The Currie Cup moves past the halfway mark this weekend and the fourth round will be sure to deliver loads of action as the teams prepare for a thrilling home stretch with their eyes firmly on semi-final spots.
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The Bulls – whose match against Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday was cancelled due to players and management from the Pretoria side testing positive for Covid-19 – hold a narrow lead at the top of the log, while only three points separate the second-placed Sharks and the Lions in fourth place.
PUMAS ARE HANGING ON BY A THREAD
The Cheetahs – with a game in hand – are also ready to pounce further down on the standings, while the Pumas are hanging on by a thread with a mathematical chance of possibly advancing to the semi-finals.
With the clash in Kimberly cancelled, round four will feature only two matches, which will both be broadcast LIVE on SuperSport.
FRIDAY, DECEMBER 18
PUMAS V CHEETAHS, NELSPRUIT – 19:00
Pumas
15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Etienne Taljaard, 13 Erich Cronjé, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Devon Williams, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Willie Engelbrecht, 7 Phumzile Maqondwana, 6 Daniel Maartins, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuuren (captain), 4 Le Roux Roets, 3 Ignatius Prinsloo, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Morgan Naude
Substitutes: 16 Abraham le Roux, 17 Dewalt Maritz, 18 Wikus Groenewald, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Ewart Potgieter, 21 Ginter Smuts, 22 Tiaan Botes, 23 Wayne van der Bank
Cheetahs
15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 Duncan Saal, 13 Dries Swanepoel, 12 Howard Mnisi, 11 William Small-Smith, 10 Frans Steyn, 9 Ruben de Haas, 8 Jeandré Rudolph, 7 Aidon Davis, 6 Andisa Ntsila, 5 Reniel Hugo, 4 Carl Wagner (captain), 3 Khutha Mchunu, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Boan Venter
Substitutes: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Erich de Jager, 19 Oupa Mohoje, 20 Chris Massyn, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Reinhardt Fortuin, 23 Rhyno Smith
REFEREE: Rasta Rasivhenge
PREDICTION: Nelspruit isn’t an easy place to visit under Fright night lights, but the Cheetahs should have too much firepower. Men from Bloemfontein by 10 points.
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19
LIONS V SHARKS, JOHANNESBURG – 19:00
Lions
15 Tiaan Swanepoel, 14 Stean Pienaar, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Dan Kriel, 11 Courtnall Skosan, 10 Elton Jantjies (captain), 9 Andre Warner, 8 Len Massyn, 7 Vincent Tshituka/Wilhelm van der Sluys, 6 Jaco Kriel, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Willem Alberts, 3 Jannie du Plessis, 2 Jaco Visagie, 1 Sti Sithole/Dylan Smith
Substitutes: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Ruan Dreyer, 18 Wiehahn Herbst, 19 Reinhard Nothnagel, 20 Roelof Smit, 21 Morne van den Berg, 22 Burger Odendaal, 23 Jamba Ulengo, 24 Carlu Sadie, 25 Manuel Rass
Sharks
15 Manie Libbok, 14 Sbu Nkosi, 13 Lukhanyo Am (captain), 12 Marius Louw, 11 Yaw Penxe, 10 Curwin Bosch, 9 Sanele Nohamba, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Henco Venter, 6 Dylan Richardson, 5 Aston Fortuin, 4 JJ van der Mescht, 3 Michael Kumbirai, 2 Kerron van Vurren, 1 Ox Nche
Substitutes: 16 Fez Mbatha, 17 Mzamo Majola, 18 John Hubert-Meyer, 19 Thembelani Bholi, 20 James Venter, 21 Phepsi Buthelezi, 22 Jaden Hendrikse, 23 Jeremy Ward
REFEREE: Jaco Peyper
PREDICTION: Tight match and a tough one to call. Home side to edge their visitors thanks to a late Elton Jantjies penalty … by 2 points.
Griquas v Bulls – CANCELLED
BYE: Western Province
