FRIDAY, 12.00NOON:
GAUTENG Lions and Gauteng Falcons meet in a Bankfin Currie Cup match at Ellis Park Stadium on Saturday. Many believe the match will be like a reunion of Rand Afrikaans University (RAU) as both teams have a number of RAU players in their team lists.
There are 11 RAU players in the Lions’ starting line-up and a couple more on the bench while in the Falcons’ line-up there are six players.
Third-placed Free State tackle Northern Free State in a Currie Cup match in Bloemfontein on Friday night. Cheetahs are chasing a semifinal spot and Northern Free State can expect no mercy.
Northern Transvaal take on North-West on Friday night. Blue Bulls are currently on a winning streak having won against Gauteng Lions, Mpumalanga Pumas and Eastern Province.
The Teams:
GAUTENG LIONS: Kobus Engelbrecht, Jannie van der Walt, Joe Estheruysen, Joe Gillingham, Thinus Delport, Louis van Rensburg, Johan Roux, Warren Brosnihan, Janus Labuschagne, Andre Vos, Wilnand Vlok, Bruce Thorne, Kapstok van Greuning, James Dalton, Roberto Grau. RESERVES: Joggie Engelbrecht, JP du Plooy, Werner Lessing, Faan Muller, Balie Swart, Chris Rossouw.
GAUTENG FALCONS: Jacques Blaauw, Jaco Nortje, FA Meiring, Eugene Meyer (capt), Peet Smit, Jaco Viljoen, Jacques van Niekerk, Nigel Pickford, Eugene Rossouw, Joe Senekal, Jaco Visser, Okkert Booyse, Johan le Roux, Hennie Pieterse, Gunder Williamson. Reserves: Johan Smith, Porta Hoffmann, Duane Willemse, Golie Gouws, Fanie van Wyk, Jan Bosch.
NORTHERN FREE STATE: JP van der Berg, Rampie Harmse, Albertus van Buuren, Danie Britz, Willie Nagel, Eric Herbert, Jurie Jurling, Johan von Solms, Slang Roux, Eugene Delport, Gerhard du Plessis, Koos Heydenrich, Baksteen Nel, Otto Wagener, Kobie Appelgryn. RESERVES: Tommy de Beer, Pierre van Zyl, Stefan Pawson, Henry Kershaw, Christo Dippenaar, Almeiro Michau.
FREE STATE: MJ Smith; Chris Badenhorst, Helgard Muller (captain), Brendan Venter, Jan-Harm van Wyk; Jannie de Beer, Werner Swanepoel; J Venter, Johan Erasmus, Andre Venter, Braam Els, Ryno Opperman, Willie Meyer, Naka Drotske, Os du Randt. RESERVES: Christo Potgieter, Andre Fourie, Kat Myburgh, Jaco Coetzee, Dougie Heymans, Charl Marais.
NORTH WEST: Bertus Kruger, Rudi Muller, AJ de Jager, Tiaan Joubert, Tony Lincoln, AC Prinsloo, Jopie Adlam, Chris Oosthuizen, Markus van Greunen, Kurt Steinbach, Andrew Dockitt, Kleinjan Tromp, Steve van Wyk, Henk Schalekamp, Hannes Human. RESERVES: Johan van der Berg, Barry McDonald, Jannie van der Schyff, Lukus Swart, Tenk Hendriks, Danie de Waal.
NORTHERN TRANSVAAL: Thys Potgieter, Archer Dames, Grant Esterhuizen, Johan Schutte, Casper Steyn, Roland de Marigny, Conrad Breytenbach, Adriaan Richter, Schutte Bekker, Nicky van der Walt, Wium Basson, Krynauw Otto, Piet Boer, Jannie Brooks, Pierre Ribbens. RESERVES: Kosie Alberts, Graeme Bouwer, Awie Nel, Johan Otto, Marius Hurter, George van der Walt.