Currie Cup preview (Play-offs)

Currie Cup preview (Play-offs)

19 Oct 2012

GARETH DUNCAN analyses this weekend’s play-offs.

SEMI-FINALS

SHARKS vs BLUE BULLS, DURBAN, SAT 16:30

These two teams have enjoyed the returns of several Springboks, which contributed to their wins last weekend. However, I think John Plumtree’s management of his Test players will be key in what happens at Kings Park.

Plumtree learnt a hard lesson in last year’s final at Ellis Park as his fatigued Boks, who had returned from the World Cup a fortnight before, were rushed into the starting XV and failed to make an impact. The Lions won that title decider 42-16.

However, this year, the Kiwi coach has eased his Test players back into the team and has rewarded the others who made telling contributions to the Sharks’ run to the top of log with starting spots.

The Sharks have the best backline in the competition, and they have an in-form, young halfback pair in Cobus Reinach and Pat Lambie to spearhead them. The hosts also have a strong pack, and the returns of tighthead prop Jannie du Plessis and flank Marcell Coetzee are valuable promotions to the forwards this weekend.

The Bulls have a near-Super Rugby strength side available, but they can’t afford the start they experienced against the Lions. They’re facing the Sharks, who are the best attacking team of the competition and boast the best defensive record.

The Bulls will need to get early momentum, and this will depend heavily on their forwards and the performance of flyhalf Morné Steyn. Considering their poor domestic run this year, it would be a massive achievement.

However, the Sharks should be good enough to restrict the visitors and end their hopes of a fairytale turnaround in this year’s Currie Cup.

FORM
Sharks WWLWLWLWWW
Bulls WLWLLLWLWW

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 (c), 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Marcell Coetzee, 5 Anton Bresler, 4 Jandré Marais, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Kyle Cooper, 1 Dale Chadwick.
Subs: 16 Craig Burden, 17 Tendai Mtawarira, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Steven Sykes/Peet Marais, 20 Willem Alberts, 21 Charl McLeod, 22 Meyer Bosman.

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 (c), 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Morné Mellett.
Subs: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dean Greyling.

Gareth’s prediction: Sharks by 12

GOLDEN LIONS vs WP, JOHANNESBURG, SAT 19:00

Both teams will have fresh memories of the Lions’ 22-9 victory at Newlands a fortnight ago. But this will be a stronger Province team the Johannesburg union will be facing this weekend.

WP cruised to victory against the Cheetahs at home during the last league round, thanks to the return of their seven Springboks. The likes of Tiaan Liebenberg, Andries Bekker, Duane Vermeulen, Bryan Habana, Jean de Villiers and Juan de Jongh added much-needed grunt and bolstered the side.

However, the loss of De Villiers, Liebenberg and Bekker to injury will be telling. I don’t think Marcel Brache and De Kock Steenkamp are good enough to fill the gaps left by the players they’ve replaced. Siyabonga Ntubeni isn’t as imposing as Liebenberg, but he has impressed me during the Currie Cup this season and Allister Coetzee will hope the youngster does a good job on match day.

Province will need their heavies to front their battle as they come up against the strongest pack of the Currie Cup. The Lions rested the likes of JC Janse van Rensburg, Jacobie Adriaanse and Franco van der Merwe last weekend, and will come out firing at Ellis Park.

The strengths of the Lions have been their set-piece execution and their ability to slow down and poach ball at the breakdowns. If they can replicate that form this weekend, they’ll have the platform to beat WP.

Expect both flyhalves to play a vital role with the boot.

FORM
Lions WLWLWWWWLL
WP LWLWWLWLLW

Golden Lions – 15 Andries Coetzee, 14 Ruan Combrinck, 13 Jaco Taute, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 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 (c).
Subs:: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 CJ van der Linde, 18 Hendrik Roodt, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Ross Cronje, 21 Butch James, 22 Deon Helberg.

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 (c), 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Siyabonga Ntubeni, 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Subs: 16 Deon Carstens, 17 Brok Harris, 18 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 19 Jebb Sinclair, 20 Louis Schreuder, 21 Damian de Allende, 22 Joe Pietersen.

Gareth’s prediction: Lions by 5

PROMOTION-RELEGATION PLAY-OFF, 1ST LEG

FREE STATE CHEETAHS vs EP KINGS, BLOEMFONTEIN, FRI 19:10

Usually, Free State would’ve been the easy pick to win this contest.

But losing 13 first-choice players is an injury crisis most teams would struggle with. Their inconsistent form on the domestic stage this season is also a concern. However, they still have a team strong enough to beat the First Division champions at home.

Free State will target the forward battle. The return of flanker Lappies Labuschagne is a major boost for the loose trio, while Adriaan Strauss will be a key feature in the front row. If the hosts gain the ascendancy up front, their dangerous backline will cause some problems for EP.

The Kings have lost five players to injury over the last fortnight, with the big blows being in-form skipper Luke Watson and lock Darron Nell. The men from PE also struggled under pressure against a physical Pumas outfit last weekend, and they’ll face a stronger unit in the Cheetahs, who have some hard men up front.

Free State should win the first leg, but the interesting fixture will be the second play-off in PE next weekend.

FORM
Cheetahs LWWLLLLWWL
EP Kings (First Division) WWWWWDWWWWWWDWWWWW

Cheetahs – 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Nico Scheepers, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Andries Strauss, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Sias Ebersohn, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Phillip van der Walt, 7 Lappies Labuschagne, 6 Hendro Scholtz, 5 Izak van der Merwe, 4 Francois Uys, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Adriaan Strauss (c), 1 Marcel van der Merwe
Subs: 16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Schalk van der Merwe, 18 Carl Wegner, 19 Davon Ruabenheimer, 20 Tewis du Bruyn, 21 Phillip Snyman, 22 Rayno Benjamin.

EP Kings – 15 SP Marais, 14 Paul Perez, 13 Wayne Stevens (c), 12 Shane Gates, 11 Michael Killian 10 Wesley Dunlop, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Cornell Du Preez, 7 Wimpie van der Walt, 6 Devin Oosthuizen, 5 David Bullbring, 4 Reynier Bernardo, 3 Clint Newland, 2 Hannes Franklin, 1 Jaco Engels.
Subs: 16 Frank Herne, 17 Andre Schlechter, 18 Wayne van Heerden, 19 Mpho Mbiyozo, 20 Scott Mathie, 21 George Whitehead, 22 Norman Nelson.

Gareth’s prediction: Free State by 10


485 Comments

Pages: « 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 [10] Show All

  • 451.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:01 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-450: I wish I could have watched the game….I would have loved it !

  • 452.RL: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:02 pm

    Can’t see these entitled read post @trupisero-423: – gaining anything next year from playing with the bog boys – their players will be giving away 5 easy points against every team they play, except the SA teams who will help themselves to 10 points.

    Guppies, Stormers finish 1 and 2 two on the overall log, Bullies finish 4th.

    I’m happy for these team, but sad for my boys cause it was them that took away points from the Guppies. :grin:

  • 453.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:02 pm

    maybe even four or five divisons down.

  • 454.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:03 pm

    @trupisero-447: I support the Stormers you p ussy,but I would rather see PE hosting super rugby games than to see the kuk Lions and their diabolical management team staying on the gravy train.time for somebody else to ride that train…might as well be the kings. :D

  • 455.Transformation: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:04 pm

    @Dusky-448: hahaha we’re in super rugby on merit dusky…the last team, the lions, got relegated as it was supposed to be in 2005. now the Kings have to prepare for next year & target side like the Sharks to get easy points

    :D

  • 456.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:07 pm

    @Dusky-451:
    hehehe
    the kind of fight where you watching some guy getting behoorlik opgefok and you really just want to stop it for his sake but the oke wont let you, because he schemes he’s in it. :grin:

  • 457.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:08 pm

    SOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO WELL DONE CHEETAHSSSSSSSSSSSSS Job done

  • 458.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:08 pm

    some poor guy

  • 459.RL: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:09 pm

    @Transformation-455: delusional much :grin:

  • 460.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:10 pm

    @Transformation-455: BWAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA. OMG

    BWAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA,

    Now thats funny :lol:

    Sharks will slaughter the kings

  • 461.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:10 pm

    @RL-452:
    :grin:

    kiwis gonna b.itch and moan for a rule change because of this.

  • 462.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:13 pm

    anyhoo
    twas fun
    well done cheetahs
    and nice entertaining rugby transie :grin: and good luck for next weeks game.
    i’ll see you boys tomorrow… for the running of the bulls :grin:
    cheers

  • 463.wnbb: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:14 pm

    Dusky getting a hard on at the EP Kings defeat??At least EP is trying to get their butts into the CC unlike Natal that were pushed through the door into the big league.

  • 464.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:22 pm

    @wnbb-463:

    > Dusky getting a hard on at the EP Kings defeat

    Yes, about the same size as the big Free State Mielie they had up their a.sses for the whole game

  • 465.charo: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:29 pm

    @XhosaKid-211:

    haibo..you must be a clever kid.
    knowing so much of what used to happen.

    my teachers must have been useless at things like that.

    because they all drove skedonks

  • 466.Guns: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 21:30 pm

    @Dusky-451: Ja its a bladdy shame! You would think with modern technology you could come home after a long days graft and just watch any recorded game online.

  • 467.nama1: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 01:23 am

    @XhosaKid-211:
    “all that you mentioned and more was happening under Apartheid, its just the reporting that has changed since then.”

    @charo-465:
    “haibo..you must be a clever kid.
    knowing so much of what used to happen.

    my teachers must have been useless at things like that.
    because they all drove skedonks”

    Your response makes no sense at all.

    I mean, you already acknowledged in the past that you grew up very protected and did not really know what happened under Apartheid.

  • 468.nama1: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 01:30 am

    @charo-465:
    Oh yes, you challenged me to a bet a week or two ago, remember?

    Are we still on? What is the stakes? :lol:

  • 469.Predawn: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 08:30 am

    @wnbb-463:

    …and then went on to perfect a style of play that is light years ahead of their nearest rivals in Serf Efriken rugby.

  • 470.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:03 am

    5pm Saturday 20-10-2012…

    BOOM!

  • 471.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:04 am

    WE ARE BLACK…

  • 472.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:05 am

    WE ARE WHITE….

  • 473.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:06 am

    WE ARE…
    WE ARE…

  • 474.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:10 am

    FUCKINGDYNAMITE!!!!

  • 475.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:14 am

    SHARKS FOREVER!

  • 476.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:16 am

    GO YOU GOOD THINGS!

  • 477.katman: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:24 am

    …knee deep in the shite.

  • 478.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:25 am

    Keegan, the Christian Cullen of loosies,

    Followed by HIS team, HIS band of brothers onto the Field of Dreams, Kings Park…

    FOR

    “We few, we happy few, we band of brothers. For he today that sheds his blood with me shall be my brother”

    They will follow him to the River Styx and back again… They will shed blood for him, and the fellow gladiator next to them…

    Why?

    For they are the Sharks…

    AND He is their LEADER…

  • 479.londonshark: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:31 am

    @nama1-467:

    Nama, just ignore idiots like him (and Saffer_guy). They both morons.

  • 480.londonshark: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:31 am

    @Heavens Game-478:

    “goosebumps”

  • 481.Fern: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:39 am

    @Heavens Game-478:
    preach it brother

  • 482.katman: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:41 am

    @londonshark-480: Or as some of our rocky brethren are prone to saying, “chickenpox”.

  • 483.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 11:54 am

    Cause we made a promise we swore we’d always remember
    No retreat, Sharkies, no surrender
    Blood brothers in the stormy night
    With a vow to defend
    No retreat, Sharkies, no surrender…

  • 484.Heavens Game: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 12:03 pm

    Patrick – the ‘fullback’… “can’t kick, can’t play”

    Keegan – ‘too small’… ” Horses for courses – if this was Australia, he would be playing”

    GO YOU FARKEN GOOD THINGS…

    PROVE THEM WRONG… AGAIN!!!

  • 485.OCO: Reply to this comment
    20 Oct 2012, 13:48 pm

    GO SHARKS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
    I’ll be somewhere overhead between Guangzhou and Qatar when the match is played so fellow Sharkies please cheer on THE TEAM for me.

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