[2015 Currie Cup] Round 1

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Griquas Park, Kimberley
Date: 7 August 2015
Time: 15:30 CAT​

Teams

Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Ederies Arendse, 13 Ruhan Nel, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Nardus van der Walt, 6 RJ Liebenberg, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Jonathan Adendorf, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 AJ le Roux, 1 Danie Mienie

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Stephan Kotze, 18 Jaco Nepgen, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Rudi van Rooyen, 21 Jacquin Jansen, 22 Ngcobo Sandile

Western Province: 15. Cheslin Kolbe, 14. Dillyn Leyds, 13. Juan de Jongh (captain), 12. Jaco Taute, 11. Seabelo Senatla, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 6. Rynhardt Elstadt, 5. Ruan Botha, 4. Jean Kleyn, 3. Wilco Louw, 2. Bongi Mbonambi, 1. Oli Kebble

Substitutes (from): 16. Marius Fourie, 17. Alistair Vermaak, 18. Chris van Zyl, 19. Chris Cloete, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Kurt Coleman, 22. Johnny Kotze, 23. Charlie van Jaarsveld

---

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Date: 7 August 2015
Time: 18:00 CAT​

Teams

Pumas: 15 JW Bell, 14 Bernado Botha, 13 Jerome Pretorius, 12 Stefan Watermeyer (captain), 11 Rosco Spekman, 10 JC Roos, 9 Faf de Klerk, 8 Lambert Groenewald, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Giant Mtyanda, 4 Rudi Mathee, 3 De-Jay Terblanché, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Khwezi Mona

Substitutes: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 Corne Fourie, 18 Marius Coetzer, 19 Jason-Colin Fraser, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz

Sharks: 15. Joe Pietersen, 14. S'bura Sithole, 13. Wandile Mjekevu, 12. Heimar Williams, 11. Andre Esterhuizen, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Khaya Majola, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Monde Hadebe, 1. Dale Chadwick

Substitutes: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Dave McDuling, 19. Daniel du Preez, 20. Francois Kleinhans, 21. Michael Claassens, 22. SP Marais

---

Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Date: 8 August 2015
Time: 14:15 CAT​

Teams

Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Sylvian Mahuza, 13 JP du Plessis, 12 Tim Whitehead, 11 Luther Obi, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Luke Watson (captain), 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Schalk Ferreira

Substitutes: 16 Michael van Vuuren, 17 Simon Kerrod, 18 Jacques Engelbrecht, 19 Paul Schoeman, 20 Kevin Luiters, 21 Karlo Aspeling, 22 Siyanda Grey

Golden Lions: 15. Ruan Combrinck, 14. Courtnall Skosan, 13. Harold Vorster, 12. Howard Mnisi, 11. Anthony Volmink, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Ruaan Lerm, 7. Kwagga Smith, 6. Jaco Kriel (captain), 5. Martin Muller, 4. Franco Mostert, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Jacques van Rooyen

Substitutes: 16. Robbie Coetzee, 17. Ruan Dreyer, 18. MB Lusaseni, 19. Steph de Wit, 20. Lohan Jacobs, 21. Stokkies Hanekom, 22. Jaco van der Walt

---

Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Date: 8 August 2015
Time: 14:15 CAT​

​

Teams

Cheetahs: 15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 BG Uys, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga

Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 William Small-Smith, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (captain), 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Nqoba Mxoli, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Roelof Smit, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouche, 22 Dries Swanepoel

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

My picks:

WP, Pumas, Lions... Cheetahs vs Bulls is a tough one... I'll go for the Cheetahs only because they're at home and to make it a 3/3 for the big cats in memory of Cecil.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Reasonably predictable from WP.

My hope would've been new blood at 9 and 10 to get experience in CC rather than SR action with Vermaak/Cat providing experience from the bench and during practice and with Vermaak only fully control from SR next year but I get that Dobson as new coach probably wants his 1st choice team out there to get a few wins under the belt before he thinks further ahead.

I expected Taute at 12 and Kebble at 1 also. I assume Kobus van Wyk and Siya Kolisi are unavailable. This CC season is another reason I want Jaco Kriel in the Bok squad ahead of Kolisi LOL. I'd also have wanted Willemse at hooker but read he is still out injured.

Lions team also named and predictably strong. Franco Mostert got released from the Bok squad to join them as well. The ********. Will be interesting to see Kwagga Smith in the 15 man game again. Even though the Lions are our top opposition IMO, I hope Combrinck has a good season at 15 as the Bokke need options there and he probably won't come in at wing being white and all and this being SA!

15. Ruan Combrinck, 14. Courtnall Skosan, 13. Harold Vorster, 12. Howard Mnisi, 11. Anthony Volmink, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Ruaan Lerm, 7. Kwagga Smith, 6. Jaco Kriel (captain), 5. Martin Muller, 4. Franco Mostert, 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Malcolm Marx, 1. Jacques van Rooyen
Substitutes: 16. Robbie Coetzee, 17. Ruan Dreyer, 18. MB Lusaseni, 19. Steph de Wit, 20. Lohan Jacobs, 21. Stokkies Hanekom, 22. Jaco van der Walt

Other than Mostert I am sad Faf de Klerk got realesed from the Bok squad as I see him and Reinach as our post 2015 scrummie options. It'll mean a rethink as to our game plans though- rather back ourselves ball in hand than going for those up-and-unders as these two can have a go with ball in hand themselves and neither have the most accurate kicking game not that Pienaar or Hougie are much better mind you.

That said I hope we don't through away the up-and-under altogether but it should be deeper with more pressure. Our one try vs the All Blacks came off good pressure on a deeper kick where Bismarck took out Read ball and all. We have the chasers to compete; Kriel at 13 has some aerial skill having played a lot at 15 and then both wingers need to chase hard with the loose forwards as well into the middle to cover the pass inside. This is another reason to include Combrinck at 14 actually.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Sharks:15. Joe Pietersen, 14. S'bura Sithole, 13. Wandile Mjekevu, 12. Heimar Williams, 11. Andre Esterhuizen, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Stefan Ungerer, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Jean-Luc du Preez, 6. Khaya Majola, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Lourens Adriaanse, 2. Monde Hadebe, 1. Dale Chadwick
Substitutes: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Thomas du Toit, 18. Dave McDuling, 19. Daniel du Preez, 20. Francois Kleinhans, 21. Michael Claassens, 22. SP Marais

I had no idea Van der Walt and Mjekevu were back in the country. That's a nice change of direction. I rate both of them as good experienced 'stock' players for CC and SR; probably not test players but both it in them to produce a MotM game on their day. We need more of those in our teams. Both are of those ~26 year olds that our teams are missing who are playing abroad.

Other than that it's exciting that we'll be seeing more of the Shark's Du Preez bros. Wish WP (Dobson) had the guts and forethought to back our own.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I had no idea Van der Walt and Mjekevu were back in the country. That's a nice change of direction. I rate both of them as good experienced 'stock' players for CC and SR; probably not test players but both it in them to produce a MotM game on their day. We need more of those in our teams. Both are of those ~26 year olds that our teams are missing who are playing abroad.

Other than that it's exciting that we'll be seeing more of the Shark's Du Preez bros. Wish WP (Dobson) had the guts and forethought to back our own.

I knew about Van Der Walt, but I thought Mjekevu will only be back for the SR next year.

I have to say, that Sharks team looks surprizingly stronger than I thought they would be.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I knew about Van Der Walt, but I thought Mjekevu will only be back for the SR next year.

I have to say, that Sharks team looks surprizingly stronger than I thought they would be.

The same thought went through my head.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I went for 4 away wins this weekend on Superbru...

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I went for 4 away wins this weekend on Superbru...

Yeah, I might have undervalued the Bulls and Sharks' chances. That said though the Cheetahs have been named and this team at home can cause problems for the Bulls if the game gets loose;

Free State Cheetahs:
15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 BG Uys, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga

 

[TRF_heineken]

Yeah, I might have undervalued the Bulls and Sharks' chances. That said though the Cheetahs have been named and this team at home can cause problems for the Bulls if the game gets loose;

Free State Cheetahs:
15 Coenie van Wyk, 14 Clayton Blommetjies, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Niel Marais, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Gerhard Olivier, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Boom Prinsloo, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Willem Serfontein, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Neil Rautenbach, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen
Substitutes: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 BG Uys, 19 Reniel Hugo, 20 Tienie Burger, 21 Zee Mkhabela, 22 Fred Zeilinga

Lol!!

man, you just get ahead of me everytime of getting the team names. You are more than welcome to add it to my OP, my fellow mod.

It's a good Cheetahs team that. And I'm excited to see what Franco Smith does with the Cheetahs.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Lol!!

man, you just get ahead of me everytime of getting the team names. You are more than welcome to add it to my OP, my fellow mod.

It's a good Cheetahs team that. And I'm excited to see what Franco Smith does with the Cheetahs.

LOL, I did start editing your OP when Natal got announced but decided it might be 'bad form' so didn't. I rate Smith as a coach. I think he has the same approach to Ackermann and we know how that bore fruit (though its a long term plan). Maybe shedding their 'big names' and I daresay big egos will be a good thing for them.

 

[TRF_heineken]

So it's just the Kings team that hasn't been announced yet.

That Bulls vs.Cheetahs match is going to be the pick of the weekend for me. Glad to see Hougaard back at 9.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

I see you have the Kings team up as well.

That is likely going to be the majority of their SR team as well probably- easy points.

The thing that gets me though is that they don't even follow their political aspirations. Just look at that starting XV. WP has double the amount of non-whites in the run on XV and it would've been 1 more had the Bokke not had a few injuries and Kolisi were available. The thing for WP though is all those guys are there on merit. I might have my concerns over Coleman and Mbonambi but I have my concerns over Catrakilis, Groom etc etc as well. If only one could say the same for other SA teams. One can almost but that damned Fikie just can't help himself. There might not even be speculation had Meyer made selections just as he had and the sports minister and the rest had just not gone on the rants they have.

 

[TRF_heineken]

I see you have the Kings team up as well.

That is likely going to be the majority of their SR team as well probably- easy points.

The thing that gets me though is that they don't even follow their political aspirations. Just look at that starting XV. WP has double the amount of non-whites in the run on XV and it would've been 1 more had the Bokke not had a few injuries and Kolisi were available. The thing for WP though is all those guys are there on merit. I might have my concerns over Coleman and Mbonambi but I have my concerns over Catrakilis, Groom etc etc as well. If only one could say the same for other SA teams. One can almost but that damned Fikie just can't help himself. There might not even be speculation had Meyer made selections just as he had and the sports minister and the rest had just not gone on the rants they have.

Lol!

Even the Bulls have more non-white players in their matchday 23 than the Kings.... That says a lot!!

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Lol!

Even the Bulls have more non-white players in their matchday 23 than the Kings.... That says a lot!!

Yeah, I'd have had more respect for the Kings if they stuck to their word/aspirations and fielded an all-black team.

Maybe I'm being too harsh though. The province certainly produces talent but most of their youth either come here or join Grey College. A lot of the seniors end up at the Sharks. They needed to build from the ground up a long time ago and create a sustainable programme. I hear they supposedly have a big(ish) sponsr coming. I certainly hope so as its a dirty shame the pro playing staff had to wait 3+ months for their wages (which probably pale to those at other unions). Dirty administrators will fill their own pockets first though!! Get rid of those leeches, EP!!

Having a look at players that could've played for them had they stayed in the province:

1
2 Bandise Maku
3
4 Jacques Potgieter
5
6 Siya Kolisi
7 Dewald Potgieter
8 Ryan Kankowski
9
10 Elton Jantjies
11 Lwazi Mvovo
12 Jan Serfontein
13 JJ Engelbrecht
14 S'bura Sithole
15 Odwa Ndungane

I'm not gonna do research or a full squad but one gest the idea. If anywhere its the Sharks that don't pull their weight in producing Bokke but TBF their academy has slowly but surely started doing stuff.

 

[TobesHodges]

Faf De Klerk is an amazing little scrummy, why is he not being considered for the boks?? I know he's small but his defence is still top notch..

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Faf De Klerk is an amazing little scrummy, why is he not being considered for the boks?? I know he's small but his defence is still top notch..

Him and Reinach are clear ahead of the local talent but HM wants 1) experience and 2) a so-called kicking game from his 9. I'm holding out for De klerk and Reinach taking us forward post the RWC.

 

[TobesHodges]

Him and Reinach are clear ahead of the local talent but HM wants 1) experience and 2) a so-called kicking game from his 9. I'm holding out for De klerk and Reinach taking us forward post the RWC.

Faf is only 23 as well..

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Faf is only 23 as well..

And just helped a relatively unknown and limited Pumas side beat a pretty strong Sharks line-up by dictating the tempo of play brillianly. I hope Meyer took ntice but I doubt it.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Pumas are a dangerous team. If they can consistently play this way, they might even make it to the play offs. Unlike the Griquas, they have a much better organization. Sharks were just **** poor on defense. After the good years it looks like we have to take a step back and rebuild

 

[TobesHodges]

This Golden Lions team is an actual super rugby team, surely this is a bit unfair..