Currie Cup preview (Round 10)
12 Oct 2012
GARETH DUNCAN previews this weekend’s action and predicts who will face off in the semi-finals.
SHARKS vs GRIQUAS, DURBAN, FRI 19:10
While Griquas earned a 22-15 win over the Sharks in Kimberley, the Northern Cape minnows will come up against a stronger outfit on Friday night.
John Plumtree has gained significant reinforcements in recents weeks, with players returning from injury and Springbok duty.
Wing JP Pietersen still has his hot Super Rugby form despite spending several weeks on the sidelines because of a broken thumb. The speedster played a key role in the 37-30 win over the Cheetahs in Free State last weekend.
Tim Whitehead’s return from injury sees him partner Paul Jordaan in the midfield. The duo create an exciting centre pairing, and will expose any weaknesses in the opposition defence. To think this is their second-choice centre combination as Frans Steyn will be back next season.
Pat Lambie might still be aching from all the splinters he picked up on the bench during the Rugby Championship, but he’ll be raring to start at flyhalf and prove his worth in the run-on XV.
Skipper Keagan Daniel has been in good form in the Currie Cup since being dropped from the Springbok squad, and he’ll lead a pack that has impressed over the last fortnight.
The Sharks will also have four Boks to call on from the bench in the second half.
Griquas shocked the Lions with a second-half comeback in Kimberley, but they’ll struggle to stay afloat at the Shark Tank against a side that boasts plenty of quality.
The Sharks will cruise to victory and the top spot on the log.
FORM
Sharks WWLWLWLWW
Griquas LLLWWWLW
Sharks – 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Paul Jordaan, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JP Pietersen, 10 Pat Lambie, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Keegan Daniel (c), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Jandré Marais, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Jannie du Plessis, 18 Peet Marais, 19 Marcell Coetzee, 20 Charl McLeod, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Lwazi Mvovo.
Griquas – 15 Willie le Roux, 14 Jannie Boshoff, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Justin Downey, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Rynard Landman, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes (c), 1 Steph Roberts.
Subs: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Ivann Espag, 18 Edwin Hewitt, 19 Wesley Wilkins, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Richard Lawson.
Gareth’s prediction: Sharks by 15
WP vs FREE STATE CHEETAHS, CAPE TOWN, SAT 17:05
A young WP outfit were outplayed by the Bulls at Loftus Versfeld last weekend, but their returning Springboks have boosted the Cape side tremendously.
Where there was once a lack of experience, Province now have the likes of inside centre Jean de Villiers, wing Bryan Habana, No 8 Duane Vermeulen, lock Andries Bekker and hooker Tiaan Liebenberg playing leadership roles. Outside centre Juan de Jongh and lock Eben Etzebeth will also make telling contributions.
Free State have benefited from Bok hooker Adriaan Strauss and prop Coenie Oosthuizen’s availability, but injuries will still see the Cheetahs struggle at Newlands.
They’ll miss flyhalf Johan Goosen (knee) as Sias Ebersohn has been inconsistent in the No 10 jersey. Free State will also have a weakened second row and loose trio, which should see them struggle in the forwards battle.
Without regular front foot momentum, the Cheetahs’ backline will be restricted. They’ll depend on outside centre Robert Ebersohn and wing Raymond Rhule to create some magic, but that won’t be enough.
WP will be too strong for the visitors, and a win will see them avoid the unlikely threat of relegation and seal their semi-final place.
This will see Free State finish last on the log. Without a win, the Cheetahs will need two bonus points to secure safety. However, this will be highly unlikely against South Africa’s best defensive unit. First Division league winners the EP Kings will be waiting for the Bloemfontein team in the promotion-relegation play-offs.
FORM
WP LWLWWLWLL
Cheetahs LWWLLLLWW
WP – 15 Joe Pietersen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Nic Groom, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Don Armand, 6 Deon Fourie, 5 Andries Bekker, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Brok Harris, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Marcel Brache, 22 Gio Aplon.
Free State Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Philip van der Walt, 7 Francois Uys, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Izak van der Westhuizen, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Coenie Oosthuizen, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Marcel van der Merwe.
Subs: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Davon Raubenheimer, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Philip Snyman, 22 Ryno Benjamin.
Gareth’s prediction: WP by 12
GOLDEN LIONS vs BLUE BULLS, JOHANNESBURG, SAT 19:10
The Golden Lions have made this an easier challenge for the visiting Blue Bulls.
While Johan Ackermann hasn’t picked an out-and-out second string side, it’s still a weakened team. With the Lions already guaranteed a home semi-final, they can afford to rest utility back Jaco Taute and prop JC Janse van Rensburg, and bench the likes of lock Franco van der Merwe, flyhalf Elton Jantjies and speedster Lionel Mapoe.
Springbok props Pat Cilliers and CJ van der Linde will give the Lions a quality front row, but the Bulls have a strong team to match and outclass the hosts in most positional match-ups.
The Pretoria union will start six of its returning Springboks (to the rejoices of under-fire head coach Pine Pienaar). The Bulls have reportedly struggled without 22 first-choice players for most of their campaign, but will field a near Super Rugby-strength line-up at Ellis Park on Saturday.
The major returns are flyhalf Morne Steyn and the Bok lock combination of Juandre Kruger and Flip van der Merwe. They’ll play key roles during the Bulls’ pursuit for victory.
The forwards battle will be a close one. The Lions’ success in the Currie Cup this season has come through their ability to poach ball regularly and dominate the set-pieces. The Bulls need to secure the ascendancy up front if they want to win this one. The respective loose trios will be huge in this regard.
The Lions are weakened, but will still be competitive. However, the Bulls have more than enough firepower to earn the win that will save them from relegation and sneak them into the play-offs.
FORM
Bulls WLWLLLWLW
Lions WLWLWWWWL
Golden Lions – 15 Ruan Combrinck, 14 Deon Helberg, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Anthony Volmink, 10 Butch James (c), 9 Ross Cronje, 8 Willie Britz, 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Paul Willemse, 4 Michael Rhodes, 3 Pat Cilliers, 2 Callie Visagie, 1 CJ van der Linde.
Subs: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Whestley Moolman, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Lionel Mapoe.
Blue Bulls – 15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Francois Venter, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Morne Steyn, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Arno Botha, 7 Jacques Potgieter, 6 Dewald Potgieter (c), 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Juandré Kruger, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morne Mellett.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Dean Greyling.
Gareth’s prediction: Blue Bulls by 8
SEMI-FINALS (NEXT WEEKEND):
Sharks vs Blue Bulls
Golden Lions vs WP
PROMOTION-RELEGATION PLAY-OFFS:
Free State Cheetahs vs EP Kings
146 Comments
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12 Oct 2012, 11:08 am
@suffer_guy-31:
Ho hum.
Raymond Rhule 1.88cm, 88Kgs
Corey Jane 1.83cm, 88kgs
12 Oct 2012, 11:08 am
@suffer_guy-31: Ja sure. Bet my bottom dollar had he been playing for kings he would be the next great thing.
This guy has what it takes and I believe he will wear the bok badge sooner rather than later.
12 Oct 2012, 11:10 am
@Transformation-32: And your point is?
Don’t forget: “everything you say on the net stays there forever.”
12 Oct 2012, 11:10 am
@John Galt-51: How about Geo. Everybody kaks themselves because he is not there. Christian Cullen. Small is relative when it comes to wings. Bryan Habana played arguably his best rugby when he was way smalles than most wings around.
Do not read to much into what suffer guy blogs anyways.
12 Oct 2012, 11:10 am
@stormersboy-40: Ah, a Freudian Slip. That’s when you say one thing but you mean your mother…
12 Oct 2012, 11:12 am
@Mr Black-47: i have to agree.
they are all doped to the hilt (perception created by the drug cheats) so why bother?
lance fought cancer and is hailed as some kind of amazing guy for this but really, what option does a cancer sufferer have?
his decision not to contest just proved he is a dopehead, a liar and a cheat.
12 Oct 2012, 11:13 am
@John Galt-51: Ja they forgot to tell Gio Aplon that he was too small. And Juan De Jong. And and and ………
12 Oct 2012, 11:14 am
ag anyone trying to argue rhule is too small or not gifted enough has clearly never seen the kid play.
he is simply awesome.
great defense, awesome pace and absolutely fearless. he is what mapoo poo should have been but with twice the pace.
12 Oct 2012, 11:15 am
@katman-55: Ja exactly lol.
12 Oct 2012, 11:18 am
@stormersboy-57: Not the best example to use, as AC’s admission that neither Aplon nor Pietersen cut it for him at FB is barely cold.
12 Oct 2012, 11:18 am
anyone in durbs seen the sea?
want to go spearfishing later this arvie but i dont know if there is any viz?
12 Oct 2012, 11:20 am
@katman-60: I don’t get that by the way. I mean I like Taute, but not that much. I do think that Gio is a wing though, always have.
12 Oct 2012, 11:20 am
@katman-60: gio is getting to the point of no return imo.
he is what, 29 now?
with the players we have coming available in our backline i find it hard to believe he will play any long term role in the boks going forward.
i would love to see mapoo get a shot at some stage too (frikken merc). he has the goods i believe.
12 Oct 2012, 11:21 am
@BrumbiesBoy-53: are you quoting my own words to me
truce?
12 Oct 2012, 11:22 am
@stormersboy-62: and as a wing he has very little chance of uplifting hougie, mvovo, JPP and Habs.
so……
12 Oct 2012, 11:24 am
@stormersboy-44:
Agree.
But then all the Boks need to back for the entire Currie Cup.
So it won’t work.
12 Oct 2012, 11:25 am
@rangerman-61:
Looking at the sea as we speak. Looks clean from here. Like glass too.
Was up the North Coast last weekend.
Water was surprisingly clean. Saw some guys diving off Sheffield.
12 Oct 2012, 11:27 am
@rangerman-58: lionel is a better 13 though atm…he was ripping the currie cup to shreds before meyer called him up to carry tackle bags…
12 Oct 2012, 11:27 am
@rangerman-65:
Aplon is a better wing than Mvovo and Hougie.
He would be my first choice fullback, that’s for sure (providing we had JPP and Habs on the wings).
12 Oct 2012, 11:27 am
@rangerman-61:
looking over the bay now – specifically the yacht club.
viz seems fine.
you could always go after some grunter.
12 Oct 2012, 11:28 am
@rangerman-58: before his knee injury mapoe was consistently ripping hougaard a new one on the wing, elke dag!
12 Oct 2012, 11:28 am
@Transformation-68:
Yep, he’s a very good 13.
His pace is not what it used to be (injury does that to some players). So 13 fits him well.
Any news on his transfer movements?
12 Oct 2012, 11:29 am
@John Galt-67: where are you looking from John?
i dived sheffield last sat morning, only a few bronzies about. straight out in front of the stairs.
12 Oct 2012, 11:31 am
@rangerman-73:
Haha, that was probably you I checked then.
From my office on the Berea.
Basically looking directly over Pirates.
12 Oct 2012, 11:31 am
@rangerman-63: you blame mapoe meanwhile it was the sharks that induced him by suggesting there were loopholes in his contract hoping they can poach him like they did the mercenaries alberts and ludik…
12 Oct 2012, 11:31 am
@John Galt-51:
Brian O’Driscoll 1.78m, 93 kg.
12 Oct 2012, 11:32 am
Looks like Sharks will be playing another game in the rain…
Jeez have not seen so much rain as we have had in the last 4 weeks.
12 Oct 2012, 11:32 am
@londonshark-69: Ja after JPP he’s wing no 3 for me.
I would have given him game time this year for sure. he has the pace and defence that could have helped shut down some of the All Back back 3 moves.
12 Oct 2012, 11:32 am
@Transformation-68: he is playing great rugby at 13 agreed.
@londonshark-69: debatable bud. i rate himm as a player but i dont see him getting a long term run.
@charo-70: haha shot charo but i want to get a snoek or some return garrick bud. got a 19 kg whopper last month at sheffield.
@Transformation-71: and thats the problem, his pace is seemingly not ever going to be the same so he must be given a run at 13 but i rate rhule at 13 too.
12 Oct 2012, 11:33 am
@londonshark-72: with sadie going to the cheetahs, i think he is bulle bound…he can force his way past engelbrecht if he keeps his current vein of form…
12 Oct 2012, 11:34 am
@Transformation-75:
WP tried to poach him first, then signed Vermeulen after the Lions Alberts wouldn’t move.
12 Oct 2012, 11:34 am
every one will look good in a Currie Cup where top 30 boks aren’t playing … it all starts tonight & tomorrow ….. JDJ & JDV will kill mapoe next weekend … same way Shadow & Partners will kill Rhule 2morrow
12 Oct 2012, 11:35 am
@londonshark-66: yes certainly for most of it, which would mean a shortened Super Comp.
That’s why i would shorten the Super comp, or make it a 2 group comp, say 14 teams with 7 in a pool, the top 2 playing off, a total of 8 games if you win.
Pools to be decided through rankings in the previous year’s comp or something like that .
Bobs your uncle.
12 Oct 2012, 11:38 am
@rangerman-63: Mapoe is the real deal at outside centre. And I really like the look of Rhule, Jordaan and that Serfontein bloke at the Bulls.
12 Oct 2012, 11:38 am
@rangerman-79:
Yeah look, doesn’t help he’s 29 either. The pace is still there, but maybe not quite what it was (Jordaan smoked him in the Currie Cup).
12 Oct 2012, 11:40 am
@John Galt-74: ja it probably was haha, thats one of my spots.
anyways, i am out guys have a goodie.
12 Oct 2012, 11:41 am
@stormersboy-83:
Lol, boet, wishful thinking.
Rugby in SA reminds me of fat people and diets.
We all know how to sort SA rugby out (like fat people know not to eat so much), but we keep on doing it through longer and longer comps (and fat people through pies).
12 Oct 2012, 11:42 am
@katman-84: Mapoe has been playing some terrific rugby at 13 then so has Jordaan. Both should be on the eoyt. I would like Rhule to stay on the wing. Imagine Rhule and JPP as wings for the Boks? At some stage think we will see them both on the field. Though Habs has been great this year.
12 Oct 2012, 11:43 am
@Transformation-75: @David-81: haha transie david just handed you your gat you chancer.
now pul;l on your big boy pants and pick up your lip ok?
12 Oct 2012, 11:44 am
tjorts guys.
12 Oct 2012, 11:44 am
@Transformation-64: Yeah, OK, but only cos it’s Friday!
But who knows what next week will bring…
12 Oct 2012, 11:54 am
@rangerman-61:
Get a job man!
Chrissakes.
12 Oct 2012, 12:13 pm
@rangerman-65: Aplon much better all-round game than Mvovo and Hougie and a better openfield runner than all of them. Probably the best kicker of the lot as well.
12 Oct 2012, 12:15 pm
@londonshark-72: One of the more consistent ito of breaking the first tackle. Has the skills to capitalise on those half breaks as well.
12 Oct 2012, 12:17 pm
@Puma-88: I think Jordaan needs another year. His game’s not rounded enough for international rugby yet. Same applies for Serfontein.
12 Oct 2012, 12:22 pm
@rangerman-89: do you know who david is talking about or you’re just piggy backing on his comment cos you’re clueless?
12 Oct 2012, 12:25 pm
@BrumbiesBoy-91: ja, just don’t lie to us hey
12 Oct 2012, 12:31 pm
@Transformation-97: I won’t, don’t worry…luckily I didn’t go to that school!
12 Oct 2012, 12:41 pm
@foxpox-14: It should make all Honest Rugby Supporters livid…
The Kings are nothing more than SA Rugby’s version of a Bantustan… An artificial construct, farken stench of corruption everywhere and a creation of convenience that enables the powers that be to say that they are “doing” something for “transformation” or development…
The Kings – A Bantustan of a S15 franchise under their own Paramount Chief, Kaizer MaCheeky…
12 Oct 2012, 13:39 pm
@Heavens Game-99:
He he he…you don’t mince your words.
I am pleased to have big rugby back in the area for one thing. The cost is however a concern. And I don’t mean financial only. SARU have bent the knee before the political pressure before, but this time they did it not at the expense of one or two individuals. This time a local union and its supporters have been screwed. I am concerned about the message this sends out to prospective sponsors. We are in a professional era in rugby, but everything that makes business sense is shoved to one side to gain political browny points. This is going to come back and bite SARU in the sensitive flesh
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