Rob Houwing

Sport24 chief writer Rob Houwing picks a quartet of one-on-ones he can’t wait for in the Currie Cup semi-finals.

Game One

Adi Jacobs (Sharks: 1.79m, 93kg) v Jaque Fourie (Lions: 1.88m, 96kg)

This is an engrossing examination of different styles, even if both players amount to attacking factors of considerable magnitude. The fact that, in Springbok terms, Fourie is desperate to make up injury-induced lost ground and Jacobs is the impressively stubborn incumbent at outside centre, only adds to the succulent prospect at the Shark-tank. I’d be amazed if both didn’t crack the nod for the end-of-year tour, giving Peter de Villiers wonderful options as partner to Jean de Villiers (provided the overworked Stormers man isn’t rested for the UK mission). Jacobs is all about slippery, corkscrewing little runs and dangerously unorthodox offensive lines, while strong-thighed Fourie is particularly adept at brushing off his opposite number with powerful surges over the advantage line. But don’t forget that the reputation Jacobs once (mostly unjustly) had as a “revolving door” defensively no longer applies! Similarly, the big Fijian unit Sireli Naqelevuki learnt at Newlands last week that you don’t simply bludgeon your way straight past Fourie.

Jannie du Plessis (Sharks: 1.88m, 116kg) v Heinke van der Merwe (Lions: 1.81m, 112kg)

Crouch, touch, pause … engage, oooof!  Will ‘Doc’ du Plessis get the right shoulder into a critically advantageous position or will the Lions’ loosehead anchorman subdue it with his respected left? In that conundrum could lie a key to who proceeds to the final. There have been whispers that the Lions fancy their scrum as an area in which to attack the Sharks: it’s a pretty big call when facing a Beast-Bizzie-Jannie front row, but there you go. And it probably says a lot about just how highly Van der Merwe’s shoving -- and disrupting -- skills are regarded back in Jo’burg. Certainly both soldiers in this battle will be thinking “Bok tour” and thus not wanting their noses in the lush Durban turf too often. Whoever gets more involved in business outside the scrums will doubtless earns some ticks from Gary Gold and company, too.

Game Two

Pierre Spies (Bulls: 1.94m, 106kg) v Duane Vermeulen (Cheetahs: 1.93m, 108kg)

Here’s a really, really good ‘un! Expect the whole stadium to shudder if one runs into the other at full speed. These are two veritable battering-ram No 8s, but with explosiveness and peripheral awareness to match brawn. Spies has probably yet to demonstrate his fullest array of skills at national level, where a certain Ryan Kankowski harbours burning intentions too. Looming large on the Bok radar as well, though, is Vermeulen, whom Sport24 strongly tips to be seen in a Stormers jersey in 2009 as a major Rassie Erasmus capture! Not only does he thrive on driving and general open-play situations, but the fair-haired customer is also extremely secure when tracking back to help field high balls. Whichever of the two edges the personal battle in the semi may go a long way to determining the match outcome.

Wynand Olivier (Bulls: 1.86m, 89kg) v Robert Ebersohn (Cheetahs: 1.81m, 85kg)

Admittedly this is not quite a direct match-up because Olivier is pencilled at inside centre, while teenager Ebersohn will operate outside Meyer Bosman in the visitors’ midfield. But their paths are obviously going to cross on a number of occasions at Loftus -- not least because they are arguably the likeliest sources of that increasingly rare phenomenon, line-breaks, for their respective sides. It is almost frightening to think how recently Ebersohn was a Craven Week standout, and his very selection for this high-stakes encounter indicates the potential and talent Naka Drotske sees in him. He is a little lightweight at this fledgling first-class juncture and will miss -- or be bumped off -- the odd tackle, but the “kid” has heart and exuberance. Olivier, of course, is rather more seasoned and boasts Springbok experience, but his best performances have always tended to be reserved for the Bulls. He has a great nose for the try-line, a much-improved work ethic and has won over many detractors who unreasonably considered him a flashy blond who probably spent too much time in front of the mirror …