Jannie to the rescue, no demotion for Tito - 4 talking points for midweek Currie Cup action

The Currie Cup is back in its midweek slot and there's no shortage of tantalising clashes. The Bulls and Sharks, perennial foes locally over the past few years, is the undoubted highlight while the Cheetahs will hope to keep their unbeaten record. And can the Lions break their winless streak? Here are four talking points for this round.

Desperate Lions ditch youth policy for more balanced look ... and a 39-year-old skipper

The really depressing thing about the Lions' bold but flawed plan to groom their youngsters in this year's campaign is that one couldn't even use the old adage that it was fun while it lasted.

Mziwakhe Nkosi and his troops travel to Kimberley a chastened lot having lost all their matches to date, including 9-50 and 14-66 thrashings at the hands of the Pumas and Cheetahs respectively.

Not once can they have claimed to truly be in contention in any of their fixtures.

As a result, Nkosi has been allowed to rope in various senior players, including the evergreen Jannie du Plessis.

"We're blessed to be able to call upon a guy like him," said the Lions' Currie Cup head coach.

"He's a great tonic for what's generally an inexperienced team with his experience, and he's raring to go having not received much game time. Jannie's a natural leader and up for this task."

Indeed, the wayward Lions can use his guidance, even purely from a game-management perspective.

But Griquas at home is no easy assignment.

Griquas

15 Rynhardt Jonker, 14 Munier Hartzenberg, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Zander du Plessis, 11 Luther Obi, 10 Fiela Boshoff, 9 Johan Mulder, 8 Siba Qoma, 7 Hanru Sirgel, 6 Niel Otto (captain), 5 Derik Pretorius, 4 Mzwanele Zito, 3 Janu Botha, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Eddie Davids

Substitutes: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Kudzwai Dube, 18