[2013 Currie Cup] Round 4

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Week 4 of the Currie Cup starts off on Friday with the Golden Lions trying to build on momentum when hosting Western Province at Ellis Park. Last weeks blow-out victory over the Blue Bulls got the Lions their first win of the season but this will not be a walk in the park. Crysander Botha and Chris van Zyl will miss the game with injuries but Elton Jantjies will be back in the starting line-up. Nic Groom will replace Louis Schreuder in the WP team at scrum-half and Tiaan Liebenberg starts at hooker for the first time this season.

On Saturday, the franchise battle will take place in Bloemfontein, when the Cheetahs team will host the Griquas. Last week, Griquas were close to beating WP at home while the Cheetahs lost in the final minutes to a determined Sharks team, due to a try being disallowed. Both teams will be looking to get back on track this week. Griquas coach Pote Human has called up Patrick O'Brien, who plays club rugby for Helderberg. Meanwhile, Marnus Schoeman returns to take place on the bench after being injured in the season opener against the Sharks. The Cheetahs make 1 change with Rossouw de Klerk coming into the starting line-up for the injured Caylib Oosthuizen.

The weekend ends with the Natal Sharks hosting the Blue Bulls in a game that can go either way. In recent years, these two teams have shown anything can happen when playing each other. Handre Pollard is set to make his debut when he starts at fly-half for the Blue Bulls. Pollard, who was the starting 10 when the Baby Boks won the JWC last year, has suffered from injuries lately and this will be his chance to shine. The Sharks are suffering from several injuries, mainly to SP Marais and Odwa Ndungane. Both players are able to play wing and full-back and will be a game-time decision.

Round 4 Fixtures

Ellis Park, Johannesburg (Friday, 18:10 GMT)

Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein (Saturday, 14:00 GMT)

Kings Park, Durban (Saturday, 16:05 GMT)​

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Golden Lions
15. Marnitz Boshoff, 14. Deon Helberg, 13. Robert de Bruyn, 12. Dylan Des Fountain, 11. Anthony Volmink, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Guy Cronje, 8. Lambert Groenewald, 7. Derick Minnie ©, 6. Warwick Tecklenburg, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Willie Britz, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Willie Wepener, 1. CJ van der Linde

Replacements: 16. Robbie Coetzee, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Hugo Kloppers, 19. JJ Breedt, 20. Jaco Kriel, 21. Tian Meyer, 22. Andries Coetzee

Western Province
15. Gio Aplon, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Juan de Jongh, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 10. Kurt Coleman, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Deon Fourie ©, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Michael Rhodes, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Tiaan Liebenberg, 1. Steven Kitshoff

Replacements: 16. Scarra Ntubeni, 17. Brok Harris, 18. Gerbrandt Grobler, 19. Rohan Kitshoff, 20. Louis Schreuder, 21. Tim Swiel, 22. Michael van der Spuy



Free State Cheetahs
15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Riaan Smit, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Robert Ebersohn, 11. Raymond Rhule, 10. Elgar Watts, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Lappies Labuschagne, 6. Boom Prinsloo ©, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Teboho Mohoje, 3. Rossouw de Klerk, 2. Hercu Liebenberg, 1. Trevor Nyakane

Replacements: 16. Ethienne Reynecke, 17. Wian du Preez, 18. Waltie Vermeulen, 19. Davon Raubenheimer, 20. Kevin Luiters, 21. Willie du Plessis, 22. Piet Lindeque

GWK Griquas
15. PJ Vermeulen, 14. Nico Scheepers, 13. JP Nel, 12. Howard Mnisi, 11. Rocco Jansen, 10. Francois Brummer, 9. Marnus Hugo, 8. Leon Karemaker, 7. Burger Schoeman, 6. Carel Greeff, 5. Rory Arnold, 4. Hilton Lobberts, 3. Nick Schonert, 2. Ryno Barnes ©, 1. Steph Roberts.

Replacements: 16. Matt Dobson, 17. Brummer Badenhorst, 18. Patrick O'Brien, 19. Marnus Schoeman, 20. Jacques Coetzee, 21. Du Randt Gerber, 22. Richard Lawson



Natal Sharks:
15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Louis Ludik, 12. Heimar Williams, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Cobus Reinach, 8. Jacques Botes ©, 7. Jean Deysel, 6. Keegan Daniel, 5. Marco Wentzel, 4. Peet Marais, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Craig Burden, 1. Dale Chadwick.

Replacements: 16. Kyle Cooper, 17. Rayno Gerber, 18. Edwin Hewitt, 19. Justin Downey, 20. Charl McLeod, 21. Butch James, 22. Jaco van Tonder

Blue Bulls:
15. Jürgen Visser, 14. Sampie Mastriet, 13. Waylon Murray, 12. Ulrich Beyers, 11. Akona Ndungane, 10. Handré Pollard, 9. Ruan Snyman, 8. Jono Ross ©, 7. Jacques du Plessis, 6. Wiaan Liebenberg, 5. Grant Hattingh, 4. Paul Willemse, 3. Frik Kirsten, 2. Mbongeni Mbonambi, 1. Morné Mellett

Replacements: 16. Bandise Maku, 17. Werner Kruger, 18. David Bullbring, 19. Jacques Engelbrecht, 20. Rudy Paige, 21. Tiaan Schoeman, 22. Clayton Blommetjies

 

[RichardRheeder]

Holding thumbs for Patrick O'Brien to get some game time for Griquas on Saturday. Having known him personally for the last 3 years, he's probably one of the better club players in the country. He was a crowd favourite in a losing side for his club last weekend, and is proof that it's still possible for a club player to break through into a provincial side

 

[Draggs]

Still keeping Botes as captain and 8 even with Daniel fit. I'd prefer a more specialised back row, with an actual 8. Brynard can still feel hard done by, being dropped last week after good performances in the first two weeks.

Glad to see Peet starting. A few good appearances off the bench so far.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I'm glad to see Handre Pollard getting his first start. Gonna be an interesting match-up against Zeilinga

 

[sifplay]

CC is a joke. Really only starts when the TRC is over. Now Lions running around beating teams cause they got f all Bokke. Bulls are paying for their Maak die Bulle almal Bokke campaign

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Really? The same Lions that lost to the Sharks (missing a bunch of Boks) just got lucky against the Bulls. And even so, losing players to the Boks opens up space for new talent. Otherwise guys like Fred Zeilinga, Cheslin Kolbe, Jacques du Plessis, Handre Pollard and Mastriet for instance, would never get a chance to show what they can do.

Super Rugby is great, but the Currie Cup gives you a look at the future of SA Rugby.

 

[sifplay]

Really? The same Lions that lost to the Sharks (missing a bunch of Boks) just got lucky against the Bulls. And even so, losing players to the Boks opens up space for new talent. Otherwise guys like Fred Zeilinga, Cheslin Kolbe, Jacques du Plessis, Handre Pollard and Mastriet for instance, would never get a chance to show what they can do.

Super Rugby is great, but the Currie Cup gives you a look at the future of SA Rugby.

Why wouldn't they considering Habana is playing in France and so is Morne?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Okay, replace Pollard and Kolbe with de Allende and Cooper. You ***** and moan about a thing of beauty. Without the Currie Cup, or a Currie Cup where all the Boks play week in, week out, our talents never develop and we would have never seen a guy like Basson or Le Roux develop into the player they are today.

The only player whomade the Bok squad in recent years without playing in the Currie Cup is Etzebeth. He's the exception but the Currie Cup is a breeding ground for talent

 

[sifplay]

Okay, replace Pollard and Kolbe with de Allende and Cooper. You ***** and moan about a thing of beauty. Without the Currie Cup, or a Currie Cup where all the Boks play week in, week out, our talents never develop and we would have never seen a guy like Basson or Le Roux develop into the player they are today.

The only player whomade the Bok squad in recent years without playing in the Currie Cup is Etzebeth. He's the exception but the Currie Cup is a breeding ground for talent

I don't ***** and moan. WP do not have that many Boks so they are not bad off. But the Bulls have a massive amount of players. ANd I am not a Bulls supporter. CC have been massively devalued. And what is the Vodacom cup? Our schools are the breeding ground for talent. Then its survival of the fittest

 

[TRF_heineken]

I don't ***** and moan. WP do not have that many Boks so they are not bad off. But the Bulls have a massive amount of players. ANd I am not a Bulls supporter. CC have been massively devalued. And what is the Vodacom cup? Our schools are the breeding ground for talent. Then its survival of the fittest

You don't get it. The Currie Cup is the cornerstone of SA Rugby. This is where the youngsters have the best chance to showcase their talents against players who are seasoned super rugby players. Yes it's survival of the fittest, but without the currie cup there will be a massive void in gaining experience.

The Vodacom cup is just another tournament to get the schoolboys into professional rugby, but from next year it's going to be a farce with the quota system.

 

[sifplay]

You don't get it. The Currie Cup is the cornerstone of SA Rugby. This is where the youngsters have the best chance to showcase their talents against players who are seasoned super rugby players. Yes it's survival of the fittest, but without the currie cup there will be a massive void in gaining experience.

The Vodacom cup is just another tournament to get the schoolboys into professional rugby, but from next year it's going to be a farce with the quota system.

CC was the cornerstone. Super Rugby is now. CC is the corner stone for SR in SA. Its part of the development system.

ANd you create or gain nothing by playing in a less competitive enviroment. Better competition create better players.

Who of the Springboks have been selected cause of good CC performances instead of good SR performances? If CC was selected as the cornerstone then half the Lions team would have been selected in 2011. It was way back the cornerstone SR is now.

 

[Gena_ZA]

You are stating the obvious. Enjoy the CC for what it has to offer - new talent for the next season of SR
It's not meant to be compared to SR, doing that is simply stupid

 

[Draggs]

You are stating the obvious. Enjoy the CC for what it has to offer - new talent for the next season of SR
It's not meant to be compared to SR, doing that is simply stupid

That's how I view it. SR is no doubt the level to measure players for national selections, and the real money machine, but CC I find enjoyable in different ways. I like seeing the young players and second XV lads given a shot.

 

[Gena_ZA]

The TMO in the Lions vs. WP game made the worst call I have seen in ages. This has to be addressed, Ref's and TMO's are driving viewers & spectators away from rugby

 

[Gena_ZA]

That's how I view it. SR is no doubt the level to measure players for national selections, and the real money machine, but CC I find enjoyable in different ways. I like seeing the young players and second XV lads given a shot.

100%, take the Lions WP game, Joco Kriel came on and nearly won the game on his own, he is a rare talent and will play for the Boks most likely before he put on a SR jersey

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Kriel has played 7 games for the Lions franchise in Super Rugby though. I think Basson is the most recent player who made his Bok debut without playing Super Rugby.

 

[Draggs]

Basson played a few matches for the Cheetahs at the end of the 2010 S14, before starting against Wales in June 2010.

 

[sifplay]

You are stating the obvious. Enjoy the CC for what it has to offer - new talent for the next season of SR
It's not meant to be compared to SR, doing that is simply stupid

True. But I was merely bringing up the point of he who has the most Bokke gets the most penalized in the CC. And it being a proffesional game Teams being run by by business people its enjoyable for us to watch but not for the accountants. When do you see packed staduims in CC matches? When the Bokke are back.

Freestate had to play the Kings in a playoff game last year due to their lack in depth.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

True. But I was merely bringing up the point of he who has the most Bokke gets the most penalized in the CC. And it being a proffesional game Teams being run by by business people its enjoyable for us to watch but not for the accountants. When do you see packed staduims in CC matches? When the Bokke are back.

Freestate had to play the Kings in a playoff game last year due to their lack in depth.

The empty stadiums are due to ticket prices. And the Cheetahs lost because they were worse than the Griquas. They only lost Goosen and Strauss to the Boks during last years Currie Cup campaign. This year they were without Nyakane, Oosthuizen and Strauss, an entire front-row. Nyakane is back now, but the loss is at least the same. Yet, they are a more solid team this year.

You keep implying teams with Springboks are disadvantaged due to call-ups, but you do realize it's thanks to SARU that some Bok players are even agreeing to contract to their union right? Guys like Bismarck du Plessis, Patrick Lambie, Jean de Villiers, Eben Etzebeth and Adriaan Strauss are contracted to SARU as well, giving them a bit more money, making it easier for the unions to keep them, rather than seeing them leave to more lucrative competitions like the TOP League or TOP14. It works both ways. The Sharks are missing Bismarck and Jannie du Plessis, Patrick Lambie, Willem Alberts, Tendai Mtawarira and Marcell Coetzee. That's our no. 1 fly-half, an entire front-row and 2 back row players who are instrumental to our gameplan. Do we complain? No. Why? Because we see young guys like Hadebe, Cooper, Herbst, Stander and Zeilinga come through the ranks and some of them are future starters. Even Heimar Williams, although he got his chance due to injuries rather than Bok call-ups.