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Preview: Currie Cup, Round Nine, Part One

Thursday 21st August 2008

Cat fight: The Lions host the Cheetahs on Friday

There are only two Currie Cup games this week, but the first of them is set to be one of the best of the season as the defending champions head to Jo'burg on Friday.

After a wobbly start to the season, the Lions are riding the crest of the form wave after beating tournament favourites the Blue Bulls at Loftus in their last outing.

With the hosts just one point behind the Free State Cheetahs, the winners of the encounter at Coca-Cola stadium will go top of the table and the result will go a long way to determine who will have a home semi-final come October.

Saturday's game is a battle at the other end of the table. The Falcons and the Griquas are tied on 13 points and scored three tries apiece the last time they met - when the Falcons recorded their first ever Currie Cup Premier Division win. This weekend's match in Kimberley promises to be just as close.

Fixtures:

Friday August 22
Lions v Free State Cheetahs

Saturday August 23
Griquas v Falcons

Currie Cup Table

1 Blue Bulls 29
2 Sharks 28
3 Cheetahs 27
4 Lions 26
5 Western Province 17
6 Falcons 13
7 Kavaliers 13
8 Griquas 9

Previews:

Lions v Free State Cheetahs
Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg

The Cheetahs have come out on top in both the teams' last two encounters, 20-18 in the 2007 Final and 22-18 in Bloemfontein earlier this year. In fact, the Lions have not beaten the Bloemfonteiners since September 2006.

The Lions however will be confident that they have the better form at the moment. At home in Johannesburg, they will be tough to beat.

Wins over Western Province and the Blue Bulls in their last two outings mean that a third-in-a-row will open the door to a home semi-final for Eugene Eloff's men. Their loose-forward combination is one of the best in the country and their backs finally seem to be gaining the confidence needed to round off their heavier colleagues' hard work.

That said, the visitors on Saturday have not won the last three Currie Cup titles by accident and the return to action of captain Hendro Scholtz has had an immediate impact on their game. The Vermeulen-Floors-Scholtz loose trio is not to be scoffed at either - expect an epic battle at the break down.

The midfield partnership of Meyer Bosman and Robert Ebersohn has potential to grow into the best the Free State has ever seen, so the crowd should be in an entertaining evening.

The game is set to be a clash of opposing styles. The Lions have scored 26 tries in eight matches (second only to the Bulls) while the Cheetahs have the best defensive record in the competition. The difference could well be made up front were both teams pride themselves on having dominant packs.

Lions coach Eloff has kept the starting XV that upset their northern neighbours intact. The only change to the matchday 22 is on the bench, where Ross Geldenhuys takes over from Gert Muller to provide front row cover.

Continuity has been the name of the game for Eloff in recent weeks and with the Lions gaining momentum as the competition goes on, it's easy to understand why.

The inclusion of SA U20 and Sevens sensation Wilton Pietersen on the wing is the only change to Naka Drotsk�'s Cheetahs starting XV.

Pietersen takes over the number fourteen jersey from veteran Eddie Fredericks, who is stuck on 96 games for the Cheetahs. With the kind of talent that Pietersen has displayed, Fredericks might have to rely on injuries to his colleagues if he is to reach his ton any time soon.

Pietersen's promotion has left room for one other change to the Free Staters' matchday 22, with Jacques-Louis Potgieter joining the replacements.

Replacement lock Flip van der Merwe faces a fitness test later this week to check on an injured leg muscle. If he is not ready to play, Nico Breedt, who recently returned from French club Toulon, will win his first call-up this season.

Predication: Lions by 5.

Lions: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 Michael Killian, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Rayno Benjamin, 10 Earl Rose, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Gerhard Mostert, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Lawrence Sephaka, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Ethienne Reynecke, 17 Ross Geldenhuys, 18 Ernst Joubert, 19 Justin Wheeler, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Jaco van Schalkwyk.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Bevin Fortuin, 14 Wilton Pietersen, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Meyer Bosman, 11 Fabian Juries, 10 Chris Rossouw, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Kabamba Floors, 6 Hendro Scholtz (c), 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 David de Villiers, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richard Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Riaan Kruger, 17 Phillip Lemmer, 18 Flip van der Merwe/Nico Breedt, 19 Schalk van der Merwe, 20 Neil Powell, 21 JW Jonker, 22 Jacques-Louis Potgieter.

Date: Friday, August 22
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19.10 (17.10 GMT)
Referee: Marius Jonker
Touch judges: Francois Veldsman, Peet Badenhorst
TMO: Michael Cupido

Saturday, August 23

Griquas v Falcons
Absa Park, Kimberley

The Falcons have one of the tournament's best try-scoring records, having dotted down more often than the Sharks, the Cheetahs and Western Province. Their defensive performance, however, has been absolutely woeful - conceding an average of five tries per game.

The Griquas would have taken heart from their performance in Pretoria last week. Despite losing to the Blue Bulls, the team from Kimberley gave their hosts a real run for their money, in the first half especially.

The Falcons coach Rudy Joubert has continued to chop and change his starting XV and heads to Kimberly with a new half-back combination.

While some of the changes this week have been forced by injury, the continual shuffling of Falcons line-up this season has not allowed for much continuity. Considering the expansive gameplan employed by the Brakpan side, it can't be easy for the players to always find themselves playing in different combinations.

Centre turned full-back Johan Jackson and flanker Reg Muller both have hamstring injuries and will not be on the flight to the Northern Cape.

However, regular fly-half Len Olivier is back in the mix and will be partnered by Poerie van Rooyen, who starts his first Currie Cup game at scrum-half.

Van Rooyen replaces Gerrie Odendaal. Jackson, who played two games at outside centre and one at full-back, will be replaced by the speedy Nicky Kritzinger against the Griquas.

Amongst the forwards, Joubert has opted for the physical Emile Verster to replace Muller.

The coach had to wait until Wednesday to finalise his team after Warren Perkins suffered a shoulder injury in a collision with lock Lungelo Payi at training on Tuesday. The openside flank is the only remaining Perkins brother in the match 22.

Joubert has opted for a 5-2 bench, with converted winger Dean Okkers in the squad as the replacement loose-forward. He might well have to cover the wing position as well.

Loosehead prop Rassie van Vuuren has retained place after a sterling performance against Boland, as has Jody Jeneker.

Meanwhile, inside centre Herkie Kruger and number eight Heinrich Stride return to the Griquas starting line-up. Kruger returns after an injury-enforced break while Stride was rested for last Friday's match against the Blue Bulls.

Also returning to the home team's starting line-up are the half-back combination of fly-half Conrad Barnard and scrum-half Sarel Pretorius. Lock Brendon Snyman replaces Cilliers Coetzer who is continuing his rugby-playing career in France.

Stride's return means skipper Gareth Krause will play his 91st match for Griquas in the number six jersey.

With right-wing Gavin Passens having sustained a knee injury, Bjorn Basson has been moved from full-back to replace him with Riaan Viljoen moving from the mid-field to wear the number fifteen jersey.

After a lengthy injury lay-off centre Barry Geel makes a welcome return having been named among the replacements.

Prediction: Griquas by seven.

Falcons: 15 Nicky Kritzinger, 14 Dewald Pretorius, 13 Rouan Cloete, 12 Hanno Coetzee (captain), 11 Ernie Kruger, 10 Len Olivier, 9 Poerie van Rooyen, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Emile Verster, 6 Warren Perkins, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Wouter Moore, 3 Nico Pretorius, 2 Jody Jeneker, 1 Rassie van Vuuren.
Replacements: 16 Frik Venter, 17 Rayno Barnes, 18 Ruhan van Jaarsveld, 19 Doepie du Preez, 20 Dean Okkers, 21 Gerrie Odendaal, 22 Mpho Matsaung.

Griquas: 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Bjorn Basson, 13 Lafras Uys, 12 Herkie Kruger, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Heinrich Stride, 7 Stephan Gerber, 6 Gareth Krause (c), 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Wayne van Heerden, 3 Ruaan du Preez, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Jacques Lombaard, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Dougie Helmuth, 21 Barry Geel, 22 Egon Seconds.

Date: Saturday, August 23
Venue: Absa Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan
Touch judges: Lourens van der Merwe, Archie Sehlako