Western Province will have to beat the Golden Lions in Cape Town on Friday to avoid a similar three-match Currie Cup losing streak as in 2010.

With the Tri-Nations Test in Port Elizabeth between the Springboks and New Zealand at 17:00 on Saturday, five Currie Cup games (three in the Premier and two in the First Division) are scheduled for Friday.

The only game on Saturday is between the Free State Cheetahs and the Pumas in Bloemfontein.

Blue Bulls vs Griquas

The Blue Bulls, without two Springbok flanks in Dewald Potgieter and Deon Steggman this weekend, face a big Currie Cup test as high-flying Griquas head to Pretoria on Friday afternoon.

Last season, the Blue Bulls snuck home by one point in the corresponding fixture after a last-minute Griquas conversion sailed wide. That game, and their recent form, would’ve given the team from the Northern Cape a lot of confidence as they head up to the capital.

Furthermore, Griquas will be bolstered by the return of their try-scoring scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, who has missed the first five rounds of Currie Cup because of a knee injury.

“It’s never easy at Loftus and I’m convinced this will be our hardest game of the season, because the Blue Bulls are playing to stay alive in the Currie Cup. They are motivated to improve their position on the log and have a very proud tradition at Loftus – this isn’t Nelspruit, ” said Minnie.

“Also, the players that have gone before the current crop of Blue Bulls, have set an example and this team have to live up to that expectation. They still have a number of Springboks in their team – we’ll have to be at our very best on Friday.

“What happened last year is history. They will be better than thus far in the season and we’ll have to make that step up. ”

Minnie said it’s nice to have Pretorius back, but that he will be managed: “Sarel is a great player, but in his absence Marnus Hugo played exceptionally well. We’ll manage Sarel, because we don’t know how long his knee will last. That’s why we decided to start with him. If he feels it’s time to come off, whether it’s after 15, 25 or 45 minutes, we’ll put Marnus on. ”

Blue Bulls vs Griquas
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 17:05
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Last year in Currie Cup:
– 20 August: Blue Bulls won 39-38 in Pretoria
– 1 October: Blue Bulls won 48-36 in Kimberley

Western Province vs Golden Lions

The signs are ominous for Western Province, last year’s Currie Cup runners up, as they prepare to face the table-topping Golden Lions at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday evening.

The men from Cape Town have lost their last two games in the Currie Cup, last weekend at home against the Sharks and the week before that against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

In 2010, WP also had a mid-season slump as they lost to the Sharks, Free State Cheetahs and Golden Lions on successive weekends.

Robbie Fleck, the former Springbok centre and current WP assistant coach, said: “The Lions have a fantastic all-round game. They are disciplined, well-organised and are excellent at holding onto possession.

“That is their entire game plan – they look to handle the ball and force their opponents into making tackles. They are not the log leaders for nothing and I think regardless of Friday’s result, they are going to be there and there about come the end of the season.

“For us it is a massive challenge and we need to get stuck into them from the start. We want to put them under pressure and retain ball as well so for the young guys it is another mammoth task, but one the guys are really looking forward to. ”

Western Province vs Golden Lions
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 19:10
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Marius Jonker
Last year in Currie Cup:
– 17 July: WP won 32-0 in Cape Town
– 3 September: Golden Lions won 46-28 in Johannesburg

The Sharks vs Leopards

The Leopards face an uphill battle at Kings Park in Durban on Friday evening against The Sharks, the defending champions currently in second place on the Currie Cup log.

In fact, the Sharks can go top of the log with the first round of the competition nearly finished if they score a bonus point victory against the Leopards and the Golden Lions return with empty hands from Cape Town.

Sharks coach John Plumtree has decided to rotate his squad this weekend, making a number of changes to the team to give fringe players much-needed game time.

Stefan Terblanche is getting a break, with Springboks Meyer Bosman and Marius Joubert teaming up in the midfield. Keegan Daniel will play off the bench and Jacques Botes will lead the team, while Conrad Hoffman replaces Charl McLeod at scrumhalf.

Plumtree doesn’t underestimate the Platinum Leopards in any way though, even if The Sharks beat them twice by big scores in last year’s Currie Cup.

“The Leopards have conceded a few points this year, but they’ve also scored a few, so they have plenty of attacking threats and will come here with an attitude of wanting to attack and put on a good show. Defensively, we’re going to have to be really up for it, ” said Plumtree.

“Our defence was good against Western Province, but it was easier in the rain. Hopefully there won’t be any on Friday. They will look to stress us and we have to make sure defensively we’re on target – defence is a big focus for us this weekend. ”

The Sharks vs Platinum Leopards
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 19:10
Venue: Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Last year in Currie Cup:
– 13 August: The Sharks won 51-6 in Phokeng
– 1 October: The Sharks won 63-6 in Durban

Free State Cheetahs vs Pumas

Even though the Pumas have not won a game thus far in the Currie Cup, the Free State Cheetahs will not be taking this match in the Free State Stadium on Saturday afternoon lightly.

The Free Staters come off a defeat last weekend against the Golden Lions in Johannesburg, but played very well a week before when they beat Western Province in Bloemfontein.

“We didn’t play well against the Golden Lions, especially in the first half, and we need to improve. But it’s not going to be easy against the Pumas – they were unlucky to lose against the Blue Bulls, the Sharks and the Golden Lions, ” said Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske.

“We would’ve liked to do some squad rotation, but we have too many injuries and can’t really af to rest anyone, while the Pumas are very difficult opponents. ”

After five near losses Jimmy Stonehouse, coach of the Pumas, said: “It can’t carry on like this, that victory simply has to come. The spirit in the team is amazing and we’re keeping our heads up. We’ll just have to try again this weekend, even if we know it will be very difficult in Bloemfontein.

“The Cheetahs have a very mobile pack and will probably try to move us around a bit, but I think we can match them upfront. ”

Stonehouse has had to appoint a new captain in JW Jonker after regular skipper Corné Steenkamp was ruled out with a knee injury. The Pumas have also lost Marius Coetzer (hand) and Shaun Venter (concussion), two of their more experienced players.

Free State Cheetahs vs Pumas
Date: Saturday, 20 August
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Pro Legoete
Last year in Currie Cup:
– 7 August: FS Cheetahs won 45-30 in Witbank
– 24 September: FS Cheetahs won 59-24 in Bloemfontein

Currie Cup First Division

The Boland Cavaliers can close the gap between them and the EP Kings at the top of the Currie Cup First Division log if they can score a bonus point victory over the SWD Eagles in Wellington on Friday afternoon.

The Kings are seven points ahead of the Cavaliers and will remain in first position on the log. It also won’t be an easy game for Boland, as they are facing an Eagles team on a three match winning streak. SWD can overtake their opponents this weekend on the log if they win this game.

In the only other game in the Currie Cup First Division, the Border Bulldogs travel to the East Rand to face the Valke at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.

Both teams are on five logs points, the same as the Tasol Solar Griffons, but the Bulldogs occupy last place on the log, while the Valke are fourth and the Griffons fifth. Only points’ difference separate them.

The Griffons and EP Kings have byes this weekend.

Boland Cavaliers vs SWD Eagles
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 16:00
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Last year in Currie Cup:
– 6 August: SWD won 45-36 in George
– 17 September: Boland Cavaliers won 38-33 in Wellington

Valke vs Border Bulldogs

Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Stuart Berry
Last year in Currie Cup:
– 20 August: Valke won 38-37 in East London
– 2 October: Border Bulldogs won 56-49 in Kempton Park