GROOT Currie Cup Preview – Week 6

Round six of the Currie Cup begins on Friday, with the Valke at home to the Golden Lions in Brakpan. On Saturday the Free State Cheetahs host Western Province, Griquas play Boland in Kimberley and the Shark Tank sees home team The Sharks take on The Blue Bulls.

Currie Cup Week 6 Fixtures:

Fri 27 July 18:55 SA – Valke v Lions (Brakpan)
Sat 28 July 14:45 SA – Cheetahs v WP (Bloemfontein)
Sat 28 July 15:00 SA – Griquas v Boland (Kimberley)
Sat 28 July 17:00 SA – Sharks v Blue Bulls (Durban)

Currie Cup Table after Week 5:

[TABLE=12]

Currie Cup  Week 6 Broadcast Schedule:

Friday 27 July 2007

South Africa TV – SuperSport
18:55 SA – CSN/SS1: Currie Cup: Valke v Lions – LIVE

USA Web TV – Mediazone
http://www.mediazone.com
13:10 ET – Currie Cup: Valke v Lions
 
Saturday 28 July 2007

South Africa TV – SuperSport
14:45 SA – MNET/SS1: Currie Cup: Cheetahs v WP – LIVE
15:00 SA – SS7: Currie Cup: Griquas v Boland – LIVE
17:00 SA – MNET/SS1: Currie Cup: Sharks v Blue Bulls – LIVE
19:00 SA – CSN/SS1: Currie Cup Griquas v Boland  – Repeat

Web Radio – Radio Sonder Grense – Afrikaans
http://www.rsg.co.za
17:00 SA – Curriebeker: Die Haaie v Die Blou Bulle – REGSTREEKS

USA Web TV – Mediazone
http://www.mediazone.com
09:00 ET – Currie Cup: Cheetahs v WP
11:00 ET – Currie Cup: Sharks v Blue Bulls

Currie Cup Round 6 Fixtures:

Fri 27 July 18:55 SA – Valke v Lions (Brakpan)

Both teams have struggled in the early part of the season with the Falcons yet to record a victory and the Lions boasting just one win. Lions coach Loffie Eloff is frustrated, but has earmarked this game as the beginning of a Lions resurgence.

“The four big unions have now been played, and we’ve won one of these,” said the Lions coach.

“However, this is not good enough for me, or the supporters, who take such pride in us winning. Victory shouldn’t be too hard, but at this stage I’m not focusing on them, or their team, but rather on us. We need to get a rhythm and get our structures in place. Victory is non-negotiable for us this weekend,” said Eloff.

With the talent at their disposal the Lions should win this one. However, it’s never easy playing the Valke on the hostile moonscape that passes for a rugby field in Brakpan.

Prediction: Lions by 15

Match details:
Date: Friday 27 July 2007
Venue: Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
Kick-off: 19.10 SA
Referee: Brett Bowden (Australia)
Touch judges: Phillip Bosch (SARU), Gert Stander (Golden Lions)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (Eastern Province)

Teamsheets:

Valke:
15. Frederick Viljoen
14. Ratu Nawerecagi
13. Bertus Swanepoel
12. Hanno Coetzee
11. Mpho Matsaung
10. Leonard Olivier
09. Sarel Pretorius
08. Sean Plaatjies
07. Schalk van der Merwe
06. Piet Krause (Captain)
05. Nico Luus
04. Marius Coetzer
03. Philip Lemmer
02. Ryno Barnes
01. Gavin Whittingham

Replacements: 16. Gunder Williamson, 17. David Britz, 18. Mox Mxoli, 19. Hein Potgieter, 20. Morne Manesty Adams, 21. Albert De Villiers Keuris, 22. Carl Willem Wannenburg

Golden Lions:
15. Louis Ludik
14. Wylie Human
13. Jan Hendrik Boshoff
12. Doppies la Grange
11. Ryno Benjamin
10. Louis Strydom
09. Jano Vermaak
08. Jacques Cronje
07. Leo Koch
06. Cobus Grobbelaar (Captain)
05. Franco van der Merwe
04. Anton van Zyl
03. Bertus Smit
02. Willie Wepener
01. Heinke van der Merwe

Replacements: 16. Ethienne Reynecke, 17. Brian Mujati, 18. Cobus Grobler, 19. Willem Alberts, 20. Freddie van Zyl, 21. Jaco van Schalkwyk, 22. Thabang Molefe

Sat 28 July 14:45 SA – Cheetahs v WP (Bloemfontein)

Western Province should continue their improvement under Gary Gold this weekend but it will not be enough to beat the defending champions in their own backyard.

The Cheetahs have had a brilliant start to the season, scoring 19 points out of a possible 20 while Province have struggled – although they have started heading in the right direction after the resignation of Kobus van der Merwe and Jerome Paarwater.

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske is not underestimating the men from the Cape.

“I have had a look at the video of their match against the Bulls and WP could easily have won that match. WP is definitely a far better team than what their current standing in the competition suggests,” he said.

Prediction: Cheetahs by 10

Match details:
Date: Saturday 28 July 2007
Venue: Vodacom Park, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 15.00 SA
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (SARU)
Touch judges: Craig Joubert (SARU), Marius Bonthuys (Griffons)
TMO: Johann Meuwesen (Eastern Province)

Teamsheets:

Free State Cheetahs:
15. Bevin Fortuin
14. Philip Burger
13. Marius Joubert
12. Meyer Bosman
11. Eddie Fredericks
10. Willem de Waal
09. Noel Oelschig
08. Darron Nell
07. Duane Vermeulen
06. Heinrich Brussow
05. Corniel van Zyl
04. Rory Duncan (Captain)
03. Jannie du Plessis
02. Richardt Strauss
01. Wian Hunter du Preez

Replacements: 16. Jan Adriaan Strauss, 17. Ollie le Roux, 18. David de Villiers, 19. Kabamba Floors, 20. Tewis de Bruyn, 21. Alwyn Hollenbach, 22. Gavin Passens

Western Province:
15. Conrad Jantjes
14. Tonderai Chavhanga
13. Dylan Des Fountain
12. De Wet Barry
11. Sireli Naqelevuki
10. Peter Grant
09. Bolla Conradie
08. Robbie Diack
07. Gerrie Britz
06. Justin Melck
05. Andries Bekker
04. Ross Skeate
03. Eddie Andrews
02. Schalk Brits (Captain)
01. JD Moller

Replacements: 16. Christiaan Liebenberg, 17. Brok Harris, 18. Schalk Ferreira, 19. Selborne Boome, 20. Pieter Abraham (WPu21) Myburgh, 21. Paul Delport, 22. Brent Russell

Sat 28 July 15:00 SA – Griquas v Boland (Kimberley)

Griquas are always a tough prospect at home in Kimberley as evidenced this year in their victory over the Blue Bulls. Although Boland have put in some unexpectedly strong performances so far in the competition, they may struggle this weekend against a side intent on making the playoffs.

Prediction: Griquas by 20

Match details:
Date: Saturday 28 July 2007
Venue: ABSA Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15.00 SA
Referee: Marius Jonker (SARU)
Touch judges: Christie du Preez (SARU), Silulami Pityoi (WP)
TMO: Michael Cupido (Golden Lions)

Teamsheets:

Wildeklawer Griquas:
15. Zane Kirchner
14. Baldwin McBean
13. Lafras Uys
12. Barry Geel
11. Vuyani Dlomo
10. Conrad Barnard
9. Tertius Carse (Captain)
8. Heinrich Stride
7. Ockert van Zyl
6. Jacques Burger
5. Johannes Lodewikus Britz
4. Evan Botha
3. Eugene van Staden
2. Hansie van Dyk
1. Regardt Herman Dreyer

Replacements: 16. Dirk Johannes Louw, 17. Jacobus Roux, 18. Albertus Marthinus Buckle, 19. Frans Viljoen, 20. Tiger Mangweni, 21. Wayne van Heerden, 22. Danie de Beer

Boland Cavaliers:
15. Rennie Dazel
14. John Daniels
13. Mark Daniel Esterhuizen
12. Hennie Daniller
11. Jongi Nokwe
10. Isma-eel Dollie
9. Dewaldt Otto Duvenhage
8. Nicolas Francois Prinsloo
7. Henley du Plessis
6. Zolani Mofu
5. Coenraad Johannes Basson
4. Dries van Schalkwyk
3. Tommy Dixon
2. John Burke (Captain)
1. Johannes Lambrechts van Niekerk

Replacements: 16. Clement Lewis, 17. Jane du Toit, 18. Randile Julies, 19. Chris Potgieter, 20. Neil Papier, 21. Lionel Curtis Cornelius, 22. Justin Peach

Sat 28 July 17:00 SA – The Sharks v Blue Bulls (Durban)

A huge forward battle is expected when The Sharks host The Blue Bulls on Saturday. Johan Ackermann, AJ Venter and Bismarck du Plessis return for the Sharks in what is seen by many as a ‘revenge’ match for the loss suffered by the home team in the Super14 final.

“I read on the Sharks’ website it is payback time and I am expecting a very emotional crowd,” said Blue Bulls coach Pote Human.

“We know it is going to be a very tough match up front, but with the likes of Waylon Murray they will not hesitate to move the ball wide. Any match against the Sharks is extremely physical and the way the match goes will be determined by how we stand up in the tight phases,” said Human.

John Plumtree, coach of The Sharks, is expecting a huge game.

“We’re second on the standings, we’ve got ourselves into a reasonably good position, and a big crowd would be great. A clash between these two teams is one of those special occasions, and for us at home, it’s a huge game,” said Plumtree.

Prediction: Sharks by 7

Match details:
Date: Saturday 28 July 2007
Venue: ABSA Stadium, Durban
Kick-off: 17.00 SA
Referee: Mark Lawrence (SARU)
Touch judges: Deon v Blommestein (SARU), Joey Salmans (WP)
TMO: Shaun Veldsman (Boland)

Teamsheets:

The Sharks:
15. Stefan Terblanche
14. Odwa Ndungane
13. Waylon Murray
12. Grant Rees
11. Henno Mentz
10. Bradley Barritt
09. Rory Kockott
08. Ryan Kankowski
07. AJ Venter (Captain)
06. Jacques Botes
05. Johan Ackermann
04. Steven Sykes
03. Patric Michael Cilliers
02. Bismarck du Plessis
01. Tendai Mtawarira

Replacements: 16. Rudolf Scheepers Badenhorst, 17. Ronnie Uys, 18. Alistair John Hargreaves, 19. Keegan Daniel, 20. Scott Mathie, 21. Monty Dumond, 22. Adrian Jacobs

The Blue Bulls:
15. Johan Roets
14. John Mametsa
13. JP Nel
12. Wayne Julies
11. Marius Delport
10. Morne Steyn
09. Neil Powell
08. Pedrie Wannenburg
07. Gideon Johannes Stegmann
06. Hottie Louw
05. Wilhelm Steenkamp
04. James Clifford Milton
03. Rayno Gerber
02. Derick Kuun
01. Jaco Engels

Replacements: 16. James van der Walt, 17. Werner Kruger, 18. Ruan Vermeulen, 19. Dewald Johan Potgieter, 20. JP Joubert, 21. Derick Hougaard, 22. Stefan Basson