GWK Griquas, Vodacom Blue Bulls and EP Kings will be hunting their first victories in the ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division as round three of the competition begins on Friday August 22.
Steval Pumas will host GWK Griquas at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit on Friday evening, in what is expected to be a tense clash following their physical promotion/relegation matches last season.
With the Steval Pumas boasting a morale-boosting victory against Toyota Free State Cheetahs in their opening match at home, they will certainly want to capitalise on their home ground advantage again. They will, however, be expecting a tough test as GWK Griquas will go in search of their first win, following defeats against Cell C Sharks and Toyota Free State Cheetahs.
Vodacom Blue Bulls and EP Kings will also both be hunting their first victories in the series at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday, following disappointing starts to the competition. Both teams have battled to find their rhythm and are currently languishing at the foot of the log table, meaning they will be desperate to discover their form and close in on the other teams.
The clash between DHL Western Province and Xerox Golden Lions at DHL Newlands, meanwhile, is expected to be thrilling following the impressive bonus-point victories by both teams in their last two matches. The Johannesburg team will be looking to use their effective scrum to gain ascendancy, but the hosts also have a solid pack, while both teams have fantastic play-makers in the backline, meaning it could be a thrilling clash.
In Durban Cell C Sharks will enter their clash against Toyota Free State Cheetahs as favourites with form and home ground advantage counting in their favour, but the Free State team has created a handful of upsets in Durban in the last ten years and should not be written off.
Steval Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse made seven changes to the squad that went down against the Cell C Sharks last weekend. In the front row prop Corne Fourie starts at loosehead, with Vincent Koch moving to tighthead, while flank Uzair Cassim and fullback Heinrich Steyl were promoted from the bench to the starting team. The main change on the bench was the selection of DHL Stormers scrumhalf Dylon Frylinck, who joined the Nelspruit team for the Absa Currie Cup season. He will make his debut if he takes to the field.
GWK Griquas coach Hawies Fourie, meanwhile, made five changes to his team, with the most notable being the inclusion of former Ikeys FNB Varsity Cup flyhalf Dean Grant, which resulted in regular flyhalf Francois Brummer switching to fullback. In the backline PJ Vermeulen switches from centre to wing to accommodate Jonathan Francke, and on the bench lock Jonathan Adendorf returns from a groin injury, and former Xerox Golden Lions centre Doppies la Grange could make his debut for the province after returning from Italy.
In Pretoria Blue Bulls coach Frans Ludeke made wholesale changes to his team for their first home game following their defeat against DHL Western Province, with fullback Jesse Kriel, centre William Small-Smith, flyhalf Tony Jantjies, scrumhalf Rudy Paige and hooker Bongi Mbonambi all starting. In the front row Marcel van der Merwe moves from loosehead to tighthead, with Dean Greyling returning after suspension. Regular Under-21 pivot Joshua Stander has been named among the replacements and if called upon, will make his Currie Cup debut.
In Port Elizabeth EP Kings coach Carlos Spencer bulked up his pack by naming physical locks Darron Nell and Steven Sykes and looseforwards Paul Schoeman and Luke Watson in the starting lineup, while the only change in the backline was scrumhalf Kevin Luiters replacing Tobie Botes, who has been battling with a wrist injury.
There were only two changes to Xerox Golden Lions starting team to face DHL Western Province, with Willie Britz and Warwick Tecklenburg named in the loose trio. Britz replaces regular captain Warren Whiteley, who was called up to the Springbok squad for the Castle Lager Rugby Championship tour to Argentina. DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee also opted for continuity in selection by naming an unchanged team.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs coach Rory Duncan, meanwhile, made four personnel changes to his starting team, with fullback Clayton Blommetjies, flyhalf Willie du Plessis, flank Neil Claassen and prop Dolph Botha being drafted into the starting team.
In Cell C Sharks camp coach Brad Mcleod-Henderson made a few changes to his pack with props Matt Stevens and Dale Chadwick being handed starts, while Etienne Oosthuizen will start at lock and Francois Kleinhans at flank after JC Astle was ruled out.
Absa Currie Premier Division round 3 fixtures:
Steval Pumas vs GWK Griquas
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kickoff: 19:10
Date: Friday, August 22
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant Referees: Jaco van Heerden and Sieg van Staden
TMO: Johan Greeff
Vodacom Blue Bulls vs EP Kings
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kickoff: 15:00
Date: Saturday, 23 August
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant Referees: Jaco van Heerden and Cobus Wessels
TMO: Johan Greeff
DHL Western Province vs Xerox Golden Lions
Venue: DHL Newlands
Kickoff: 17:05
Date: Saturday, 23 August
Referee: Craig Joubert
Assistant Referee: Christie du Preez and Marc van Zyl
TMO: Deon van Blommestein
Cell C Sharks vs Toyota Free State Cheetahs
Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban
Kickoff: 19:10
Date: Saturday, 23 August
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge
Assistant Referees: Marius Jonker and Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Jason Jaftha
