ROUND TWO PREVIEW: It’s still early days in the race for Currie Cup qualification, but the five teams on the wrong side of the scoreboard from last weekend’s SA Cup opening round will be eager to bounce back this weekend.

Two matches will be staged on Friday and the remaining three on Saturday afternoon.

Holders Griquas, last year’s runners-up, the Pumas, and the Boland are eyeing their second win this weekend, while the Cheetahs will want to atone for their stumble in the opening round.

The SWD Eagles and Border Bulldogs kick off the weekend’s action when they clash on Friday at Outeniqua Park in George, while the Cheetahs host the Leopards later in the day in Bloemfontein.

The Bulldogs gave a spirited first-half performance last week in East London against the Griffons before running out of steam in the second stanza, while the Eagles were overrun by the Pumas in Nelspruit. Based on last week’s result, the Bulldogs will fancy their chances; but the Eagles will be equally determined to show they are capable of a much better performance in front of their supporters.

The Free Staters will be hopeful that the return to action by some of their injured regulars will boost their winning chances when they take on the Leopards at home.

They came unstuck last weekend against the Cavaliers in Wellington when a high penalty count dented their hopes of an opening win.

The Leopards were on the receiving end of a big defeat against the defending champions, and the Potchefstroom outfit will have to tighten up their defence considerably if they want to deliver a surprise in the Free State capital.

Griquas get the action going on Saturday when they clash with the Valke in Kimberley.

During last week’s opening-round fixture with Leopards in Potchefstroom, the side from Kimberley – who won all their games in 2024 – continued their unbeaten run in the competition by easily outplaying their North West opponents.

Based on their first-round 41-30 victory over a plucky Eastern Province, the Valke would fancy their outside chances, but they know it will take a special performance to bring down the defending champions.

The Kimberley encounter is followed by two matches, between Eastern Province and the Pumas in Gqeberha, and the Welkom clash between the Griffons and Boland Cavaliers.

The team from Mpumalanga showed they meant business when they outplayed SWD last week in Nelspruit, and the 2023 Currie Cup champions are heavy favourites for this encounter.

Boland Cavaliers and Griffons round off the weekend fixtures in Welkom. The Bolanders will be out to strengthen their push for a top-four place – which will guarantee qualification to the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division – when they travel to the Northern Free State to face the Purple People Eaters.

The Bolanders started their campaign with a solid performance last week with a bonus-point win over the TCheetahs, but the Griffons will have ambitions of their own, especially after their successful fightback against Border.

It won’t be easy though, as the Cavaliers have several dangerous strike runners, which will test the hosts’ defensive resolve.

The 10 teams will play a single round of league fixtures, and the four semifinalists will qualify for the Currie Cup while the rest will contest the First Division.

The Final will take place on Saturday, May 24.

See below for match information!

Friday, March 14:

SWD Eagles v Border Bulldogs
(Outeniqua Park, George – Kick-off: 15.30; 13.30 GMT)

Teams:

SWD Eagles: TBC

Border Bulldogs: TBC

Referee: Dylen November

Cheetahs v Leopards
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 18.00; 16.00 GMT)

Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Raegan Oranje, 12 Jooste Nel, 11 Banie Britz, 10 George Lourens, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Pieter Jansen van Vuren, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Hencus van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Matome (Dux) Manyama, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Jeandrè Rudolph, 21 Litha Nkula, 22 Ali Mgjima, 23 Michael Annies

Leopards: 15 Lwandile Mapuko, 14 Sino Tshontyi, 13 Andre Grobler, 12 Mihlali Nchukana, 11. Clyde Lewis, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 Gcino Mdletshe, 7 Ghudian Van Reenen, 6 Uzile Tele, 5 Chris Van Heerden, 4 Imaad Phillips, 3 Ig Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Tatenda Chayayi
Replacements: 16 Liyema Mgwigwi, 17 Dima Lebelo, 18 Michael Ryan, 19 Lead Prins, 20 Arminn Posthumus, 21 Just Verster, 22 Izak Smith, 23 Shaun Baxter, 24 Hanro Potgieter, 25 Ronaldo Fortune

Referee: Paul Mente

Saturday, March 15

Griquas v Falcons
(Griqua Park, Kimberley – Kick-off: 14.00; 12.00 GMT)

Teams:

Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 Tylor Sefoor, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt (captain), 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Corne Weilbach, 2 Dandre Delport, 1 Corne Lavagna
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Athenkosi Khetani, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 George Whitehead, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba

Falcons: TBC

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Eastern Province vs Pumas
(Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams:

Eastern Province: TBC

Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Dewald Maritz
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Eduan Swart, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Conor van Eden, 22 Danrigh Visagie, 23 Lundi Msenge

Referee: Sean Muller

Griffons v Boland
(North West Stadium, Welkom – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00)

Teams:

Griffons: 15 Keanuy Vers, 14 Quan Eymann, 13 Chris Hollis, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Qamani Kota, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Rian Olivier, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Mingo Piti, 5 Matt Gray, 4 Lungi Mbiko, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 Simon Westraadt, 1 Xolani Jacobs
Replacements: 16 Willem van den Hever, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Junior Banda, 19 Curtly Thomas, 20 Calla Pienaar, 21 Ulrich Stander, 22 Aphiwe Stemela, 23 Kyle Cyster

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Darian Hock, 14 Duren Hoffman, 13 Xavier Mitchell, 12 Cornal Hendricks, 11 Lunathi Nxele, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Keenan Opperman, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Schalk Oelofse, 20 Gift Dlamini, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Garth April, 23 Jurick Lewis.

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys