Three teams join the Currie Cup party
Defending Currie Cup champions, DHL Western Province, the Cell C Sharks and the Xerox Golden Lions will be determined to make strong statements in their opening Currie Cup Premier Division matches this weekend, after byes saw them sit out of the first round.
The Xerox Golden Lions and Tafel Lager Griquas will meet in the first of three Currie Cup matches – proudly brought to you by DirectAxis Financial Services and Nashua – in Johannesburg on Friday, and on Saturday the Cell C Sharks host the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Durban, while DHL Western Province takes on the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Cape Town. The Steval Pumas have a bye.
At Emirates Airline Park, the Xerox Golden Lions will be determined to get out of the blocks quickly against a Tafel Lager Griquas team desperate to make up for their defeat last week, as home victories are essential with the competition playing out over a single round this season.
The last time the men from Kimberley won in Johannesburg was in 2012, but with the side set on correcting the wrongs of last week, and the home team playing in their first match, it could be a tight battle.
Newly-appointed Xerox Golden Lions coach, Ivan van Rooyen, named six players who featured in the Vodacom Super Rugby final in his match-day squad, while four Junior Springbok players who participated in the World Rugby U20 Championship in the south of France were included. They are Manuel Rass and Wandisile Simelane (centres), Tyrone Green (winger), and utility forward PJ Steenkamp.
Tafel Lager Griquas made two personnel changes and a positional switch to their team with Eric Zana (fullback) and Pieter van Vuren (lock) being drafted into the starting XV, while AJ Coertzen moves from fullback to wing.
The Cell C Sharks and Vodacom Blue Bulls will meet in a repeat of last season’s semi-final at Jonsson Kings Park, and with the North Gautengers coming off a bonus-point win in Bloemfontein last weekend, the hosts will have to hit the ground running.
The Durbanites’ have won nine of the last 10 matches between the sides, although the one defeat was at home in 2015.
Chiliboy Ralepelle will lead a Cell C Sharks team featuring a mixture of youth and experience, with the halfback pairing of Louis Schreuder and Robert du Preez dictating play.
The Vodacom Blue Bulls, in turn, made three personnel changes, which sees Springbok centre Jesse Kriel start in in what will mark his 10th Currie Cup appearance. Hendre Stassen (lock) and Jaco Visagie (hooker) also earned starts.
In Cape Town, DHL Western Province will look to make the most of their home ground advantage when they meet the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, who will see a victory as non-negotiable after going down in their opening match.
The Capetonians registered their first win in four outings against the Free Stater’s last season, and with home victories being vital, they are expected to come out firing.
Dillyn Leyds will captain DHL Western Province, who has another young leader in their ranks in Junior Springbok and former SA Schools captain, Salmaan Moerat. The 20-year old will pair up with JD Schickerling at lock, while Josh Stander has been named at pivot with experienced scrumhalf Jano Vermaak by his side.
The Toyota Free State Cheetahs, meanwhile, made seven changes to their starting team, which features a new halfback pairing of Louis Fouche and Tian Meyer. Fouche, Dries Swanepoel (centre) and Aidon Davids (No 8) will make their debuts for the team.
Fans at DHL Newlands will again be able to find and tag themselves on an interactive 360o FANCAM image, compliments of DirectAxis Financial Services, to be shared on social media by registering on www.directaxis.fancam.com. A virtual Currie Cup trophy will also be hidden on the image, and those who find it stand a chance to win a VIP trip to the Currie Cup final.
Currie Cup Premier Division Round 2 fixtures:
Friday, 24 August
Xerox Golden Lions v Tafel Lager Griquas
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 19h00
Referee: Egon Seconds
Assistant Referees: Ben Crouse and Christopher Allison
TMO: Pro Legoete
TV: SS1
Saturday, 25 August
Cell C Sharks v Vodacom Blue Bulls
Venue: Jonsson Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
Assistant Referees: Archie Sehlako and Vusi Msibi
TMO: Christie du Preez
TV: SS1
DHL Western Province v Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Kick-off: 17h15
Referee: AJ Jacobs
Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni and Nathan Swartz
TMO: Shaun Veldsman
TV: SS1
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