Top billing: The Cheetahs visit the champs in Pretoria
A rematch of last year's final tops the Currie Cup bill this weekend as the Cheetahs visit Loftus Versfeld while the Griquas host the Lions.
After just two rounds, incredibly, just one team remains unbeaten in the competition. Western Province lead the way and will expect to stay at the top of the standings after their road trip to Potchefstroom where they face the Leopards.
The weekend's action starts in Durban where the Sharks will be looking for a bonus point win over the Pumas and thus challenge WP for the early championship lead.
The Sharks captain and former Springbok veteran Stefan Terblanche will make his 100th Currie Cup appearance on Friday, another milestone for one of the most likeable characters in South African rugby.
Fixtures:
Friday, July 23
Sharks v Pumas
Leopards v Western Province
Saturday, July 24
Griquas v Lions
Blue Bulls v Cheetahs
Standings:
1 Western Province 8
2 Sharks 7
3 Blue Bulls 6
4 Griquas 6
5 Lions 5
6 Cheetahs 5
7 Pumas 5
8 Leopards 0
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Previews:
Friday, July 23
Sharks v Pumas
After a false start in Kimberley, the Sharks hit their straps against the defending champion Blue Bulls in Durban last week and showed they will be a force to be reckoned with this year.
Most notable was their ability to use first phase ball to control the game against a side known for being strong in the set pieces.
The Pumas will be equally encouraged by their win over the Leopards, but a trip to ABSA Stadium, where the hosts have lost just two games in two years, is unlikely to offer up any championship points.
Sharks coach John Plumtree has rewarded the team that scored five tries against the Blue Bulls last weekend by retaining the same starting line-up.
Only one change has been made to the bench, with big ball-carrying Willem Alberts making his much-anticipated return after overcoming an ankle injury to take the place of Skholiwe Ndlovu.
This means the backline which performed so impressively remains intact, with Charl McLeod, Steve Meyer and Pat Lambie continuing in the 9-10-12 channel.
"I want us to play some great rugby on Friday night and the team selection is really a case of rewarding the group for what they did last weekend," Plumtree told the Sharks website.
"We want to build on what we've achieved."
"Against this Pumas side, we will get opportunities to play but it's how we hold on to the ball, create opportunities and then finish them off.
"We know they're good enough to score against us, but I want the boys to defend well and that's mostly about attitude."
Despite Springbok Odwa Ndungane now returning to fitness, last weekend's two-try hero Lwazi Mvovo has done enough to retain his place.
Centurion Terblanche will lead the side once again. The utility back has scored 52 tries in his Currie Cup career - 34 for the Durban franchise and 18 for the Boland Kavaliers. He has also played in 37 Tests for the Springboks and has scored 19 tries on the international stage.
Meanwhile, the Pumas have a new fly-half as Ricardo Croy takes over from Elgar Watts. Elsewhere in the backline Shaun Venter moves from the wing to outside centre, swapping with Ashwin Scott.
The visiting pack is unchanged.
Prediction: The last time these sides met in Durban, the Sharks defeated the Pumas 34-16 back in 2006. The 'Shark Tank' should see a feeding frenzy: The Sharks to win with a bonus point.
The teams:
Sharks: 15 Louis Ludik, 14 JP Pietersen, 13 Stefan Terblanche (c), 12 Patrick Lambie, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Steve Meyer, 9 Charl McLeod, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Michael Rhodes, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Alistair Hargreaves, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Patric Cilliers.
Replacements: 16 Kyle Cooper, 17 Eugene van Staden, 18 Ross Skeate, 19 Willem Alberts, 20 Rory Kockott, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Andries Strauss.
Pumas: 15 Carl Bezuidenhout, 14 Ashwin Scott, 13 Shaun Venter, 12 Siviwe Magaba, 11 Allister Kettledas, 10 Ricardo Croy, 9 Jacques Coetzee, 8 Doppies le Roux, 7 Alwyn Bester, 6 Corné Steenkamp, 5 Marius Coetzer, 4 Eduan van der Walt, 3 Ashley Buys, 2 Hannes Franklin (c), 1 Ronnie Uys.
Replacements:16 Torsten van Jaarsveld, 17 Dawie Steyn, 18 Willem Serfontein, 19 Jaco Bouwer, 20 Tian Meyer, 21 Elgar Watts, 22 Tiaan Marx.
Venue: The ABSA Stadium, Durban
Kick-off:19:00 (17:00 GMT)
Referee:Jonathan Kaplan
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Leopards v Western Province
Western Province have set the benchmark in the early stages of the competition and shouldn't have much trouble against the Leopards - even at the inhospitable Olën Park in Potchefstroom.
WP simply have too much firepower, especially up front, in this top-versus-bottom clash. The visitors will however be seeking the four-try bonus point that has eluded them so far.
The Leopards have never defeated Western Province since their introduction into the Currie Cup Premier Division. The hosts will know their discipline will be under scrutiny against the kicking of Willem de Waal, who has played a major role in the WP's two wins to date.
In team news, Province coach Allister Coetzee has made just two changes to the side that thrashed the Lions at Newlands last week.
Both changes come in the front row where injured loosehead prop Wicus Blaauw makes way for JD Moller. Hookers Tiaan Liebenberg and Deon Fourie are rotated with the latter wearing the number two jersey.
Blaauw is expected to be sidelined for two weeks with a rib injury meaning UCT loose forward Yaya Hartzenberg can take the vacant place on the bench.
Leopards coach Chaka Willemse has selected a third fly-half in as many starts. Neill Jacobs moves from centre to the number ten berth, with Clayton Durand dropping down to the replacement bench after taking over from Cecil Dumond last weekend.
Centre Walter Venter, who is on loan from the Lions, slots into the midfield.
Prediction: No mystery here. WP to win with a bonus point.
The teams:
Western Province:15 Conrad Jantjes, 14 Fabian Juries, 13 Tim Whitehead, 12 Paul Bosch, 11 Frikkie Welsh, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Rynardt Elstadt, 6 Pieter Louw, 5 Anton van Zyl (c), 4 Adriaan Fondse, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Deon Fourie, 1 JD Moller
Replacements:16 Tiaan Liebenberg, 17 JC Kritzinger, 18 Martin Muller, 19 Yaya Hartzenberg, 20 Pieter Myburgh, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Lionel Cronjé.
Leopards: 15 Jean Tiedt, 14 Deon Scholtz, 13 Jovan Bowles, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Dumisane Matyeshana, 10 Neill Jacobs, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Riaan Swanepoel, 7 Wilhelm Koch, 6 Danie Crous, 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williams, 1 Divan Kotzé.
Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Johan Coetzee, 18 Edrich Linde, 19 Reginald Kember, 20 Clayton Durand, 21 Shuaib Samaai, 22 Danie Dames.
Venue:Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off:19:10 (17:10 GMT)
Referee:Sindile Mayende
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Saturday, July 24
Griquas v Lions
Many are calling the Griquas the clear favourites in this fixture after their opening day heroics against the Sharks.
Kimberley has been a tough place to visit in the past - as WP and the Cheetahs found out last year. But let us not forget that the Lions were one of the few teams to win in the Diamond City on their last visit.
Despite what the scoreline might suggest, the Lions will be able to take a few positives from their drubbing in Cape Town last Saturday.
If they can again withstand the pressure up front against a fiery and very competent Griquas pack, they could provide a surprise. The team from Johannesburg will also have to further build on their first phases that showed a marked improvement last weekend.
Ultimately, the much-improved Lions defence will have to hold out against a side that will probably try to run from broken play and use Naas Olivier's boot to kick for territory when in difficulty.
But the visitors could suffer at the breakdown due to the absence of Wikus van Heerden, who broke his arm for the second time last week.
Lions coach John Mitchell has made only one change to the starting side that failed to score against WP as Kevin Buys replaces injured loosehead JC Janse van Rensburg.
On the bench Doppies la Grange makes a welcome return after injury in place of Pieter Engelbrecht, while Jonathan Mokuena replaces Van Heerden.
Buys' place on the bench is taken by Wayne Swart. Mitchell could not consider Tonderai Chavhanga, Burton Francis, Johan Snyman, and Wandile Mjekevu who all still carry injuries.
Griquas coach Dawie Theron is waiting on fitness tests on a number of players before finalising his squad.
Theron's greatest concern will be with the injury to Springbok wing Bjorn Basson, who is being bracketed in the starting team with Richard Lawson.
If Lawson has to play, his place on the bench will be taken by big Bertus Swanepoel, the former Leopards three-quarter who has returned from a stint at Toulouse in France.
Forwards Micheal Passaportis, Gerhard Human and Rohan Kitshoff have also been bracketed on the bench with two of them to be in the matchday 22. At tighthead Jacobie Adriaanse replaces Albertus Buckle, who moves to the bench.
Prediction: Based on the Griquas performance on the opening weekend, we'll back the hosts. Griquas to win by eight points.
The teams:
Griquas : 15 Riaan Viljoen, 14 Rocco Jansen, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson/Richard Lawson, 10 Naas Olivier (c), 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Davon Raubenheimer, 6 Wesley Wilkins, 5 Cecil Kemp, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Ryno Barnes, 1 Steph Roberts.
Replacements: 16 Simon Westraadt, 17. Albertus Buckle, 18&19: Michael Passaportis / Gerhard Human / Rohan Kitshoff, 20. Marnus Hugo, 21. Matthew Rosslee, 22. Richard Lawson / Bertus Swanepoel.
Lions: 5 Jaco Taute, 14 Deon van Rensburg, 13 Marius Delport, 12 Waylon Murray, 11 Michael Killian, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Warren Whiteley, 7 Franco van der Merwe (c), 6 Derick Minnie, 5 David Bulbring, 4 George Earle, 3 Ross Geldenhuys, 2 Martin Bezuidenhout, 1 Kevin Buys.
Replacements: 16 Edgar Marutlulle, 17 Wayne Swart, 18 Trevor Hall, 19 Jonathan Mokuena, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Elton Jantjies, 22 Doppies la Grange.
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Kick-off:15:00 (13:00 GMT)
Referee:Lourens van der Merwe
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Blue Bulls v Cheetahs
Loftus Versfeld hosts the biggest Currie Cup game of the weekend as the Free State Cheetahs travel to Pretoria seeking their first win in the capital since 2007 and revenge for last year's lost final.
These sides have played each other on fifteen occasions since 2005, with the Blue Bulls boasting nine wins over their Bloemfontein opponents. The Cheetahs have only won twice at Loftus - in the 2005 Final and once in 2007.
The Blue Bulls boast an amazing record at home, where they have only suffered two defeats during the last two seasons. Of course the hosts are missing a number of members of the team that won last year's final due to Springboks call-ups, suspension and injury.
In team news, Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke has retained the same starting side that lost to the Sharks last weekend. In the only change to the matchday 22, lock Juandre Kruger is back after injury to take a place on the bench ahead of Berend Botha.
Ludeke says his team will have to be more clinical in their execution than they were against the Sharks. He expects the Free State Cheetahs to play a similar game to the Bulls' territory-based tactics.
The Bulls will therefore have to be solid under the high ball, he said at Wednesday's team announcement.
"This is a very important match for us. No team can afford to lose at home and we want to get back to our winning ways as soon as possible," said Ludeke.
"The Cheetahs always manage to bring the best out of the Blue Bulls and these clashes are normally very tight. It will be the same again and we will be looking at using our opportunities and not give points away easily."
There are four changes to the visitors team, including the return of Springbok hooker Adriaan Strauss.
The seven-cap international is back after recovering from shoulder surgery in the latter stages of the Super 14 season.
Coach Naka Drotské says Strauss will probably only play 40 minutes in his comeback game, but feels he'll have a greater impact in the starting XV rather than off the bench, where Skipper Badenhorst finds himself as a result.
There are two other changes to the pack as Izak van der Westhuizen returns after having recovered from his ankle injury to partner Barend Pieterse in a new second row.
Francois Uys drops out of the team while Waltie Vermeulen rides the bench. Centre Meyer Bosman is struggling with concussion so Corné Uys starts at inside centre.
In a stroke of bad news for the Cheetahs, forward Frans Viljoen has been ruled out for the rest of the season with an Achilles injury.
Prediction: It's tough to argue with the Bulls' record at Loftus, so we'll back the men in blue. The Blue Bulls win by a whisker.
The teams:
Blue Bulls: 15 Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Stephan Dippenaar, 12 Stefan Watermeyer, 11 John Mametsa, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Ruan Snyman, 8 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 7 Derick Kuün, 6 Deon Stegmann, 5 Fudge Mabeta, 4 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Gary Botha (c), 1 Dean Greyling.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Bees Roux, 18 Juandré Kruger, 19 CJ Stander, 20 Danie Faasen, 21 Francois Brummer, 22 Hayden Groepes.
Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Philip Snyman, 13 Robert Ebersohn, 12 Corné Uys, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Louis Strydom, 9 Tewis de Bruyn, 8 Ashley Johnson, 7 Juan Smith, 6 Hendro Scholtz (c), 5 Barend Pieterse, 4 Izak van der Westhuizen, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Coenie Oosthuizen.
Replacements:16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Kobus Calldo, 18 Waltie Vermeulen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Tertius Carse, 21 Sias Ebersohn, 22 JW Jonker.
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off:17:05 (15:05 GMT)
Referee:Pro Legoete
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