Absa Currie Cup Preview – Week 6
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- Photo by Andrew Schoeman
DHL Western Province will have to beat the MTN Golden Lions in Cape Town on Friday to avoid a similar three-match Absa Currie Cup losing streak as in 2010.
With the Castle Tri-Nations Test in Port Elizabeth between the Springboks and New Zealand at 17:00 on Saturday, five Absa Currie Cup games (three in the Premier and two in the First Division) are scheduled for Friday.
The only game on Saturday is between the Toyota Free State Cheetahs and the Ford Pumas in Bloemfontein.
Vodacom Blue Bulls vs GWK Griquas
The Vodacom Blue Bulls, without two Springbok flanks in Dewald Potgieter and Deon Steggman this weekend, face a big Absa Currie Cup test as high-flying GWK Griquas head to Pretoria on Friday afternoon.
Last season, the Blue Bulls snuck home by one point in the corresponding fixture after a last-minute Griquas conversion sailed wide. That game, and their recent form, would’ve given the team from the Northern Cape a lot of confidence as they head up to the capital.
Furthermore, GWK Griquas will be bolstered by the return of their try-scoring scrumhalf Sarel Pretorius, who has missed the first five rounds of Absa Currie Cup because of a knee injury.
“It’s never easy at Loftus and I’m convinced this will be our hardest game of the season, because the Blue Bulls are playing to stay alive in the Absa Currie Cup. They are motivated to improve their position on the log and have a very proud tradition at Loftus – this isn’t Nelspruit,” said Minnie.
“Also, the players that have gone before the current crop of Blue Bulls, have set an example and this team have to live up to that expectation. They still have a number of Springboks in their team – we’ll have to be at our very best on Friday.
“What happened last year is history. They will be better than thus far in the season and we’ll have to make that step up.”
Minnie said it’s nice to have Pretorius back, but that he will be managed: “Sarel is a great player, but in his absence Marnus Hugo played exceptionally well. We’ll manage Sarel, because we don’t know how long his knee will last. That’s why we decided to start with him. If he feels it’s time to come off, whether it’s after 15, 25 or 45 minutes, we’ll put Marnus on.”
Vodacom Blue Bulls vs GWK Griquas
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 20 August: Vodacom Blue Bulls won 39-38 in Pretoria
· 1 October: Vodacom Blue Bulls won 48-36 in Kimberley
DHL Western Province vs MTN Golden Lions
The signs are ominous for DHL Western Province, last year’s Absa Currie Cup runners up, as they prepare to face the table-topping MTN Golden Lions at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Friday evening.
The men from Cape Town have lost their last two games in the Absa Currie Cup, last weekend at home against the Sharks and the week before that against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.
In 2010, DHL WP also had a mid-season slump as they lost to the Sharks, Free State Cheetahs and Golden Lions on successive weekends.
Robbie Fleck, the former Springbok centre and current DHL WP assistant coach, said: “The Lions have a fantastic all-round game. They are disciplined, well-organised and are excellent at holding onto possession.
“That is their entire game plan – they look to handle the ball and force their opponents into making tackles. They are not the log leaders for nothing and I think regardless of Friday’s result, they are going to be there and there about come the end of the season.
“For us it is a massive challenge and we need to get stuck into them from the start. We want to put them under pressure and retain ball as well so for the young guys it is another mammoth task, but one the guys are really looking forward to.”
DHL Western Province vs MTN Golden Lions
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Marius Jonker
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 17 July: DHL WP won 32-0 in Cape Town
· 3 September: MTN Golden Lions won 46-28 in Johannesburg
The Sharks vs Platinum Leopards
The Platinum Leopards face an uphill battle at Mr Price Kings Park in Durban on Friday evening against The Sharks, the defending champions currently in second place on the Absa Currie Cup log.
In fact, the Sharks can go top of the log with the first round of the competition nearly finished if they score a bonus point victory against the Leopards and the Golden Lions return with empty hands from Cape Town.
Sharks coach John Plumtree has decided to rotate his squad this weekend, making a number of changes to the team to give fringe players much-needed game time.
Stefan Terblanche is getting a break, with Springboks Meyer Bosman and Marius Joubert teaming up in the midfield. Keegan Daniel will play off the bench and Jacques Botes will lead the team, while Conrad Hoffman replaces Charl McLeod at scrumhalf.
Plumtree doesn’t underestimate the Platinum Leopards in any way though, even if The Sharks beat them twice by big scores in last year’s Absa Currie Cup.
“The Leopards have conceded a few points this year, but they’ve also scored a few, so they have plenty of attacking threats and will come here with an attitude of wanting to attack and put on a good show. Defensively, we’re going to have to be really up for it,” said Plumtree.
“Our defence was good against Western Province, but it was easier in the rain. Hopefully there won’t be any on Friday. They will look to stress us and we have to make sure defensively we’re on target – defence is a big focus for us this weekend.”
The Sharks vs Platinum Leopards
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 19:10
Venue: Mr Price Kings Park, Durban
Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 13 August: The Sharks won 51-6 in Phokeng
· 1 October: The Sharks won 63-6 in Durban
Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Ford Pumas
Even though the Ford Pumas have not won a game thus far in the Absa Currie Cup, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs will not be taking this match in the Free State Stadium on Saturday afternoon lightly.
The Free Staters come off a defeat last weekend against the MTN Golden Lions in Johannesburg, but played very well a week before when they beat DHL Western Province in Bloemfontein.
“We didn’t play well against the Golden Lions, especially in the first half, and we need to improve. But it’s not going to be easy against the Pumas – they were unlucky to lose against the Blue Bulls, the Sharks and the Golden Lions,” said Cheetahs coach Naka Drotske.
“We would’ve liked to do some squad rotation, but we have too many injuries and can’t really afford to rest anyone, while the Pumas are very difficult opponents.”
After five near losses Jimmy Stonehouse, coach of the Ford Pumas, said: “It can’t carry on like this, that victory simply has to come. The spirit in the team is amazing and we’re keeping our heads up. We’ll just have to try again this weekend, even if we know it will be very difficult in Bloemfontein.
“The Cheetahs have a very mobile pack and will probably try to move us around a bit, but I think we can match them upfront.”
Stonehouse has had to appoint a new captain in JW Jonker after regular skipper Corné Steenkamp was ruled out with a knee injury. The Ford Pumas have also lost Marius Coetzer (hand) and Shaun Venter (concussion), two of their more experienced players.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs vs Ford Pumas
Date: Saturday, 20 August
Kick-off: 15:00
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Referee: Pro Legoete
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 7 August: Toyota FS Cheetahs won 45-30 in Witbank
· 24 September: Toyota FS Cheetahs won 59-24 in Bloemfontein
Absa Currie Cup First Division
The Regent Boland Cavaliers can close the gap between them and the EP Kings at the top of the Absa Currie Cup First Division log if they can score a bonus point victory over the SWD Eagles in Wellington on Friday afternoon.
The Kings are seven points ahead of the Cavaliers and will remain in first position on the log. It also won’t be an easy game for Boland, as they are facing an Eagles team on a three match winning streak. SWD can overtake their opponents this weekend on the log if they win this game.
In the only other game in the Absa Currie Cup First Division, the Border Bulldogs travel to the East Rand to face the Valke at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park.
Both teams are on five logs points, the same as the Tasol Solar Griffons, but the Bulldogs occupy last place on the log, while the Valke are fourth and the Griffons fifth. Only points’ difference separate them.
The Griffons and EP Kings have byes this weekend.
Regent Boland Cavaliers vs SWD Eagles
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 16:00
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 6 August: SWD won 45-36 in George
· 17 September: Regent Boland Cavaliers won 38-33 in Wellington
Valke vs Border Bulldogs
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 17:00
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Referee: Stuart Berry
Last year in Absa Currie Cup:
· 20 August: Valke won 38-37 in East London
· 2 October: Border Bulldogs won 56-49 in Kempton Park
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