Currie Cup: Western Province - Lions @ Newlands, Cape Town (19-08-2011, 18:00 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Newlands, Cape Town (19-08-2011, 18:00 GMT)

The signs are ominous for Western Province, last year's Currie Cup runners up, as they prepare to face the table-topping Golden Lions at Newlands in Cape Town on Friday evening.

The men from Cape Town have lost their last two games in the Currie Cup, last weekend at home against the Sharks and the week before that against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

In 2010, 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 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. "

Western Province vs Golden Lions
Date: Friday, 19 August
Kick-off: 19:00
Venue: Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Marius Jonker
Last year in Currie Cup:
- 17 July: WP won 32-0 in Cape Town
- 3 September: Golden Lions won 46-28 in Johannesburg

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Western Province: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Demetri Catrakilis, 9. Dewaldt Duvenage, 8. Pieter Louw, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Nick Fenton-Wells, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Hilton Lobberts, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie (Capt) , 1. Steven Kitshoff
Replacements: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Quinn Roux, 19. Nizaam Carr, 20. Nic Groom, 21. Juan De Jongh, 22. Gio Aplon

Lions: 15 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Lionel Mapoe, 12 Alwyn Hollenbach, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Elton Jantjies, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Joshua Strauss (capt), 7 Derick Minnie, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar, 5 Franco van der Merwe, 4 Wikus van Heerden, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Bandise Maku, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Martin Bezuidenhout, 17 Jacobie Adriaanse, 18 Michael Rhodes, 19 Warren Whiteley, 20 Rudy Paige, 21 Burton Francis, 22 Jannie Boshoff.

 

[Seaton]

Province's depth is being whittled away week by week, wouldn't surprise me if they had their u21 team playing the last few rounds this year.

I am going out on a whim here, but if Province lose here, I think they will face an uphill battle to finish in the top 4, with matches away to the Griquas, Bulls, Lions and Sharks to come.

 

[LPsoldier ZA]

The young Province team basically beating a Lions S15 side...not bad, not bad at all.

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

That same team lost to a youthful Sharks team last week

It's obvious that the Sharks and WP have the depth to go the long stretch in the future, unlike the Bulls

 

[Seaton]

How gutted must Jantjies have felt?

Difficult kick the last one, seeing as he has never really had the boot required for 50-metres, but you gotta feel for the guy, had a really good game.

I must say, the pivot with the Greek name has certainly impressed, been solid for WP this season, dare I say that WP could be looking at him as no1 or 2 next year?

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Catrakilis has really proven himself as a good talent for the future. Especially with Grant getting older (and likely to move overseas), they need a proper back-up.

 

[Sker]

I don't think we should put him in Super Rugby right away, give him more time in Currie Cup/Vodacom Cup, I mean sheesh, he played in the Varsity Cup this year! or wait last year... but still!

 

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Not next year, but for the future he is one to watch. Just like Johann Sadie, Mark Richards, Sibusiso Sithole, Marcell Coetzee, Rynhardt Elstadt, Danie Poolman, JJ Engelbrecht, Jandre Marais and Ross Cronje...

There is some fine talent coming through the ranks in both Durban and Cape Town!

 

[Seaton]

Whoa, whoa, whoa

If I meant the Stormers, I would have said so

However, given that by the end of the CC he'll have as much, if not more experience than Gary van Aswegan/ Kurt Coleman at this level, and with Lionel Cronje being a perpetual crock, Demetri may well find himself in the Stormers Superugby squad

 

[LPsoldier ZA]

I hope they go with van Aswegen and Catrakilis as the two no.10's in the group next year...Coleman as backup. Think they are grooming Cronje as a fullback. I feel van Aswegen as a little bit more of an attacking game than Catrakilis, not that it is a problem, it gives Coetzee nice options. Just feel the backs aren't doing as good on the attack as they possibly can.

I say ditch Grant, he has got chance after chance after chance and still fails to produce that something extra consitently. I also feel it is unfair that he gets to go BIG in Japan, and then just walks back into a starting S15 spot. What kind of example does that set for younger players out there?

Just my 2cents..