It is early days yet, just Round Two of 14 weeks of dramatic Currie Cup action. However, there are more than enough intrigue to keep you spellbound this weekend.

Top of the bill is the big north-south derby between the Blue Bulls and Western Province in Pretoria. And as added spice there is the Luke Watson factor. Now that will wet any appetite.

But before we get to the battle of Loftus Versfeld, we have the defending champion Sharks hoping to bounce back from their first round loss - with a confident Boland team heading to Durban.

Then there is Griquas hosting the tournament newcomers, the Leopards, in Kimberley and the Golden Lions at home to the Free State Cheetahs in another of the weekend's intriguing battles. Both the Lions and Cheetahs lost in the first round and are desperate to avoid falling further behind in the race.

We look at all the Round Two action!

Friday, 17 July:

Sharks vs Boland
(Absa Stadium, Durban - Kick-off: 19.10, 17.10 GMT)

The Boland Cavaliers would have taken heart from beating the Leopards last week and they will also know that they won't ever have a better chance than right now to knock over one of the big guns - not to mention the defending champions.

Not only are the Cavaliers at full strength, nut the Sharks are severely depleted - or as coach John Plumtree said this week: "Just a few injuries away from a disaster."

In fact both Plumtree and his assistant Grant Bashford admitted that they will face an uphill struggle in the early stages of the race.

"We know what the situation is and we'll try to hang in there until the Springboks return," Plumtree said, adding: "Hopefully we will still be in contention for the play-offs at that point."

Bashford took it a step further, pointing out that the big guns are vulnerable in the early stages of the season regardless of how many players are missing.

"Every year when the so-called minnow sides start at full strength in the Currie Cup, there are often upsets," Bashford said.

For the Sharks that threat is not just bigger - with nine players on national duty and captain Johann Muller out injured - but also more consequential.

However, Plumtree understands the challenges that lie ahead with the absence of his Springboks, but he still believes his young aspiring side has the quality to compete and he will be looking to them to stand up and be counted,

"The responsibility is now on the players. They just have to get out there and do their best and they will be able to challenge any side."

Probably the most critical position for the defending champions is the flyhalf birth, where they are currently struggling without the presence of Ruan Pienaar and Frans Steyn. Last year during the competition Frenchmen, Frederic Michalak, was the man to fill their boots, but he has since departed. Now the Sharks are awaiting the arrival of world rated Argentinean flyhalf Juan Martin Hernandez, who unfortunately won't be in the picture till after the Boland game.

Until then Plumtree has chosen to persist with the young Guy Cronje at flyhalf who at times last weekend against Western Province had to be shielded by the likes of Rory Kockott and Stefan Terblanche - the latter having been entrusted with the captaincy in Muller's absence.

The flyhalf channel will definitely be an area Boland will look to attack.

"If there is ever a time we can beat the Sharks it is now, but they are still a very good outfit," Cavaliers coach Deon Davids admitted.

"They are looking a little thin in some places; we will be looking to compete at the scrums and the line-outs, and try to limit the mount of good ball they get to their backs."

With the confidence of the Sharks players depleted another loss could spell outright disaster for Plumtree.

One thing is for certain; the Boland Cavaliers will show no mercy on Friday and they will most certainly be going for the kill.

iafrica.com Prediction: The Boland Cavaliers are right, they will not get a better chance at knocking over the Sharks. If the occasion doesn't get too big for the players from the Western Cape region they may well do it. But we feel the Sharks will overcome some early jitters and take advantage of a Boland team that will waste a golden opportunity. The Sharks to sneak a win - by less than 10 points.

Teams:

The Sharks: 15 Stefan Terblanche (captain), 14 Odwa Ndungane, 13 Andries Strauss, 12 Riaan Swanepoel, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Guy Cronjé, 9 Rory Kockott, 8 Keegan Daniel, 7 Jean Deysel, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Albert van den Berg, 4 Steven Sykes, 3 Patric Cilliers, 2 Craig Burden, 1 Deon Carstens.
Replacements: 16 Skipper Badenhorst, 17 Wiehahn Herbst, 18 Nikolai Blignaut, 19 Justin Downey, 20 Ross Cronjé, 21 Monty Dumond, 22 Luzuko Vulindlu.

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Justin Peach, 14 Mark Harris, 13 Deon Scholtz, 12 Dewey Swartbooi, 11 Sogidashe Luvo, 10 Elgar Watts, 9 Marnus Hugo, 8 Alwyn Bester, 7 Wendall Wehr, 6 Zolani Mofu, 5 Rito Hlungwane, 4 Frikkie Spies, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Conrad Burke (captain), 1 Janro Van Niekerk.
Replacements: 16 Lewis Clemin, 17 Jane du Toit, 18 Grant le Roux, 19 Karel Hoffman, 20 Angelo Brinkhuys, 21 Alvin Hugo, 22 Hein Myburgh.

Referee: Joey Salmans
Assistant referees: Gareth Lloyd-Jones, Reuben Rossouw
TMO: Michael Cupido

Saturday, 18 July:

Golden Lions vs Free State Cheetahs
(Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg - Kick-off: 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

This is a game between two teams trying to rebuild after disastrous Super 14 campaigns. Both will also be without the quota of Springboks - Jaque Fourie from the Lions, as well as the Cheetahs duo of Juan Smith and Heinrich Brüssow.

Also, both lost their opening matches - the Lions producing an encouraging first half before succumbing to the Bulls, while the Cheetahs got knocked over by a determined Griquas outfit.

At this early stage neither team looks like Currie Cup champions, but they do have some quality players - a few individuals who can be genuine game-breakers.

However, two-time World Cup-winning Springbok Os du Randt, now helping out in a coaching capacity with the Cheetah forwards, feels the Free Staters will have to produce a "team effort" to avoid another slip-up.

"We can lay a good foundation with our scrum, but it has to be extended to other aspects of the forwards game," Du Randt told the Volksblad newspaper.

The wily Du Randt would have taken note of the Lions forwards' spirited performance against the Blue Bulls last week - when the Lions managed to build up a 13-0 lead before falling off the pace in the second half.

"We have come a long way already," Du Randt said of the Cheetahs pack, adding: "Some of the guys are doing well. It is very much about self-confidence and getting the guys to have faith so that they work together as a pack."

Cheetahs coach Naka Drotské also feels the forwards would play a crucial role on Saturday.

"The Lions forwards laid the foundation for the team against the Bulls and we are definitely not underestimating them. They have good forwards."

While the Cheetahs look towards their pack, another World Cup winner who is helping the Lions, former Bok coach Jake White, is hoping that his adopted team will be able to produce an 80-minute effort this time round.

"I can't put my finger on what happened in the second half, but the guys didn't play their rugby in the right areas in the second half," White said.

"We'll be looking at improving in this department this weekend," White added.

iafrica.com Prediction: This one is not easy to call. It will be all about which team is switched on - or two use a well-versed rugby cliché: 'Who wants it most.' The Lions will be heartened by their first-half showing last week and may well have the edge. The Lions to win a nailbiter - by less than 10 points.

Teams:

Golden Lions: 15 Earl Rose, 14 Dusty Noble, 13 Alwyn Hollenbach, 12 Walter Venter, 11 Johan Jackson, 10 Herkie Kruger, 9 Jano Vermaak, 8 Willem Alberts, 7 Franco van der Merwe, 6 Cobus Grobbelaar (captain), 5 Willem Stoltz, 4 Nico Luus, 3 Gert Muller, 2 Hans van Dyk, 1 JC Janse van Rensburg.
Replacements: 16 Derek Harwood, 17 Kevin Buys, 18 Robert Kruger, 19 Derick Minnie, 20 Chris Jonck, 21 Pieter Engelbrecht, 22 Michael Killian.

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Hennie Daniller, 14 Danwel Demas, 13 Corné Uys, 12 Robert Ebersohn, 11 Jongi Nokwe, 10 Jacques-Louis Potgieter, 9 Tertius Carse, 8 Francois Uys, 7 Hendro Scholtz (captain), 6 Johan Wessels, 5 David de Villiers, 4 Nico Breedt, 3 WP Nel, 2 Adriaan Strauss, 1 Wian du Preez.
Replacements: 16 Richardt Strauss, 17 Coenie Oosthuizen, 18 Frans Viljoen, 19 Kabamba Floors, 20 Gerrie Odendaal, 21 Louis Strydom, 22 JW Jonker.

Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistant referees: Jason Jaftha, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Shaun Veldsman

Griquas vs Leopards
(GWK Stadium, Kimberley - Kick-off: 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

It says something about the confidence of Griquas coach Dawie Theron that he started "rotating" his players after just one round.

The Leopards, newcomers to the Currie Cup Premier Division after years in the lower ranks, may not be the toughest test in the competition.

But they may well be offended by Theron's gesture in fielding an entire new front row - with Bees Roux, Andries Kruger and Albertus Buckle fronting up for this game.

Then again, it says something about the dept the Kimberley outfit has when they can do without Ruaan du Preez, Ryno Barnes and Steph Roberts.

The Leopards will be determined to bounce back from last week's loss to the Boland Cavaliers, but they have not been handed the most pleasant draw - playing their first two games on the road.

And Kimberley is known as the Currie Cup graveyard - with the likes of the Sharks and Western Province among those who have come unstuck in the former diamond metropolis.

The Leopards will be hoping that flyhalf Clayton Durand, who struggled with a should injury this week, can last the full 80 minutes. With True Blue Smit ruled out with a shoulder injury, fullback Russel Jeacocks or utility Jean Tiedt may be thrust in at the deep end if Durand aggravates his shoulder injury in the game.

And the star-studded Griquas backline - Egon Seconds, Barry Geel, Bjorn Basson, Naas Olivier and Sarel Pretorius all have Super 14 experience - will exploit any weakness in the opposition.

iafrica.com Prediction: This one is a lot easier to call. It is in Kimberley, where Griquas are always at their best. The home team to win by plenty - Griquas by 20 points or more.

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Rian Viljoen, 14 Egon Seconds, 13 Wilmaure Louw, 12 Barry Geel, 11 Bjorn Basson, 10 Naas Olivier, 9 Sarel Pretorius, 8 Sean Plaatjies, 7 Devon Raubenheimer, 6 Jonathan Mokuena (captain),  5 Jacques Lombaard, 4 Brendon Snyman, 3 Bees Roux, 2 Andries Kruger, 1 Albertus Buckle.
Replacements: 16 Ryno Barnes, 17 Steph Roberts, 18 Nolan Clarke, 19 Rohan Kitshoff, 20 Jaco Bekker, 21 Dewald Pretorius, 22 Gavin Passens.

Leopards: 15 Russel Jeacocks, 14 Colin Lloyd, 13 Deon van Rensburg, 12 Japie Nel, 11 Shuaib Samaai, 10 Clayton Durand, 9 Michael Bondesio, 8 Christo van Niekerk, 7 RW Kember, 6 Wilhelm Koch (captain), 5 Rynard Landman, 4 Anthonie Gronum, 3 Barend van der Walt, 2 Gavin Williamson, 1 Nardus Lombaard.
Replacements: 16 Marthinus van der Westhuizen, 17 Dietlov Coetzee, 18 Andre Swanepoel, 19 Bennie Adams, 20 Jean Tiedt, 21 Jovan van Zyl, 22 Jan Bowles.

Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant referees: Matt Kemp/Lourens van der Merwe, Marco van Zyl

Blue Bulls vs Western Province
(Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - Kick-off: 17.05, 15.05 GMT)

It is not often that Western Province arrive at Loftus Versfeld as favourites. It may have been the case in the 1980s, and occasionally in the latter years.

However, with eight of the Bulls' players missing due to Springbok commitments, Luke Watson's Province outfit have the perfect opportunity to get one over their traditional rivals from the north.

"We are looking forward to the match and we are confident going into it after last week's performance [a 29-15 win over the defending champion Sharks]," WP head coach Allister Coetzee said.

Bulls captain Derick Kuün is also anticipating a tough game.

"Province are quality side and have a tight five that can challenge any in the Currie Cup," Kuün said.

"But we have what it takes to overcome them. We have been working hard this week on our kicking game and our first phase possession. We are ready for them."

WP though will fancy their chances of defeating the Pretoria outfit following their stunning victory over the Sharks in Cape Town last weekend.

And for some added spice former Blue Bulls utility back Frikkie Welsh will be up against his former teammates at Loftus Versfeld.

The Bulls, despite producing a noteworthy comeback to beat the Lions last week, know they will have to raise the bar considerably this week.

Bulls coach Frans Ludeke, who opted for South African Under-20 flyhalf Francois Brummer in place of the injured Burton Francois, has been cautiously optimistic - especially about his young pivot, who will go head-to-head with Emerging Springbok Willem De Waal.

"Francois did very well in the latter parts of the match against the Lions and I was quite impressed by him," Ludeke said, adding: "He finished strong and I am confident that he will be able to do the job for us against Province."

The Bulls could be further exposed if things do go wrong for Brummer, as Ludeke has named teenager JC Roos as the back-up flyhalf.

Province will be looking to Springbok Sevens star Gio Aplon, in at fullback for the injured Joe Pietersen, to provide the creative flair.

But it is up front where the WP coach, Coetzee, feels they can lay the foundation for the win.

"Our tight-five did really well against the Sharks and I think they impressed all that watched that game."

It is a forward pack guided by the influential All Black lock Chris Jack, which destroyed the Sharks tight five a week ago. They will, however, be tested this weekend when they come up against a Bulls pack that is renowned for their physicality and strength.

The Bulls have also been boosted by the return of World Cup-winning Springbok prop Gurthrö Steenkamp.

"It's always great to have a player the caliber of Gurthrö in the side," the Bulls captain, Kuün, said.

"He will definitely add a lot to our team, especially up front. We are also glad to have Wynand Olivier in the team as well. Both players bring a lot of experience which always helps."

Matches are mostly won through the platform laid up front. That will definitely be the case on Saturday.

The team to dominate in the set pieces and the contact areas will be well on their way to victory.

iafrica.comPrediction: Not even the Loftus factor could swing us this time. We see a rare Province win in Pretoria, but it won't be big. Western Province by about 10 points.

Teams:

Blue Bulls: 15 Tiger Mangweni, 14 Gerhard van den Heever, 13 Jaco Pretorius, 12 Wynand Olivier, 11 Francois Hougaard, 10 Francois Brummer, 9 Heini Adams, 8 Dries van Schalkwyk, 7 Dewald Potgieter, 6 Jacques Burger, 5 Wilhelm Steenkamp, 4 Flip van der Merwe, 3 Werner Kruger, 2 Derick Kuün (captain), 1 Gurthrö Steenkamp.
Replacements: 16 Bandise Maku, 17 Frik Kirsten, 18 Jaco Engels, 19 Fudge Mabeta, 20 Gerrit-Jan van Velze, 21 JC Roos, 22 Marius Delport.

Western Province: 15 Gio Aplon, 14 Frikkie Welsh, 13 Morgan Newman, 12 Peter Grant, 11 Sireli Naqelevuki, 10 Willem de Waal, 9 Dewaldt Duvenage, 8 Luke Watson (captain), 7 Pieter Louw, 6 Pieter Myburgh, 5 Anton van Zyl, 4 Chris Jack, 3 Brok Harris, 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Wicus Blaauw.
Replacements: 16 Hanyani Shimange, 17 JD Moller, 18 De Kock Steenkamp, 19 Deon Fourie, 20 Conrad Hoffmann, 21 Juan De Jongh, 22 Tonderai Chavhanga.

Referee: Mark Lawrence
Assistant referees: Tiaan Jonker/Lourens van der Merwe, Christie du Preez
TMO: Johann Meuwesen

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