CURRIE CUP POT:
Our writers speculate on what to expect
Winners: Bulls. Wooden spoon: Pumas. Potential upsets: Any team playing Griquas in Kimberley. But, specifically, the Kings’ opening-day match against WP next Friday night. The home team to win a Cape grudge match.
Top try-scorer: SA sevens flyer and new WP recruit Seabelo Senatla should benefit from the team’s new, and less defensive, approach. And also from a game plan designed to bring his skills into play.
One to watch: If he stays fit, the reemergence of wing Tonderai Chavanga could be one of the great stories of the tournament. He was excellent off the bench in the latter part of Super Rugby. The rise of 19year-old prop Thomas du Toit will also be fascinating to witness.
Key fixtures: Somehow the list always pits WP and the Sharks together in the final round, and their clash at Newlands on October 11 could decide the semifinalists.
Best buys: Seabelo Senatla (WP) One thing we don’t want to see: Continued ineffective refereeing and endless referrals to the TMO by the men who should be making the decisions.
Best coach: Hawies Fourie
(Griquas)
Fantasy League XV: Cheslin Kolbe; Seabelo Senatla, S’bura Sithole, Paul Jordaan, Tonderai Chavanga; Marnitz Boshoff, Piet van Zyl, Warren Whiteley, Jacques du Plessis, Jaco Kriel, Ruan Botha, Rynhardt Elstadt; Julian Redelinghuys, Bongi Mbonambi, Schalk van der Merwe.
LIAM DEL CARME
Winners: Sharks.
Wooden spoon: Although entrenched in the Premier Division for two years, Eastern Province will find the going tough.
Potential upsets: In the opening week, the Cheetahs’ trip to Nelspruit is laden with peril, as is the Sharks’ visit to Kimberley. Top try-scorer: Cheslin Kolbe (WP).
One to watch: Rosko Speckman
(Pumas).
Key fixtures: WP v Bulls and WP v Sharks on the last weekend of league action.
Best buys: Lourens Adriaanse (Sharks), Seabelo Senatla (WP).
One thing we don’t want to see: Bryan Baenh-off-type streakers who end up influencing matches.
Best coach: Hawies Fourie (Griquas).
Fantasy League XV: Cheslin Kolbe; Seabelo Senatla, Juan de Jongh, Alwyn Hollenbach, Rosko Speckman; Fred Zeilinga, Faf de Klerk; Warren Whiteley, Lappies Labuschagne, Luke Watson; Stephan Lewies, Francois Uys; Lourens Adriaanse, Bongi Mbonambi, Thomas du Toit.
CHUMANI BAMBANI
Winners: Sharks.
Wooden spoon: It will be a battle between the Pumas, EP and the Kings to avoid finishing last.
Potential upsets: Kings v WP, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, August 8;
If he stays fit, re-emergence of wing Tonderai Chavanga could be one of the great stories of the tournament
Pumas v Cheetahs, Mbombela Stadium, August 9.
Top try-scorer: Anthony Volmink
(Lions).
One to watch: Aidon Davis ( Kings No 8), Marvin Orie (Bulls lock).
Key fixtures: WP v Sharks, Newlands, October 11 — the match that could determine the top finisher on the log before the knockout stages, and could determine home semifinal and final spots. Lions v Cheetahs, Ellis Park, October 11 — could be the last opportunity for either team to book a semifinal spot.
Best buys: Clayton Blommetjies (Cheetahs), Thomas du Toit (Sharks), Jamba Ulengo (Bulls), Courtnall Skosan (Lions), Wayne Stevens (Griquas), Brian Shabangu (Pumas), Seabelo Senatla (WP).
One thing we don’t want to see: Teams scoring few tries.
Best coach: Johan Ackermann (Lions).
Fantasy League XV: Clayton Blommetjies; Anthony Volmink, Sbura Sithole, Paul Jordaan, Cheslin Kolbe; Marnitz Boshoff, Piet van Zyl; Warren Whiteley, (captain), Nizaam Carr, Deon Stegmann, Stephan Lewies, Paul Willemse; Marcel van der Merwe, Bongi Mbonambi, Julian Redelinghuys.
KHANYISO TSHWAKU
Winners: Sharks. Wooden spoon: Kings. Carlos Spencer’s side will be feisty and could start well, but whether they will be able to sustain their fire is another story.
Potential upsets: Pumas v WP; Kings v WP; Griquas v Bulls; Griquas v Kings; Kings v Bulls
Top try-scorer: Rosco Speckman (Pumas). The Sharks let a quality finisher slip through their hands and he will make merry against the smaller unions at home.
One to watch: Tera Mtembu. The Sharks’ captaincy should not weigh him down.
Key fixtures: WP v Sharks, October 11; Free State v Bulls, September 26; Kings v Pumas, October 11; Bulls v Golden Lions, September 6; Griquas v Kings, October 4
Best buys: Lappies Labuschagne (Bulls), Bongi Mbonambi (WP), Gary van Aswegen (Kings).
One thing we don’t want to see: End-to-end kicking and lateral running.
Best coach: Rory Duncan (Free
State).
Fantasy League XV: Lwazi Mvovo; Cheslin Kolbe, S’bura Sithole, Shane Gates, Rosco Speckman; Kurt Coleman, Piet van Zyl; Tera Mtembu, Nizaam Carr, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Marvin Orie, Ruan Botha; Julian Redelinghuys, Kyle Cooper, Thomas du Toit FOR the umpteenth time, the Currie Cup Premier Division format has had a face-lift.
This season it grows to eight teams instead of six, after Saru’s decision to include the Kings, in spite of their failure to qualify.
After being relegated in their play-off against the Pumas, Griquas also found a back door into the competition, thanks to the extra spot and an arduous qualifying campaign against the teams destined to campaign in the First Division.
Our rugby writers speculate on what to expect from a Currie Cup in which the Springboks will play little or no part.