Currie Cup: Western Province - GWK Griquas @ Newlands, CTN (16-07-2011, 14:00 GMT)

[TRF_Ezequiel]

Newlands, Cape Town (16-07-2011, 14:00 GMT)

Newlands in Cape Town is the setting for the match between Western Province and GWK Griquas. The home side will be mindful that the team from Kimberley always start the Currie Cup very well. Last year they won four out of their first six matches, including victories over the Sharks and the Golden Lions.

GWK Griquas finished sixth in the Currie Cup last year and will be looking at a top four finish this year. They only won two of their last eight matches and coach Abré Minnie knows greater consistency will be needed if his team is to progress to the semi-finals.

WP, last year 's runners up in the Currie Cup, will however be a tough nut to crack at home. Even though Province will be withou a host of their Super Rugby stars, they will look to build on the solid performances by the Stormers in the last few months.

The visitors will be without the injured Sarel Pretorius, star scrumhalf of the Cheetahs in the recent Super Rugby series, while GWK Griquas will be lead by former Springbok Sevens star, Jonathan Mokuena, who is back in Kimberley after a stint playing in Johannesburg.

According to GWK Griquas assistant coach, Pote Human, the fact that WP will be without a number of front line players, will not make the trip to Cape Town any easier.

"There is no such thing as a weak Western Province side and it 's always tough to play at Newlands. Myself and head coach Abré Minnie are also new in our roles here at Griquas, so it won 't be easy, but we 're looking forward to the challenge, " said Human.



Teams:

Western Province: 15. Conrad Jantjes, 14. Danie Poolman, 13. Johan Sadie, 12. Tim Whitehead, 11. JJ Engelbrecht, 10. Gary van Aswegen, 9. Louis Schreuder, 8. Nick Koster, 7. Siya Kolisi, 6. Wimpie van der Walt, 5. De Kock Steenkamp, 4. Hilton Lobberts, 3. Brok Harris, 2. Deon Fourie (captain), 1. Wicus Blaauw.

Replacements: 16. Tiaan Liebenberg, 17. Frans Malherbe, 18. Adriaan Fondse, 19. Rohann Kitshoff, 20. Nick Groom, 21. Demetri Castrikillis, 22. Marcel Brache


Griquas: Not yet announced

 

[Seaton]

Mon the Griquas B)

 

[Seaton]

Louis Scheurder getting told off quite badly there by Kaplan

Griquas doing pretty well so far, looking comfortable and leading 6-3

Yaaaasss, Rocco Jansen try B) 13-3

 

[SelimNiai]

Yaaaasss, Rocco Jansen try B) 13-3

Good one too, nicely judged kick-ahead and well gathered. Surprised they can get away ***h the kits, too similar I'd have thought.

 

[Seaton]

I think it looks worse on T.V. Than what it is, butnot many teams (if any at all) in the CC have a third kit option

Siya Kolisi try, 13-13

Yaaaas, Rocco Jansen gets a second!!! B)
Stormer2010 will nae be happy with that one, bar 5 players the entire WP just didn't bother to get back to defend

Griquas lead 23-16

Oooof, so the final result is 26 all draw
Gary van Aswegan injured again

 

[TRF_stormer2010]

... it looks like its gonna be a long season. I'm scared of the Sharks and Cheetahs..

 

[Seaton]

News on the injury front from this game...

Gary Van Aswegan will miss a minimum of two months on the sidelines after a re-occurence of the injury that he got at the start of the S15

With Grant in Japan, Cronje and Coleman still injured, this will cause HUGE problems for WP if that lad Demetri Castrikillis can't produce the goods, and after missing the last minute penalty to snatch victory in this game, albeit from a difficult angle, more needs to be seen of him

All WP need is for Duvenange to re-injure himself, and that will be their season unfortunately. Oppurtunity for the Lions, Cheetahs and Griquas to nab that 2nd place spot if this happens. (Of course the Sharks will finish top, and the Bulls suffer a last minute loss to the Pumas to finish last )