[2015 Currie Cup] Round 3

[TRF_heineken]

Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Date: 21 August 2015
Time: 19:00​

Teams

EP Kings: 15 Scott van Breda, 14 Siyanda Grey, 13 Ronnie Cooke, 12 JP du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Karlo Aspeling, 9 Enrico Acker, 8 Tim Agaba, 7 Jacques Engelbrecht, 6 Luke Watson (captain), 5 Cornell Hess, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Tom Botha, 2 Martin Ferreira, 1 Schalk Ferreira

Substitutes: 16 Lizo Gqoboka, 17 Edgar Marutlulle, 18 Simon Kerrod, 19 Stefan Willemse, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Kevin Luiters, 22 Hansie Graaff

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 Jason-Colin Fraser, 7 Uzair Cassiem, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Rudi Matthee, 3 Khwezi Mona, 2 Frank Herne, 1 Corne Fourie

Substitutes: 16 Francois du Toit, 17 De-Jay Terblanche, 18 Giant Mtyanda, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Reynier van Rooyen, 21 Justin van Staden, 22 Hoffmann Maritz

---

Venue: Griquas Park, Kimberley
Date: 21 August 2015
Time: 19:00​

Teams

Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo, 14 Ruhan Nel, 13 Jonathan Francke, 12 Michael Van Der Spuy, 11 Ntabeni Dukisa, 10 Riaan Viljoen, 9 Tian Meyer (captain), 8 Carel Greeff, 7 Hilton Lobberts, 6 RJ Liebenberg, 5 Hugo Kloppers, 4 Jonathan Adendorf, 3 Stephan Kotze, 2 AJ Le Roux, 1 Danie Minnie

Substitutes: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Ewald Van Der Westhuizen, 18 Jaco Nepgen, 19 Leon Karemaker, 20 Rudi van Rooyen, 21 Clinton Swart, 22 Jacquin Jansen

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Rayno Benjamin, 11 Raymond Rhule, 10 Fred Zeilinga, 9 Shaun Venter, 8 Niell Jordaan, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Francois Uys (captain), 4 Armandt Koster, 3 Luan de Bruin, 2 Jacques du Toit, 1 Caylib Oosthuizen

Substitutes: 16 Elandre Huggett, 17 Maks van Dyk, 18 Reniel Hugo, 19 Tienie Burger, 20 Freddy Ngoza, 21 Ruan van Rensburg, 22 Sias Ebersohn

---

Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban
Date: 22 August 2015
Time: 17:05​

Teams

Natal Sharks: 15. Joe Pietersen, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Paul Jordaan, 12. Andre Esterhuizen, 11. S'bura Sithole, 10. Lionel Cronje, 9. Michael Claassens, 8. Philip van der Walt, 7. Daniel du Preez, 6. Francois Kleinhans, 5. Marco Wentzel (captain), 4. Etienne Oosthuizen, 3. Thomas du Toit, 2. Monde Hadebe, 1. Dale Chadwick

Substitutes: 16. Franco Marais, 17. Gerhard Engelbrecht, 18. Dave McDuling, 19. Jean-Luc du Preez, 20. Stefan Ungerer, 21. Wandile Mjekevu, 22. SP Marais

Golden Lions: 15. Jaco van der Walt, 14. Ruan Combrinck, 13. Stokkies Hanekom, 12. Howard Mnisi, 11. Courtnall Skosan, 10. Marnitz Boshoff, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Ruaan Lerm, 7. Kwagga Smith, 6. Jaco Kriel (captain), 5. Franco Mostert, 4. MB Lusaseni , 3. Julian Redelinghuys, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. Ruan Dreyer

Substitutes: 16. Malcolm Marx, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Martin Muller, 19. Stephan de Wit, 20. Ricky Schroeder, 21. Alwyn Hollenbach, 22. Anthony Volmink

---

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Date: 22 August 2015
Time: 19:10
​

Teams

Blue Bulls: 15 Warrick Gelant, 14 Travis Ismaiel, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Burger Odendaal, 11 Jamba Ulengo, 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Francois Hougaard, 8 Hanro Liebenberg, 7 Lappies Labuschagne (captain), 6 Roelof Smit, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jacques du Plessis, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 Dean Greyling

Substitutes: 16 Jaco Visagie, 17 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 18 RG Snyman, 19 Jannes Kirsten, 20 Ivan van Zyl, 21 Louis Fouché, 22 Dan Kriel

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

Substitutes: 16. Scarra Ntubeni, 17. Alistair Vermaak, 18. Chris van Zyl, 19. Chris Cloete, 20. Jano Vermaak, 21. Kurt Coleman, 22. Huw Jones

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Honestly, which moron decided to play schedule simultaneously?

 

[TRF_heineken]

Good question. There is only four matches, so why not spread them out?

to me there are 6 time-slots to pick from. and there are only 4 games. So it can be easily done.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Two crunch games on Saturday. I'm just a bit concerned about the WP midfield without our 3 Bok centers with De Jongh now also out even if he hasn't been in his best form of late.

Meyer, please release Kolisi back to the WP fold if he isn't part of your RWC plans?

 

[TRF_heineken]

Two crunch games on Saturday. I'm just a bit concerned about the WP midfield without our 3 Bok centers with De Jongh now also out even if he hasn't been in his best form of late.

Meyer, please release Kolisi back to the WP fold if he isn't part of your RWC plans?

Yeah. Well not just Kolisi, but most of the guys who will not make the cut.

The North-South derby is going to be a spectacle!! Can't wait

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

im a bit nervous- the bulls have looked good

 

[TRF_heineken]

Harold Vorster is out for the season:

http://www.sport24.co.za/Rugby/CurrieCup/Lions-lose-Vorster-for-the-season-20150818

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

Pity even if it makes the Lions that little bit less of a threat. Hope he comes back from injury 100% for SR. I see him as one of the blokes that'll push our 3 young Bok centers.

- - - Updated - - -

So far from the few games I've seen I havn't really noticed any new faces hitting the scene like what we've had the last few years. Too early still? Maybe because I promarily watch the WP and we have a relatively settled squad.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

It's too early to tell, although some players have burst onto the season in game 1 in previous years. Basson, De Allende, Coetzee etc.

We will have some new prospects showing their skills in the next few weeks. Be patient

 

[TRF_heineken]

Yeah, some guys are starting to hit their straps. I have to say, a guy who has really impressed me for the Bulls so far is Marvin Orie. Seems like Victor has been passing down some of his lineout and handling skills to good effect.

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

It's too early to tell, although some players have burst onto the season in game 1 in previous years. Basson, De Allende, Coetzee etc.

We will have some new prospects showing their skills in the next few weeks. Be patient

Hah! I generally am except when it comes to rugby. Good to see you around BTW!

 

[TRF_heineken]

Hah! I generally am except when it comes to rugby. Good to see you around BTW!

Yeah, it's awesome to have Zeke here. Guess the Rangers aren't playing at the moment. He does love those ice hockey guys...

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Yeah, it's awesome to have Zeke here. Guess the Rangers aren't playing at the moment. He does love those ice hockey guys...

1. Hockey
2. Rugby
3. American Football
4. Watching grass grow
5. Arguing with my girlfriend
6. Paying taxes
7. Football

 

[TRF_heineken]

1. Hockey
2. Rugby
3. American Football
4. Watching grass grow
5. Arguing with my girlfriend
6. Paying taxes
7. Football

Man, you need to get your priorities right!!

Why is paying taxes so high up your list??

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Because overhere the government really does care about taxes.

 

[TRF_heineken]

Because overhere the government really does care about taxes.

Haha! fair enough. But you also have to bump up the "arguments with your girlfriend". Remember that usually leads to make-up sex

 

[TRF_heineken]

Okay

All teams have been announced. I have added it to the OP.

I can see only 2 home teams winning this week. But there is a big possibility of having all 4 away teams winning.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Very much looking forward to this. I missed the entire Super Rugby season due to health issues (Was in the hospital for almost 6 months) so seeing guys like Esterhuizen play really makes me happy. The Pumas game in week 1 was a bit of a letdown, but so was the Griquas game in 2010 and we all know how that turned out. That was also 3 years after losing the Super Rugby Final and 2 years after winning the Currie Cup final. The similarities between 2010 and 2015 are uncanny!

 

[TRF_heineken]

Very much looking forward to this. I missed the entire Super Rugby season due to health issues (Was in the hospital for almost 6 months) so seeing guys like Esterhuizen play really makes me happy. The Pumas game in week 1 was a bit of a letdown, but so was the Griquas game in 2010 and we all know how that turned out. That was also 3 years after losing the Super Rugby Final and 2 years after winning the Currie Cup final. The similarities between 2010 and 2015 are uncanny!

Damn dude, I didn't know that, sorry to hear. I hope you are better now!

I'm really glad to see Paul Jordaan starting for the Saaarks. He has been out of action for a long time now. And he was one of the guys I thought might go to the World Cup.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Jordaan is still young. There's time to develop for 2019. We have a great young core, but our line-outs are a bit wobbly. Ndungane is still playing. I swear that guy is 40 years old now.