Northern rivalry takes centre stage in Absa Currie Cup

Sep 10 • General News • 1518 Views • Comments Off on Northern rivalry takes centre stage in Absa Currie Cup

· Mohoje, Hendricks in Toyota Free State Cheetahs starting line-up

Undefeated neighbours the Vodacom Blue Bulls and the Xerox Golden Lions will go head-to-head in a table-topping Absa Currie Cup clash on Saturday at 19h00 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The Northern rivals are both in prolific form and have yet to lose a match after five rounds of thrilling action in South Africa’s premier domestic rugby competition.

Johan Ackermann’s Golden Lions outfit are leading the standings on 25 points after collecting a vital try bonus point in each of their league matches. The Blue Bulls, however, are breathing down their necks, just one point adrift in second place.

Experienced prop Dean Greyling has recovered from his knee ailment and will earn start in his 50th Absa Currie Cup appearance for the Vodacom Blue Bulls.

The ORC Griquas and the Steval Pumas will be in action on Saturday in Kimberley (15h00). The third-placed DHL Western Province, meanwhile, who are nine points behind the Lions, face the Cell C Sharks at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban. The clash between the two coastal rivals will start at 17h00.

In the only match on Friday evening Springbok looseforward Oupa Mohoje will lead the Toyota Free State Cheetahs out against the Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth (19h10).

A brief round-up of the available team news:

Vodacom Blue Bulls – Springbok centre Jan Serfontein will start at inside centre. The former Junior World Player of the Year earns a first start in the competition and teams up with fellow Junior Bok Dries Swanepoel in the midfield. He switches places with Burger Odendaal, who moves to the bench. Prop Dean Greyling is also fit again following a knee strain and will slot back into the starting line-up in place of Pierre Schoeman, who swings back into Under-21 action. Werner Kruger will play off the bench and replaces Dayan van der Westhuizen, with the young prop also moving back to the Blue Bulls Under-21’s. There is also a recall to the side for Deon Stegmann, who returns from a cheekbone injury, in place of Jannes Kirsten.
Xerox Golden Lions – Lively flank Jaco Kriel is back to lead the Golden Lions, which means Kwagga Smith drops to the bench. The lock pairing of Martin Muller and Franco Mostert, are also restored to the starting line-up. Ross Cronje and his Springbok halfback partner, Marnitz Boshoff, also make a welcome return. Cronje replaces Lohan Jacobs, while Boshoff runs out in place of Jaco van der Walt, who moves to the bench. In other changes, Robbie Coetzee returns to the fray at hooker in a rotational move, which sees Malcolm Marx take up the No16 jersey and Ruan Dreyer at tighthead prop. Courtnall Skosan comes in for the injured Anthony Volmink on the wing.

Toyota Free State Cheetahs – Coach Franco Smith also included returning Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks on the left wing in place of Junior Springbok Raymond Rhule, who has a slight neck niggle. Mohoje takes over the captaincy from Francois Uys, who moves to the bench. Mohoje will start in place of Henco Venter, while Reniel Hugo slots in at lock with Uys on the bench. Hooker Jacques du Toit comes back into the starting team, with Elandre Huggett now a reserve. Uncapped prop Teunis Nieuwoudt replaces the injured Caylib Oosthuizen amongst the replacements. Oosthuizen is out for the remainder of the season after he tore his knee ligaments against the Blue Bulls last weekend.
ORC Griquas – Coach Hawies Fourie made five changes for the Steval Pumas clash in Nelspruit. Versatile Springbok Sevens player Ruhan Nel moves from the left wing to the right where he dislodges fellow Sevens specialist Sandile Ngcobo. Jacquin Jansen will run on the left wing. Jonathan Adendorf gets a start in place of RJ Liebenburg at flank, while Johan Wessels comes in for Springbok Hilton Lobberts at lock. In a rotational switch hooker AJ Le Roux switches starting places with Martin Bezuidenhout (now on the bench).

Eastern Province Kings – Experienced centre Tim Whitehead will again lead the Kings against the Cheetahs while regular captain Luke Watson is sidelined with a leg injury.Vice-captain Steven Sykes is also back from a rib problem to lead the pack. JP du Plessis starts at inside centre, replacing Ronnie Cooke, who is out with a broken toe, while Sykes is preferred to Cornell Hess (bench).

Cell C Sharks – Joe Pietersen moves from fullback to flyhalf, while Lionel Cronje drops out of the match-day squad. Veteran Odwa Ndungane starts in Pietersen’s place at fullback after returning to full fitness. The other changes see Junior Springbok Jean-Luc du Preez come in for injured twin Daniel, and fellow Junior Bok Thomas du Toit starting in the front row in place of Dale Chadwick.
DHL Western Province – Scrumhalf Nic Groom takes over the captaincy from injured skipper Nizaam Carr (hamstring), with Sikhumbuzo Notshe returning from injury to start at No8 in one of three changes to the starting line-up from last weekend’s confidence-boosting 33-15 win over Griquas at Newlands. The other changes to the WP starting XV see Dillyn Leyds start on the right wing, whilst Huw Jones will make his first start in the competition in place of Jaco Taute at inside centre. Kobus van Wyk drops down to the bench – in a switch with Leyds – with the fit-again pairing of prop Oli Kebble and scrumhalf Jano Vermaak joining the bench this week in place of JP Smith and Godlen Masimla, respectively.

Steval Pumas – Francois du Toit comes in at hooker in place of Jacques Momberg who is nursing a broken finger. Prop Vincent Koch is rested and De-Jay Terblance therefore gets a start in the front row. Giant Mtyanda swop places with lock Marius Coetzer (bench), Marnus Schoeman is back at No 6 flank and he rotates places with Jaco Brouwer. With JC Roos out with a sore knee, Justin van Staden now takes over the flyhalf duties. Deon Helberg will make his debut at inside centre, giving Stefan Watermeyer a welcome rest. Jerome Pretorius starts at outside centre and Jerome Pretorius moves from No 13 to fullback to fill the gap of JW Bell (hamstring).

Absa Currie Cup Premier Division fixtures:

Friday, 11 September 2015

Eastern Province Kings vs Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 19h10
TV: SS1

Saturday, 12 September 2015

ORC Griquas vs Steval Pumas
Venue: Griquas Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15h00

Cell C Sharks vs DHL Western Province
Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17h00
TV: SS1

Vodacom Blue Bulls vs Xerox Golden Lions
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 19h10
TV: SS1