Currie Cup | Fixtures, line-ups, referees + predictions – January 2

The Currie Cup teams will look to start 2021 with a bang as the competition reaches the penultimate pool round on Saturday and every point counts with five teams still in the running for semi-final places.

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With log leaders, the Bulls, enjoying a bye, Western Province will have the opportunity to leap into the No 1 spot on the standings if they defeat defending champions, the Cheetahs, in Bloemfontein at 16:30.

They will, however, face an epic battle as the Free Staters are fighting for playoff survival.

While a victory would keep the Cheetahs in the race to possibly defend their title, a defeat could dash their hopes of reaching the Currie Cup semi-finals, depending on the other results.

The Pumas and Lions will kick off the Currie Cup action in Nelspruit at 14:00 on Saturday in a match the men from Johannesburg will be determined to win to remain in the top four, while clash between the Sharks and Griquas will play out simultaneously with the Bloemfontein battle at 16:30.

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CURRIE CUP – ROUND 6: SATURDAY, JANUARY 2

PUMAS V LIONS, NELSPRUIT – 14:00

Pumas

15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Luther Obi, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Devon Williams, 9 Ginter Smuts, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren (captain), 4 Darrien Landsberg, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude

Substitutes: 16 AJ le Roux, 17 Eduan Swart, 18 Brandon Valentyn, 19 Francois Kleinhans, 20 Chriswill September, 21 Tiaan Botes, 22 Alwayno Visagie, 23 Wayne van der Bank

Lions

15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Cournall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 André Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Wiehahn Herbst, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Dylan Smith

Substitutes: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Carlu Sadie, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 21 Morné van den Berg, 22 Manuel Rass, 23 Marnus Schoeman

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Assistant Referees: Paul Mente and Morne Ferreira

TMO: Johan Greeff

Prediction: The Lions will have one eye on their massive mid-week clash against the Bulls, but even half-sighted they should be too good for the Pumas in Nelspruit. Lions by 15 points.

CHEETAHS V WESTERN PROVINCE, BLOEMFONTEIN – 16:30

Cheetahs

15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Rhyno Smith, 13 Dries Swaenpoel, 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 Khuta Mchunu, 2 Wilmar Arnoldi, 1 Boan Venter

Substitutes: 16 Marnus van der Merwe, 17 Erich de Jager, 18 Conraad van Vuuren, 19 Victor Sekekete, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 George Cronjé, 22 Howard Mnisi, 23 Tian Meyer

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 Jaco Coetzee, 5 David Meihuizen, 4 JD Schickerling, 3 Frans Malherbe, 2 Bongi Mbonambi, 1 Steven Kitshoff (captain)

Substitutes (from): 16 Scarra Ntubeni, 17 Kwenzo Blose, 18 Neethling Fouche, 19 Chris van Zyl, 20 Marcel Theunissen, 21 Paul de Wet, 22 Ruhan Nel, 23 Tristan Leyds, 24 Leon Lyons, 25 Chad Solomon, 26 Ben-Jason Dixon

Referee: Stuart Berry

Assistant Referees: Griffin Colby and Egon Seconds

TMO: Marius van der Westhuizen

Prediction: Match of the weekend for sure. The Cheetahs will be desperate at home and WP will want to wrap up their Currie Cup playoff spot ahead of the visit of the Sharks. Fascinating tussle .. WP’s pack of forwards tips it in their favour. But only just! WP by 1 point.

SHARKS V GRIQUAS, DURBAN – 16:30

Sharks

15 Aphelele Fassi, 14 Werner Kok, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Jeremy Ward, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Jaden Hendrikse, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Thembelani Bholi, 6 Henco Venter, 5 Ruben van Heerden, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ox Nche

Substitutes: 16 Dan Jooste, 17 Kwezi Mona, 18 Hanru Jacobs, 19 Aston Fortuin, 20 Dylan Richardson, 21 Sanele Nohamba, 22 Manie Libbok, 23. Anthony Volmink

Griquas

15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Berton Klaasen, 12 André 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 Ewan Coetzee, 3 John-Roy Jenkinson, 2 Alandré van Rooyen, 1 Andrew Beerwinkel

Substitutes (from): 16 CJ Conradie, 17 Mox Mxoli, 18 Tijde Visser, 19 Adré Smith, 20 Sibabalo Qoma, 21 Ashlon Davids, 22 Johnathan Francke, 23 Daniel Kasende, 24 Bandisa Ndlovu, 25 Raegan Oranje

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Assistant Referees: Aimee Barrett-Theron and Divan Uys

TMO: Marius Jonker

Prediction: The Sharks have been poor in the Currie Cup of late, but at home should be too strong for the visiting Griquas side. Sharks by 14 points.

BYE: Bulls

IN CLOSING | SA RUGBY SCRAMBLES TO CHANGE CURRIE CUP KICK-OFF TIMES