The Griquas are in town
WITH the Golden Lions, EP Kings and Griquas playing their first games this weekend, this year’s Currie Cup competition will be well under way after making a quiet start a week ago. Here rugby writer Jacques van der Westhuyzen previews this weekend’s matches
Today, 5pm EP Kings v Boland
The men from the Eastern Cape cannot be in the best of spaces after suffering a string of defeats in Super Rugby and then having to witness the liquidation of their mother body. It’s been a trying time for all involved at the Kings, but they can bring some joy to their region with a good showing in the Currie Cup.
After having a bye in round one, they tackle the newcomers to the Premier Division, Boland, and both will be keen to bag some early competition points. The Bolanders suffered a 44-16 defeat to the Cheetahs last weekend, but will be confident of picking up a first win after seeing off the Kings in the qualifiers in April.
It is a new-look Kings team led by prop Schalk Ferreira and including Lions loan players Ricky Schroeder and Sampie Mastriet. Also included is Springbok centre Waylon Murray, who’s on loan from the Sharks.
Boland will want to hit back immediately after last week’s defeat.
Today, 7.10pm Sharks v Griquas
The Robert du Preezcoached Sharks got off to the perfect start last week, whipping the Pumas 33-10 in Nelspruit, and while they will be confident of making it two from two they’ll know Griquas will be no pushover.
The men from Kimberley registered 11 wins from 14 matches in the qualifiers and also beat the Sharks on their last two visits to Durban. They’ll be pumped up for their first outing but the Sharks, having played Super Rugby, will be prepared for anything that comes their way and they’ll also have several big name players to bank on in the coming weeks.
Some interesting selections for the Sharks are Curwin Bosch at fullback and Inny Radebe at flyhalf, while Tera Mtembu, who captained the team not so long ago, is at eighth man.
For Griquas former Kings players Liam Hendricks and Elgar Watts could make debuts from the bench. Tomorrow, 5pm Lions v Pumas The defending champions are straight back into the action after the Super Rugby team’s final in Wellington last Saturday, but the team is muchchanged from the one that ran out against the Hurricanes.
Not one of the starters from a week ago will be in action at Ellis Park, coach Johan Ackermann opting to rest those starters who aren’t involved with the Springboks. “It’s going to be a big challenge for us this year without all those Bok players, but at the same time it gives me an opportunity to test our depth and build a bigger pool from which to select for next year,” said Ackermann.
Ross Cronje and Howard Mnisi will share the captaincy responsibilities.
The Pumas are coming off a defeat by the Sharks and will fancy their chances of causing an upset against this very changed and untried Lions team, especially with seasoned operators like Francois Brummer, Renaldo Bothma and Marnus Schoeman in the side. Tomorrow, 5.10pm Cheetahs v Bulls The big game of the weekend sees the Cheetahs host the Blue Bulls in Bloemfontein, both teams coming off big wins in round one.
The Cheetahs hammered Boland 44-16 while the Bulls easily got the better of Western Province, 45-26 at Loftus Versfeld. With both teams in good form, this promises to be a thrilling affair. Both outfits want to make up for lost opportunities in Super Rugby.
Cheetahs boss Franco Smith has picked Rayno Benjamin on the wing in place of the injured Sergeal Petersen, while Tian Meyer and Torsten van Jaarsveld also get starts.
In the Bulls team, packed with several Super Rugby players, utility back Ulrich Beyers will run out at fullback, with Dan Kriel at outside centre alongside Burger Odendaal. Marvin Orie and Jason Jenkins are in the second row.