The return of the incredible Schalk on Friday evening, while the Wallabies look to repay the favour dished out in Brisbane. All the weekend’s teams, times, refs and Tank Lanning’s predictions.
It’s a 5 game weekend and you need two pink tickets I am afraid … Two goodies on Friday night that will need you to have your bar tab paid off at your post work local, then it is a beer or two while fire burns down during the Griquas vs Bulls game, a magnificent hour’s break between that and the Bok game so you can get a good rare rump steak and tjoppie in while keeping an eye on what Mallett has to say, and then industrial coolerbox emptying while the Boks chase bonus points at Newlands … The All Black game is perfect for the PVR … Koffie en beskuit on Sunday morning. Too tremendous!!
Friday 27 September
17:05 Free State vs Western Province. Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Rasta Rasivhenge, Pieter Janse van Vuuren
TMO: Willie Roos with JJ Wagner in training
First Round Result: WP 15-14 Free State
Last year’s results: Free State 22-29 WP, Wp 36-15 Free State
Head to head since 2010: Played 8, WP have won 5, Cheetahs 3
The BetFlash odds should be about when Schalk will come on, and if he does, how long he will last. It must be one of the most anticipated comebacks ever! The battle of the front rows will be immense, with WP seemingly the form scrum of the tournament thus far. It might go a long way to deciding the game. Hence Schalk van der Merwe getting his chance against Pat Cilliers … Michael van der Spuy is the new boy in the team, replacing in form Bok Juan de Jongh. Johann Sadie will be hoping for a big performance against his old team mates and look to target the inexperienced Province centre, but he has been strangely off his game of late. Lappies Labuschagne vs. Deon Fourie sees two very different loosies who will look to out work each other out as Fourie looks to steal the ball on the ground and Labuschagne gets physical at the breakdown. These different styles should fuel the fetcher/non-fetcher debate.
Superbru community pick: WP by 4
Betflash odds: WP (8/10) to beat Cheetahs (21/20)
My prediction: WP by 5
WP: 15. Gio Aplon, 14. Gerhard van den Heever, 13. Michael van der Spuy, 12. Damian de Allende, 11. Cheslin Kolbe, 10. Kurt Coleman, 9. Nic Groom, 8. Nizaam Carr, 7. Rynhardt Elstadt, 6. Deon Fourie (captain), 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Taz Fuzani, 3. Pat Cilliers, 2. Scarra Ntubeni, 1. Steven Kitshoff
Bench: 16. Michael Willemse, 17. Brok Harris, 18. Gerbrandt Grobler, 19. Schalk Burger, 20. Josh Katzen, 21. Louis Schreuder, 22. Demetri Catrakilis
Cheetahs: 15. Hennie Daniller, 14. Riaan Smit, 13. Johann Sadie, 12. Robert Ebersohn, 11. Piet Lindeque, 10. Elgar Watts, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 8. Boom Prinsloo (captain), 7. Teboho Mohoje, 6. Lappies Labuschagne, 5. Lood de Jager, 4. Freddy Ngoza, 3. Trevor Nyakane, 2. Hercu Liebenberg, 1. Schalk van der Merwe.
Bench: 16. AJ le Roux, 17. Rossouw de Klerk, 18. Francois Uys, 19. Davon Raubenheimer, 20. Piet van Zyl, 21. Rayno Benjamin, 22. Willie du Plessis.
19.10 Golden Lions vs Sharks. Ellis Park Johannesburg.
Referee: Jason Jaftha.
Assistant referees: Jaco Kotze, Stefan Breytenbach.
TMO: Johan Greef.
First Round Result: Sharks 33-25 Lions
Last year’s results: Sharks 30-14 Lions. Lions 28-22 Sharks
Head to Head since 2007: Played 8, Sharks 6, Lions 1, Draw 1
Another biggie that could well be decided come scrum time. CJ van der Linde vs Wiehahn Herbst will see coolerboxes being emptied round the country! CJ has been very good on both sides of the scrum this season (and you will not hear me say that very often), and will be looking to upset one of his competitors for Jannie’s Bok number 3 jersey. Warren Whiteley vs Keegan Daniel sees two of the more skilled number eights in the Currie Cup going head to head. They will be the catalysts in linking the forwards and the backs. Look out for them distributing the ball away from the contact. I think we will have a proper bum squeaker … Worth a dabble on the Sharks perhaps?
Superbru community pick: Sharks by 1
Beflash odds: Lions (17/20) to beat Sharks (21/20)
My prediction: Lions by 2
Golden Lions: 15. Marnitz Boshoff, 14. Andries Coetzee, 13. Deon Helberg, 12. Dylan Des Fountain, 11. Anthony Volmink, 10. Elton Jantjies, 9. Ross Cronje, 8. Warren Whiteley, 7. Derick Minnie (capt), 6. Jaco Kriel, 5. Franco van der Merwe, 4. Chris van Zyl, 3. Ruan Dreyer, 2. Robbie Coetzee, 1. CJ van der Linde.
Bench: 16. Willie Wepener, 17. Jacques van Rooyen, 18. Willie Britz, 19. Warwick Tecklenberg, 20. Guy Cronje, 21. Grant Janke, 22. Ruhan Nel.
Sharks: 15. SP Marais, 14. Odwa Ndungane, 13. Tim Whitehead, 12. Heimar Williams, 11. Lwazi Mvovo, 10. Fred Zeilinga, 9. Charl McLeod, 8. Keegan Daniel (captain), 7. Tera Mtembu, 6. Justin Downey, 5. Stephan Lewies, 4. Peet Marais, 3. Wiehahn Herbst, 2. Kyle Cooper, 1. Dale Chadwick.
Bench: 16. Monde Hadebe, 17. Danie Mienie, 18. Edwin Hewitt, 19. Bynard Stander, 20. Cobus Reinach, 21. Butch James, 22. Jaco van Tonder.
Saturday 28th September
14.00 Griquas vs Blue Bulls. GWK Park, Kimberley.
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant Referee: Lesego Legoete, Francois de Bruin
TMO: Gerrie Coetzee
First Round Result: Blue Bulls 15-9 Griquas
Last year’s results: Blue Bulls 35-20 Griquas. Griquas 49-34 Blue Bulls.
Head to Head since 2010: Played 8, Bulls 6, Griquas 1, Draw 1
Well if Betflash cannot make up their minds, how are we supposed to? Toss a coin me hearties! Or how about those odds on a draw at 185/10? The Bulls are away from home and struggling big time this year, while Griquas have been mostly there or thereabout in all their games, and will be fiesty at home. The Bulls are much better with Handre Pollard at flyhalf though, and William Small-Smith is an exceptional rugby player! Some say even better than Jan Serfontein and Rob Ebersohn. This game is worth watching just to see how he goes at this level.
Superbru community pick: Blue Bulls by 1
Betflash odds: Griquas (18/20) to scrape past Bulls (19/20)
My Prediction: Blue Bulls by 5
Blue Bulls: 15.Jurgen Visser, 14.Sampie Mastriet, 13.William Small-Smith, 12.Francois Venter, 11.Akona Ndungane, 10.Handré Pollard, 9.Rudy Paige, 8.Jono Ross (c), 7.Jacques du Plessis, 6.Wiaan Liebenberg, 5.David Bulbring, 4.Paul Willemse, 3.Werner Kruger, 2.Bandise Maku, 1.Marcel van der Merwe.
Bench: 16.Mbongeni Mbonambi, 17.Frik Kirsten/Dean Greyling, 18.Grant Hattingh, 19.Jacques Engelbrecht, 20.Lohan Jacobs, 21.Ulrich Beyers, 22.Clayton Blommetjies.
Griquas: 15 Gouws Prinsloo , 14 Richard Lawson, 13 JP Nel, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 Rocco Jansen, 10 Richard Lawson, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Leon Karemaker, 7 Burger Schoeman, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Jaco Nepgen, 4 Rory Arnold, 3 Ewald van der Westhuizen, 2 Ryno Barnes (captain), 1 Steph Roberts
Bench: 16 Matthew Dobson, 17 Brendan Pitzer, 18 Patrick O’Brien, 19 RJ Liebenberg, 20 Jacques Coetzee, 21 Du Randt Gerber, 22 Jean Stemmet
17:00 South Africa vs Australia. Newlands, Cape Town.
Referee: Jerome Garces
Assistant referees: Nigel Owens, Pascal Gauzere.
TMO: Graham Hughes
First round result: Australia 12-38 South Africa
Last year’s results: Australia 26-19 South Africa. South Africa 31-8 Australia
Head to Head: Played 76, Australia 33, South Africa 42, Draw 1
As expected Du Preez is back, and he will again be good behind a dominant pack. I cannot wait to see how he goes at Ellis Park as that will give us a true indication of where his game is at. That said, I do think Meyer has gambled a little by leaving the world’s best player on the bench. Bismarck seems vital to the big physical onslaught up front. And with Horwill back and Robinson on the bench, the Aus pack will probably not fold as easily as it did in Brisbane .. Eben Etzebeth vs James Horwill will be good. Will Eben’s youthful athleticism match up to Horwill’s experience? Quade Cooper vs Morne Steyn is another goodie that is obviously hugely influenced by who wins the battle up front. The two players couldn’t be more contrasting, though. Will Cooper be able to play the attacking game that he seems due for? Or will Morne’s kicking prowess and consistency propel the Boks to another win? One trap the Boks have to look out for is chasing the bonus point before securing the win … That log is tight and it might well come down to bonus points, but those little suckers only count if you get the win as well!
Superbru community pick: South Africa by 12
Betflash odds: South Africa (1/5) to beat Australia (15/4)
My Prediction: Boks by 7
South Africa:15 Zane Kirchner, 14 Willie le Roux, 13 JJ Engelbrecht, 12 Jean de Villiers (c), 11 Bryan Habana, 10 Morné Steyn, 9 Fourie du Preez, 8 Duane Vermeulen, 7 Willem Alberts, 6 Francois Louw, 5 Flip van der Merwe, 4 Eben Etzebeth, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Tendai Mtawarira.
Bench: 16 Bismarck du Plessis, 17 Gurthrö Steenkamp, 18 Coenie Oosthuizen, 19 Juandré Kruger, 20 Siya Kolisi, 21 Ruan Pienaar, 22 Pat Lambie, 23 Jan Serfontein.
Australia: 15.Israel Folau, 14.Adam Ashley-Cooper, 13.Tevita Kuridrani, 12.Christian Lealiifano, 11.Joe Tomane, 10.Quade Cooper, 9.Nic White, 8.Ben Mowen, 7.Michael Hooper, 6.Scott Fardy, 5.James Horwill (capt), 4.Rob Simmons, 3.Ben Alexander, 2.Stephen Moore, 1.James Slipper.
Bench: 16.Saia Faingaa, 17.Benn Robinson, 18.Sekope Kepu, 19.Sitaleki Timani, 20.Ben McCalman, 21.Will Genia, 22.Matt Toomua.
Sunday 29th September
00:40 Argentina vs New Zealand. Estadio Ciudad de La Plata
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees Wayne Barnes, Leighton Hodges
TMO: Deon van Blommestein
First round result: New Zealand 28-13 Argentina.
Last year’s results: New Zealand 21-5 Argentina. Argentina 14-54 New Zealand.
Head to Head: Played 16, New Zealand 15, Draw 1
No Carter and no McCaw, and only one Franks brother! Instead it is Cruden, Messam and Faumuina … Hardly scratching the barrel is it? Dagg vs Hernandez will make for good viewing. No doubt the former with ball in hand and the latter trying to make the tackle! The other good head to head is Kieran Reid vs Juan Manuel Leguizamon. Two top class 8th men, who’s games will be heavily influenced by which pack comes out trumps. The Boks almost came short in the face of raw passion and guts, especially in defence. If the All Blacks focus on bonus points rather than a win, they might also have a tough afternoon …
Superbru community pick: New Zealand by 14
Betflash odds: All Blacks (1/10) to hammer Argentina (56/10)
My pick: New Zealand by 15
Argentina: 15 Juan Martin Hernandez, 14 Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino, 13 Marcelo Bosch, 12 Santiago Fernandez, 11 Juan Imhoff, 10 Nicolas Sanchez, 9 Martin Landajo, 8 Juan Manuel Leguizamon, 7 Pablo Matera, 6 Juan Fernandez Lobbe (captain), 5 Patricio Albacete, 4 Julio Farias Cabello, 3 Juan Figallo, 2 Eusebio Guinazu, 1 Marcos Ayerza.
Bench: 16 Agustin Creevy, 17 Nahuel Lobo, 18 Juan Pablo Orlandi, 19 Mariano Galarza, 20 Benjamín Macome, 21 Tomas Cubelli, 22 Felipe Contepomi, 23 Horacio Agulla.
New Zealand: 15 Israel Dagg, 14 Ben Smith, 13 Conrad Smith, 12 Ma’a Nonu, 11 Julian Savea, 10 Aaron Cruden, 9 Aaron Smith, 8 Kieran Read (captain), 7 Sam Cane, 6 Liam Messam, 5 Sam Whitelock, 4 Brodie Retallick, 3 Owen Franks, 2 Andrew Hore, 1 Tony Woodcock
Bench: 16 Keven Mealamu, 17 Wyatt Crockett, 18 Charlie Faumuina, 19 Jeremy Thrush, 20 Steven Luatua, 21 Tawera Kerr-Barlow, 22 Beauden Barrett, 23 Charles Piutau
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