ROUND FOUR PREVIEW: The Griffons and Griquas’ unbeaten status will be on the line when they clash in a highly anticipated SA Cup match in Welkom on Saturday afternoon, when all five Round Four encounters kick-off at 15.00.
The Northern Free Staters and the defending champions from Kimberley are two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the competition.
In another clash that is sure to capture the imagination, the fourth-placed Falcons, who have won two out of their three matches, host the second-placed Pumas – the other unbeaten team in the SA Cup in Kempton Park.
In the other three fixtures, the Cheetahs will be eager to get their campaign back on track when they take on Eastern Province in Gqeberha.
The Boland Cavaliers will play at home for the first time in three weeks against the SWD Eagles in Wellington
The Border Bulldogs entertain the Leopards in East London.
With a third of the league phase now completed, the race for the top four places – and qualification for this year’s Currie Cup Premier Division – is becoming clearer.
The article continues below…
Currently, the unbeaten trio of Griquas, the Pumas, and Griffons lead the standings with 15 points each.
The Falcons are in fourth place with 10 points, followed by the Cavaliers (eight points) and the Cheetahs (seven points) in fifth and sixth place, respectively.
The Griffons will be hoping that home ground advantage in Welkom can play a key role when they face the formidable holders from Kimberley, who have not lost a match in the SA Cup since the start of last season, and have dominated their opponents, amassing 252 points at an average of 84 points per game, while conceding only 25 points.
The Welkom-based side will need a strong defensive effort to contend with the competition’s most prolific try-scoring team, which includes a former Blitzbok speedster in Gurshwin Wehr.
Expect Wehr – who played his rugby in Welkom last year – and Griffons playmaker Andrew Kota to play important roles in this encounter.
Kota is the leading points scorer with 49 points, while Wehr tops the try-scoring chart with seven tries.
Elsewhere, the Pumas are favoured to maintain their unbeaten run when they tackle the Falcons at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, but they can’t afford to underestimate the East Randers, despite the men from Mpumalanga boasting a better defensive effort in their three games to date.
After two losses on the road, the Boland Cavaliers are hoping to turn the corner when they host the SWD Eagles at Boland Stadium in Wellington.
The Cavaliers easily won the corresponding fixture last year in George and will target this game to bounce back to winning ways after last week’s setback in Kempton Park.
Meanwhile, the remaining fixture between the Border Bulldogs (ninth place) and the Leopards (last place) in East London will provide one of these teams with their first win of the campaign.
See below for match information!
Saturday, March 29
Falcons v Pumas
(Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Falcons: TBC
Pumas: TBC
Referee: Dylen November
Eastern Province v Cheetahs
(Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Eastern Province: TBC
Cheetahs: 15 Micheal Annies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Rewa Kruger, 8 Sisonke Vumazonke, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Pieter Janse van Vuren, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Banele Mthenjane, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Jandre Nel, 23 Andell Loubser.
Referee: Jonathan Lottering
Boland Cavaliers v SWD Eagles
(Boland Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Boland Cavaliers: TBC
SWD Eagles: TBC
Referee: Eon van Zyl
Border Bulldogs v Leopards
(Sika Dukashe Stadium, East London – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Border Bulldogs: TBC
Leopards: 15 Lwandile Mapuko, 14 Sino Tshontyi, 13 Bryan Breda, 12 Mihlali Nchukana (vice-captain), 11 Brandon Keevy, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 Gcino Mdletshe, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Arminn Posthumus, 5 Chris van Heerden, 4 Dries du Preez, 3 Ig Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Tatenda Chayayi.
Replacements: 16 Liyema Mgwigwi, 17 Dima Lebelo, 18 Werner Geldenhuys, 19 Hanro Potgieter, 20 Uzile Tele, 21 Didi Sekati, 22 Chadd Adams, 23 André Grobler.
Referee: Phumzile Mbewu
Griffons v Griquas
(North West Stadium, Welkom – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)
Teams:
Griffons: TBC
Griquas: TBC
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
