Currie Cup Preview – Week 2

The ABSA Currie Cup enters its second week with the Valke facing the Free State Cheetahs in Brakpan on Friday.

Full fixture list and broadcast times for this week’s round:

Friday June 29: Valke vs Free State Cheetahs – Brakpan, 7.10pm
Broadcast: 18:55 – 21:00 CSN/SS1 (Supersport) – LIVE

Saturday June 30: Griquas vs Blue Bulls – Absa Park, Kimberley, 3pm
Broadcast: 14:45 – 17:00 MNET/SS1 (Supersport) – LIVE

Saturday June 30: Golden Lions vs Sharks – Ellis Park, 5.05pm
Broadcast: 17:00 – 19:00 MNET/SS1 (Supersport) – LIVE

Saturday June 30: Boland vs Western Province – Boland , 10am
Broadcast: 19:00 – 21:00 SS1 (Supersport)

Game Previews:

Valke vs Free State Cheetahs

The Valke displayed plenty of guts last week in going down to the Blue Bulls. They will need plenty more this week when they face a rampant Free State Cheetahs outfit, fresh from their 91-3 drubbing of Boland.

Free State Cheetahs:
Philip Burger, Eddie Fredericks, Alwyn Hollenbach, Meyer Bosman, Gavin Passens, Willem de Waal, Falie Oelschig, Darron Nell, Duanne Vermeulen, Heinrich Brassow, Corniel van Zyl, Rory Duncan (c), Kobus Calldo, Richardt Strauss, Wian du Preez.
Replacements: Hercules Liebenberg, Ollie le Roux, David de Villiers, Ryno van der Merwe, Jonathan Mokuena, Jandre Blom, JW Jonker.

Falcons:
15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Mark Harris,13 Bertus Swanepoel, 12 Willem Slabbert, 11 Mpho Matsaung, 10 Len Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Michael Vermaak, 7 Callie Wannenburg, 6 Piet Krause (captain), 5 Nico Luus 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 Phillip Lemmer, 2 David Brits, 1 Gavin Whittingham
Replacements: 16 Zane Killian, 17 Gunder Williamson, 18 Hein Potgieter, 19 Marius Coetzer, 20 Morné Adams, 21 Jacques Schutte, 22 Sam Willard

Griquas vs Blue Bulls

The Blue Bulls were made to work for their victory against a gutsy Valke last week. Griquas play their opening game of the tournament.

Griquas:
15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Baldwin McBean, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Danie de Beer, 11 Tiger Mangweni, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Tertius Carse, 8 Frans Viljoen, 7 Gareth Krause (c), 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Brendon Snyman, 4 Ockie van Zyl, 3 Eugene van Staden, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 Regardt Dreyer
Replacements: 16 Louwtjie Louw, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Cilliers Coetzer, 19 Wayne van Heerden, 20 Tobie Botes, 21 MJ Mentz, 22 Lafras Uys

Blue Bulls:
15 Johan Roets, 14 John Mametsa, 13 JP Nel, 12 Dries Scholtz, 11 Marius Delport, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Heinie Adams, 8 Dewald Potgieter, 7 Johan Wasserman (c), 6 Deon Stegman, 5 Hottie Louw, 4 Cliff Milton, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements: 16 James van der Walt, 17 Danie Thiart, 18 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 19 Emile Verster, 20 Neil Powell, 21 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 22 Joey Mongalo.

Golden Lions vs Sharks

The Lions narrowly lost to Western Province last week at Newlands and this week face the Sharks at home. Sharks to edge it.

Golden Lions:
15 Louis Ludik, 14 Tobela Mdaka, 13 Jannie Boshoff, 12 Doppies la Grange, 11 Ryno Benjamin, 10 Jaco van Schalkwyk, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Ernst Joubert (c), 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Geo Cronjé, 4 Anton van Zyl, 3 Brian Mujati, 2 Willie Wepener, 1 Heinke van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Kenny Mackenzie, 17 Gavin Williamson, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Solly Tyibilika, 20 Freddie ‘Straatkat’ van Zyl, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Thabang Molefe.

Sharks:
15 Odwa Ndungane, 14 Howard Noble, 13 Adrian Jacobs, 12 Grant Rees, 11 Henno Mentz, 10 Bradley Barritt, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Ryan Kankowski, 7 AJ Venter (c)/Warren Britz, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes/AJ Venter (c), 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Skipper Badenhorst, 1 Tendai “Beast” Mtawarira.
Replacements: 16 Jody Jenneker, 17 Robbie Harris, 18 Warren Britz / Wouter Moore, 19 Keegan Daniel, 20 Scott Mathie, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Gcobani Bobo

Boland vs Western Province

Boland were thrashed 91-3 by the Free State Cheetahs last Friday and are looking to make amends. Province edged the Lions at Newlands and are without influencial captain Luke Watson this week. Quite frankly, they won’t need him as Boland are in for another hiding.

Boland:
15 Renfred Dazel
14 John Daniels
13 Piet van Zyl
12 Hennie Daniller
11 Jongi Nokwe
10 Isma-eel Dollie
09 JP Jordaan
08 Francis Prinsloo
07 Henley du Plessis
06 Zolani Mofu
05 Coenie Basson
04 Randile Julies
03 Andries Human
02 Conrad Burke (c)
01 Janru van Niekerk.
16 Peter Wium
17 Ruan du Preez
18 Dries van Schalkwyk
19 Chris Potgieter
20 Dewald Duvenhage
21 Lionel Cornelius
22 Justin Peach

Western Province:
15 Conrad Jantjes
14 Egon Seconds
13 Corne Uys
12 De Wet Barry (C)
11 Dylan Des Fountain
10 Naas Olivier
09 Paul Delport
08 Robbie Diack
07 Gerrie Britz
06 Justin Melck
05 Ross Skeate
04 Francois Van Der Merwe
03 Brok Harris
02 Tiaan Liebenberg
01 JD Moller
16 Schalk Brits
17 Schalk Ferreira
18 Selborne Boome
19 Francois Louw
20 Ashieq Wise
21 Brent Russell
22 Gio Aplon