We are already well into the Currie Cup Premier Competition of 2010, with WP, The Sharks and Griquas, setting the pace so far and The Leopards and Pumas hanging on at the bottom.

This weekend sees another 4 matches, as follows:

1. Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Platinum Leopards – Loftus at 19:10 SA Time on Friday 6 August 2010
2. Barloworld Toyota Pumas vs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs – Witbank at 15:00 on Saturday 7 August 2010
3. GWK Griquas vs Vodacom Western Province – GWK Park, Kimberley at 15:00 on Saturday 7 August 2010
4. Sharks vs Xerox Lions – ABSA Stadium, Durban at 17:05 on Saturday 7 August 2010

Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Platinum Leopards:

The Blue Bulls host the Leopards at Loftus, Pretoria at 19:10 on Friday night 6 August 2010.

The Bulls have piulled back some form against a dogged Lions side last week but are far from the finished article and will want to put an enormous game on to boost their confidence ahead of some tough matches to follow.

The engine room seems fine, the backrow capable but not as effective as can be and in the backline there is a mix of some solid players and some average midfield players. 3 Players in particular needs to step up to the plate, Stefan Watermeyer at inside centre and the returning Jaco Pretorius at outside centre, as well as Jaco van der Westhuyzen at fullback.

The Leopards have had a dismal Currie Cup season so far, losing all their matches. They will aim to take a big scalp, but it is a daunting task!

Walter Venter and Michael Bondesio will keep the Bulls backline honest but apart from that there is not much to write about in the Leopards backline.

As with the other smaller Unions, the forwards will battle to keep up with the Bulls, even though the Bulls are resting some key players.

I predict a handsome win for the Blue Bulls but with the Leopards giving their all in the 1st 30 minutes…. Blue Bulls by 35.

Teams:

Bulls: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 Hayden Groepes, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Derick Kuün (captain), 5 Juandre Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Fudge Mabeta, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Stephan Dippenaar.

Leopards: 15 Danie Dames, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Dumisane Matyeshana, 10 Niell Jacobs, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Riaan Swanepoel/RW Kember, 7 Willem Koch (captain), 6 Danie Crous, 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 1 Divan Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Gavin Williamson, 17 Aranos Coetzee, 18 Brad Mockford, 19 Swanepoel/Kember, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Clayton Durand, 22 Jan van Zyl.

Date: Friday, August 6
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19.10
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp, Johan Greeff
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

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Barloworld Toyota Pumas vs Vodacom Free State Cheetahs:

Witbank, or Mordor as I call it, has a reputation of being an unforgiving field for visitors.

The Pumas have not done well so far, have axed their captain and are up against a Cheetahs team who like to bully the little ones. They will throw everything at the Cheetahs and seldom lie down to be pounded.

The Cheetahs on the other hand will want to strenghten their Currie Cup position going forward, but they are without mercurial captain Juan Smith and Corne Uys for this match.

I still predict a bit of a rout in favour of the Cheetahs though, like I said, they like to bully the little teams…. Cheetahs by 23 PLUS.

Teams:

Pumas: 15. Elgar Watts, 14. Ashwin Scott, 13. Tiaan Marx, 12. Siviwe Wilmot Magaba, 11. Shaun Venter, 10. Ricardo Croy, 9. Jacques (Pumas) Coetzee, 8. Christo le Roux, 7. Alwyn Bester, 6. Corne Steenkamp (Captain), 5. Marius Coetzer, 4. Andries Kruger, 3. Ashley Buys, 2. Torsten van Jaarsveld, 1. Dawie Steyn
Replacements: 16. Hannes Franklin, 17. De-Jay Terblanche, 18. Willem Jacob Serfontein, 19. Jaco Bouwer, 20. Pieter Gideon Joubert Meyer, 21. Carl Bezuidenhout, 22. Roelof Steyn

Cheetahs: 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. Barend Pieterse, 4. Izak van der Westhuizen, 3. WP Nel, 2. Adriaan Strauss, 1. Coenie Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16. Skipper Badenhorst, 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Waltie Vermeulen, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Tertius Carse, 21. Sias Ebersohn, 22. JW Jonker

Pumas Stadium, Witbank. Kick off: 15h00
Saturday, 7 August 2010
Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARRA)
Assistant referees: M Mdashe (Valke), S Breytenbach (Pumas)
TMO: n/a

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GWK Griquas vs Vodacom Western Province:

This is a clash between 2 top of the table sides.

The gritty Griquas are a hard side to beat any day, but in Kimberley they are devils incarnate, insanely proud of their record against the biggies!

Players like Bjorn Basson and Sarel Pretorius as well as Riaan Viljoen are seasoned stars now and there is a determination in both the forwards and the backline which is a pleasure to watch.

WP on the other hand is still unbeaten in this competition, and consistency in selection has served them very well in a well coached side.

Francois Louw is back to make a mark on proceedings and WP boast a solid forwards pack, with some flair and brains in the backline.

This is a bit of a difficult call but I would have to go on recent form on this one…. Province by 11.

Teams:

Western Province: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Gio Aplon, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Paul Bosch, 11. Frikkie Welsh, 10. Willem de Waal, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Duane Vermeulen, 7. Francois Louw, 6. Pieter Louw, 5. Anton van Zyl (Captain), 4. Adriaan Fondse, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. JD Moller
Replacements: 16. Deon Fourie, 17. Wicus Blaauw, 18. Buhle Mxunyelwa, 19. De Kock Steenkamp, 20. Nick Koster, 21. Conrad Hoffmann, 22. Lionel Cronje

Griquas: 15. Riaan Viljoen, 14. Richard Lawson, 13. Wilmaure Louw, 12. Barry Geel, 11. Bjorn Basson, 10. Naas Olivier (capt.), 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Burger Schoeman, 7. Davon Raubenheimer, 6. Johan van Deventer, 5. Cecil Kemp, 4. Frikkie Spies, 3. Jean Botha, 2. Ryno Barnes, 1. Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16. Simon Westraadt, 17. Jacobie Adriaanse, 18. Gerhard Human, 19. Michael Passaporte/Leon Karemaker, 20. Marnus Hugo, 21. Matthew Rosslee, 22.Rocco Jansen

GWK Park, Kimberley. Kick off: 15h00
Saturday, 07 August 2010
Referee: Sandile Mayende (SARRA)
Assistant referees: F Veldsman (Boland), D Haasbroek (Griquas)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (Boland)

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Sharks vs Xerox Lions:

The Sharks are at home to an improved Lions side.

The Sharks have bolstered their side recently with the return of some injured players, like Jean Deysel, Bismarck du Plessis and Jannie du Plessis.

They have a potent forwards pack, fast loosies and forwards on the bench who will make you weep all day, with the ways they will punish you. In the backline there is a bit of a shuffle this week with Pat Lambie having his 1st major game at flyhalf and Strauss filling the inside centre position.

The Lions, on the other hand, seem to be rapidly improving under John Mitchell as coach. There is a definate return to structure and defence and the players seem willing to listen and adapt to the new direction the coach intends. This week may still be a week or 2 short of the Lions playing to competative performance against another big Union though.

I predict that the Lions will show heart and determination as well as oodles of guts but that the Sharks will be too much for them… Sharks by 18.

Teams:

Sharks: 15. Louis Ludik, 14. JP Pietersen, 13. Stefan Terblanche (captain), 12. Andries Strauss, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Patrick Lambie, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Ryan Kankowski, 7. Willem Alberts, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Alistair Hargreaves, 4. Steven Sykes, 3. Jannie du Plessis, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Tendai Mtawarira
Replacements: 16. Bismarck du Plessis, 17. Eugene van Staden, 18. Ross Skeate, 19. Jean Deysel, 20. Jacques Botes, 21. Rory Kockott, 22. Riaan Swanepoel

Lions: 15. Jaco Taute, 14. Deon van Rensburg, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Doppies la Grange, 11. Michael Killian, 10. Elton Thomas Jantjies, 9. Jano Vermaak, 8. Warren Roger Whiteley, 7. Trevor Hall, 6. Derick Minnie, 5. Franco van der Merwe (Captain), 4. George Earle, 3. Kevin Buys, 2. Martin Bezuidenhout, 1. JC Janse van Rensburg
Replacements: 16. Edgar Marutlulle, 17. Ross Geldenhuys, 18. David Bulbring, 19. Jaco Kriel, 20. Chris Jonck, 21. Carlos Spencer, 22. Marius Delport

Saturday, 7 August 2010
The Stadium Durban. Kick off: 17h05 (Live on SuperSport 1)
Referee: Jason Jaftha (SARRA)
Assistant referees: B Crouse (Blue Bulls), R Rossouw (Natal)
TMO: JC Fortuin (WP)