ROUND FIVE PREVIEW: A big Free State derby between the Cheetahs and Griffons is one of the stand-out games in the fifth round of the SA Cup, with several other intriguing matches lined up as the race for the top four qualification positions for the Currie Cup heats up.

Defending champions Griquas and 2024 finalists Pumas are leading the standings with the maximum 20 league points, having won all four of their matches so far. Below them, an interesting race is developing between the Griffons (third, 16 points), Boland Cavaliers (fourth, 13 points), Cheetahs (fifth, 12 points), and Falcons (sixth, 11 points).

With just four regular league games remaining before the semifinals on the weekend of May 17, the contenders below the unbeaten pacesetters know they cannot afford any slip-ups.

Two matches are set to take place on Friday, while the remaining three fixtures will be contested on Saturday. SWD Eagles will kick off the weekend’s action Friday when they host the Falcons at the picturesque Outeniqua Park in George.

The Eagles suffered a heavy loss last week against the high-flying Pumas in George, and the Falcons, who are two positions higher on the log, will be another big test for the men from the Garden Route. The East Randers have their sights set on a top-four position, so they can be expected to target this encounter as another opportunity to move up the ladder.

The 2024 runners-up, the Pumas, should have too much firepower for last-placed Border Bulldogs when the two meet later on Friday evening in Nelspruit.

Saturday’s first fixture in Kimberley is between defending champions Griquas and Boland Cavaliers. The men from Kimberley have collected a league-best tally of 304 points so far and have only conceded 58, giving them a points differential of 116 points better than the second-placed Pumas.

This gulf in points illustrates the mammoth task awaiting the Cavaliers in Kimberley, where the holders haven’t lost a game since the competition’s inception. This will easily be Boland’s most difficult game of the tournament, so it will be interesting to see how Hawies Fourie’s team rises to the occasion as they aim to stay in the race.

Then the focus moves to Bloemfontein for the Free State derby between the Cheetahs and their northern neighbors, the Griffons.

The Northern Free Staters are enjoying a much better campaign than their hosts, who are coached by former Springbok star Frans Steyn.

 

As things stand, the men from Welkom have four more log points than the Cheetahs. Last week, the Griffons gave a good account of themselves before bowing to pace-setters Griquas, while the Cheetahs had to fight tooth and nail to beat Eastern Province.

In the corresponding fixture last year between the two neighbours, the Griffons emerged victorious by just three points in Welkom. However, playing in Bloemfontein might give the Cheetahs that extra lift against a very difficult derby opponent.

Meanwhile, in Gqeberha, Eastern Province will be aiming for their second win of the season when they host the Leopards at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. EP are three league points better off and two places above the second-last Leopards, who last week enjoyed their first win of the season against Border.

Despite having only one win in the bag so far, EP has been competitive in all their games and at times unlucky not to close out matches successfully. The hosts will regard themselves as favourites against a Leopards outfit who have managed to score only 45 points in four games to date.

See below for match information!

Friday, April 4

SWD Eagles vs Falcons
(Outeniqua Park, George – Kick-off: 15.30, 13.30 GMT)

Teams

SWD: 15 Roshwin Abrahams, 14 Kirwan Cupido, 13 JP Duvenage (vice captain), 12 Edwin Sass, 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 Marlo Weich, 9 Sachin Toring, 8 Micheal Cloete, 7 Dian Basson, 6 Damon Royle, 5 Mncedisi Dlwengu (captain), 4 Liam Tattersal, 3 Hlomla Zodani, 2 Marco Fuhri, 1, Tandolwetu Matolengwe.
Replacements: 16 Stephan Leonard, 17 Cole Haggard, 18 Stefaan Grundlingh, 19 Ethan Stuurman, 20 Wayne Khan, 21 Arden-Lee Meyer, 22 Quaid Langeveldt, 23 Keanu Langeveldt.

Falcons: 15 Mbembe Payi, 14 Valentino Wellman, 13 Musa Tshabalala, 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Ezrick Alexander, 10 Sergio Stalmeester, 9 Wernich Aucamp, 8 Abulele Ndabambi, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Andrew Volschenk (co-captain), 4 EddieEvans (co-captain), 3 Thabo Ntunja, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Kayden Kiewit
Replacements: 16 Joshua Eras, 17 Lindokhuhle Seteni, 18 Blaine Golden, 19 Philip Apea-Adu, 20 Zingisa April, 21 Liam Kloosman, 22 Zeilinga Strydom, 23 Adrian Joubert

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Pumas vs Border Bulldogs
( Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 19.00, 17.00 GMT)

Teams

Pumas: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe (captain), 12 Carlton Banies, 11 Dalvon Blood, 10 Darich Visagie, 9 Conor van Eden, 8 Marvellous Mashimbyi, 7 Andre Fouche, 6 Armand Martiz, 5 Heinz Bertram, 4 Hanno Theunissen, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Stephan de Jager
Replacements: 16 Ntsika Fisanti,17 Darnell Osuagwu, 18 Etienne Janeke, 19 Miyelani Ngobeni, 20 Kwanda Dimaza, 21 Russwill Fredericks, 22 Kabelo Mokoena, 23 Darren Adonis

Border:

Referee: Hernus Coetzee

Saturday, April 5

Griquas vs Boland Cavaliers
(Kimberley Stadium, Kimberley – Kick-off: 14.00, 12.00 GMT)

Teams

Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurwin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Carl Els, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Athenkosi Khethani, 20 Jac van der Walt, 21 Phumzile Maqondwana, 22 Bobby Alexaner, 23 Connor Mahoney

Boland:

Referee: Hanru v Rooyen

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

Teams

Eastern Province:

Leopards: 15 Lwandile Mapuka, 14 Sina Tshantyi, 13 Bryan Breda, 12 Mihlali Nchukana, 11 Brandon Keevy, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 Gcina Mdltshe, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Uzile Tele, 5 Chris van Heerden, 4 Dries du Preez, 3 Ig Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Tatenda Chayayl
Replacements: 16 Liyema Mgwigwi, 17 Dima Lebelo, 18 Werner Geldenhuys, 19 Lood Prins, 20 Eben Verste, 21 Didi Sekati, 22 Chadd Adams, 23 Andre Grober

Referee: Paul Mente

Cheetahs vs Griffons
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 15.00, 13.00 GMT)

Teams

Cheetahs:

Griffons:

Referee: Sean Muller