Eagles want to become a Currie Cup force

The South Western Districts Eagles will be looking to bounce back to winning ways when they host the Valke in an Currie Cup First Division match at Outeniqua Park in George on Saturday (3pm).

Johann Lerm’s team, who are currently in fourth place on the log after three fixtures, have only suffered one defeat in the competition this season when they were defeated by the Pumas (44-26) on August 7.

“If you look at our side and some of the players we have in our backline, we should be scoring more tries and be in a better position in the Currie Cup First Division,” said the SWD Eagles coach.

“But this is still a relatively new team that is starting to combine well as a unit. Our combinations are also slowly starting to settle and once we can achieve that, I think we quickly become a force in the First Division.

“Our intentions are to gain promotion to the Currie Cup Premier Division and it is important we gain maximum points against the Valke to reach that objective.”

Lerm made just one change to his team for their match against the bottom-of-the-log Valke. Flanker Victor Joubert gets a well-deserved rest and is replaced by Shawn Raubenheimer.

On the bench, Tiaan de Kock makes a return to the starting team at the expense of Jaco Terblanche. Jacques Engelbrecht takes Raubenheimer’s place on the bench, while former Western Province Under-21 flyhalf Ricardo Croy, comes in for Sinethemba Zweni.

In the other First Division match of the weekend, the Border Bulldogs host the high-riding Pumas at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in East London at 3pm.

The hosts have yet to secure a win in the 2009 competition while the Pumas travel to the Eastern Cape following victories over the Eagles (44-26), Mighty Elephants (27-25) and Valke (79-24).

“The Pumas have been playing some excellent rugby this season, but this will not deter us in what we aim to achieve from this match. “We want to do well in the First Division and we have to start building confidence in our team by winning matches.”

Teams for the weekend:

SWD Eagles – Bevin Fortuin (c), Norman Nelson, Izak Saayman, Joe Breytenbach, Bobby Joubert, Gaffie du Toit, Jandré Blom, Jody Burch, Schalk van der Merwe, Shawn Raubenheimer, Henry Grimes, Wikus Liebenberg, Wikus Harmse, Wayne Bennett, Brood van der Westhuizen.

Reserves: Junior Leota, Tiaan de Kock, Hein Potgieter, Jacques Engelbrecht, Warren Malgas, Ricardo Croy, Baldwin McBean.

Valke – Tsepo Kokoali, Gerhardus Kotzee, Franco Booysen, Corne Uys, Wensley Mbanje, Jonathan Jacobs, Jaco Snyman, Johannes de Bruin, Bradley Fortuin, Reg Muller, Hendrik Knoetze, Martin Lombard, Philip Nel, Tango Gatya, Charl du Plessis.

Reserves: Andries Hefer, Jaques George, Yves Bashiya, Liebrecht Gericke, Alvandre Maart/ Ryno Hendrikz, Clinton Kayser, Dieter de la Port/ Martin / Thomsen.

Border Bulldogs – Reinhard Gerber, Ghafoer Luckan, Chumani Booi, Jeffrey Taljard, Lolo Waka, Thembani Mkokeli, Morné Adams, Bernard le Roux, Gareth Krause (C), Solomzi Tyibilika, Andries Kruger, Samora Fihlani, Buhle Mxunyelwa, Greg Visser, Marius van Jaarsveld.

Reserves: Matthew Taljard, Lonwabo Matyeshana, Sokhana Mkona, Dumisani Meslane, Marvin Pringle, Andisa Gqobo, Dumisani Mtimka.

Pumas – MJ Mentz, Braam Pretorius, Tiaan Marx, Shaun Venter, Allistair Kettledas, Valentine van Wyk, Jacques Coetzee, Christo le Roux, Martin Sithole, Torsten van Jaarsveld, Marius Coetzer, Luan Velthuizen, As