Currie Cup Team of the Week – Round 2

Our Currie Cup Team of the Week is stacked with Bulls and Lions following their contrasting triumphs on the Highveld, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The Bulls avenged their only loss under coach Jake White at Loftus, where the pride of Pretoria scored 27 unanswered points in a second-half stampede to bag a 40-13 bonus-point win over the Cheetahs to strengthen their position at the top of the table.

In Saturday’s other showdown, a late flurry by the Lions saw them snatch a dramatic 22-19 win over Western Province at Ellis Park to move up to fourth place on the log. The victorious neighbours both boast six stars in our team, with the Player of the Week belonging to the men from Johannesburg.

The Pumas kicked off the second round with a 22-17 victory over Griquas in Nelspruit on Friday night. The home side were full value for their win and unlucky not to have a representative in our team as captain Le Roux Roets, flank Daniel Maartens, flyhalf Devon Williams and centre Erich Cronje all narrowly lost out.

Instead, a pair of Province players and a lone Griquas ace complete our side (the Sharks had a bye).

15: Tiaan Swanepoel (Lions) – Player of the Week

A match-winner on debut. His opening act – a monster 61m penalty (time-stamped below) – was awe-inspiring, and he kicked on from there. His accurate, bazooka-like right boot kept the Lions in the game and ultimately clinched it for the hosts. Showed impressive BMT to slot the last-minute winner, his fifth penalty of the night, was impactful when he slotted in at first receiver and solid on defence. How he was overlooked for the Man of the Match award is beyond me, and frankly, an injustice.

14: Stean Pienaar (Lions)

The man who stoked the Johannesburg side’s belief that they could snatch an unlikely win. Great wherewithal and confidence to take a quick tap, beat two defenders and stretch over for an inspired try (time-stamped below) that left Province dumbfounded and the scores level with nine minutes to go. Shot through the line like an arrow earlier, strong on his feet and regained a restart in the air.

13: Ruhan Nel (Western Province)

Exactly what the doctor ordered to rejuvenate Province’s midfield. Good interplay with Seabelo Senatla to send his fellow Blitzbok over, made a round-high 16 tackles, including a rib-rattling hit on Swanepoel, and won a key penalty at the breakdown on his 5m line on the hour-mark.

12: Burger Odendaal (Lions)

Frans Steyn grew in stature and took more and more responsibility on himself. Without him, the Cheetahs would probably have taken a 60-plus pounding. The veteran had a real stuttering start, however. Odendaal, on the other hand, had a blinder from start to finish. Bashed the ball up relentlessly (a round-high 12 times) with brute force and good angles and made 10 tackles, the second-most by a Lions player.

11: Eduan Keyter (Griquas)

One of Griquas’ stars all season, Keyter kept the Kimberley side in the game with a delectable double. Injecting himself into the action throughout, he showed his predatory instinct to dissect the defence for his opening try and his finishing ability to beat two defenders to streak over in the corner for his second (time-stamped below). Chased hard and regained possession in the air.

10: Morné Steyn (Bulls)

Williams and Tim Swiel scooped Man of the Match awards, but like the Tina Turner classic that’s become synonymous with his career, it was Steyn who was ‘simply the best’. The evergreen general dictated terms with his tremendous kicking out of hand, finding grass and pinning the Cheetahs in their 22, and was perfect off the tee, slotting all six of his kicks at goal.

9: Morné van den Berg (Lions)

A real game-changer. Injected speed, energy and a cutting edge off the bench to help ignite the hosts’ come-from-behind heroics. Backed himself when he fielded a kick and launched a counter-attack from just outside his 22 in the 77th minute, beating three defenders to take play into Province’s half, from where the Lions rode the momentum to snatch the win.

8: Duane Vermeulen (Bulls)

Pure class. Such a talisman for White’s Bulls in every way. Had a hand in the opening try and made a timely ball-and-all tackle on Howard Mnisi to snuff out a dangerous sneak attack from a restart. A physical force as always and good in the lineouts as well.

7: Vincent Tshituka (Lions)

Phumzile Maqondwana and Stefan Willemse had a humdinger of a head-to-head battle, as did Tshituka and Ernst van Rhyn. The Lions loose forward ultimately won out (by a hair) as he delivered the most well-rounded performance, featuring prominently on attack (six carries) and defence (a team-high 11 tackles).

6: Marco van Staden (Bulls)

A strong Player of the Week contender, Van Staden continued his imperious form with a magnificent Man of the Match performance. The Bulls opensider was omnipresent and tireless. Coast to coast brilliance was the cherry on top – forcing his way over for a second try with sheer determination (time-stamped below) moments after having secured a turnover near his own line. Solid as exit-play foundation carrier as well.

5: Marvin Orie (Lions)

Had tough competition in JD Schickerling and Walt Steenkamp. Shaded it as he played a pivotal part in the Lions’ triumph, not only running the lineout like clockwork but claiming two crucial steals as well. A pillar in open play, where he showed off his soft hands while making a pack-high 10 carries. Pitched in with seven tackles.

4: Sintu Manjezi (Bulls)

Made the most of his starting opportunity against his former team. A towering nuisance on the Cheetahs’ throw, disrupting and dominating the set-piece along with his partner in crime Steenkamp. Made a memorable galloping break from a lineout that should’ve been rounded off. Pipped Roets, who produced a colossal captain’s innings for the Pumas.

3: Trevor Nyakane (Bulls)

The Bulls’ “fixer”. Only the one-percent of tighthead titans can turn a catastrophe at scrum time into a strength as masterfully as Nyakane did. With Marcel van der Merwe being plucked off with his tail between his legs after just 33 minutes, after being dominated by Reinach Venter, Nyakane turned the tables in remarkable fashion and was hailed by John Smit in the SuperSport studio. Won a breakdown penalty as well.

2: Johan Grobbelaar (Bulls)

One of the main reasons why the Bulls’ lineout is unmatched (14/14 on the afternoon). A dead-eye with his throwing, and caught the Cheetahs napping with a quick short throw-in that resulted in an easy rumbling try, showing he’s not afraid to call an audible and play what’s in front of him. Popped up everywhere with his red scrum cap; executed nine tackles and was a breakdown presence.

1: Steven Kitshoff (Western Province)

The leading loosehead in world rugby at the moment. Widely known as “Spicy Plum” but might as well go by “The Smashing Machine” as he absolutely obliterated Ruan Dreyer – a Springbok in his own right – at scrum time. The arm wrestle, especially in the first half, hinged on this set-piece battle, where Kitshoff’s dominance put Province in the pound seats and earned them three penalties. Outstanding in open play, making 12 tackles.

Quintin van Jaarsveld

Quintin Van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 15 years’ experience and is currently a freelance sports writer.