Preview: Currie Cup Round Six
The Lions' unbeaten Currie Cup status will face a stern test when they come up against Western Province in Cape Town on Friday.
The Golden Lions' unbeaten Currie Cup status will face a stern test when they come up against Western Province in Cape Town on Friday.
The Johannesburg-based team's fine start to the season has been somewhat of a surprise, and playing WP in front of a passionate Newlands crowd could be their toughest task yet.
Although they lost to the Sharks last the weekend, WP were no pushovers in that clash, and if the Lions want to maintain their unbeaten record, they will have to give their best performance of the season.
WP hold a slight psychological edge over their opponents. The Lions have not won a Currie Cup encounter at Newlands since 2004 when they triumphed 35-26.
However, in the last match between these teams the boys from Johannesburg upset WP at Coca-Cola Park last year when they won 46-28, a result which played a big part in WP surrendering the top spot on the table to the Sharks in the closing stages of the tournament.
The Blue Bulls and Griquas get this round's action underway at Loftus Versfeld on Friday.
The defending champions, the Sharks, host the Leopards at Kings Park in Durban and in the weekend's final match, the Free State Cheetahs face the Pumas in Bloemfontein on Saturday.
Friday, 19 August
Blue Bulls v Griquas
Western Province v Golden Lions
Sharks v Leopards
Saturday, 20 August
Free State Cheetahs v Pumas
Standings:
1. Golden Lions 22
2. Sharks 18
3. Griquas 17
4. Western Province 14
5. Cheetahs 12
6. Blue Bulls 8
7. Pumas 5
8. Leopards 5
Previews:
Blue Bulls v Griquas
Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
The Blue Bulls face a tricky assignment when they host a highly-motivated Griquas team on Friday. Despite winning their last game against the Pumas, the Bulls never looked like they were in control of that match, despite fielding 10 Springboks in their starting line-up.
The 2009 champions suffered a blow when Bok flankers Deon Stegmann and Dewald Potgieter were ruled out through injury. This means that Griquas will fancy their chances of pulling off a shock win even more.
Despite that setback, the hosts can still rely on the services of experienced campaigners like captain Gary Botha, Wynand Olivier, Akona Ndungane and Flip van der Merwe.
However, they will have to improve considerably if they want to beat Griquas, who are currently in third spot on the table.
The Kimberley-based side have been boosted with the return from injury of their first-choice scrum-half Sarel Pretorius.
Although it will be his first appearance in this year's Currie Cup, Pretorius, who will play for the Waratahs in next year's Super Rugby competition, is considered by many experts to be unlucky not be in the Springbok squad.
If Pretorius clicks with his fly-half Earl Rose, it could be a difficult match for the home side.
Prediction:Despite playing at home and returning to their winning ways, the Bulls are not the dominant force of previous seasons. Griquas' attacking style of play will prove a handful. Griquas by five!
The teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Jurgen Visser, 14 Akona Ndungane, 13 Zane Kirchner, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Louis Fouché, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 CJ Stander, 7 Warwick Tecklenburg, 6 Arno Botha, 5 Juandré Kruger, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (c), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Chiliboy Ralepelle, 17 Rossouw de Klerk, 18 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 19 Jono Ross, 20 Dustin Jinka, 21 Marnitz Boshoff, 22 Francois Venter.
Griquas: 15 Monty Dumond, 14 Riaan Viljoen, 13 Jean Stemmet, 12 Matthew Rosslee, 11 Dusty Noble, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Jonathan Mokuena (c), 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Justin Downey, 5 Martin Muller, 4 Hendrik Roodt, 3 Lourens Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Jean Botha.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Ivann Espag, 18 Frikkie Spies, 19 Marnus Schoeman, 20 Marnus Hugo, 21 Barry Geel, 22 Wilmaure Louw.
Kick-off:17:05 (15:05 GMT)
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Western Province v Golden Lions
Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
This clash will be the closest contest of the weekend. The Lions' position at the top of the table means they will be approach this match with lots of confidence.
Their decision to play the expansive game has paid off but playing WP at Newlands will be no easy task.
Despite losing at home to the Sharks last week, the Cape-side's youngsters showed in that match that they can compete against a more experienced side.
In that clash, WP fly-half Demetri Catrakilis impressed against French international Fredric Michalak,and he will be keen on build on that performance.
His battle with Lions pivot Elton Jantjies will have a huge bearing on this fixture's outcome. Jantjies was one of his team's best players in their victory over the Free State Cheetahs last the weekend.
Another Lions player to keep an eye on, is their captain and number eight Josh Strauss. He works tirelessly in the tight-loose and also impresses on defence.
For WP, the performance of their flanker Pieter Louw, who makes his first start since returning from a knee injury, will be closely monitored.
Louw is one of the most under-rated flankers in South Africa and his return will boost WP's chances of victory.
Prediction:Although the Lions are on a high, they will come crashing down this weekend. It will be close though. WP by three!
The teams:
Western Province: 15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Danie Poolman, 13 Johann Sadie, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 JJ Engelbrecht, 10 Demetri Catrakilis, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Nick Koster, 7 Siya Kolisi, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 De Kock Steenkamp, 4 Hilton Lobberts, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie (c), 1 Steven Kitshoff.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 Frans Malherbe, 18 Quinn Roux, 19 Nick Fenton-Wells, 20 Nic Groom, 21 Juan de Jongh, 22 Gio Aplon.
Golden Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (c), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jannie Boshoff.
Kick-off:19:00 (17:00 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
Sharks v Leopards
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Although the Sharks have rested several of their first-choice players, they should pick up maximum points in this match.
The Sharks are handily placed in second position on the table, and if the