Finally the Currie Cup is starting and all South African rugby fans have a team to support.
What an interesting season awaits, with the playing field levelled to a great extent with the exclusion of the chosen Springboks not taking part in the Currie Cup until at least the semi-finals.
Who will win this competition? Will the Bulls be able to defend their title successfully?
Here is a quick run-down of the 1st week’s games and how it will most likely pan out.
Games and teams:
Platinum Leopards |
Xerox Lions |
09 July at 19:00 |
|
Team: 15. Russel Jeacocks, 14. Deon Scholtz, 13. Jovan Bowles, 12. Neill Jacobs, 11. Dumisani Matyeshana, 10. Cecil Dumond, 9. Michael Bondesio, 8. RW Kember, 7. Wilhelm Koch (Captain), 6. Victor Hugo Joubert, 5. Rynard Landman, 4. Anthonie Johannes Gronum, 3. Philip Andries Lemmer, 2. Gavin Williamson, 1. Divan Kotze
Replacements: 16. Pellow van der Westhuizen, 17. Johan Voges Coetzee, 18. Edrich Linde, 19. Riaan Swanepoel, 20. Jean Tiedt, 21. Cornelius Johannes Rautenbach, 22. Hendrik Daniel Petrus Dames |
Team: 15. Jacob Johannes Taute, 14. Tonderai Chavhanga, 13. Marius Delport, 12. Waylon Murray, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Herkie Kruger, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Jonathan Mokuena, 7. Franco van der Merwe (Captain), 6. Derick Minnie, 5. David Bulbring, 4. George Earle, 3. Ross Geldenhuys, 2. Martin Bezuidenhout, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: 16. Francois (GLU18) Du Toit, 17. Kevin Buys, 18. Robert Kruger, 19. Warren Roger Whiteley, 20. Chris Jonck, 21. Elton Thomas Jantjies, 22. Deon van Rensburg |
Vodacom Blue Bulls |
Barloworld Toyota Pumas |
09 July at 19:10 |
|
Team: 15. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Stephan Dippenaar, 12. Stefan Watermeyer, 11. John Mametsa, 10. Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9. Ruan Snyman, 8. Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7. Derick Kuun, 6. Deon Stegmann, 5. Fudge Mabeta, 4. Flip van der Merwe, 3. Werner Kruger, 2. Gary Botha, 1. Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Bees Roux, 18. Petrus Johannes Juandre Kruger, 19. Christiaan Johan Stander, 20. Daniel Cornelius Faasen, 21. Francois Brummer, 22. Hayden Gareth Groepes |
Team: 15. Carl Bezuidenhout, 14. Duwayne Enslin Smart, 13. Ashwin Scott, 12. Jovan Botha, 11. Shaun Venter, 10. Ricardo Croy, 9. Tian Carel Meyer, 8. Alwyn Bester, 7. Eduan Van Der Walt, 6. Corne Steenkamp, 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Luan Velthuizen, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Hannes Franklin (Captain), 1. Dawie Steyn
Replacements: 16. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17. Ronnie Uys, 18. Willem Jacob Serfontein, 19. Christo le Roux, 20. Jacques (Pumas) Coetzee, 21. Elgar Watts, 22. Allistair Kettledas |
GWK Griquas |
Sharks |
10 July at 15:00 |
|
Team: 15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Rocco Reginald Jansen, 13. Wilmaure Louw, 12. Matthew Rosslee, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Naas Olivier (Captain), 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Leon Karemaker, 7. Davon Raubenheimer, 6. Wesley Wilkins, 5. Cecil-John Kemp, 4. Hendrik Roodt, 3. Albertus Buckle, 2. Ryno Barnes, 1. Steph Roberts
Replacements: 16. Simon Westraadt, 17. Jacobus Petrus Adriaanse, 18. Frederik Albertus Spies, 19. Petrus Gerhardus (Gerhard) Human, 20. Marnus Hugo, 21. Barry Geel, 22. Richard Lawson |
Team: 15. Patrick Lambie, 14. Louis Ludik, 13. Stefan Terblanche (Captain), 12. Riaan Swanepoel, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Steve Meyer, 9. Rory Kockott, 8. Keegan Daniel, 7. Michael Rhodes, 6. Jacques Botes, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Wiehahn Jovan Herbst, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Pat Cilliers
Replacements: 16. Kyle Lorran Cooper, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Anton Bresler, 19. Skholiwe Ndlovu, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Monty Dumond, 22. Andries Strauss |
Vodacom Free State Cheetahs |
Vodacom Western Province |
10 July at 17:00 |
|
Team: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Philip Snyman, 13. Robert Ebersohn, 12. Meyer Bosman, 11. Jongi Nokwe, 10. Louis Strydom, 9. Tewis de Bruyn, 8. Ashley Johnson, 7. Francois (FS) Uys, 6. Hendro Scholtz (Captain), 5. Waltie Vermeulen, 4. Izak van der Westhuizen, 3. Willem Petrus (WP) Nel, 2. Skipper Badenhorst, 1. Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16. Pieter-Willem Van Vuuren, 17. Kobus Calldo, 18. Juan Smith, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Tertius Carse, 21. Corné Uys, 22. Sias Ebersohn |
Team: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Fabian Juries, 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Paul Bosch, 11. Frikkie Welsh, 10. Willem de Waal, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Pieter Louw, 5. Anton van Zyl (Captain), 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Wicus Blaauw
Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. JD Moller, 18. JC Kritzinger, 19. Martin Muller, 20. Pieter Myburgh, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Lionel Cronje |
Platinum Leopards vs Xerox Lions:
Smaller Union against bigger Union in turmoil… or has the Lions turned the corner?
The Leopards field largely their Vodacom Cup squad but there are very few outstanding stars in the team, with the exception of scrumhalf Michael Bondesio, the nuggety and fiery little fellow.
The Lions on the other hand, for their 1st competion run under John Mitchell… will we see a more complete defensive approach as well as a more diciplined approach than we saw from the same men under Trickie Dickie in the Super 14? Will we see consistency in selection week after week contrary to Muir’s wayward selection criteria?
Only time will tell, but one still feels that the bigger Union has more guns on the field than their smaller counterparts, The Leopards!
Prediction: Lions by at least 20, otherwise it is going to be another season of disappointment for the men from Sodom and Gemorrah!
Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Barloworld Toyota Pumas:
The depleted Currie Cup champs against a gritty Pumas team with a few players who have had a taste of Super 14 rugby with the hapless Lions… what can we expect here?
The Blue Bulls still field a surprisingly strong and familiar team, despite 11 players out with the Bokke and with Fourie du Preez out with a long term injury.
The front row is potent, in the locks Flip van der Merwe is a recent Bok but Fudge Mabeta lacks definate quality but luckily Juandre Kruger is on the bench to cover. The loosies feature 2 traditional fetchers, which is a bit of a gamble because the combination might lack in certain departments because of this factor.
An able scrumhalf and the potent Jacques-Louis Potgieter completes the halfback pairing, the centres are a bit iffy and the back 3 is rock solid!
On the other hand the Pumas field a very experimental 15 but they are led by Hannes Franklin from the hooker berth, a player now with considerable Super 14 experience. The Pumas have the ability to frustrate bigger opponents and sometimes to surprise.
Prediction: The Bulls Vodacom team beat the Pumas and now feature an even better side, one can really only see one logical conclusion… Blue Bulls by at least 17.
GWK Griquas vs Sharks:
Griquas at home against a somewhat depleted Sharks side due to national duty. This has often been a recipy for disaster for the Sharks.
Griquas have a number of players back from Super 14 duty…. Sarel Pretorius, Naas Olivier, Riaan Viljoen, Bjorn Basson and Davon Raubenheimer… and suddenly they do not look thin on quality at all. Kwas always play with purpose and resolve and amongst the so-called smaller Unions they harbour the biggest threat.
The Sharks have assembled a very able side, with virually a Super 14 backline (Meyer excluded), able loosies even though Jean Deysel and Willem Alberts are still missing due to injury, a good enforcer lock in Steven Sykes and an overrated No 5 lock in Alistair Hargreaves. Where the Sharks are a bit thin though is in the front row where the whole 1st choice front row is with the Bokke and additionally Bismarck du Plessis is still out due to the neck operation of a couple of monthas ago.
Prediction: The Griquas will give the Sharks a good run for their money but there is too much Super 14 quality in the Sharks to go down… or is there…. Sharks by 10 PLUS.
Vodacom Free State Cheetahs vs Vodacom Western Province:
This surely must be the best match-up of the 1st week in the competition, with a severely depleted WP team due to National duty against a Cheetahs side who largely ran out as the Cheetahs Super 14 squad.
The Cheetahs feature a very competative front 5, very able loosies even though Juan Smith is only on the bench. At scrumhalf Tewis de Bruyn was found wanting in the Super 14, Louis Strudom at flyhalf is an old and average campaigner, Meyer Bosman and Robert Ebersohn comprise an excellent centre combination and Jongi Nokwe and Hennie Daniller are pillars at the back.
On the other hand WP features their regular Super 14 front row, 2 very solid and able locks and a loosie combo who will front up well despite the fact that they’ll miss Schalk Burger and Francois Louw who are with the Bokke.
The backline has to do without 6 regular starters, 4 at the Springboks and with Joe Pietersen and Peter Grant having sought greener pastures overseas. This means that Dewaldt Duvenage is the only remaining Super 14 regular, partnered by the old war horse, Willem de Waal, who is quickly reaching end of the line. The centres are a solid combo and on the wings it will be good to see Frikkie Welsch and Fabian Juries back in attack-mode. The backline is completed by the overrated up-and-under king and perrenial sick note, Conrad Jantjes.
Prediction: Even though the match is at Blingfontein I have to predict in favour of WP, who after all had a stellar season in the Super 14 as the Stormers….. WP by 7 PLUS.
Agree with all except WP/Freestate.
Think FS will take this at home.
For Superbru the first two weeks of picking is always the most difficult. We just don’t know what to expect.
I think us Sharkies will also need to bring our A game because Kimberly is never great to plat at…
Good luck Sharks.
Users Online
Total 359 users including 0 member, 359 guests, 0 bot online
Most users ever online were 3735, on 31 August 2022 @ 6:23 pm