For the Xerox Lions, Saturday’s Absa Currie Cup match against the Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein is not about taking revenge for last year’s defeat in the final.
Their prime objective will rather be to accomplish what they have neglected to do all season: take their chances.
With the same team which squandered many a try in the Super 14, Eugene Eloff’s team is running out of opportunities to convince their supporters that they have what it takes.
As the coach himself says: “This is a team which could win the Currie Cup, and it’s time that they started proving it.”
Despite having more than their share of last weekend’s match, they lost 21-7 to the Blue Bulls and need a boost to set them on track for the season.
But it won’t be easy, even against a Cheetahs side made to scrap hard for their 20-16 win over neighbours Griquas.
However, Free State will be buoyed by the return of Springbok inside back Meyer Bosman in a side bristling with pace and quality – and where the return of prop Kobus Calldo is a special boost in a pack which has experience in the tight five and pace in the loose.
The performance of the new halfback paring of Bok Sevens captain Neil Powell and former Bok flyhalf Chris Rossouw will also be of special interest.
** The match at Newlands where a rejuvenated Blue Bulls side and -judging by their performance against the Sharks – an obviously underestimated Western Province cross swords will also be hard and uncompromising.
The Bulls have everything it takes and will be buoyed by the inclusion of hard man Danie Rossouw on the flank and the fact that they have World Cup Boks Rossouw, Akona Ndungane and Wynand Olivier available to help the youngsters such as Deon Stegmann and Wilhelm Steenkamp coming through.
And don’t take players like Tiger Mangweni, John Mametsa, Jaco Engels, Derick Kuun and Francois van Schounwenburg lightly, either.
There is a plenty of experience and class among them, and the man to trigger them at flyhalf, Morne Steyn, is a class act in his own right.
WP, however, will be looking to avenge home and away losses in 2007’s Absa Currie Cup and will be boosted by the return of Springboks Schalk Brits (hooker), Gcobani Bobo (centre) and Tonderai Chavhanga (wing) – all of whom have been named to start in Cape Town.
** In other matches, the Sharks should be too strong for the Boland Kavaliers in Durban on Friday night, and the Valke, if they can play for 80 minutes and not 40, are capable of giving favourites Griquas a real scare in Brakpan.
Griquas, who have set themselves the objective of winning away from home, have this opportunity against uncompromising opponents to show that they can achieve their aim – and last weekend’s close loss to the Cheetahs underlines that. Weekend fixtures:
Premier Division:
Friday
Sharks vs Kavaliers Kick-off: 7pm
Saturday:
Cheetahs v Lions Kick-off: 3pm
Valke v Wildeklawer Griquas Kick-off: 3pm
Western Province v Blue Bulls Kick-off: 5.05pm
First Division:
Friday:
Pumas vs Mighty Elephants, Friday 7pm
Saturday:
Griffons v SWD Eagles, 4pm
Sapa – Rugbyweek.com
