers have stepped up a gear though and last week saw the Griquas barely beating a determined Leopards Team. The question is now, can Boland emulate that or will Griquas be lax again ?
I cannot see Griquas letting up, they will be motivated, and although the match is played on Boland soil, the Griquas will be far too strong for the Boland (maybe not initially, but definately as the game wears on).
My prediction is a comfortable 5-pointer for Griquas…. and a winning margin of 25 PLUS
Teams:
Boland Cavaliers: 15 Hayden Groepes, 14 Cornal Hendricks, 13 PJ Vermeulen, 12 Dandré Gerber, 11 Justin Peach, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Charlie King, 8 Junior Bester, 7 Rito Hlungwane (captain), 6 David Hendricks, 5 Nico Esterhuyse, 4 George Earl, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Harry Vermaas, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Conrad Burke, 17 Jané du Toit, 18 Wendal Wehr, 19 Zolani Mofu, 20 Denzil Willemse, 21 Dewey Swartbooi, 22 Alvin Hugo.
Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Trompie Nontshinga, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Cecil-John Kemp, 4 Jacques Lombaard, 3 Albertus Buckle, 2 Rayno Barnes, 1 Zane Killian.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Ruaan du Preez, 18 Nolan Clarke, 19 Sean Plaatjies, 20 Dewald Pretorius, 21 Jaco Bekker, 22 Gavin Passens/Richard Lawson.
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Mlungiseli Mdashe, Marc van Zyl
***********************************
Golden Lions v Leopards
This match should be a routine practise run for the Lions, apart from the fact that the Leopards have steadily improved and ran the Griquas close last weekend.
With Earl, the Pearl, Rose back in the mix and the Lions playing with more freedom, we might see a high scoring game and it would be foolish to think the Lions will not gather 5 Log Points.
In addition, the fact that Oregan Hoskins yesterday poured some water over the fires of the bottom 3 Provinces in the Premier Division, by announcing that in 2011 they will be relegated… it might just take some of the passion out of the Leopards.
No doubt the Lions must secure maximum points against the Leopards to keep their semifinal aspirations alive.
My prediction is a comfortable 5-pointer for the Golden Lions…. and a winning margin of 30 PLUS
Teams:
Golden Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Doppies La Grange, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Ruan Boshoff, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts (captain), 7 Todd Clever, 6 Derick Minnie, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Wayne Swart.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17 Gert Muller, 18 Johan Snyman, 19 Johan Van Deventer, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Walter Venter, 22 Pieter Engelbrecht
Leopards: 15 Russell Jeacocks, 14 Danie Dames, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Basil de Doncker, 11 Shuaib Samaai, 10 Cecil Dumont, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Christo van Niekerk, 7 Thabo Mamojele, 6 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Rynard Landman, 3 Philip Lemmer, 2 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 1 Gerhardus Lombard.
Replacements: 16 Gavin Williamson, 17 Barend van der Walt, 18 Bennie Adams, 19 Riaan Swanepoel, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Deon van Rensburg.
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: JC Fortuin
********************************
Saturday 12 September:
Free State Cheetahs v Western Province
This game is a difficult one to call…
On the one hand it is a home-game for the Cheetahs, who are clearly on an upward curve in their performances.
On the other hand we have a confident WP Team, who have shrugged the weak tight-five bogey and who are fellow log leaders in the tournament.
The importance of this match for both Teams is obvious and will have a direct bearing on where the Teams will end in the race for semi-spots.
The Cheetahs are the only Team, with the Bokke players still missing in other Teams, who seem capable of matching WP in the scrums. The battle between Blaauw and WP Nel will be interesting, so too the battle of the hookers.
WP will have extra motivation with Chris Jack playing his last match for WP, on his sojourn to South Africa.
My prediction is a narrow 4-pointer for WP…. and a winning margin of 6 Points, simply because WP seem to be the Cheetahs bogey Team.
Teams:
Free State 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 Johan Wessels, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss (captain), 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Wian du Preez, 18 Izak van der Westhuizen, 19 Chris Dry, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 JW Jonker.
Western Province: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Juan De Jongh, 11 Gio Aplon, 10 Peter Grant, 9 Dewaldt Duvenhage, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Duane Vermeulen, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Pieter Louw, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Paul Bosch, 22 JJ Engelbrecht.
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: François Veldsman, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
********************************
Blue Bulls v Sharks
This game is the most difficult yet to pick this season.
Last week we knew that WP would win with so many Bulls players amongst the Bokke, in fact considering that their scrum was monstered on the Bulls tight head side, the Bulls did pretty well in gathering a bonus point from the game, denying WP to score 4 tries and losing by a mere 6 points.
This week both the Blue Bulls and the Sharks are in the same boat… lots of players away on Bokke duty.
Neither Team has a wonderful front row, although the Sharks seem to have the edge here.
All four locks are iffy, with Sykes probably the best of a dour bunch.
The Looseforward battle is going to be huge though, with Stegmann, Pedrie and Potgieter pitted against Botes, Deysel and Daniel.
The scrummies should match each other but in Hernandez the Sharks have a superior fly half.
In the centres you have the crash and bash predictability of Watermeyer on the Bulls side and the similar crash and bash of Riaan Swanepoel at the Sharks.
At full back, Stefan Terblanche is miles ahead compared to an off-form Zane Kirchner.
Balie Swart has also assisted the Bulls in attempting to rectify some scrumming woes, so it will be interesting to see if indeed there is some improvement there.
The Bulls have home ground advantage and for this reason, and this reason only, I give the Bulls a slight mark above 50%.
My prediction is a sqeeckily narrow 4-pointer for the Blue Bulls…. and a winning margin of 5 or less
Teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Burton Francis, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dewald Potgieter, 7 Pedrie Wannenburg, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün (captain), 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 Jacques Burger, 20 Dean Greyling, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Tiger Mangweni.
The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Chris Jordaan, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Juan Hernandez, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Julian Redelinghuys, 18 Alistair Hargreaves, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Waylon Murray.
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Christie du Preez
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
Go, BulJanne, I want Shark-fin soup !
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GrootBlouSmile Burton Francis is beter as Juan Martin Hernandez. Daardie Hernandez ou kan nie tackle nie, en al die skills wat hy het, het Francis en nog meer. Ek sal enige dag eerder vir Monty Dumond speel as Hernandez. Hernandez is een van die mees overrated rugby spelers in die wereld.
3 @ vanStraaten – Jy is een van min in die wereld met daardie opinie, maar dit bly jou opinie. Persoonlik dink ek hy is ‘n beter heelagter.
Hy het net ‘n paar wedstryde nodig in SA om sy voete te vind, dan sal hy sekerlik begin shine.
GBS – Bulle vs Sharks game kan enige kant toe gaan. Hoop nie die ref het die finale keuse in die saak nie.
@vanStraaten –
Is jy self Burton Francis of net sy broer? Op keo, Bulls site en hier gaan jy heeldag aan oor Francis. Dit lyk of jy doelbewus n punt daarvan probeer maak om Francis op te hemel. Francis moet nog baie bewys en daar is geen manier dat hy beter as Hernandez is nie.
6@Supa Die Bloubul –
en jyt iewers gese Francis is beter as Morne Steyn ook – dis ook nie waar nie!
Francis???? Neeeee!!!!! Een game skop hy okay…volgende game val hy uit die bus uit.
@K9-MonsterLeeu – Francis wie?
Hy’s selle as De Jongh. Baie potensiaal, maar way te min eerste rangse rugby om hom te katagoriseer.
Dagse julle klomp!
@AB – Dagsê AB Leeubok!!!
@isigidi – ja nee jong. Manne raak vinnig op loop as ‘n ou 2 uit 3 skoppe uit ooskop in ‘n game 🙄
@K9-MonsterLeeu – I have killed for less!!
ek worry alweer oor my provinsie die naweek! Gaanmaar n ou biertjie afsuig netnou!
@AB – Nou hoekom jou nic verander?
@vanStraaten – Wat rook jy? BRAAMbos?
Mirrag almal.
@AB – ek self raak dors.
@trupisero – Mirrag!!!
@K9-MonsterLeeu – My nic is maar net wat hy heel aan die begin was, net daai stukkie weg gevat van die spanne wat my so drop!
@K9-MonsterLeeu – ek’s paptyres nie veel by huis vandat vrou weg is nie — moet maar die kanse gebruik wat jy kan!
ek beter iets gaan kry om te eet — sien al klaar wat kom na werk 😉
@trupisero – sy jou alweer gelos? 😥
@Supa Die Bloubul –
Ja ek glo Burton Francis het meer potensiaal as Morne Steyn. Skiet my dat my opinie anders is as joune. Jy weet wat gaan kyk na die Curriebeker stats by SArugby.com. Vergelyk dit, ek het losskakel gespeel en ek kan vir jou se daardie ou is goed. Hy het ‘n 60m+ punt, sy verspreiding van die bal is akkuraat, hy kan breek soos min, val die voordeellyn baie goed aan, kan skepskop, kan goed stelskop (Kan bietjie meer akkuraat word daarmee nog), het goeie visie, sy taktiese skoppe het nog werk nodig, maar dit kan reg gestel word.
Gaan kyk die stats by Sarugby.com
My superbru as folows:
Kwasse
Lions
WP
Sharks
Not confident bout last 3 though. I think Lions will have their work cut out tonight to keep the Leopards at bay.
I reckon the leopards fancy their chances against the Lions.
If Leopards is there and about at the break, Lions should worry.
Should however the Lions score quickly in first 10 minutes, its gonna be a long night for the Leopards.
@isigidi – Nee wat….Leeus sal hierdie een met gemak vat. Luiperds sal moet met 30 punte voor wees halftyd om kans te staan. Leeus is baie fiks …een ding van hulle wat ek darem kan sê.
Kwas
Leeus
Ovs
Tjarks.
@K9-MonsterLeeu – Ek dink WP is in selle bootjie as Lions, glo dit of nie. As WP nie voor is teen halftyd, en 2de helfte met wen adrinilien speel nie, gaan die Cheatahs ons deurmekaar hardloop.
Sharks en Bulls is te naby om te call.
Game 37: Boland Cavaliers v Griquas: Griquas by 13
Game 38: Lions v Platinum Leopards: Lions by 23
Game 39: Cheetahs v Western Province: Western Province by 5
Game 40: Blue Bulls v Sharks: Sharks by 6
Hoop maar dinge werk so uit die naweek.
Game 8: New Zealand v South Africa: New Zealand by 14
Half-time leader: New Zealand
Most tries: New Zealand
Het ‘n slegte gevoel oor die game, hoop maar ek is verkeerd
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