Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Preview Round 2

Aug 14 • General News • 1856 Views • Comments Off on Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Preview Round 2

#1891MAN: Cell C Sharks flanker Jacques Botes will on Friday become the most capped Absa Currie Cup player when he runs out against the Steval Pumas in Durban. He will make his 148th appearance in the competition. To date he has played in 27 matches for the Pumas and 120 for the Sharks.

Defending Absa Currie Cup Premier Division champions the Cell C Sharks welcome First Division winners Steval Pumas to Durban on Friday evening in what promises to be an exciting Round Two clash.
The champions did well to see off a spirited GWK Griquas in Kimberley last weekend while the Pumas celebrated their return to the top flight with a deserved win over the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Nelspruit.
In Cape Town, DHL Western Province are up against traditional rivals the Vodacom Blue Bulls in what promised to be a tough derby encounter. Province got off the mark with a win over the EP Kings last Friday in PE while the Blue Bulls would want to bounce back from their defeat against neighbours Xerox Golden Lions.
After their convincing showing against the Vodacom Blue Bulls at the same venue, the Xerox Golden Lions awaits the EP Kings at Ellis Park. In the remaining Saturday clash, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs entertain neighbours GWK Griquas in Bloemfontein.

Team news

Springbok utility back Patrick Lambie was added to the bench when the Cell C Sharks confirmed their team to face the Steval Pumas at Growthpoint Kings Park on Friday evening. Lambie was released by the Springboks for this week.

In the only start to the Sharks starting team that won 31-24 in Kimberley last weekend, former Boland Cavalier JC Astle gets his first starting opportunity in place of the injured Stephan Lewies.
Steval Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse, has made only one change to the starting line-up that shocked the Toyota Free State Cheetahs 28-21 in Nelspruit last Saturday.
Lock forward Marius Coetzer moves to the bench with Giant Mtyanda starting for the Round Two encounter on Friday with the defending champion in Durban. Rosko Specman, who was a late withdrawal for the Cheetahs clash, is fit again and will play off the bench.
Vodacom Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, named fit-again Junior Springbok flanker Jacques du Plessis in his run-on team to play against DHL Western Province at DHL Newlands on Saturday.
This clash will see two new faces in the Blue Bulls starting pack that lost their opening match against the Golden Lions. The towering Du Plessis comes in at flank after recovering from a broken jaw. Jono Ross moves to number eight where he replaces Jacques Engelbrecht.
In the front row, Marcel van der Merwe will start at loosehead in place of injured Dean Greyling, who is suffering from a calf strain. Van der Merwe’s place on the bench will be taken by Hencus van Wyk.
DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee has made just one change to his starting line-up for their meeting with the Blue Bulls.
The only change to the Province line-up sees Stephan Coetzee named in the No.2 jersey, in his first start at this level, with the injured Tiaan Liebenberg (back) dropping out this week. Fellow hooker Scarra Ntubeni suffered an injury setback at training, meaning the UCT Varsity Cup star Neil Rautenbach gets a chance on the bench, as back-up to Coetzee.

Ntubeni tweaked his calf muscle at training and will be out for at least 14 days. There are also plenty of new faces on the bench as Brok Harris, Ruan Botha, Rynhardt Elstadt, Kurt Coleman and Jaco Taute all return.

Carlos Spencer, the EP Kings coach, has named an unchanged starting line-up for their match against the Xerox Golden Lions in Johannesburg on Saturday. In their return to the top flight domestic rugby, the Kings lost 16-35 to DHL Western Province in Port Elizabeth last Friday.
The only change to the Kings squad is the inclusion of lock Steven Sykes on the bench in place of Darron Nell.
Meanwhile Xerox Golden Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has opted for consistency, making just one forced change to his starting side which downed the Blue Bulls 41-13 last weekend.

Jaco van der Walt will start at flyhalf as he slots in for the injured Marnitz Boshoff. On the bench, Ackermann has drafted in Guy Cronje and Springbok Sevens player Kwagga Smith, who is set to make his Absa Currie Cup debut from the bench.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan welcomes back two experienced players for their encounter against GWK Griquas on Saturday afternoon in Bloemfontein. Flanker Jean Cook and flyhalf Elgar Watts were included in the run-on side for the local derby. Cook replaced Neil Claassen, who moves to bench, while Watts came in for Willie du Plessis in the number 10 jersey.

Amongst the reserves, experienced prop Bees Roux was left out while youngster Rudolph Botha was included alongside AJ le Roux. Le Roux replaced hooker Hercu Liebenberg who is struggling with a knee injury. Scrumhalf Shaun Venter gets the nod over Renier Botha.

GWK Griquas centre Jonathan Francke, cleared to play by a SARU judicial hearing after receiving a red card for a dangerous tackle against the Sharks, was named on the bench against the FS Cheetahs.

Coach Hawies Fourie also made a couple of other changes to his team. Stalwart flanker Hilton Lobberts is ruled out with a sore hamstring. Prop Maks van Dyk, drops to the bench while winger Danie Dames is also an injury casualty. RJ Liebenberg and Ederies Arendse come in respectively, while Ewald van der Westhuizen now packs in the front row and PJ Vermeulen starts at centre.

The Absa Currie Cup Premier Division Round 2 fixtures
Friday, 15 August

Cell C Sharks vs Steval Pumas

Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban

Kick-off: 19h10

Referee: Christie du Preez

Assistant referees: Pro Legoete, Jadezweni Cwengile

TMO: Willie Vos

TV: SS1

The Sharks have won the previous seven matches between the sides. Last clash played on 9 October 2009, which the Sharks won 33-20 in Durban. The Pumas’ previous win over the Sharks was on 7 October 2004, a 30-13 victory in Witbank.

Saturday 16 August

DHL Western Province vs Vodacom Blue Bulls

Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town

Kick-off: 14h05

Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Assistant referees: Marius van der Westhuizen, Quinton Immelman

TMO: Jason Japhta

TV: SS1

Last season the two teams played to a 24-24 draw in Cape Town on 8 October. In the return fixture at Loftus the Cape side won their first match (29-18) in 7 years in Pretoria. The Blue Bulls are chasing their first win since 2009 in Cape Town.

Xerox Golden Lions vs EP Kings

Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg

Kick-off: 14h30

Referee: Craig Joubert

Assistant referee: Francois Pretorius, Sieg van Staden

TMO: Willie Vos

Dating back to 1996, the PE side has lost all previous eight matches against the Golden Lions. The two sides last met on 22 July 2005 in PE when the Lions emerged as 29-19 winners.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs GWK Griquas

Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein

Kick-off: 15h00

Referee: Marius Jonker

Assistant referees: Pro Legoete, Francois de Bruin

The Toyota Free State Cheetahs are on a four game winning streak against their franchise neighbours. GWK Griquas’ previous win in Bloemfontein (28-18) was on July 10, 2009.