Currie Cup Preview

Saturday, 24 September

EP Kings vs Xerox Golden Lions
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 17h10

In Port Elizabeth, the EP Kings will face the sixth-placed Xerox Golden Lions, who find themselves fighting for survival in the competition. The hosts have not won a match this season, and they will throw everything at the Johannesburg side. However, the Xerox Golden Lions are expected to target the clash for a bonus-point victory as the EP Kings have struggled on defence this season.

Should the visitors suffer a defeat, it could dash their semi-final hopes. The teams registered a 35-35 draw in the Currie Cup Qualifiers, but they have won all of their Premier Division matches against the EP Kings dating back to the 1996 season, which should boost their confidence as they look to bounce back from their defeat against log-leaders, the Toyota Free State Cheetahs.

So let's all get behind the EP Kings (who have lost 6 from 6).

The Lions have the second placed Sharks in the final round next week.

RonanL wrote:

FACECUTTR wrote: 4 surgeries on the one injury. That really doesn't look great and being honest I don't think he will return. Don't get me wrong I think the guy is great but Pat wouldn't have signed another back 3 guy unless the prognosis wasn't great.

I'd be inclined to agree, but almost didn't want to say it! I don't even remember how he got the injury. One of those weird ones.

in fairness, if Pat hadn't organized cover during the summer for a player who he knew would be out for 1/2 the upcoming season, I'd have been surprised and disappointed in his management skills.

Quite apt while we are on topic:

www.irishtimes.com/sport/rugby/pro12/poi...e-says-lam-1.2798792

"Lam revealed player Bundee Aki was responsible for scouting him this summer. “We knew there was a position for a utility back because of Robbie [Henshaw] moving on and some injuries, so when Bundee went down for a holiday, I told him to keep an eye out, and he came back and said, ‘You want to look at this guy’."

Maybe our new recruit is the guy and maybe Bundee is more loyal then some would have you believe!

connachta wrote: Rowland might be out, Leader out, if TOH is capped early November, who' will step up for FB
Kelleher has shown limits,
New Lli?
My choice would be Healy as he did in Grenoble

I think that Kelleher has shown more potential than limits a few soft shoulder and lack of confidence in the structure of our backline in the first game but theses are all things that are extremely fixable and I'm sure are being worked on. My choice would be Kelleher.

Kelleher was signed as a fb and his "limitations" were exposed against the best side in the pro 12 this year in a game where he had more defending to do than a normal connacht fb due to our inability to hold onto the ball for any length of time.

In my opinion we need to stick with him, he'll have done a lot more training with his team mates and hopefully he'll be fully match sharp the next time.

I don't know if you remember but there were several established players from last season right down to the indomitable force that is bundee aki that had terrible games that day too. Are you suggesting these don't ever play for connacht again too?

Rowland might be out, Leader out, if TOH is capped early November, who' will step up for FB
Kelleher has shown limits,
New Lli?
My choice would be Healy as he did in Grenoble

FACECUTTR wrote: 4 surgeries on the one injury. That really doesn't look great and being honest I don't think he will return. Don't get me wrong I think the guy is great but Pat wouldn't have signed another back 3 guy unless the prognosis wasn't great.

I'd be inclined to agree, but almost didn't want to say it! I don't even remember how he got the injury. One of those weird ones.

4 surgeries on the one injury. That really doesn't look great and being honest I don't think he will return. Don't get me wrong I think the guy is great but Pat wouldn't have signed another back 3 guy unless the prognosis wasn't great.

Evil_g wrote:

RonanL wrote: Darragh Leader posted on instagram the other day about his hand, after his fourth operation. Anyone know any details? Fingers crossed it'll come good for him. I know Tiernan has really nailed down his place at full back, but Darragh was flying it too, and his big boot came in handy on a number of occasions.

Last update was 30th of August: "Darragh Leader has undergone surgery on his hand injury and will return in February 2017".

Yeah I'd seen that. I guess I was surprised to see from his instagram post that he's had 4 surgeries at this point. I'd love to see him back playing.

RonanL wrote: Darragh Leader posted on instagram the other day about his hand, after his fourth operation. Anyone know any details? Fingers crossed it'll come good for him. I know Tiernan has really nailed down his place at full back, but Darragh was flying it too, and his big boot came in handy on a number of occasions.

Last update was 30th of August: "Darragh Leader has undergone surgery on his hand injury and will return in February 2017".

Darragh Leader posted on instagram the other day about his hand, after his fourth operation. Anyone know any details? Fingers crossed it'll come good for him. I know Tiernan has really nailed down his place at full back, but Darragh was flying it too, and his big boot came in handy on a number of occasions.

Updated injury list, assuming there are no "surprises" like last week.

Carried over from last season:
Darragh Leader Cardiff (long term)
Eoghan Masterson Zebre (long term)
Ben Marshall Ospreys (unknown)
Craig Ronaldson Edinburgh (expected back soon)
Nathan White Leinster - home (unknown)
John Cooney Leinter - final (expected back soon)

Pre-season:
Marnitz Boshoff unavailable (early October - early November depending on Currie Cup results)
Sean O'Brien Montpellier? (October)
Josh Rowland training or Montpellier? (October)
Rory Parata club rugby (October)

This season:
Peter Robb Glasgow (HIA protocols)
Nepia Fox-Matamua Glasgow (November)
Danie Poolman Ospreys (HIA protocols)
Dominic Robertson-McCoy training (November)
Ivan Soroka club rugby (awaiting scan)

Heenan and Roux back for Scarlets
MASSIVE BOOST
too bad we're away from home
because a 2nd row composed of Roux/Dillane with Browne on the bench
and a back-row Heenan/Muldoon/McKeon
is IMO the best we have

wp_rathead wrote: Not a bad Injured XV
1) Finlay Bealham
2) Nepia Fox-Matamua (shh)
3) Nathan White,
4) Ben Marshall
5) Quinn Roux
7) Jake Heenan
6) Sean O’Brien
Eoghan Masterson
9) John Cooney
10) Craig Ronaldson
13) Rory Parata
12) Peter Robb
11) Danie Poolman,
14) Darragh Leader
15)Ciaran Gaffney

The very good point is :
except Leader and Masterson, any of them should be available for Europe
Massive difference it could be
+ Academy/Eagles boys McVeigh, O'Donnell, O'Keeffe, Delhaunt, Romaine, Lam, Menuargia, all played today in AIL
depth is there in a very near future, time to make a cohesive squad of it before Toulouse game

I could see that team doing well

Not a bad Injured XV
1) Finlay Bealham
2) Nepia Fox-Matamua (shh)
3) Nathan White,
4) Ben Marshall
5) Quinn Roux
7) Jake Heenan
6) Sean O’Brien
Eoghan Masterson
9) John Cooney
10) Craig Ronaldson
13) Rory Parata
12) Peter Robb
11) Danie Poolman,
14) Darragh Leader
15)Ciaran Gaffney