Currie Cup: Griquas edge Cheetahs as Faf de Klerk named among replacements

The third round of the Currie Cup began with Griquas beating the Cheetahs 24-21 in a fiercely contested match on Friday, 31 July.

The weekend schedule features several high-profile fixtures, with the Stormers hosting the Sharks XV, the Lions facing the Bulls and Boland Cavaliers meeting the Pumas.

Faf de Klerk was not included in the Cheetahs’ starting line-up against Griquas and was named among the replacements.

Griquas 24-21 Cheetahs

Friday, 31 July – 19:00

Griquas captain Albert Liebenberg led a starting team featuring Stefan Coetzee at full-back, Connor Mahoney on the right wing, Zane Bester and Mnombo Zwelendaba in midfield, and Gurswin Wehr on the left wing.

George Whitehead was selected at fly-half, with Bobby Alexander at scrum-half. Carl Els, Marco de Witt and Lourens Oosthuizen formed the back row, while Liebenberg and Lungisi Mbiko were named in the second row.

The front row consisted of Ig Prinsloo, Tiaan Lange and Leon Lyons.

Griquas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Connor Mahoney, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Lungisi Mbiko, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons. Replacements: 16 Janus Venter, 17 Corne Lavagna, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Carel van der Merwe, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Damian Markus, 23 Sako Makata.

The Cheetahs started with Henry Immelman at full-back and Cohen Jasper and Prince Nkabinde on the wings. Carel Jan Coetzee and Jooste Nel were named in the centres, with Ethan Wentzel at fly-half and Rewan Kruger at scrum-half.

Neels Volschenk, Juan Venter and Ramon Uys made up the back row. Victor Sekekete captained the side from the second row alongside Simon Miller, while Frankie Dos Reis, Juan Smal and Tebogo Nkosi formed the front three.

Cheetahs: 15 Henry Immelman, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Carel Jan Coetzee, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Prince Nkabinde, 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Juan Venter, 6 Ramon Uys, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Simon Miller, 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Juan Smal, 1 Tebogo Nkosi. Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Tielman Niewoudt, 18 Ben Pitout, 19 Daniel Maartens, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Faf de Klerk, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Michael Annies.

Stormers v Sharks XV

Saturday, 1 August – 15:00

The fixture list names the home side as Stormers XXIII, while the team selection is headed Stormers XXXII.

Stefan Ungerer captains the Stormers from scrum-half, with Kyle Smith at fly-half. Dylan Miller starts at full-back, alongside Suleiman Hartzenberg, Markus Muller, Josh Boulle and Mfundo Ndhlovu in the backline.

Wandile Mlaba, Louw Nel and Keke Morabe are the loose forwards, with Gary Porter and Tom Barnard in the second row. Herman Lubbe, Vernon Paulo and Hencus van Wyk make up the front row.

Stormers XXXII: 15 Dylan Miller, 14 Suleiman Hartzenberg, 13 Markus Muller, 12 Josh Boulle, 11 Mfundo Ndhlovu, 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Stefan Ungerer (captain), 8 Wandile Mlaba, 7 Louw Nel, 6 Keke Morabe, 5 Gary Porter, 4 Tom Barnard, 3 Herman Lubbe, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Hencus van Wyk. Replacements: 16 Altus Rabie, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Danie Kruger, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Xola Nyali, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Gino Cupido, 23 Kian Davis.

The Sharks XV will be captained by Thomas Dyer at number eight. Luan Giliomee starts at full-back, with Christie Grobbelaar, Marnus Potgieter, Janco Purchase and Lyle Matthews completing the backline.

Tim Swiel and Ross Braude are selected at fly-half and scrum-half respectively. Danio Botha and Luaan Olivier join Dyer in the back row, while Deon Slabbert and Johan Momsen are the locks. Simphiwe Ngobese, Bryce Calvert and Cameron Dawson form the front row.

Sharks XV: 15 Luan Giliomee, 14 Christie Grobbelaar, 13 Marnus Potgieter, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Lyle Matthews, 10 Tim Swiel, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Thomas Dyer (captain), 7 Danio Botha, 6 Luaan Olivier, 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Johan Momsen, 3 Simphiwe Ngobese, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 Liam van Wyk, 17 Rambo Kubheka, 18 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 19 Hanu Pieterse, 20 Jean-Henri Smit, 21 Juan Loots, 22 Albie Bester, 23 Khuthi Rasivhaga.

Lions v Bulls

Saturday, 1 August – 17:05

The Lions’ line-up was listed as TBA.

The Bulls selected Devon Williams at full-back, with Riyaad Bam, Hakeem Kunene, Christiaan Viok, Lindsey Jansen, Keagan Johannes and Hendre Schoeman making up the rest of the backline.

Thomas Beling, Heinrich Theron and Kebotile Maake were named in the back row. Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg captains the side from the second row alongside Sintu Manjezi. The front row comprises Dian Coetzee, Jaundre Schoeman and Damian Baker.

Bulls: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Riyaad Bam, 13 Hakeem Kunene, 12 Christiaan Viok, 11 Lindsey Jansen, 10 Keagan Johannes, 9 Hendre Schoeman, 8 Thomas Beling, 7 Heinrich Theron, 6 Kebotile Maake, 5 Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg (captain), 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Dian Coetzee, 2 Jaundre Schoeman, 1 Damian Baker. Replacements: 16 Siphosethu Mnebelele, 17 Dylan Smith, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Johnathan Eloff, 20 Abongile Nonkontwana, 21 Cephas van Biljon, 22 Aka Boqwane, 23 Lavela Pongolo.

Boland Cavaliers v Pumas

Sunday, 2 August – 15:00

Both teams’ selections were listed as TBA in the fixture details.