Absa Currie Cup Preview – Week 7
- Photo by Andrew Schoeman / Rugby15
The first round of the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division ends this weekend with a clash between the two top teams on the log when the MTN Golden Lions host The Sharks in Johannesburg on Saturday.
Friday’s two games see the two most successful teams in the history of the Absa Currie Cup, DHL Western Province and the Vodacom Blue Bulls, face tricky away-encounters against the Ford Pumas in Witbank and the Platinum Leopards in Phokeng respectively.
The fourth game this weekend in the Absa Currie Cup Premier Division is Central South African derby between GWK Griquas and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Kimberley.
In the First Division, the EP Kings travel down the N2 to George where they will try and hang on to their top position on the log against third-placed SWD Eagles, while the Regent Boland Cavaliers take on the Border Bulldogs in East London.
Ford Pumas vs DHL Western Province
It would take a brave man to be against DHL Western Province when they travel to the Puma Stadium in Witbank to face the Ford Pumas on Friday afternoon, but they will be mindful of slipping against a team stung by a big defeat last weekend.
The Ford Pumas are the only team in the Absa Currie Cup that have not won a game this weekend and while they came close in their first five matches, they were on the wrong end of a big drubbing in Bloemfontein last weekend.
According to Allister Coetzee, head coach of DHL Western Province, they are expecting an open game and will not underestimate the Ford Pumas, despite their big defeat last weekend.
“It will be crazy to underestimate the Pumas, even though they got some points against them last weekend. We need to forget what happened to them against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein and look at their other games. They are still a quality side and have a lot of respect for them,” said Coetzee.
Coetzee has selected Springbok Sevens player Steven Hunt on the wing, in the place of the injured Danie Poolman, and is excited to see what the young Ikey Tiger can bring to the DHL WP backline.
“Steven has played international sevens, he’s very quick and I’ve got no doubt that he will bring something else to the game this weekend.”
Ford Pumas vs DHL Western Province
Date: Friday, 26 August
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Puma Stadium, Witbank
Referee: Stuart Berry
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 30 July: WP won 54-13 in Cape Town
· 17 September: WP won 62-10 in Nelspruit
Platinum Leopards vs Vodacom Blue Bulls
After winning just one of their first four Absa Currie Cup matches this season, the Vodacom Bulls have been successful in their last two games and will be looking to build on this momentum against the Platinum Leopards on Friday.
The Platinum Leopards may be last on the log, but the Blue Bulls will not underestimate their opponents as they aim to keep alive their hope of reaching the semi-finals in October.
Pine Pienaar, the Vodacom Blue Bulls’ coach, said his team will have to improve every week if they are going to finish in the top-four, They are still only sixth on the log.
“We’ve decided not to change our team after last weekend’s good victory over Griquas, because we feel we have momentum for the first time this season. We now need these same players to build on that momentum,” said Pienaar.
“I think the team set a standard against Griquas, something we can measure ourselves against. If we want to stay in the hunt, we have to improve on that, because the second round will be even tougher for us when the pressure starts mounting closer to the playoffs.”
Gary Botha, who will captain the Vodacom Blue Bulls, said their opponents’ log position will not influence their approach to this game at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Phokeng, outside Rustenburg.
“There are no easy matches in the competition and the Leopards are one of those teams that never lie down. We will focus on what worked for us against Griquas and try to improve on that and try and execute better on those aspects of play we were not happy about,” said Botha.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls this week lost one of their most loyal servants of the last number of years when Derick Kuün decided to hang up his boots. He won three Vodacom Super Rugby titles, as well as the Absa Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup with the Pretoria-based team and recently played in his 100th match for the province after making his debut against Border in 2004.
Kuün also captained the Vodacom Blue Bulls at junior and senior levels, as well as the SA Schools side in 2002. He represented South Africa at Sevens, U21 and U19 level.
Platinum Leopards vs Vodacom Blue Bulls
Date: Friday, 26 August
Kick-off: 19:10
Venue: Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Phokeng
Referee: Joey Salmans
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 6 August: Blue Bulls won 43-38 in Pretoria
· 25 September: Blue Bulls won 39-26 in Potchefstroom
GWK Griquas vs Toyota Free State Cheetahs
It’s the battle for Central South African supremacy at GWK Park in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon when the Toyota Free State Cheetahs take on GWK Griquas.
These two teams are quite close to each other as they form a partnership in the Toyota Cheetahs’ Vodacom Super Rugby franchise. Free State travel to Kimberley on the back of a massive victory over the Pumas, while Griquas lost to the Blue Bulls in Pretoria last weekend.
According to Adriaan Strauss, captain of the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, they will not single out certain players that they might know better from playing together in Vodacom Super Rugby.
“If you do that, there is always the danger that some of their other players might surprise you. We’re approaching this game like any other – we’d like to go there and win, and I’m sure they would like to get back on the winning track.
“Griquas never need extra motivation when playing at home and we’re mindful of how good they are, even though they lost to the Blue Bulls last week. I’m sure both sides will give their all, and afterwards we’ll be friends again.”
GWK Griquas vs Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Date: Saturday, 27 August
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Referee: Jason Jaftha
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 16 July: Free State Cheetahs won 33-26 in Bloemfontein
· 3 September: Free State Cheetahs won 33-28 in Kimberley
MTN Golden Lions vs The Sharks
The MTN Golden Lions will be aiming to bounce back to winning ways against The Sharks at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg on Saturday afternoon.
DHL Western Province became the first team to beat the MTN Golden Lions this season when they snuck home in Cape Town last weekend, and the Gauteng side know Saturday’s encounter will not be any easier, even though they are playing at home.
Josh Strauss, bearded captain of the MTN Golden Lions, said their confidence remain strong despite last weekend’s defeat at DHL Newlands.
“It was a good learning curve. We possibly just let ourselves down with the kicking game. Still, we played well in the first half and had an opportunity to win the game. We know what we need to do now and how strong the Sharks are,” said Strauss, who left the field early against WP after suffering a rib injury.
John Plumtree, Sharks coach, said a lot is at stake in Johannesburg this weekend: “The challenge is to get it right this weekend. We’re up against a really good defensive unit this week and a side’s that’s had a lot of continuity from the Super Rugby tournament through to the Currie Cup. They aren’t top of the log for nothing, they’re scoring tries and their defence is pretty tidy so we’re going to be challenged in both departments this weekend.”
MTN Golden Lions vs The Sharks
Date: Saturday, 27 August
Kick-off: 17:05
Venue: Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 7 August: Sharks won 48-19 in Durban
· 25 September: Golden Lions won 22-20 in Johannesburg
Absa Currie Cup First Division
The two front runners in the Absa Currie Cup First Division, the EP Kings and Regent Boland Cavaliers, are both on the road this weekend and will aim to improve their standings at the top of the log.
The Kings have a tougher assignment when the take on last season’s runners up, the SWD Eagles, at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday. EP beat the Eagles earlier this year in Port Elizabeth, but the home team have been in good nick lately and will be keen to cause a minor upset.
In East London on Friday, the Border Bulldogs will be looking to replicate the form that saw them beat the Cavaliers just more than a year ago. Boland, second on the First Division log, travel to the Buffalo City Stadium as favourites, but will not take their opponents lightly as they aim to close the gap on EP.
On Saturday, bottom placed Tasol Solar Griffons host the Valke in Welkom, with both these teams – as well as the Bulldogs – still in with a chance at claiming a spot in the semi-finals.
SWD Eagles vs EP Kings
Date: Friday, 26 August
Kick-off: 17:05
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Referee: Marius Jonker
Last four meetings in Absa Currie Cup First Division:
· 20 August 2010: EP won 19-17 in George
· 1 October 2010: SWD won 25-8 in Port Elizabeth
· 15 October 2010: EP won 16-12 in PE (Final)
· 15 July 2011: EP won 28-20 in PE
Border Bulldogs vs Regent Boland Cavaliers
Date: Friday, 26 August
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Buffalo City Stadium, East London
Referee: Lourens vd Merwe
Last three meetings in Absa Currie Cup First Division:
· 13 August 2010: Border won 50-46 in Wellington
· 24 September 2010: Boland won 54-13 in East London
· 16 July 2011: Boland won 69-12 in Wellington
Tasol Solar Griffons vs Valke
Date: Saturday, 27 August
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Pro Legoete
Last three meetings in Absa Currie Cup First Division:
· 17 July 2010: Griffons won 43-8 in Welkom
· 28 August 2010: Griffons won 69-30 in Kempton Park
· 16 July 2011: Valke won 38-27 in Kempton Park
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