Preview: Currie Cup, Round Two
In the pick of this weekend's clashes, the Blue Bulls host Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in the latest edition of the ever-fierce North-South tussle.
In the pick of this weekend's Currie Cup clashes, the Blue Bulls host Western Province at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday in the latest edition of the ever-fierce North versus South tussle.
The action kicks off on Friday when the Sharks host Boland in Durban. A big win is a must for the defending champions if they don't want to fall off the pace in the early stages of the competition.
After the disappointment of their opening round loss to Western Province, there is some good news for Sharks fans as all contractual negotiations between the Durban team and Argentinean star Juan Martin Hernandez have been successfully completed.
On Tuesday, Sharks CEO Brian van Zyl confirmed that it was simply paperwork – the arrangement of Hernandez's work permit – that was delaying the rubber stamp from being applied to the contract, but said all would be finalised within a “matter of days”.
Few would have picked the Griquas to be the tournament leaders after week one, but their display in Bloemfontein last week suggests that they will still be at the top of the stack after Round Two.
As the only team to have racked up a four-try bonus point on the opening weekend, another full house is within the Griquas' reach at home to the Leopards.
The other big match of the weekend sees last year's losing semi-finalists meet in Jo'burg with the Lions eager to build on their solid performance last week. The Cheetahs on the other hand will have to up their game if they are to avoid a second straight defeat.
Fixtures:
Friday, July 17
Sharks v Boland Kavaliers
Saturday, July 18
Lions v Free State Cheetahs
Griquas v Leopards
Blue Bulls v Western Province
Standings:
1 Griquas 5
2 Western Province 4 3 Boland Kavaliers 4
4 Blue Bulls 4 5 Lions 1
6 Leopards 07 Free State Cheetahs 0
8 Sharks 0
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Previews:
Sharks v Boland Kavaliers
ABSA Stadium, Durban
The bottom of the table is not exactly where the defending champions would have liked to be placed after Round One, so expect the Sharks to come out charging in their first game in front of their home fans this season.
Coach John Plumtree has made three changes to his starting line-up. With captain Johann Muller ruled out for several weeks with a broken arm and Jannie du Plessis called up to the Springbok Tri-Nations squad, Plumtree has called on veteran Albert van den Berg and up-and-coming Pat Cilliers to fill the vacated lock and tighthead prop positions respectively .
The third and only unforced change sees speedster Lwazi Mvovo replace Luzuko Vulindlu on the wing, with the latter moving to the bench.
The match will provide 19-year-old fly-half Guy Cronje with another opportunity to settle in the fly-half position while the experienced Stefan Terblanche will be hoping to provide a calming influence as he takes over the captaincy reins from the injured Muller.
Earlier this week, Sharks assistant coach Grant Bashford said they were only too aware of the dangers Boland could pose.
“Every week is a massive challenge, some might view it as if we're playing a minnow team this weekend but we're not seeing it like that,” he said.
“We see it as a huge game and we've got everything to play for before facing two really tough matches against the Bulls and Cheetahs.”
Following their 26-18 win over newcomers the Leopards, Kavaliers coach Deon Davids has made only one injury-enforced change to his team. With outside centre Cornal Hendricks ruled out through a back injury, Deon Scholtz shifts from the right wing to outside centre, with utility back Mark Harris coming in at number fourteen.
“We are focused on playing to our strengths and we believe we can compete with anyone on our day if we do that,” said Davids.
“We made a lot of tackles on the weekend but we are coming to Durban to play, it's important that we look after our ball and respect the possession we get.
“We always believe in letting the ball do the work and if we get an opportunity to counter or run the ball we will do that.”
Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (c), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Guy Cronjé, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Nikolai Blignaut, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Luzuko Vulindlu.
Boland Kavaliers: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Mark Harris, 13 Deon Scholtz, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Sogidashe Luvo, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Alwyn Bester, 7 Wendall Wehr, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Rito Hlungwane, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Conrad Burke (c), 1 Janro Van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Lewis Clemin, 17 Jane du Toit, 18 Grant le Roux, 19 Karel Hoffman, 20 Angelo Brinkhuys, 21 Alvin Hugo, 22 Hein Myburgh.
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Joey Salmans
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Lions v Free State Cheetahs
Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
The Lions will take a lot a heart from their narrow loss at Loftus last week. Written off by most before kick-off, the Jo'burg side had the tournament favourites on the ropes in the first half before running out of gas in the second period. The Lions forwards played out of their skins in Pretoria and the home management and their consultant Jake White will expect another show of courage this week.
The Cheetahs will have to make a massive improvement on the disappointing performance that saw them start the season in losing fashion against the Griquas last week. Some below-par place-kicking was aggravated by elementary mistakes as the Cheetahs left points a begging all over the park.
On paper, the Cheetahs seem to have a stronger side, but the Lions should make for tough opponents at Coca-Cola Park. It looks set to be a nail-biter.
Lions coach Hans Coetzee has rewarded the team that so nearly upset the Blue Bulls at Loftus last week, by retaining the starting XV for Saturday's match. Derick Minnie replaces Johan Snyman in the only change on the bench.
Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské has made three changes, all in the backline, to his side for the trip to Johannesburg
Ultra-talented Springbok Sevens and SA U20 star Robert 'Magic' Ebersohn slots in at inside centre for the injured Meyer Bosman while Springbok wing Jongi Nokwe returns to the left wing ahead of another Sevens Bok, Lionel Mapoe.
The Bloemfontein side will also have a new-look half-back combination, with fly-half Jacques-Louis Potgieter pairing up with Tertius Carse, who is selected ahead of Gerrie Odendaal in the final change.
Lions: Earl Rose, Dusty Noble, Alwyn Hollenbach