As we enter Round 7 of the 2013 Currie Cup, WP is setting the pace at the top of the Log, with 20 Log points. The Griquas find themselves in last place with 9 Log points.

A win for the Shark and Western Province this weekend could almost assure them of a semi final spot, in this scenario the Free State Cheetahs, Golden Lions and Blue Bulls are still fighting for the last two spots. A loss for the Griquas this weekend could see them remain in last position.

Here’s a Preview of the weekend’s matches:

 Match 1

Western Province vs Griquas

Newlands, Cape Town

20 Sept 2013

k/o – 19:10

DHL Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 De Kock Steenkamp (Captain), 4 Taz Fuzani, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16 Michael Willemse, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Gerbrandt Grobler, 19 Rayn Smid, 20 Josh Katzen, 21 Louis Schreuder, 22 Demetri Catrakilis

GWK Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Burger Schoeman, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Nick Schonert, 2 Ryno Barnes (Captain), 1 Steph Roberts
Replacements: 16 Matt Dobson, 17 Brummer Badenhorst, 18 Patrick O’Brien, 19 RJ Liebenberg, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Du Randt Gerber, 22 Richard Lawson.

From 2010 to prior this year, these sides met 6 times and the. WP has won 5 of the last six clashes and there was one draw, which means that WP is unbeaten against the Griquas in the past 3 years. In their first encounter this year WP beat the Griquas win 1 point in Kimberly. This is usually a high scoring game for WP as they rack up a average of 40 point per match. Still the Griquas wont be able to take WP, especially not at Newlands. WP will take this one with a score close to 39-23.

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 Match 2

Sharks vs Free State Cheetahs

Growthpoint KINGS PARK, Durban

21 Sept 2013

k/o – 15:00

The Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7 Tera Mtembu, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Pieter-Steph du Toit, 4 Peet Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Rayno Gerber, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Brynard Stander, 20 Cobus Reinach, 21 Butch James, 22 Jaco van Tonder.

Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Riaan Smit, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Boom Prinsloo (Captain), 5 Waltie Vermeulen, 4 Lodewyk (Lood) de Jager, 3 Rossouw de Klerk, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Trevor Nyakane.
Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Teboho Mohoje, 19 Philip van der Walt, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Ryno Benjamin, 22 Willie du Plessis.

These teams have met 7 times since 2010, with the Sharks having won all seven. The Sharks are also unbeaten since 2010 against the Cheetahs. On current form it seems highly unlikely that this will change. The Sharks will take this one with a 11 point margin and a score close to 35-24.

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 Match 3

Golden Lions vs Blue Bulls

Ellis Park, Johannesburg

14 Sept 2013

k/o – 17:05

MTN Golden Lions: 15 Marnitz Boshoff, 14 Andries Coetzee, 13 Deon Helberg, 12 Dylan Des Fountain, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Derick Minnie(Captain), 7 Warwick Tecklenberg, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, 1 CJ van der Linde
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Chris van Zyl, 19 Lambert Groenewald , 20 Guy Cronje, 21 Lionel Cronje, 22 Ruhan Nel

Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Ulrich Beyers, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Tony Jantjies, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jono Ross (Captain), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Morné Mellett
Replacements: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 William Small-Smith, 22 Jurgen Visser.

These sides have played each other 6 time since 2010. The Bulls have won 4 of these encounters and the Lions only 2. Both these teams require a win to make sure that they keep their semi final flame burning.  This is a very difficult game to call as the Bulls find themselves is a season where every game is a mountain. The Bulls are also coming of a  loss to WP, and would like to redeem themselves. According to the stats the Bulls should take this one but a score of 30-26, having said that the Lions should take this one, they have more experience and a home crowd. Lions should take this with a 5 point margin and a score close to 25-20.