Slimmer Currie Cup set for liftoff

FEEL it, it is here. No, not that again but the much-anticipated, trimmed-down Currie Cup.

After lengthy prevarication and gnashing of teeth, the provincial turkeys voted for Christmas - a move it is fervently hoped will throw up strength-versus-strength contests.

By shedding two easy beats, this year's Currie Cup will feature just six teams who are all - bar, perhaps, Griquas - capable of winning the trophy.

But even if the Kimberley side are unlikely to go the distance, they will be formidable opposition. Just ask visitors to the Northern Cape who almost without fail bite the dust or come close to it.

There will be no place to hide in the new format, which rather diminishes the shock factor. Even if the perennially embattled Lions were to win it for the second year running, few would raise an eyebrow.

But much has changed for the defending champions. They had hoped their Currie Cup success would provide a platform for improved performances in Super Rugby, but that hope quickly faded.

They will start the Currie Cup without suspended coach John Mitchell and Josh Strauss has stepped down as captain. Some long-term Super Rugby absentees will become available later in the Currie Cup. Alwyn Hollenbach, Jaco Taute, Dylan des Fountain, Bandise Maku, Pat Cilliers, CJ van der Linde and Michael Rhodes should make them a tougher nut to crack.

The Sharks, last year's beaten finalists, contributed heavily to the Bok cause against England. Given their superb performances in the second half of the Super Rugby season, their finest should again be pressed into test action. If so, players such as Jean Deysel, Pieter Steph du Toit, Tim Whitehead, Anton Bresler and Louis Ludik will have to put their Super Rugby experience to valuable use in the Currie Cup.

Western Province should have the bulk of their Super Rugby squad available for the Currie Cup and the affected players will want to make amends for their untimely Super Rugby semifinal exit. On the back of their Vodacom Cup success, they will be desperate to land a more prestigious trophy.

They will be real contenders, providing their scrum doesn't engage reverse gear when it matters most.

The Bulls too have had sporadic scrumming woes of late but a greater immediate challenge will be their ability to cope without Dewald Potgieter (out with a shoulder injury) and Johann Sadie (ankle) in the early rounds, as well as Bjorn Basson and Fudge Mabeta until later in the competition.

They will also be without Wynand Olivier, who has revelled in the space this competition has afforded him. But they have gained flanker Grant Hattingh and are firming up terms with promising Lions lock Paul Willemse.

The biggest challenge for the Cheetahs will be how they operate without captain Adriaan Strauss who is likely to feature in the national squad. He is an inspirational leader who excels in the primary phases and is an effective ball carrier in the wider channels.

Ace flyhalf Johan Goosen's return is scheduled for early September, as is that of combative prop Coenie Oosthuizen. The pair's return won't come a moment too soon. The Cheetahs will hope not to regret the loss of influential No8 Ashley Johnson.

The competition kicks off on Friday when the Blue Bulls host Griquas. The final is scheduled for October 27.