The Bankfin Currie Cup competition will take centre stage again this weekend now that the Tri-Nations is over (for South Africans at least).
On Saturday all eyes will be on Newlands in Cape Town where Western Province and the Pumas will battle it out for supremacy in Section Y.
The Falcons will be looking to bounce back from the defeat to the Lions when they take on the Free State Cheetahs at Kempton Park's Barnard Stadium on Saturday. Also on Saturday the Vodacom Eagles are hosting the Border Bulldogs at George, the Boland Kavaliers will try to keep their Top Eight hopes alive by beating the Griffons at Wellington and Nashua Griquas are the favourites to claim five points against the Leopards at home.
On Sunday the Sharks, bolstered by the return of five Springboks to their squad, should be too strong for the battling Mighty Elephants in Port Elizabeth.
Western Province coach Gert Smal said the game against the Pumas is one of the most important for his side in this year's competition. The defending champions have selected Springboks Bob Skinstad, Neil de Kock, Breyton Paulse, Corne Krige and Cobus Visagie, but will have to do without the injured Robbie Fleck.
Springbok loosehead Robbie Kempson will do duty on the substitutes' bench, with big Toks van der Linde in the starting line-up. "The temptation was there to bring Robbie Kempson straight back, but I didn't want two new props from the beginning. I want to rotate the props for the next couple of games as well, with the view of giving players a break and also finding the right combinations," said Smal.
Smal's decision to draft back the Boks is a measure of the importance of the game for both sides. The Pumas are the pace setters with 19 points after four games, with Province in second position on 14 after three. Log points gained against fellow qualifiers are carried through to the Top Eight stage of the competition and Saturday's match is thus of vital importance.
"I gave the Springboks a break by not considering them for
previous games during the first part of the Tri-Nations. I'm quite excited to have them back. They've come in with a very professional attitude. All credit to them," said Smal.
"This week has been very difficult because we had to wait for
the Springboks (who returned to South Africa on Monday night) and assess the injury situation. We had to do a lot of work in a short
space of time, but I am confident that the guys are ready for the task at hand.
"It's also important we phase the Boks in as soon as possible so
we can find our rhythm," he added.
Smal said they had examined tapes of their Vodacom Cup clash
against the Pumas earlier this year and also the Witbank-based
side's televised match against the Border Bulldogs.
"I suspect they will play Franco Smith at flyhalf. They will
attack (WP flyhalf) Chris Rossouw and Corne Krige and Hendrik
Gerber can assist him on defence. The Pumas also have a strong pack
and they will look to start their momentum from there," he said.
Pumas coach Gert Grobler earlier this week said they come to Cape Town for a win. "We are proud of our unbeaten record in this year's competition and will vigorously defend it. We are not bothered by the fact that they have so many more Springboks in their team. If they beat us it would be because they were the better team."
Teams for Fedsure Park Newlands:
Fedsure WP: Percy Montgomery, Breyton Paulse, Gus Theron, Braam van Straaten, Pieter Rossouw, Chris Rossouw, Neil de Kock, Bob Skinstad, Corne Krige (capt), Hendrik Gerber, Thys Stoltz, Quinton Davids, Cobus Visagie, Charl Marais, Toks van der Linde. Substitutes: Peter Dixon, Robbie Kempson, Hottie Louw, Adri Badenhorst, Johannes Conradie, Werner Greef, Egon Seconds.
Pumas (from): Marius Goosen, Jacques Juries, Marius Schoeman, Riaan Potgieter, Kat de Jager, Jacques Olivier, Franco Smith, Nel Fourie, Hakkies Husselman, Danzel Manuel, Frans Allers, Torros Pretorius, Pierre Uys, Ryan Jacobs, Hendry Rheeders, Gerhard Laufs, Derick Grobbelaar (capt), Hakkies Swart, Christo Bezuidenhout, Jaco Venter, Henry Kemp, Paul Hoffman.
Referee: Andre Watson (Sarfu).
Kick-off: 17:05.
Teams for Barnard Stadium:
Falcons: Dawie du Toit, Turtuis Douw, Adrian Jacobs, Ettiene Botha, Wynand Lourens, Joe Esterhuizen, Deon de Kock, Lodewyk Hatting, Naas Rossouw, Nicky van der walt, Braam Els (capt), Ralf Schreuder, Matthew Proudfoot, James Dalton, Gunder Williamson. Substitutes: Skipper Badenhorst, Stephan Britz, Jaco Booysen, Freddy Roberts, Juan Houtshammer, Jan Cloete.
Cheetahs: Isak Job, Wylie Human, Helgard Brink, MJ Smith, Edrick Fredericks, Conrad Barnard, Neil Powell, Tokkie Kasselman, Gerrie Britz, Hendro Scholtz, Boela du Plooy (capt), Joe Beukes, Dougie Heymans, Andries van der Linden, Daan Human. Substitutes: Attie Winter, Vorster Zeilinga, Andre Venter, Kobus Grobbelaar, Heinre Jacobs, JP du Toit, Leon van den Heever.
Referee: Eugene Daniels (WP).
Kick-off: 15:00.
Teams for Outeniqua Park:
SWD Eagles: Bevin Fortuin, Darryl Coeries, Grant Henderson, Jerome Muller (Paul Treu), Manie du Toit, Bernie Hennessey, Joggie Viljoen, Nico Breedt, Johan Kapp (Capt), Riaan Thomas, Danie van Rooyen, Francois du Toit, Neil du Toit, Rich Verster, Connie Botha. Substitutes: Patrick Bell, Flippie Spies, Jandry de Lange, Barry Jacobz, Noel Oelschig, Rynard vsn As, Keith Meyer.
Border Bulldogs: Russell Bennett, Fergus Kennedy, Dale Heidtmann, Werner Coetzer, Ian Fihlani, Solly Goosen, Richard Bennett, Pietie Loots, Derek Hendry, Graham Carlson (capt), Paul Barker, Bennie Jacobs, Vaughan Graham, Tjoepie van den Heever, Jane du Toit. Substitutes: Ondela Kiva, Michael Coetzee, Reon Kockjeu, Marcel van der Walt, David Maidza, Ryan Pickering, Vido Nako.
Referee: Jamiel Panday (Bol).
Teams for Boland Stadium:
Boland Kavaliers: Lean van Dyk, John Daniels, Rudi Keil, Wayne Julies, Hyron Thysse, Riaan van Jaarsveld, Cassie Carstens, Henley du Plessis, Hannes de Kock, Jannie Coetzee (capt), Randile Julies, Heino Senekal, Andries Human, Dale Santon, Carel van der Merwe. Substitutes: Martin van Schalkwyk, Pieter Terblanche, Vion Wium, Chris Potgieter, Stanley Raubenheimer, Chelton April, Jan Ackermann.
Griffons: Gielie Swart, Malcolm Malan, Gordon Frasca, David van Vuuren, Sacha Marot, Eric Herbert, Charl Blom, Jaco Gouws (capt), Marc-Steven Havinga, JJ Fredericks, Thys Louw, Clinton van der Westhuizen, Frans Botes, Gustav Rademeyer, Sarel Louw. Substitutes: Ricardo Arnolds, Leonard van der Merwe, Bertus Smit, Hein Edwards, Stefan Pawson, Louis Strydom, Brendell Brandt.
Referee: Mark Lawrence (Mpumalanga).
Teams for Absa Park:
Griquas: Henri van Niekerk, Dennis du Plessis, Dries Scholtz, Edrich Lubbe, Jearus Nicholas, Corrie Avenant, Matt Botha, Daan Liversage, Bertus Heunis, Thando Manana, Jaco Barnard, Nelis Swart, Dawie Theron (capt), Hedley Wessels, Riaan Olckers, Anda Gcilitshana, De Waal Venter, Hanu Nel, Attie Stander, Christoff Lotter, George Binikos and Andre Vermeulen.
Leopards: Patrick Pietersen, Laurence Nkosi, Johan Calitz, Ian Noble, Mark Johnson, Francois Swart, Bennie Kotze, Johann Smith, Bloues Volschenk, Louis van Niekerk, Willem Stoltz (capt), Theunis Barnard, Pierre du Toit, Hennie Pieterse, Sampie Hendricks. Substitutes: George van der Walt, Hannes Human, Andre Ceaser, Isaac Treurnicht, Pietie Meyer, Nico Rohrs, Riaan van der Berg.
Referee: Michael Katzenellenbogen.
Kick-off: 15:30.
Teams for Telkom Park:
Mighty Elephants: Ricardo Loubscher, Justin Peach, Sam Gerber, Ronnie Fourie, Wonga Joka, Monwabisi Mdyesha, Chad Alcock (capt), Barry Pinnock, Wayne van Heerden, Heinrich Stride, Wayne Boardman, Rory Duncan, Pierre Durant, Vorster Venter, Dekado Jantjies. Substitutes: Chris Jonck, Rhys Botha, Andries Fourie, Wayne Bennett, Gert Schoonbee, Nicky Smit, Jonathan Staples.
Natal Sharks: Justin Swart, Anton Pitout, Deon Kayser, Trevor Halstead, Stefan Terblanche, Herkie Kruger, Craig Davidson, Shaun Sowerby, Charl van Rensburg (capt), Warren Brosnihan, AJ Venter, Philip Smit, Etienne Fynn, John Smit, Ollie le Roux. Substitutes: Hanyani Shimange, Eduard Coetzee, Albert van den Berg, Brad Macleod-Henderson, Dave von Hoesslin, Gaffie du Toit, Andre Snyman.
Referee: Andy Turner (WP).
Kick-off: 15:00.