Currie Cup festive weekend action | Fixtures, line-ups and predictions

Festive season Currie Cup action continues over the weekend with the staging of two Round 5 matches in Cape Town and Bloemfontein.

WP PLAY GRIQUAS, CHEETAHS HOST THE SHARKS

Western Province lock horns with Griquas on Saturday at Newlands, where WP will be aiming to continue with their push for a semi-final spot.

The side from Kimberley travel down to the Mother City determined to clinch their first win of the campaign.

Saturday’s encounter starts at 16:30.

In the only match on Sunday the Cheetahs host the Sharks in another 16:30 kick-off at the Toyota Stadium in the Free State capital.

BOTH CURRIE CUP MATCHES WILL BE LIVE ON TV

Both games will be televised live on the SuperSport Grandstand and Rugby channels.

The Bulls’ home match against the Lions – originally scheduled for Saturday – has been postponed to Wednesday, January 6, 2021 (kick-off 19:00), because of infections in the Bulls’ squad.

The Bulls’ subsequent match against the Pumas – scheduled for two days later on Friday, January 8 – has been pushed back two days to Sunday, January 10 (kick-off 16:00) at the Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

BULLS LEAD THE CURRIE CUP LOG

Jake White’s Bulls outfit leads the current standings on 35 points from seven wins and just two losses in their 10 outings so far. They are followed by Gauteng neighbours, the Lions on 29 points, the Sharks (28), Western Province (26), Cheetahs (21), Pumas (12) and the winless Griquas (7).

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SATURDAY, DECEMBER 26

WESTERN PROVINCE V GRIQUAS, CAPE TOWN – 16:30

Western Province

15 Damian Willemse, 14 Sergeal Petersen, 13 Dan du Plessis, 12 Rikus Pretorius, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Herschel Jantjies, 8 Juarno Augustus, 7 Johan du Toit, 6 Siya Kolisi (captain), 5 JD Schickerling, 4 Chris van Zyl, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff

Substitutes (from): 16 Chad Solomon, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Sazi Sandi, 19 David Meihuizen, 20 Jaco Coetzee, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Ernst van Rhyn, 25 Chris Schreuder, 26 Leolin Zas

Griquas

15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 Andre Swarts, 11 Enver Brandt, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Zak Burger (captain), 8  Johan Momsen, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5  Cameron Lindsay, 4 Adre Smith, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Alandre van Rooyen, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel

Substitutes (from): 16 HJ Luus, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 Tijde Visser, 19 Ewan Coetzee, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 CJ Velleman, 22 Ashlon Davids, 23 Daniel Kasende, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 Raegan Oranje

Venue: Newlands, Cape Town

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Assistant Referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Divan Uys

TMO: Joey Klaaste-Salman

Prediction: WP will have too much fire-power, particularly among the forwards, for their visitors. Home side by 20 points.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 27

CHEETAHS V SHARKS, BLOEMFONTEIN – 16:30

Cheetahs

15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Frans Steyn, 11 Rosko Specman, 10 Reinhardt Fortuin, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wegner (captain), 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter

Substitutes: Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Rhyno Smith

Sharks

15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Aston Fortuin, 4 Ruben van Heerden, 3 John Hubert-Meyer, 2 Kerron van Vuuren, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Khwezi Mona, 18 Michael Kumbirai, 19 Hyron Andrews, 20 Thembelani Bholi, 21 Grant Williams, 22 Werner Kok, 23 Aphelele Fassi

Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron, Griffin Colby

TMO: Jaco Peyper

Prediction: Could well be a classic clash. The Cheetahs can’t afford to lose, but we think they will … Sharks by 5 points.