When Griquas meet the Xerox Lions at Coca Cola Park this Saturday they will be a better side than that which was so narrowly, if controversially beaten here at home in July 36 -32.
The side that the Lions last met was certainly not Griquas best side, bedevilled by injury and bad form having recently having players, tired and injured, returning from the Super 14  Tournament and a hard fought Voadacom Cup, coach Dawie battled to get a coherent side with some depth together back in July. That has all changed and if their last two games are anything to judge by, Griquas are looking and playing better than they have thus far this current Currie Cup season. In fact they are looking as good as they did when they beat everyone at home at the beginning of last year`s Cup.
It will not be an easy game for them playing the Lions at home, who are in good form at the moment even though the narrowly lost to the Vodacom FS Cheetahs last month. They (Lions) will be out to beat all and any opposition to get a shot at the semi-final and maybe even a final in this year`s Currie Cup. Their track record thus far has proven that they are quite capable of being there at the end. Griquas on the other hand would love to cause an upset and show the bigger Unions that they are a side to be reckoned with and quite capable of beating the best when all is in their favour and they don`t have to worry about injured or unfit players on the bench.
Although Griquas aren`t on the top of the points list of this tournament, they do have, thus far, flyhalf, Conrad Barnard in the top five points scorers, and wing MJ Mentz vying for top place of the try scorers with seven tries. We will not be seeing any more of scrumhalf, Tobie Botes this season as he has gone off to Italy on a contract for their upcoming season, but will be back for next year`s Curry Cup, as will flank, Heinrich Stride who will also be travelling overseas to Ireland at the end of the month, but returning to join Griquas for next year`s Currie Cup. The good news is that it looks as though Frans Viljoen will be returning to the side for the Blue Bulls encounter after being out of the side with a broken arm since early in the Tournament.
To review the Wildeklawer Griquas season so far, it has not been one of their best. Starting the season with injuries is not good for morale and puts pressure on everybody, players, coaches, managers` etc to find ways and means to do as much damage control as humanly possible. Playing when the whistle doesn`t always go your way under these conditions, does nothing for  the side that is battling to stay ahead and with some unfortunate bad luck going their way, can make the whole team despondent. Hopefully all this is now behind them and Wildeklawer Griquas will rise to the challenge and finish this 2008 Currie Cup on a high, winning all of their last four games.
Saturday`s Match will be televised on Supersport, starting at 15.00 at Coca Cola Park in Jo`burg.
The Wildeklawer Griquas team for this side remains largely unchanged from the side that so convincingly beat the Boland Cavaliers here this past weekend.
The Wildeklawer side is:
1.Regardt Dreyer, 2. Hans van Dyk, 3. Bees Roux, 4. Wayne van Heerden, 5. Brendon Snyman, 6. Gareth Krause (Capt), 7. Stephan Gerber, 8. Heinrich Stride, 9. Sarel Pretorius, 10. Conrad Barnard, 11. MJ Mentz, 12. Herkie Kruger, 13. Barry Geel, 14. Bjorn Basson, 15. Riaan Viljoen.
Reserves: 16. Bees van Dyk, 17. Ruaan du Preez, 18. Jacques Lombard, 19. Ruaan Kitshoff, 20. Dougie Helmuth, 21. Naas Olivier and 22. Jaco Bekker.