Currie Cup Preview – Week 3

The Currie Cup enters its third week with the big clashes shaping up to be the Sharks vs WP today, and Bulls vs Lions tomorrow.

Week 3 Currie Cup Fixtures:

Friday 06 July: Valke v Boland – Brakpan, 19.00
Friday 06 July: Sharks v WP, Durban, 19.10
Saturday 07 July: Free State Cheetahs v Griquas, Bloemfontein, 15.00
Saturday 07 July: Blue Bulls v Golden Lions, Pretoria, 17.05

Currie Cup Broadcast Details:

Friday 06 July:

South Africa TV – SuperSport
18:55 SA – SS1: Currie Cup: Sharks v WP – LIVE

USA Web TV – Mediazone (http://www.mediazone.com)
13:00 ET – Currie Cup: Sharks v WP   

Saturday 07 July 2007:

South Africa TV – SuperSport
14:45 SA – MNET/SS1: Currie Cup: Cheetahs v Griquas – LIVE
17:00 SA – MNET/SS1: Currie Cup: Blue Bulls v Golden Lions – LIVE

Web Radio – RSG Afrikaans (http://www.rsg.co.za)
15:00 SA – Curriebeker: Vrystaat Cheetahs vs Griekwas – LEWENDIG
17:00 SA -  Curriebeker: Blou Bulle vs Gauteng Lions – LEWENDIG

USA Web TV – Mediazone (http://www.mediazone.com)
09:00 ET – Currie Cup: Cheetahs v Griquas
11:05 ET – Currie Cup: Blue Bulls v Lions

United Kingdom TV – SKY Sports
14:00 UK – SSX: Currie Cup: Cheetahs v Griquas – LIVE
16:00 UK – SSX: Currie Cup: Blue Bulls v Golden Lions – LIVE

Game Previews:

Friday 06 July: Valke v Boland – Brakpan, 19.00 SA

The Boland Cavaliers are fresh off a morale-boosting victory over Western Province. They face a Valke side yet to post a win in this year’s competition despite playing some gutsy rugby.

Prediction: Valke by 10

Team sheets:

Falcons:
15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Willem Slabbert,13 Bertus Swanepoel, 12 Hanno Coetzee, 11 Mpho Matsaung, 10 Len Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Michael Vermaak, 7 Jacques Nieuwenhuis, 6 Piet Krause (captain), 5 Nico Luus, 4 Dewald Senekal, 3 Phillip Lemmer, 2 David Brits, 1 Gunder Williamson.
Replacements:
16 Rayno Barnes, 17 Jaco Louw, 18 Hein Potgieter, 19 Westley Kew, 20 Morné Adams, 21 Jacques Schutte, 22 Akuila Nawecagi

Boland:
15 Renfred Dazel, 14 John Daniels, 13 Therlow Pietersen, 12 Hennie Daniller, 11 Jongikhaya Nokwe, 10 Isma-eel Dollie, 9 JP Joubert, 8 Francios Prinsloo, 7 Henley du Plessis (c), 6 Angelo Brinkhuys, 5 Coenie Basson, 4 Dries van Schalkwyk, 3 Andries Human, 2 Pieter Wium,1 Janro van Niekerk.
Replacements:
16 Conrad Burke, 17 Tommy Dixon, 18 Randile Julies,19 Chris Potgieter, 20 Dewald Duvenhage, 21 Lionel Cornelius, 22 Justin Peach.

Referee: Willie Roos

Friday 06 July: Sharks v WP, Durban, 19.10 SA

After suffering upset defeats last weekend, the Sharks and Western Province both have a point to prove. Province have hinted at their intention to take the Sharks on in the forwards – a strategy which could prove costly for the Cape Town powder-puffs.

Prediction: Sharks by 10

Team sheets:

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

Western Province:
15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Joe Pietersen, 13 Corne Uys, 12 De Wet Barry, 11 Brent Russell, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Paul Delport, 8 Justin Melck, 7 Francois Louw, 6 Luke Watson (c), 5 Gerrie Britz, 4 Ross Skeate, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Schalk Brits, 1 Schalk Ferreira.
Replacements:
16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 JD Moller, 18 Selborne Boome, 19 Robbie Diack, 20 Francois Hougaard, 21 Morgan Newman, 22 Gio Aplon.

Referee: Jonathan Kaplan

Saturday 07 July: Free State Cheetahs v Griquas, Bloem, 15.00 SA

The Cheetahs under Naka Drotske have had a great start to the season and will look to build the momentum at home on Saturday. Griquas are definitely an easier prospect when not playing in Kimberley.

Prediction: Cheetahs by 20

Team sheets:

Free State Cheetahs:
15 Philip Burger, 14 Giscard Pieters, 13 Marius Joubert, 12 Hendrik Meyer, 11 Gavin Passens, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Falie Oelschig, 8 Jonathan Mokuena, 7 Duanne Vermeulen, 6 Heinrich Brüssow, 5 Corniel van Zyl, 4 Rory Duncan, 3 Kobus Calldo, 2 Richardt Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements:
16 Hercu Liebenberg, 17 Ollie le Roux, 18 David de Villiers, 19 Darron Nell, 20 Tewis de Bruyn, 21 Meyer Bosman, 22 Alwyn Hollenbach.

Griquas:
15 Zane Kirchener, 14 Baldwin McBean, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 Danie de Beer, 11 MJ Mentz, 10 Conrad Barnard, 9 Tobie Botes, 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/Evan Botha, 19 Wayne van Heerden, 20 Eben Olivier, 21 Tiger Mangweni/Darryl Coeries, 22 Lafras Uys.

Referee: JC Fortuin

Saturday 07 July: Blue Bulls v Golden Lions, Pretoria, 17.05 SA

This traditional derby will be hard fought with the Lions fresh off a victory over the Sharks and the Bulls struggling early on in the season with form and injuries.

Prediction: Lions by 5

Team sheets:

Blue Bulls:
15 Johan Roets, 14 John Mametsa, 13 JP Nel, 12 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 11 Marius Delport, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Neil Powell, 8 Dewald Potgieter, 7 Johan Wasserman (c), 6 Hottie Louw, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Cliff Milton, 3 Rayno Gerber, 2 Derick Kuün, 1 Jaco Engels.
Replacements:
16 James van der Walt, 17 Richard Bands, 18 Werner Kruger, 19 Deon Stegman, 20 Gerrie Odendaal, 21 Stefan Basson, 22 Trompie Nontshinga

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 Kenny Mackenzie.
Replacements:
16 JC Janse van Rensburg, 17 Gavin Williamson, 18 Franco van der Merwe, 19 Solly Tyibilika, 20 Freddie van Zyl, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 Wylie Human.

Referee: Mark Lawrence.