JOHANNESBURG — Super Rugby might have taken the shine off the Currie Cup, but as the world’s oldest rugby competition, there’s still an allure to winning the large trophy donated by Sir Donald Currie in 1891. For a group of players from both the Sharks and Western Province, this is their last opportunity to show Bok coach Allister Coetzee what they can do. The Springbok team for the end-of-year tour to Europe will be announced on Sunday and there’re a number of fringe players who could still force their way into the side. Sharks coach Robert du Preez reckons Coetzee has already chosen his side, but players like Curwin Bosch, Dan du Preez, Nizaam Carr, Lukhanyo Am, Ruan Botha and Louis Scheuder have all had a sniff of international experience and will be clamouring for more. The Currie Cup final is their last chance to audition for the Bok coach. Statistically not much separates the sides. It will be a game of sibling rivalry with twin brothers Jean-Luc and Daniel du Preez (coached by their father Robert Snr) on the Sharks flanks harassing their older brother Robert Jnr, the WP flyhalf. – David O’Sullivan
From SA Rugby
The Currie Cup Premier Division will reach an epic conclusion at Growthpoint Kings Park in Durban on Saturday when the Cell C Sharks host DHL Western Province in their seventh Currie Cup Final since 1984.
While DHL Western Province won nine of their 13 matches this season, the Cell C Sharks have lost only two matches – one of which was a 31-20 defeat against the Capetonians in their final pool match in Durban two weeks ago. The other was a 47-12 defeat against defending champions, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, in the opening round.
The KwaZulu-Natalians, however, pipped DHL Western Province 21-20 in Cape Town in the first half of the competition in August.
Looking back at the recent history of Currie Cup encounters between these two coastal rivals, the biggest winning margin between the sides in their last 11 Currie Cup matches is 17 points, and in their last two Currie Cup Finals 14 points.
Cell C Sharks coach Robert du Preez made only one injury-enforced change to his team with veteran winger Odwa Ndungane replacing Sbu Nkosi who has been ruled out with a dislocated elbow. This resulted in Rhyno Smith being included among the replacements.
TV Viewership figures of this weekend's @TheCurrieCup Semi Finals show that still major interest in the Currie Cup! So much potential!
— Edgar Rathbone (@EdgarRathbone) October 25, 2017
Du Preez was delighted hosting the Final in Durban and said: “Playing a final in front of your home crowd is the ultimate honour, and our players are excited to run out on Saturday in front of a passionate home crowd and to give it their all.
“This is what we’ve played for throughout this campaign and a home final means everything to us. This is our final 80 minutes of rugby for the season and nothing but our best will be good enough. Sticking to what has worked for us, our game management and backing our systems is key.”
DHL Western Province coach John Dobson made three personnel changes and two positional switches to his starting team with Damian Willemse returning to the run-on side at fullback, while Dillyn Leyds moves to the wing and Ruhan Nel to the midfield as replacement for the injured EW Viljoen.
In the two changes to the loose trio, flankers Cobus Wiese and Sikhumbuzo Notshe take over from Kobus van Dyk and Jaco Coetzee respectively. Van Dyk has been named on the bench while Coetzee has been ruled out due to concussion.
Dobson said: “It is a privilege for us to be involved in a Currie Cup Final and the players are determined to do our union and our faithful supporters proud on Saturday.
“We have grown so much as a team this season and we have a chance to end it by lifting the Currie Cup trophy, so we want to make the most of every minute at Growthpoint Kings Park.”
Cell C Sharks – Garth April, Kobus van Wyk, Lukhanyo Am, Marius Louw, Odwa Ndungane, Curwin Bosch, Louis Schreuder, Daniel du Preez, Jean-Luc du Preez, Keegan Daniel, Ruan Botha (captain), Tyler Paul, Ross Geldenhuys, Franco Marais, Thomas du Toit. Replacements: Akker van der Merwe, Juan Schoeman, John-Hubert Meyer, Jean Droste, Jacques Vermeulen, Michael Claassens, Tristan Blewett.
DHL Western Province – Damian Willemse, Seabelo Senatla, Ruhan Nel, Huw Jones, Dillyn Leyds, Robert du Preez, Dewaldt Duvenage, Nizaam Carr, Cobus Wiese, Sikhumbuzo Notshe, JD Schickerling, Chris van Zyl (capt), Wilco Louw, Bongi Mbonambi, JC Janse van Rensburg. Replacements: Ramone Samuels, Ali Vermaak, Frans van Wyk, Jan de Klerk, Kobus van Dyk, Jano Vermaak, Werner Kok, Dan Kriel.
Venue: Growthpoint Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 16h00
Referee: Jaco Peyper
Assistant Referees: Egon Seconds & AJ Jacobs
TMO: Marius Jonker
TV: SS1
Source: http://www.sarugby.co.za/article.aspx?category=sarugby/curriecup&id=4162004
