Preview: Currie Cup, Round Four

Currie Cup rugby is into its fourth round this weekend with Western Province set to remain top when the results are all in on Saturday.

Currie Cup rugby moves into its fourth round this weekend with Western Province set to remain top when the results are all in on Saturday.

Allister Coetzee's in-form group continued on their unbeaten start to the season with a comfortable away victory at the Leopards last week – and one would expect them to record nothing less than four points at home to the seventh-placed Pumas.

Chasing the Capetonians right now are the Sharks and Griquas, with the former having themselves the tougher fixture in Bloemfontein while the Kimberley side are in Potchefstroom for what looks like a straightforward 80 minutes.

The Cheetahs, whose last-ditch success over the Blue Bulls was certainly the stand-out clash of Round Three, will be hoping to extend their outstanding record against the Sharks which includes five Free State wins from six games in Bloemfontein.

The other big game of the weekend takes place in Jozi, where the Lions host the Gauteng derby against the defending champions, who have failed to impress this year and will be smarting from an uncharacteristic loss at Loftus.

Fixtures:

Friday, July 30

Leopards v Griquas
Western Province v Pumas

Saturday, July 31

Cheetahs v Sharks
Lions v Blue Bulls

Standings:

1 Western Province 13
2 Sharks 12
3 Griquas 10
4 Free State Cheetahs 9
5 Blue Bulls 7
6 Lions 6
7 Pumas 5
8 Leopards 2
________________________________________________________________________

Previews:

Friday, July 30

Leopards v Griquas

The Griquas are looking good to follow up 2009's strong regular-season after another good start to 2010, with victory expected in Potchefstroom.

Based on recent form, one would expect the Griquas to notch up another win in Potch, but don't bet your house on it. The Leopards have from time to time sprung surprises at home so the visitors will do well to arrive at Olën Park with a measure of caution.

Despite their home advantage, the expected gutsy challenge laid down by the Leopards should fall short of causing an upset against the side led by fly-half Naas Olivier, who once again forms a dangerous half-back partnership with Sarel Pretorius behind a strong srummaging pack.

Griquas coach Dawie Theron made four changes to his line-up that won in Kimberley, including two positional switches. Into the side comes former Emerging Springbok Richard Lawson, who is rewarded for his hard work thus far with a start.

Elsewhere, Leon Karemaker has been ruled out with an ankle injury suffered in that aforementioned 26-20 win over the Lions. Springbok tourist Davon Raubenheimer subsequently moves from flank to eight, with Wesley Wilkins wearing seven for Raubenheimer. Ruan Kitshoff will begin at six.

Bjorn Basson is on the wing while Riaan Viljoen will look to strike whenever possible against the competition's basement side.

There has been good and bad news for the Leopards. First-choice lock Rynard Landman has been ruled out for the rest of the season and needs shoulder surgery.

Full-back Jean Tiedt and loose forward Reginald Kember will also be missing on Friday as they serve one-week bans for dangerous tackles. Good news however is that lock Edrich Linde is fit gain and will start in the second row.

Coach Chaka Willemse gives Danie Dames a go at full-back whilst Christo van Niekerk will fill in for Kember on the bench. Bradley Mockford replaces Linde on the bench.

Prediction: We'll back the Griquas to win, but miss the bonus point.

The teams:

Leopards: 15 Danie Dames, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Dumisane Matyeshana, 10 Niell Jacobs, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Riaan Swanepoel, 7 Palm Koch (c), 6 Danie Crous, 5 Edrich Linde, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Divan Kotzé.
Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Johan Coetzee, 18 Bradley Mockford, 19 Christo van Niekerk, 20 Theo van Wyk, 21 Clayton Durand/Cecil Dumond, 22 Mohammed Samaai.

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Richard Lawson, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier (c), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Davon Raubenheimer, 7 Wesley Wilkins, 6 Ruan Kitshoff, 5 Cecil Kemp, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17 Jean Botha, 18 Michael Passaportis, 19 Gerhard Human, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Matthew Rosslee, 22 Rocco Jansen.

Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off:19:00 (17:00 GMT)
Referee:Jason Jaftha
________________________________________________________________________

Western Province v Pumas

Western Province have roped in Springbok backs Gio Aplon and Juan de Jongh as they look to build on their impressive start to the Currie Cup.

Francois Louw, who was also released by the embattled Boks, has been rested for the only unbeaten team left in the competition after three games.

WP should extend their run at the top of the table at home. The Pumas are lying seventh, coming off a loss last week on the road against the Sharks yet coach Allister Coetzee has named a line-up that possesses both attacking potential and a certain amount of intrigue.

“In a bigger plan we have decided to bring some youngsters through without underestimating the opposition,” said Coetzee.

“There is a plan of development in this province and that's why we have made the changes.”

Coetzee has picked De Jongh at thirteen instead of number twelve where he played for the Stormers, but he said that it had more to do with having the correct balance in the midfield of De Jongh and Paul Bosch than it being a decision on where De Jongh will play in the future.

Unlike the table-topping WP, the Pumas have conceded 97 points including 15 tries during their opening three matches. A strong first half against the Sharks last week would have be noticed around the country however.

Once again the Pumas have made a change at fly-half where Elgar Watts is rotated ahead of Ricardo Croy

The back-line shows one other change from the side that gave the Sharks a real scare last week with Tiaan Marx starting at outside centre ahead of Shaun Venter.

Prop Ronnie Uys has passed his fitness test to make the starting XV, but lock Eduan van der Walt has not recovered from his shoulder injury so Willem Serfontein starts in the second row.

The Pumas have picked five forwards on the bench, including two props as the attempt to face up to the all-conquering WP pack.

Prediction: Pretty simple this one. Another bonus point win for WP!

The teams:

Western Province :15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Gio Aplon, 13 Juan de Jongh, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Frikkie Welsh, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Conrad Hoffmann, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynardt Elstadt, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (c), 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris,