Semi finals – do or die efforts
Its a question of who will reach the final this weekend.
The four top teams in Absa Currie Cup Premier Division will do battle over the weekend in the two respective semi finals.
Each will be out to reach the finals.
The first semi finals will be played between MTN Golden Lions against DHL Western Province on Saturday at Newlands. Kick-off time: 14:30.
The Sharks meet the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban at 17:00 in the other semi finals.
Defending champions Western Province and the Sharks advance to the final, it will mark their third back-to-back final in SA’s premier domestic competition. A victory for the Sharks this weekend, meanwhile, would earn them their fourth back-to-back final appearance in the competition.
With home ground advantage and winning momentum counting in DHL Western Province’s favour, they will enter their semi final against MTN Golden Lions as favourites. Such has been the consistency of the Cape side’s performances this season they finished the round-robin stages unbeaten.
“We have a tough task ahead of us, but we know what we have to do. We can’t wait to play catch-up rugby again and must get our points from the outset,” said MTN Golden Lions head coach, Johan Ackermann at the Press Conference on Thursday October 17 before the Lions will leave for Cape Town. “Our players don’t have a lot of Currie Cup final play-off, as we boast a lot of youngsters, but looking forward to next year we must know if they can stand up against recognised players. They also need to know if they can play against those players.” After the question was posted to him that the Western Province has a lot of Springboks and whether they will be able to hold them.
“This is a play-off and the winner will go through to the next round and we would like to have that opportunity,” said captain Derick Minnie, “Maybe it is better to be the underdogs and this suits me well.”
The teams have been closely matched in the Absa Currie Cup over the last few seasons, with Western Province winning four of their last ten match-ups, and the Lions five. The other match ended in a 31-31 draw earlier this season. Three of the Cape side’s victories, however, were at home, which should give them confidence.
DHL Western Province coach Allister Coetzee pinned his hopes of a victory on the players that held on for a 17-13 victory against the Sharks last week to guide the team to a possible home final, with the only change to the starting team being at outside centre where Springbok captain Jean de Villiers will start. He will partner Damian de Allende in a hard-running midfield combination, while his national team-mate Juan de Jongh has been named on the bench after recovering from a hamstring injury. Lions coach Johan Ackermann, meanwhile, made a handful of changes to his team with props CJ van der Linde and Ruan Dreyer earning starts. Star flyhalf Elton Jantjies has recovered from injury and will start at No10 in a halfback pairing with Ross Cronje, meaning Marnitz Boshoff will start at fullback.
In the meantime MTN Golden Lions head coach Johan Ackermann has announced his side to take on Western Province in the 2013 Absa Currie Cup semi-final.
In the forwards, CJ van der Linde returns to the starting side at loosehead. Robbie Coetzee is promoted from the bench at hooker and Ruan Dreyer is also called up to the starting 15 at tighthead. Meanwhile, Jaco Kriel returns at flank.
The backline changes see Ross Cronje start at scrumhalf. Elton Jantjies will start at flyhalf, having recovered from injury. Chrysander Botha switches to wing and Marnitz Boshoff will play at fullback.
On the bench, last weekend’s starting front row, in Willie Wepener, Jacques van Rooyen and Julian Redelinghuys, will provide cover. Warwick Tecklenburg is also dropped to the wood.
Tian Meyer and Robert de Bruyn will provide backline cover.
DHL Western Province: Gio Aplon; Gerhard van den Heever, Jean de Villiers, Damian de Allende, Cheslin Kolbe; Demetri Catrakilis, Louis Schreuder; Duane Vermeulen, Siya Kolisi, Deon Fourie; De Kock Steenkamp, Eben Etzebeth; Pat Cilliers, Scarra Ntubeni, Steven Kitshoff. Replacements: Frans Malherbe, Brok Harris, Michael Rhodes, Schalk Burger, Nic Groom, Kurt Coleman, Juan de Jongh.
MTN Golden Lions: Marnitz Boshoff; Chrysander Botha, Lionel Mapoe, Andries Coetzee, Anthony Volmink; Elton Jantjies, Ross Cronje; Warren Whiteley, Derick Minnie (capt), Jaco Kriel; Franco van der Merwe, Chris van Zyl; Ruan Dreyer, Willie Wepener, CJ van der Linde. Replacements: Robbie Coetzee, Jacques van Rooyen, Julian Redelinghuys, Willie Britz, Warwick Tecklenburg, Tian Meyer, Robert de Bruyn.
Sharks vs Cheetahs
In Durban the Sharks will enter their clash against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs with confidence despite coming off a defeat against Western Province last week. Home ground advantage and an impressive run in the pool stages aside, the team boasts a fantastic track-record against the Cheetahs in the competition. In the last nine outings between the teams in the Absa Currie Cup, the Sharks have won eight matches, with their last victory being an encouraging 50-26 win last month. But the Durban side will pay little attention to this when the team’s line up on Saturday, especially since the visitors have also been bolstered by the presence of Springbok front-rowers, Adriaan Strauss and Coenie Oosthuizen, while a handful of their backs have begun to stamp their authority, including flyhalf Elgar Watts and wing Raymond Rhule.
The Sharks: SP Marais; Odwa Ndungane, Louis Ludik, Francois Steyn, Lwazi Mvovo; Pat Lambie, Charl McLeod; Keegan Daniel (capt), Jean Deysel, Marcell Coetzee; Pieter-Steph du Toit, Peet Marais; Wiehahn Herbst, Bismarck du Plessis, Tendai Mtawarira. Replacements: Kyle Cooper, Danie Mienie, Stephan Lewies, Jacques Botes, Cobus Reinach, Fred Zeilinga, Heimar Williams.
Toyota Free State Cheetahs: Hennie Daniller; Riaan Smit, Johann Sadie, Robert Ebersohn, Raymond Rhule; Elgar Watts, Sarel Pretorius; Philip van der Walt, Pieter Labuschagne, Boom Prinsloo; Lood de Jager, Francois Uys; Trevor Nyakane, Adriaan Strauss (capt), Coenie Oosthuizen. Replacements: Hercu Liebenberg, Rossouw de Klerk, Teboho Mohoje, Freddy Ngoza, Piet van Zyl, Johan Goosen, Ryno Benjamin.
