PREVIEW: With six rounds completed, things are heating up as the teams fight for semifinal spots in this year’s Currie Cup season.
After five wins and a draw, the Bulls are at the summit with 26 league points, three ahead of the chasing duo of the Lions and Cheetahs.
The pair are currently involved in a catfight for second place and the right to host a semifinal.
The Pumas are fourth (18 points) after three wins and a draw.
The 2022 champions are involved in a heavy tussle with the resurgent Sharks (17 points) and Western Province (14 points) for the last of the four semifinal spots.
Jimmy Stonehouse’s men face a stern test when their host log leaders Bulls at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday.
The Bulls last lost at the venue in 2021 and given their current form it doesn’t look like that will change anytime soon.
Bulls head coach Phiwe Nomlomo has recalled the services of skipper Nizaam Carr and Devon Williams for the showdown.
Carr and Williams were on a week-long rest, while there is also a return for Chris Barend Smit.
The centre will pair up with Cornel Smit, who is set for his first Currie Cup appearance for the Bulls.
Keagan Johannes gets a start at scrumhalf, pairing up with flyhalf Boeta Chamberlain at halfback.
Sibongile Novuka will get another run at left wing with Springbok ace Canan Moodie shifting from fullback to right wing.
On Saturday, the struggling WP travel to Johannesburg to take on high-flying Lions at Ellis Park.
The Capetonians, who lost to defending champions Cheetahs last week at home, will have to grab a win to remain in the semifinal race.
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With nine points separating the pair, WP assistant coach Labeeb Levy urged his team to “play out of their skin”.
“They [the Lions] have been playing good rugby,” said Levy.
“They obviously look to counter, they got good kicking plans and a solid set-piece. They drive the game really well when they get into good areas.
“They have multiple threats, so we know we have to rock up and play really well to get the results.
“Each player has to commit and play out of their skin.”
Levy added that he hopes for some good running rugby given the weather conditions in Johannesburg.
“In Cape Town, the conditions haven’t always been suitable for the game we want to play.
“However in Ellis Park, it is dry weather and the ball travels, so it will be a good day for good quality running rugby.”
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Lions lock Ruben Schoeman is hoping the altitude will count in their favour when the two teams clash on Saturday.
“We are looking to chase them around the park, keep the ball,” said Schoeman.
“They [WP] are going to come with a good kicking game and they will try to put our set-piece under pressure.
“So, obviously we will try to do the same.”
In what could probably be described as the match of the weekend, the Cheetahs welcome the Sharks to the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein.
A win will put Cheetahs in a favourable position to book a home play-off spot.
“When you think of a home semifinal and Final, every game is crucial,” said Cheetahs Director of Rugby Frans Steyn.
“If you look at all the other teams, the bigger unions planned better this year. They have good squads and anything can happen.
“So we have to be on top of our game this week.”
It looks like the Durbanites have found their rhythm after a slow start, which saw them losing their first three games of the campaign.
Since then, the KwaZulu-Natalians have managed a draw and two good wins, including last week’s impressive 40-21 romp over Griquas.
However, Sharks head coach JP Pietersen admitted securing back-to-back wins has been a major obstacle for his team
“We have never put two good games in a row and it’s a good challenge for us this Saturday.”
Going to Bloemfontein certainly does not make it easier for Pietersen’s side.
“They [Cheetahs ] have a good record at home,” said Pietersen
“They will test you with moving the ball, trying to fatigue you so that they can capitalise in the last 15 minutes of the game.
“They are a little bit different this year. They have a big pack, are very upfront, and want to scrum, maul and pick and go.
“As a group, we understand their strength but for us, we want to have a good start and build on that.”
Pietersen has made four changes to last week’s side, naming a new look front row in Dian Bleuler, Dan Jooste and Kabous Bezuidenhout for Abraham Reyneke, Ethan Bester and Mawande Mdanda.
There is just one change to the backline where Alwayno Visagie replaces Jurenzo Julius at centre.
Griquas and Griffons conclude the round on Sunday.
The Griffons will most likely target their Sunday afternoon clash with Griquas as a must-win encounter.
However, Pieter Bergh’s visiting outfit will, in turn, eye a much-needed winning performance to hopefully kickstart a turnaround in form which has delivered just one win from six starts.
All the round six teams and predictions follow below …
Friday, August 16
Pumas v Bulls
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction:
@rugby365com: Bulls by 15 points
Teams:
Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 David Brits, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Anele Lungisa, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Usuagwu, 17 Deward Maritz, 18 Munashe Mhere, 19 Jeandre Leonard, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Phiko Sobahle.
Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Canan Moodie, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Sibongile Novuka, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Keagan Johannes, 8 Nizaam Carr (captain), 7 Merwe Olivier, 6 Nama Xaba, 5 Jannes Kirsten, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Mornay Smith, 2 Joe van Zyl, 1 Dylan Smith.
Replacements: 16 Juan Else, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Khuthazani Mchunu, 19 Cyle Brink, 20 Celimpilo Gumede, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Katlego Letebele.
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen
Saturday, August 17
Lions v Western Province
(Ellis Park, Johannesburg – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: TBC
Teams
Lions: TBC
Western Province: TBC
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Stephan Geldenhuys
Cheetahs v Sharks
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 17.15; 15.15 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: TBC
Teams:
Cheetahs: TBC
Sharks: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 LItelihle Bester, 12 Alwayno Visagie, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Nick Hatton (captain), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Bathobele Hlekani, 3 Kabous Bezuidenhout, 2 Dan Jooste, 1 Dian Bleuler
Replacements: 16 Bryce Calvert, 17 Braam Reyneke, 18 Mawande Mdanda, 19 Coetzee le Roux, 20 Hennie Sieberhagen, 21 Siya Ningiza, 22 Bradley Davids, 23 Tiaan Swanepoel
Referee: Peter Martin (Ireland)
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Quinton Immelman
Sunday, August 18
Griffons v Griquas
(North West Stadium, Welkom – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Prediction
@rugby365com: TBC
Teams:
Griffons: TBC
Griquas: TBC
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Assistant Referees: Local
TMO: Egon Seconds
