Lions shifts into semi-final mood

Xerox Golden Lions are adamant that they have a plan to combat Cell C Sharks strong pack of forwards when they take on the coastal side at home in the Currie Cup semi-finals.

The Lions will play against the Sharks on their home soil on October 20 in Durban at 2.30pm.

“We know that the Sharks have a formidable scrum and their forward play is outstanding the whole season, but if we stick to our game plan, we might overcome that, said Ivan van Rooyen, head coach of the Xerox Golden Lions.

The momentum of the Currie Cup will change significantly on Saturday as the teams make the switch from qualifying mode to final mode as they take to the field in the Premier Division semi-finals.

In the meantime, log-leaders DHL Western Province will meet the Vodacom Blue Bulls in Cape Town at 5pm. All four teams will field 23-man squads, as opposed to applying rolling substitutions as in the pool stages.

A victory for DHL Western Province will guarantee them a home final at DHL Newlands on October 27, however, should they suffer a defeat, the winner of the Cell C Sharks and Xerox Golden Lions match will host the final.

At Jonsson Kings Park, the Sharks will be determined to build on their 37-21 victory against the Lions in a repeat of this match in the pool stages, but they will be wary of underestimating the visitors.

The Durbanites have suffered only one defeat at home against their Gauteng rivals since 2008, and that was in 2015, which should bolster their confidence going into the match. Interestingly, the Lions have scored 46 more points than the KwaZulu-Natalians in the pool stages, but they conceded 80 more.

The Lions made only three changes to their team, with Pieter Jansen joining Springboks Warren Whiteley and Aphiwe Dyanti in their starting team.

The Sharks also made minimal changes to their side with Thomas du Toit and Daniel du Preez starting, while Marius Louw and Robert du Preez are back at centre and fly half respectively, which sees Curwin Bosch move to full back.

In Cape Town every point will count for DHL Western Province who will have their sights set on earning their first home final since 2014 to give themselves the best possible chance to defend their title when they host the Vodacom Blue Bulls in their second successive match.

The Capetonians powered their way to a comprehensive 34-7 victory last week, which proved to be the final score after the match was cut short due to heavy rain and lighting after the first half.

They will, however, be wary of writing off the Vodacom Blue Bulls, who had to dig deep to earn a semi-final berth and who will have a point to prove after their disappointing display last week.

Western Province has been dominant against their Pretoria rivals in the last four seasons, with nine victories in 12 outings, and although anything can happen in a semi-final, the Pretorians will have their work cut out to create an upset as the hosts have been the best side on attack and defence this season.

Dillyn Leyds and Juarno Agustus have recovered from injury and will start for DHL Western Province, while Dan Kriel and Bongi Mbonambi are back from a rest. Kriel will partner up with Ruhan Nel in the midfield, while Damian Willemse has been named at fly half.

The Blue Bulls moved Trevor Nyakane to the loosehead position and named Dayan van der Westhuizen as tighthead in changes up front. In the backs, Dylan Sage will make a first start for his new team and Duncan Matthews was named at wing.

Currie Cup First Division

In the Currie Cup First Division the SWD Eagles will battle it out with the Hino Valke for their first title since 2007, while the Kempton Park outfit will hunt their first title ever when they cross paths at Outeniqua Park in George on Friday.

The battles between these sides in the last four seasons have been gripping, with no more than five points determining the winner in their last six matches. Earlier this season SWD pipped the Hino Valke 36-34 in Kempton Park, which sets the scene for a nail-biting final.

A victory for SWD would mark their third successive victory against the Hino Valke, while the men from Kempton Park will go in search of their first victory in George since 2014.

The visitors’ attack has been their main weapon this season, with their 364 points and 54 tries in seven matches this season making them the top points’ scorers, while SWD boasts the best defensive record, with only 131 points conceded, which will spice things up.

The hosts will have to contain the Hino Valke’s Anrich Richter, Etienne Taljaard and Friedle Olivier, in particular, as Richter’s 88 points have made him the top points’ scorer this season, while his counterparts are the top try scorers with 11 and seven respectively.

However, the Hino Valke will be equally wary of SWD’s Divan Nel, who is in second place on the points scorer’s list with 71 points, and whose 13 penalty goals mark the most this season.

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