As we enter Round 9 of the Currie Cup Premier Division of 2013, the Sharks and WP find themselves topping the Log with 28 points each. The closest rival here is the Golden Lions who are on 21 points. With WP and the Sharks playing each other next weekend in the final match before the semi-finals, this weekend is a must win weekend end for both sides at the top.

The Blue Bulls, who are facing the Sharks, is in a must win situation for them if they would like to keep their semi-final hopes alive, as a win for the Free State Cheetahs this weekend could see an end to their Currie Cup season, if they lose.

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

Match 1

Blue Bulls vs Sharks

Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
4 October 2013
k/o – 19:10

Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Handré Pollard, 9 Rudy Paige, 8 Jono Ross (Captain), 7 Jacques du Plessis, 6 Wiaan Liebenberg, 5 David Bulbring, 4 Paul Willemse, 3 Frik Kirsten, 2 Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Dean Greyling, 18 Grant Hattingh, 19 Jacques Engelbrecht, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Ulrich Beyers, 22 Sampie Mastriet.

Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (Captain), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Stephan Lewies, 4 Peet Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Replacements: 16 Monde Hadebe, 17 Danie Mienie, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Andrew James, 22 Jaco van Tonder/Louis Ludik.

This is a must win game for either side. The Sharks need a win here to secure a home semi-final and final position and the Blue Bulls need a win to stand a chance of getting into the semi-finals. These sides have met each other 8 times since 2010 including two semi-finals. The Sharks have won 6 of these 8 clashes as well as the clash earlier this year with a score line of 34-18, under current form it is doubtfull that this will change and the Sharks will be favourites once again. A score close to 28-23 in favour of the Sharks will be a good pick.

*******************************************************************

 Match 2

Griquas vs Free State Cheetahs

GWK Park, Kimberley
5 October 2013
k/o – 14:00

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

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Piet Lindeque, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Johannes ‘Boom’ Prinsloo (Captain ), 7 Pieter “Lappies’ Labuschagne, 6 Teboho Mohoje, 5 Lodewyk ‘Lood’ de Jager, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Trevor Nyakane, 2 Hercu Liebenberg, 1 Schalk van der Merwe
Replacements: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Philip van der Walt, 19 Freddy Ngoza, 20 Piet van Zyl, 21 Willie du Plessis, 22 Joubert Engelbrecht.

The Griquas have just been nowhere in this season’s competition bar the first game when they beat the Sharks in Durban, whilst the Free State Cheetahs have not done much better, finding themselves in 4th place and contending with the Blue Bulls for the last semi-final spot. The Free State Cheetahs are the likely favourites in this clash and would like to add 5 log points to their current total. Both these sides like running the ball and giving the ball a lot of air. The Free State Cheetahs will take this one with a bonus point try and a scoreline close to 33-25.

*********************************************************************

Match 3

Western Province vs Golden Lions

Newlands, Cape Town
5 October 2013
k/o – 14:00

Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Michael van der Spuy, 12 Damian de Allende, 11 Cheslin Kolbe, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Deon Fourie (Captain), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Frans Malherbe, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Schalk Burger, 19 Josh Katzen, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Kurt Coleman. 22 Ryan Nell.

Golden Lions: 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Chrysander Botha, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Lionel Cronjé, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Derick Minnie (Captain), 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Chris van Zyl, 4 Willie Britz, 3 Ruan Dreyer, 2 Robbie Coetzee, CJ van der Linde
Replacements: 16 Willie Wepener, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Hugo Kloppers, 19 Warwick Tecklenberg, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Kobus de Kock, 22 Deon Helberg.

This is a deciding clash and a must win for both sides. A win for the Golden Lions could see them book their spot in the semi-finals this weekend and give them an outside chance for a home semi-final spot. WP would like to secure the win here as they face the Sharks next weekend in a top of the Log decider, only if they manage a win here. These sides have met 7 times since 2010 including a semi-final in 2012. WP have managed to win 4 of these 7 clashes. WP would be favourites here, the only reason being that they will be playing with home field advantage. As safe bet will be to pick WP for a win with a scoreline close to 28-23.