This is a roundup of the Currie Cup games to be played this weekend in round 12 of the competition.

4 Games are being played, 1 game on Friday 2 October 2009 and 3 games on Saturday 3 October 2009. The game are played at the following times:

1. Free State Cheetahs v Leopards, (Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 19.10 on Friday 2 October 2009)

2. Western Province v Boland Cavaliers, (Newlands, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.00 on Saturday 3 October 2009)

3. Blue Bulls v Griquas, (Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 15.00 on Saturday 3 October 2009)

4. Sharks v Lions, (Absa Stadium, Durban – Kick-off: 17.05 on Saturday 3 October 2009)

Friday 2 October:

Free State Cheetahs v Leopards
(Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 19.10 on Friday 2 October 2009)

The Cheetahs are at home, playing against a Team that has showed guts and determination but who lack the quality to worry any of the top teams.

The Cheetahs will have to take this game seriously and we can expect them to go hard at the Leopards from word go because the Cheetahs need to bag 5 Log points to stay in the hunt for a semi.

I predict that the Cheetahs will romp away to 4 tries within the First Half, making sure of their 5 Log points, but we can expect a deterioration in the game after the Cheetahs have achieved their goal……  Cheetahs by 25 PLUS.

Teams:

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

Leopards: 15 Danie Dames, 14 Jovan Bowles, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Berndt Theissinger, 11 Shuaib Samaai, 10 Cecil Dumont, 9 Jean Tiedt, 8 Riaan Swanepoel, 7 Bennie Adams, 6 André Swanepoel (captain), 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Bradley Mockford, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 1 Divan Kotze
Replacements: 16 Gavin Williamson, 17 Nardus Lombard, 18 Christo van Niekerk, 19 Wilhelm Koch, 20 Micheal Bondesio, 21 Niell Jacobs, 22 Nicky Kritzinger.

Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Archie Sehlako, Fakumile Yamile
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Saturday3 October:

Western Province v Boland Cavaliers
(Newlands, Cape Town – Kick-off: 15.00 on Saturday 3 October 2009)

WP have changed their side a bit, resting some key players. Their aim however will be to bag a full 5 Log points to be sure of a home semi.

Boland simply does not have the players or the firepower to trouble WP.

WP will come out firing in the first half and should secure their bonus point for tries before Half Time.

I predict a massive score, WP to run riot….. WP by 40 PLUS.

Teams:

Western Province: 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Frikkie Welsh, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Matt Toomua, 9 Ricky Januarie, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Pieter Louw, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 De Kock Steenkamp, 3 JC Kritzinger, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 JD Moller.
Replacements: 16 Deon Fourie, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Anton van Zyl, 19 Duane Vermeulen, 20 Bolla Conradie, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Juan de Jongh.

Boland: 15 Hayden Groepes, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Cornel Hendricks, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Wendal Wehr, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Junior Bester, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 Angelo Brinkhuys, 5 Rito Hlungwani (captain), 4 Nico Esterhuyse, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Harry Vermaas, 1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Clemen Lewis, 17 Michael de Neuilly-Rice, 18 Grant le Roux, 19 David Hendricks, 20 Danie van der Merwe, 21 Mark Harris, 22 Justin Peach.

Referee: Sindile Mayende
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Marc van Zyl
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee

Blue Bulls v Griquas
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria – Kick-off: 15.00 on Saturday 3 October 2009)

This will be an interesting game by 2 Teams not yet assured of their semi-spots.

The Bulls have some, but not all, of their Springboks back and need to win to make sure that they can still end above the Griquas.

Griquas know that they have a hard match against the Sharks next week and know that the Cheetahs will be blowing in their necks after this weekend on the Log.

The Griquas have done exceptionally well in the competition so far but a loss to the Bulls and the Sharks will probably see them fall out of semi positions.

I predict that the Bulls will win a tough encounter…. Bulls by 12.

Teams:

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Francois Hougaard, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Pierre Spies, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Victor Matfield (captain), 4 Danie Rossouw, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Flip van der Merwe, 19 Pedrie Wannenburg, 20 Francois Brummer, 21 John Mametsa, 22 Gerhard van den Heever.

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Jaco Bekker, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Trompie Nontshinga, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (captain), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Cecil Kemp, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Dries Kruger, 17 Andre Schlechter, 18 Brendon Snyman, 19 Sean Plaatjies, 20 Donald Stevens, 21 Wilmaure Louw, 22 Gavin Passens.     

Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Michael Cupido

Sharks v Lions
(Absa Stadium, Durban – Kick-off: 17.05 on Saturday 3 October 2009)

It is do or die time for the Lions, without a win here they will be out of the race for a semi. It will be a tought task for them against the Log leaders who want to make sure they stay top of the Log.

The Sharks did not impress in the second half of the match last week against the Leopards, but that was to be expected after they made sure of their bonus point for tries.

I predict a win by the Sharks….. Sharks by 11.

Teams:

The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Waylon Murray, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Juan Hernandez, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 Keegan Daniel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Bismarck du Plessis, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Patric Cilliers, 18 Johann Muller, 19 Michael Rhodes, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Adrian Jacobs.

Golden Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jannie Boshoff, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Johan  Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Chris Jonck, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Kevin Buys, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Torrie Meyer, 17 Wayne Swart, 18 Willem Stoltz, 19 Todd Clever, 20 Ruan Boshoff, 21 Walter Venter, 22 Pieter Engelbrecht.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Assistant referees: Ben Crouse, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Johann Meuwesen