Herewith a team by team breakdown of the selected sides for this weekend’s Currie Cup Premier Division Semi-final matches.

Vodacom Blue Bulls:

Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Pine Pienaar made no changes to his side that beat the MTN Lions last weekend for their Absa Currie Cup semi-finals clash against The Sharks in Durban.

It is the first time this season that Pienaar could name the same 22 on consecutive weekends and the coach feels that this could help them carry some momentum into Saturday’s showdown.

“Nothing that happened during the normal part of the competition will matter on Saturday. This will be about 80 minutes and who executes best. It is nice to know that we have some momentum with us, following the return of our Springboks and the way they came into the team,” Pienaar said.

“We finished well last weekend and will be looking to continue with that. We will have to start well, as the Sharks have proved many times that they know how to close out games when leading on the scoreboard.”

Vodacom Blue Bulls captain, Dewald Potgieter, points to the fact that at least half of the squad has won the Currie Cup in their careers.

“We know what a special effort will be needed to go all the way. We have been with our back against the walls for long spells this season, but responded every time, which is typical of the characters you find in this squad. They won’t quit and that will be the mind-set again this weekend against a team that is well respected, but not unbeatable.”

Blue Bulls: 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter (Captain), 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Mornè Mellett.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dean Greyling.

DHL Western Province:

Springbok captain Jean de Villiers has become the third Western Province international this week to be ruled out of their Currie Cup semifinal encounter with the Golden Lions on Saturday.

De Villiers, will miss the remainder of the 2012 Absa Currie Cup with a Grade One hamstring strain, but he is not considered doubtful for the Springboks’ year-end tour of Ireland, Scotland and England next month.

The WP and Bok skipper was sent for a scan on Wednesday afternoon after being forced to withdraw from this weekend’s Currie Cup semifinal clash against the MTN Golden Lions.

After consultation with the WP team doctor, Dr Arthur Williams, and further advice from a specialist, De Villiers faces a three-week lay-off and is replaced by Marcel Brache in midfield.

He joins fellow Boks Andries Bekker (toe) and Tiaan Liebenberg (back) on the sidelines.

Flank and stand-in captain Deon Fourie admitted it is disappointing to lose players of that quality.

“It’s not ideal but it’s happened to us many times this year, so it’s not strange to us,” Fourie said.

WP head coach Allister Coetzee made four changes to the side that defeated the Free State Cheetahs last weekend.

Lock De Kock Steenkamp, hooker Siyabonga Ntubeni and inside centre Marcel Brache come in for the injured Bok trio.

“Fortunately De Kock Steenkamp, Scarra Ntubeni and Marcel aren’t strangers to our systems,” said Coetzee.

“They’ve always played well when given a chance and now they have a chance to start again.”

The final change to the WP line-up sees Gio Aplon take over at fullback from Joe Pietersen, the latter dropping down to the bench where he is joined by Deon Carstens, Wilhelm van der Sluys and Damian de Allende who come into the matchday 22 this week.

Looking ahead to Saturday, and facing the defending champion Lions on their own turf, Coetzee added: “They are the champions and a few players who did not play against the Bulls are returning from injury. They’ll be even stronger (come this Saturday).”

Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Marcel Brache, 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie (Captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Damian de Allende, 22 Joe Pietersen.

Date: Saturday 20 October
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19:10 SA Time (18:10 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Sindile Mayende, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

The Sharks

Jean Deysel will win his 50 Absa Currie Cup cap for The Sharks in Saturday’s semi-final when they host the Blue Bulls at Mr Price KINGS PARK for the 4.30pm kick-off.

He is one of a host of Springboks who will feature – for both teams.

In changes to last week’s side, JP Pietersen shifts to the right wing in place of Odwa Ndungane who picked up an ankle injury against Griquas last weekend and hasn’t come through a late fitness test. Jacques Botes, another player under an injury cloud (back), also failed to make it through and will miss out this week. The third player facing a late decision was Steven Sykes who has been bracketed in with Peet Marais on the bench.

After playing off the bench last weekend, the Springbok duo of Lwazi Mvovo and Jannie du Plessis start this week, while Beast Mtawarira and Willem Alberts, who were rested last week following their heavy workload in the Castle Rugby Championship, have been recalled and will feature off the bench.

“We’re starting Jannie, it’s a big game and he had some Currie Cup action last week,” explains coach John Plumtree of the changes he’s made. “He’ll be partnered by Dale Chadwick and Kyle Cooper, and then we have a whole front row on the bench with Craig Burden, Beast and Wiehahn Herbst. It could be wet and having Willem Alberts and someone with experience like Steven Sykes on the bench will be important because how we finish the game off could be vital.

“There were a lot of choices, but I don’t think we could ignore what the guys have achieved without the guys who are now back. And we also couldn’t ignore the importance of experience.

“Everyone is just really excited.”

The Sharks:  15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Jandre Marais, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Steven Sykes / Peet Marais, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Meyer Bosman.

MTN Golden Lions

The Golden Lions Rugby Union announced the MTN Golden Lions team to play DHL Western Province on Saturday, 20 October 2012 in the second semi-final match of the 2012 Absa Currie Cup competition.

There are eleven changes to the starting line up who played the Bulls last weekend:

1. JC Janse van Rensburg returns to Loose Head Prop in place of CJ van der Linde
2. Jacobie Adriaanse replaces Pat Cilliers at Tight Head Prop
3. Franco van der Merwe returns to the starting line up at Lock in place of Paul Willemse
4. Cobus Grobbelaar replaces Jaco Kriel at Openside Flank
5. Jaco Kriel starts at Blindside Flank in place of Derick Minnie
6. Warren Whiteley replaces Willie Britz at Number Eight
7. Michael Bondesio starts at Scrumhalf in place of Ross Cronje
8. Elton Jantjies replaces Butch James at Flyhalf
9. Jaco Taute starts in place of Deon van Rensburg at Outside Centre
10. Ruan Combrinck moves from Fullback to Right Wing to replace Deon Helberg
11. Andries Coetzee starts at Fullback

On the bench there are six changes:

1. CJ van der Linde or Pat Cilliers will start at Replacement Prop in place of Jacobie Adriaanse. The final decision will be made on Thursday
2. Hendrik Roodt replaces Franco van der Merwe at Utility Forward while Franco moves to the starting line up
3. Derick Minnie plays at Utility Forward in place of Warren Whiteley
4. Ross Cronje is at Replacement Scrumhalf in place of Whestley Moolman
5. Butch James slots into Utility Back in place of Elton Jantjies who starts this week
6. Deon Helberg is at Utility Back in place of Lionel Mapoe

This match will serve as Cobus “Baywatch” Grobbelaar’s Benefit Match ahead of his retirement. Following his many years of loyal service, Grobbelaar will be given a percentage of the gate takings from Saturday’s semi final match.

Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach / Dylan des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Jaco Kriel, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg (Captain)
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 CJ van der Linde / Pat Cilliers, 18 Hendrik Roodt, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Butch James, 22 Deon Helberg.