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

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  • 301.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:41 pm

    @katman-297:

    He’s scared of playing against Dutchmen

    They might moer him till he pukes

  • 302.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:42 pm

    @Transformation-288:
    welcome to the desert of the real…

  • 303.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:42 pm

    @Robzim-266: I didn’t think it fair to mention them, as we are in fact better off without them :)

  • 304.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:42 pm

    Why no score updates for the game ? Too much of a hiding ?

  • 305.katman: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:42 pm

    Ruhle has serious pace. What a runner.

  • 306.gunther: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:42 pm

    @katman-282:

    ja that’s a rookie mistake.

  • 307.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:42 pm

    Baaahaahaaa….Rhule you beauty.

  • 308.RL: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:43 pm

    Bonus point try – Rhule killed them.

  • 309.gunther: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:43 pm

    joh.

    Raymand has wheels.

  • 310.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:43 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-302: Queens wish they had taken the blue pill.

  • 311.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:43 pm

    Never shouted so loud for the Cheetahs….

  • 312.katman: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:44 pm

    @gunther-306: ha ha, this is going to be a long knight.

  • 313.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:44 pm

    @Dusky-304:

    Keo’s pissed, he needs to calculate what a lack of CC revenue is going to do to his h.ooker and coke fund

  • 314.sharks_lover: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:44 pm

    24-0 after 30 min?? if this continues Kings are in for a hiding bar none

  • 315.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:44 pm

    its an ugly chicks old ugly grandmother ugly

  • 316.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:45 pm

    @katman-312:

    > long knight.

    Well endowed knight? :-)

  • 317.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:45 pm

    The poor EP poese…..nobody is going to like them except their own supporters. They will be hated for the rest of time.

  • 318.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:45 pm

    @sharks_lover-314: May it get to a point a minute

  • 319.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:45 pm

    Clint sal doodpoes regtig doodpoes… This is kings c team…. They need depth for super rugby….

  • 320.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:46 pm

    @sharks_lover-314: I wish they would make it 100+ to 0.

    It would be interesting to ask SANZAR what they thought about who had the easiest pool in the Super 15 after this game.

  • 321.stormersboy: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:46 pm

    @victoriabok-287: And Coenie storming through tackles and generally causing mayhem on all comers.

    24 – 0 to the Cheetahs,

    More pain to come i expect.

  • 322.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:47 pm

    @suffer_guy-319: And Cheetahs A-team?

  • 323.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:47 pm

    Dusky…who likes the bulls except their own supporters? Who likes the sharks – except their own supporters? Durban poison weer volop in die dusky familie vanaand

  • 324.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:47 pm

    @suffer_guy-319: Kak man….Kings C team. This is the basis of Eastern Province rugby. They aren’t going to sign 15 quality players before February next year. And by quality players, I dont mean other teams Currie Cup discards….like Katrakilis and co.

  • 325.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:49 pm

    Trupiso didnt say that…. But dont for 1 minute think this is the kings team that will play super rugby

  • 326.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:49 pm

    @suffer_guy-323: True. But in the ‘hate’ division there are fewer. So mostly when you see the Sharks, Bulls, Stormers or Cheetahs playing against international opposition the South Africans will get behind the SA team – mostly.

    In general, the Kings will be hated and I for one will support the Taliban if they formed a team to play against the Kings.

  • 327.katman: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:50 pm

    Next year they’ll have the untold riches of the Bulldogs and the Eagles to add to this bounty. Unstoppable.

  • 328.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:50 pm

    The whole cheetahs teams are now playing for the sharks… So this is cheetahs b team

  • 329.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:50 pm

    @suffer_guy-325: Ag asseblief man…a few Currie Cup discards from the Bulls, Sharks and Stormers is not going to make a Super 15 team. The Kings will get moered even worse than this in Super 15. Plus – do you think this Cheetahs side represents the average quality the Kings will encounter in the Super 15 ? Go smoke some more tik.

  • 330.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:50 pm

    @suffer_guy-325: Neither is this the Cheatahs team thatvwill play SR – then it will be even more of a hiding

  • 331.The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:51 pm

    @Dusky-326: You might be in for as surprise. Many neutral rugby lovers wish the Kings NO harm or ill will at all. The lunatic fringe on the other hand…..

  • 332.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:51 pm

    @Dusky-326:

    Osama Bin Cheeky?

  • 333.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:51 pm

    @suffer_guy-328: Really ? You just demonstrated your lack of knowledge of the game. So – instead of hanging around here. Go sharpen a knife, drink some methylated spirits or smoke a tik pipe.

  • 334.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:52 pm

    @trupisero-310:
    yip :-)

  • 335.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:52 pm

    @Dusky-326: Ja, the taliban is more afraid of little girls with books

  • 336.RL: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:52 pm

    Griquas will moer these entitled white boys from the Kings by +38 points easily.

  • 337.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:52 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-331: Really ? That’s not what I have heard from the guys I have spoken to, representing supporters from most of the other unions. In general what I have heard is that nobody wishes them any well at all which is what I support. I wish the Kings nothing but the absolute worst of luck.

  • 338.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:53 pm

    @trupisero-335: And even they would beat the All Whites from PE.

  • 339.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:53 pm

    @RL-336: Absolutely. What a joke.

  • 340.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:54 pm

    @The Sharks rugby pedigree is packaged as dog food-331: I think its the other way round :)

  • 341.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:54 pm

    transie

    are you watching this

  • 342.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:55 pm

    You just have to follow the play by play commentary on the Cheetahs website to get an idea of the feelings here. In general a union affiliated website will obviously report things in their favour, but you can read between the lines what is being said here. ‘Kings struggling in all facets of the game’

  • 343.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:55 pm

    Wonder if Cheeky is going to place some demands at halftime to keep the score belw 50

  • 344.suffer_guy: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:56 pm

    Imagine how kak the lions must be to be replaced by the kings. :-p

  • 345.katman: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:56 pm

    Gonna have to catch the second half later on PVR. Story time for my boy.

    Go Kings. This is your moment.

  • 346.i_love_u_bakkiesbotha: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:56 pm

    transie

    transie

    hiers groot kak jong

  • 347.victoriabok: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:56 pm

    @i_love_u_bakkiesbotha-341:

    He’s p.issed, how dare the racist Rhule score against his beloved Entitlement Kings?

  • 348.Dusky: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:57 pm

    I am going to have to go buy 13 other Super rugby jerseys now. For each weekend that the Kings play.

  • 349.trupisero: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:58 pm

    Hmmm…rain is coming..sun spiders are pulling in

  • 350.katman: Reply to this comment
    19 Oct 2012, 19:58 pm

    @suffer_guy-344: They didn’t have the luxury of a promotion relegation game, remember. But last time they played it was 80 something nil, wasn’t it?

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