Again 4 games to be played, 3 today, Friday 20 August 2010 and 1 tomorrow, Saturday 21 August 2010.

They are:

1. Blue Bulls v Griquas, 20 Aug 19:00 = 20 Aug 19:00
2. Cheetahs v Leopards, 20 Aug 19:00 = 20 Aug 19:00
3. Pumas v Lions, 20 Aug 19:10 = 20 Aug 19:10 (Broadcast live on SS1 on DSTV)
4. Sharks v Western Province, 21 Aug 19:10 = 21 Aug 19:15 (Broadcast live on SS1 on DSTV)

Blue Bulls vs GWK Griquas:

The Blue Bulls are at home, Loftus, against the Griquas at 19:00 SA Time on Friday 20 August 2010.

The game is NOT BROADCAST live on TV but Rugby-Talk will cover the game live from Loftus.

After a Test-like match last week, the question is can the Bulls pull this one through against the gritty Griquas?

The Bulls are without captain Gary Botha and Bok-fullback Zane Kirchner, due to injury, and apart from a host of Bulls Bokke away during National Duty, they still field a strong team. A competent forwards pack is supplemented by a backline which is a bit of a worry.

Griquas have not had the best of form lately, dcopping a beating a couple of weeks ago against WP, but we know they are a team who likes to upset the bigger Unions.

We can expect them to give the Bulls a hard time, specially in the 1st half, but do they really possess the team to upset the Bulls at Loftus this year?

My prediction is a win for the home team… Blue Bulls by 15.

Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARRA)
Assistant referees: T Jonker (Lions), A Buitendach (Blue Bulls)
TMO: n/a

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Cheetahs vs Leopards:

The Cheetahs are at home in Bloemfontein against the Leopards at 19:00 SA Time on Friday 20 August 2010.

The match is not broadcast on TV.

The Cheetahs have showed moments of brilliance and resolve, mixed with some ordinary play during the season and will be smarting from a loss against the Lions last week. Their aim will be simple, to put the Leopards away with a bonus point in order to revive their 2010 Currie Cup aspirations.

The Leopards have shown that they want to bark with the big dogs but have just come off a big mauling from the Sharks. Their vision is smart but they simply lack the players to effect that vision on an ongoing basis.

I predict that the Cheetahs will twist the knife and maul the Leopards… Cheetahs by 35.

Referee: Jason Jaftha (SARRA)
Assistant referees: B Crouse (Blue Bulls), M van Zyl (WP)
TMO: n/a

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Pumas vs Lions:

The Pumas are at home in Mordor… sorry Witbank…. at 19:10 on Friday 20 August 2010.

The Pumas are struggling with backline injuries and are in a very similar position to the Leopards, showing some grit and determination but lacking the players to bark with the big dogs.

The resurgent Lions have just come off a wonderful last ditch win against the Cheetahs and under John Mitchell they are starting to look the business.

Some youngsters are coming through nicely and they must be happy with their progress.

I predict a good roggering by the Lions on the Mpumalanga boys….. Lions by 15 PLUS and the PLUS could possibly be a biggy.

Referee: Joey Salmans (SARRA)
Assistant referees: S Berry (SARRA), S Breytenbach (Pumas)
TMO: G Coetzee (Free State)

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Sharks vs WP:

The big one of the week, straight after the Test between the Springboks and All Blacks at 19:15 on Saturday 21 August 2010 at ABSA Park Stadium, Durban.

This match is broadcast live on SS1 on DSTV in SA.

The Sharks have chosen a strong team and as the season has progressed in the Currie Cup they have improved. Interesting looseforward combination, playing Keegan Daniel (No 6), Willem Alberts (No 7) and Ryan Kankowski (No 8), with Jacques Botes on the bench. A good halfback pairing next to average centres but with the exciting Lwazi Mvovo on left wing and the old and trusted Odwa Ndungane on the right wing and Louis Ludik in the last vestage.

They will be a hand full and they play for 80 minutes.

The WP on the other hand have been the form team of the Currie Cup, still unbeaten but last week there were signs of exactly how to play against them, defend well and they battle to score the tries!

Willem de Waal is their marksman goal kicker… he rarely misses and the rest of the backline is solid, without being spectacular.

Their forwards are a settled combination though, with good fire in the engine room and very good loosies completing a very effective pack of forwards.

I had difficulty to make up my mind about this one so I’m going with form over home advantage…. WP by 5.

Referee: Lourens van der Merwe (SARRA)
Assistant referees: D November (SWD Eagles), R Rossouw (Natal)
TMO: JC Fortuin (WP)