A remarkable feature this season’s ABSA Currie Cup is that 6 of the 8 teams who will battle it out for the historic trophy on offer in South Africa’s oldest provincial competition, will do so with new coaches at the helm. Xerox Golden Lions coach, Johan Ackermann, and Hawies Fourie (ORC Griquas) are the only surviving coaches from last year.
The 6 new coaches in this year’s competition are: Nollis Marais (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Gary Gold (Cell C Sharks), John Dobson (DHL Western Province), Franco Smith (Toyota Free State Cheetahs), MJ Mentz (Steval Pumas) and Brent Janse van Rensburg (Eastern Province Kings).
Rugby World Cup duty and the departure of several former stalwarts to overseas club-rugby arenas, resulted in several household names not playing this year in their well-known provincial colours. However, that opens the door for a new generation of young and promising stars to make their mark in the competition.
The 2015 edition of the ABSA Currie Cup will be characterised as the changing of the guard in many respects. The influence of the new coaches, coupled with several Springbok Sevens stars who were released for provincial duty and the emergence of a number of Junior Springboks in the senior ranks, should make for an interesting campaign.
Springbok Sevens stars who will be in action this coming weekend include Seabelo Senatla (DHL Western Province), Ruhan Nel (ORC Griquas), Kwagga Smith (Xerox Golden Lions) and Warrick Gelant (Vodacom Blue Bulls). Meanwhile, Hanro Liebenberg (Vodacom Blue Bulls), Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez (Cell C Sharks) and Wilco Louw (WP) are some of the promising Junior Springboks who will make their competition debuts.
Defending champions, DHL Western Province, kick off the competition on Friday afternoon in Kimberley against the ORC Griquas. The Griquas secured their spot in the Top flight via a tough Qualifying campaign and they will be out to resume their status as giant-killers when they host Province in the opening match which starts at 15:30 SA Time on Friday. This fixture will be followed by the Steval Pumas encounter against the Cell C Sharks in the impressive Mbombela stadium in Nelspruit at 18:00 SA Time.
Saturday’s action sees 2015 finalists, the Xerox Lions, travel to Port Elizabeth to face the Eastern Province Kings at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, while a bruising encounter is expected between the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein. Both clashes start at 14:15 SA Time and all the ABSA Currie Cup action will again be televised live on SuperSport.
Nel to face baptism of fire in midfield battle:
Springbok Sevens utility player Ruhan Nel faces a baptism of fire on Friday afternoon when he runs out at centre for Griquas, opposite the experienced Western Province captain, Juan de Jongh.
Nel and Springbok Sevens squad member Sandile Ngcobo are both in the match-day squad for the Kimberley side after SARU released several Blitzbokke to provincial duty. It will serve WP well to be fully aware of the try scoring abilities of Nel. The versatile back is equally at home in the midfield and on the wing, and 2 years ago he scored a try for the Golden Lions within 5 minutes after taking to the field as a replacement against the Free State Cheetahs.
He repeated his try-scoring feat at international level when he scored a quick-fire hat-trick after coming on as replacement for the Blitzbokke against American Samoa at the Gold Coast Sevens in Australia.
Round-up of other interesting team news:
- There are 7 DHL Western Province Currie Cup debutants – 2 in the starting team and 5 on the bench – however, the playing squad includes 13 members of the squad that did duty in last year’s final against the Xerox Golden Lions at DHL Newlands. Front-rowers Bongi Mbonambi and Wilco Louw are the 2 Province newcomers in the starting team.
- Junior Springbok twins, Jean-Luc and Dan du Preez, have both been included in the Cell C Sharks match-day squad for the 1st Round tie against the Steval Pumas on Friday in Nelspruit. The twins celebrated their 20th birthday on Wednesday and they are joined in the squad 22 by 2014 Junior Springbok team mate André Esterhuizen (centre).
- Eastern Province Kings play their 1st match at home in the Nelson Mandela Stadium against the Golden Lions, who will unleash the formidable flank combination of Jaco Kriel and Springbok Sevens ball poacher Kwagga Smith.
- 23-Year old flyhalf Niel Marais spearheads a group of 5 rookies who will make their ABSA Currie Cup debut for the Toyota Free State Cheetahs against the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Saturday.
- Former Free State flanker Lappies Labuschagne was named as Blue Bulls captain for the season-opener. Making their debuts in the backline for the Pretoria side are Warrick Gelant (Junior Springboks and Blitzbokke) and Travis Ismaiel, while Hanro Liebenberg (2015 Junior Springbok captain), Marvin Orie and Jaco Visagie are forward debutants. Prop Werner Kruger will play in his 98th match in the competition.
ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division Round 1 Fixtures:
Friday 7 August:
ORC Griquas vs DHL Western Province:
- Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
- Kick-Off: 15:30 SA Time (13:30 GMT)
- Referee: Jaco Peyper
- Assistant Referees: Lourens van der Merwe, Jaco Kotze
- TMO: JJ Wagner
Recent results:
- 2014: Western Province won 36 / 12, Cape Town
- 2013: Western Province won 19 / 13, Cape Town
- 2013: Western Province won 20 / 19, Kimberley
- 2012: Western Province won 45 / 21, Cape Town
- 2012: Western Province won 25 / 20, Kimberley
Teams:
ORCGriquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Tian Meyer (Captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Nardus van der Walt, 6 RJ Liebenberg, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Stephan Greeff, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Abraham le Roux, 1 Danie Mienie
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Stephan Kotze, 18 Jaco Nepgen, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Rudi van Rooyen, 21 Jacquin Jansen, 22 Ngcobo Sandile.
DHL Western Province: 15 Cheslin Kolbe, 14 Dillyn Leyds, 13 Juan de Jongh (Captain), 12 Jaco Taute, 11 Seabelo Senatla, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Nizaam Carr, 7 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6 Rynhardt Elstadt, 5 Ruan Botha, 4 Jean Kleyn, 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Oliver Kebble
Replacements: 16 Marius Fourie, 17 Alistair Vermaak, 18 Chris van Zyl, 19 Chris Cloete, 20 Jano Vermaak, 21 Kurt Coleman, 22 Johnny Kotze, 23 Charlie van Jaarsveld.
Steval Pumas vs Cell C Sharks:
- Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
- Kick-Off: 18:00 SA Time (16:00 GMT)
- Referee: Jaco van Heerden
- Assistant Referees: Ben Crouse, Renier Vermeulen
- TMO: Johan Greeff
Recent results:
- 2014: Pumas won 32 / 22, Nelspruit
- 2014: Sharks won 34 / 17, Durban
- 2011: Sharks won 33 / 20, Durban
- 2011: Sharks won 23 / 22, Witbank
Teams:
Steval Pumas: 15 JW Bell, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (Captain), 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 JC Roos, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Lambert Groenewald, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Giant Mtyanda, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 De-Jay Terblanché, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Khwezi Mona
Replacements: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Jason-Colin Fraser, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz.
Cell C Sharks: 15 Joe Pietersen , 14 S’bura Sithole, 13 Wandile Mjekevu, 12 Heimar Williams, 11 André Esterhuizen, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Stefan Ungerer, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Jean-Luc du Preez, 6 Khaya Majola, 5 Marco Wentzel (Captain), 4 Etienne Oosthuizen, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Dale Chadwick
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Thomas du Toit, 18 Dave McDuling , 19 Daniel du Preez , 20 Francois Kleinhans, 21 Michael Claassens, 22 SP Marais.
Saturday 8 August:
Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Vodacom Blue Bulls:
- Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
- Kick-Off: 14:15 SA Time (12:15 GMT)
- Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
- Assistant Referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Jaco Pretorius
- TMO: Willie Vos
Recent results:
- 2014: Blue Bulls won 31 / 22, Bloemfontein
- 2013: Free State Cheetahs won 22 / 7, Bloemfontein
- 2013: Blue Bulls won 26 / 10, Pretoria
- 2012: Free State Cheetahs won 32 / 18, Bloemfontein
- 2012: Blue Bulls won 34 / 30, Pretoria
Teams:
Toyota Free State Cheetahs: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Ryno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Neil Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (Captain), 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen
Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 BG Uys, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga.
Vodacom Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (Captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Nqoba Mxoli, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dries Swanepoel.
Eastern Province Kings vs Xerox Golden Lions:
- Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
- Kick-Off: 14:15 SA Time (12:15 GMT)
- Referee: Quinton Immelman
- Assistant Referees: Jason Jaftha, Francois Pretorius
- TMO: Marius Jonker
Recent results:
- 2014: Golden Lions won 41 / 22, Port Elizabeth
Teams:
Eastern Province Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Luke Watson (Captain), 4 Steven Sykes, 4 Cornell Hess, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Schalk Ferreira
Replacements: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Simon Kerrod, 18 Jacques ‘Vleis’ Engelbrecht, 19 Paul Schoeman, 20 Kevin Luiters, 21 Karlo Aspeling, 22 Siyanda Grey.
Xerox Golden Lions: 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Courtnall Skosan, 13 Harold Vorster, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Marnitz Boshoff, 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Ruaan Lerm, 7 Kwagga Smith, 6 Jaco Kriel (Captain), 5 Martin Muller, 4 Franco Mostert, 3 Julian Redelinghuys, 2 Malcolm Marx, 1 Jacques van Rooyen
Replacements: 16 Robbie Coetzee, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 MB Lusaseni, 19 Steph de Wit, 20 Lohan Jacobs, 21 Stokkies Hanekom, 22 Jaco van der Walt.