Currie Cup 2018: Province will want to make up for a poor Super Rugby campaign

THE 2018 edition of the Currie Cup kicks off tomorrow. It is a one-round shoot-out between seven teams over 10 weeks, so there is no room for mistakes. Here rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen assesses the seven teams Blue Bulls The Pretoria-based team finished fourth overall, but lost in the semi-finals. They will be confident going into the competition, having enjoyed some good form in Super Rugby. The experienced Pote Human will coach the side, which will include a number of seasoned men, like Jamba Ulengo and Boom Prinsloo, but also some exciting prospects, like Manie Libbok and Ruan Steenkamp. They will, however, not be able to call on last year’s top tryscorer Warrick Gelant (10), who is injured. Free State Cheetahs The Bloemfontein-based team will again have to spread their resources between the Currie Cup and PRO14. Franco Smith is back to coach the team, but his focus is expected to be more on the Europe-based competition than the Currie Cup. Ox Nche and Oupa Mohoje are the only Springbok players in the extended squad, which includes several new names. The Cheetahs finished fifth on the standings last year and will do brilliantly if they better that performance this year. Golden Lions With an expected new head coach at the helm (Ivan van Rooyen), and Swys de Bruin and Rudolf Straeuli offering input from the sidelines, the Lions are looking to develop new players and their coaching team over the course of the next few weeks. They will be a confident bunch after reaching a third Super Rugby final and will have seasoned players like Andries Coetzee, Courtnall Skosan, Howard Mnisi, Harold Vorster and Kwagga Smith to call on. They’ll certainly have aspirations of finishing higher than third, after winning six games last year. They’ll be among the favourites. Griquas Last year’s weakest team – who finished the competition with just four wins – retained their Premier Division status after beating the Griffons 59-26 in a promotion-relegation match last year. They’re a team though who have the ability to beat anyone on their day and if things go well, could be surprise semi-finalists this year. Peter Engledow will again coach the team, which played in the final of the Rugby Challenge not too long ago. They were runners-up to the Pumas, and wing Enver Brandt was the top try-scorer with 11 tries. They’ll be a team full of hope and hunger. Pumas The Rugby Challenge winners have been pushing hard for greater recognition for some time and in 2018 it might finally come their way. The men from Nelspruit will put out a formidable, fairly experienced, side, and in coach Jimmy Stonehouse, who is back in Mpumalanga after a stint in Japan, they have a leader who knows a thing or two about rugby and winning. They went unbeaten in the Rugby Challenge and will be confident of winning more than the four matches they registered last year. Flank Marnus Schoeman, who starred for the Lions recently, will be one to watch. Sharks The men from Durban were the favourites going into last year’s final at home, but Western Province upset them 33-21 so it’s a case of unfinished business for coach Robert du Preez and his men this time around. With a strong coaching team behind them, including having former England international Nick Easter in the ranks, the Sharks look like they could be the team to beat. Chiliboy Ralepelle will lead them from hooker and he’ll be supported by senior men like Dan du Preez, Rob du Preez, Tera Mtembu and Hyron Andrews. The Sharks will hope to build on their good showing in Super Rugby. Western Province Last year’s champions will again be one of the favourites. They have warmed up for the competition by going to France to play two matches and will be battle-ready when they get going next week. Coach John Dobson will have a strong squad to choose from, which includes seasoned men like Jano Vermaak, JJ Engelbrecht, Dillyn Leyds, Scarra Ntubeni, Sergeal Petersen and SP Marais. But there are also some promising youngsters in the squad, among them No 8 Juarno Augustus. They’ll be desperate for a good showing after a poor Super Rugby campaign.