Another weekend of thrilling rugby expected in the Currie Cup

The third round of the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division kicks off in Kimberley on Friday, when Suzuki Griquas host DHL Western Province from 3pm, with the home side determined to build on their victory over the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers last weekend, while the Capetonians will be eager to notch up their first victory of the season.

Saturday’s action begins in Pretoria, where the Vodacom Bulls welcome the Airlink Pumas at 3pm. Later that day, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV will look to make home advantage count when they face the Toyota Cheetahs at 5.10pm in Durban.

The Kavaliers will play their third consecutive Sunday fixture, this time against the Fidelity ADT Lions in a 3pm kick-off in Wellington.

In Friday’s clash, WP will be desperate to reverse their fortunes after two early losses. However, Kimberley is known to be a tough hunting ground and Labeeb Levy’s charges will need a marked improvement to overcome the hosts.

Griquas have dominated recent encounters between the two sides and are on a seven-match winning streak against Province. Their most recent victory came in September last year, when they triumphed 37-29 at home.

After a narrow loss to the Pumas in the opening round, Pieter Bergh’s men bounced back with a 48-39 win over a spirited Kavaliers outfit. They’ll be confident heading into this clash against a youthful WP side still finding their feet in the competition.

The Bulls, early pacesetters in the competition, will aim to extend their dominance over their eastern neighbours, the Pumas. Their 40-24 win in this fixture last September was a second successive win for the men from Pretoria following a heavy 63-15 loss to the team from Mpumalanga in May 2023.

This season however, the Bulls have looked formidable, collecting maximum points from their opening two matches and playing a very attractive brand of rugby. Their two wins so far includes a 64-0 demolition of the Sharks at Loftus Versfeld, and a convincing away win over WP in the North-South derby.

The Pumas, who edged Griquas in round one, fell short against a determined Cheetahs side in Bloemfontein last weekend and Saturday’s clash in Pretoria will be another stern test for the 2022 champions from Mbombela.

In Saturday’s late afternoon fixture, the Sharks host the Cheetahs at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in Clermont, Durban, where Frans Steyn’s charges will be eager to build on their thrilling win over the Pumas last weekend.

Clashes between these two sides have often delivered fireworks, with the Durbanites holding a narrow 3-2 edge in their last five meetings. However, based on current form, the young KZN outfit will go into this one as underdogs.

JP Pietersen’s young squad will be looking to bounce back after last week’s heavy defeat at Loftus but they face a tough challenge against a Cheetahs side that showed grit in overcoming the Pumas. The last time these two met, the Sharks edged it 25-20.

Sunday’s fixture in Wellington sees the Kavaliers take on a confident, high-flying Lions side. The Bolanders, newly promoted to the Premier Division, will be pleased with their six league points so far.

However, the Highvelders – last year’s runners-up – present their toughest challenge yet. With just one loss in their last five matches in this competition (a narrow defeat to their Durban rivals in the 2024 final), the Lions boast a powerful yet mobile pack of forwards and a potent backline. Fans in Wellington are in an entertaining, attacking spectacle on Sunday afternoon.

All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport Rugby.

Fixtures

Suzuki Griquas v DHL Western Province - Friday @ Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley (3pm)

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Vodacom Bulls v Airlink Pumas - Saturday @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (3pm)

Referee: Morne Ferreira

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV v Toyota Cheetahs - Saturday @ Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium, Durban (5.10pm)

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers v Fidelity ADT Lions - Sunday @ Sanlam Boland Stadium, Wellington (3pm)

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Suzuki Griquas starting XV: 15 Connor Mahoney, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr; 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams; 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carel van der Merwe, 6 Carl Els; 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Malembe Mpofu; 3 Cebo Dlamini (capt), 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids. Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Marco de Wit, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, 23 Cameron Hufke.

DHL Western Province starting XV: 15 Tristan Leyds, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Justin Geduld, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa; 10 Jurie Matthee, 9 Asad Moos; 8 Louw Nel, 7 De Wet Marais, 6 Zain Davids (capt); 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves; 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Mhleli Khuzwayo. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Oliver Reid, 18 Herman Lubbe, 19 Adam de Waal, 20 Aden da Costa, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Luke Burger, 23 Shilton van Wyk.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Cornel Smit, 12 Chris Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi; 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger (capt); 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 JJ Theron, 6 Junior Pokomela; 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Sintu Manjezi; 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Juann Else, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Casper Badenhorst, 19 Jaco Grobbelaar, 20 Dylan de Leeuw, 21 Marco Ferreira, 22 Daimon O’Connel, 23 PA van Niekerk.

Airlink Pumas starting XV: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis; 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude; 8 Willie Engelbrecht (capt), 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti; 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 JJ Scheepers; 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Zuki Sali, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Russwill Fredericks. 22 Tiaan Pretorius, 23 Dalvon Blood.

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV starting XV: 15 Jaco Williams, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Marnus Potgieter, 11 Yaw Penxe; 10 Vusi Moyo, 9 Bradley Davids; 8 Nick Hatton (capt), 7 Matt Ramao, 6 Tino Mavesere; 5 Corne Rahl, 4 Gideon Koegelenberg; 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Jacques Marais, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Willem van den Hever, 17 Simphiwe Ngobese, 18 Dian Heunis, 19 Coetzee Le Roux, 20 Jannes Potgieter, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Jean Smith, 23 Albie Bester.

Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 James Verity-Amm, 14 Ntokozo Makhaza, 13 Carel-Jan Coetzee, 12 Franco Smith, 11 Banie Britz; 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Jandre Nel; 8 Neels Volschenk, 7 Sisonke Vumazonke, 6 Daniel Maartens; 5 Victor Sekekete (capt), 4 Juan Venter; 3 Frankie Dos Reis, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Aranos Coetzee, 19 Thabang Mahlase, 20 Gideon van der Merwe, 21 Rewan Kruger, 22 Ali Mgijima, 23 Ethan Wentzel.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers starting XV: 15 James Tedder, 14 Donavan Don, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell; 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Louis Schreuder; 8 Thurlow Marsh, 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Sauliegh Arendse; 5 Marlyn Williams (capt), 4 Michael Benadie; 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Mthokozisi Gumede, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Ludio Williams, 21 Chriswill September, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht.

Fidelity ADT Lions starting XV: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Kelly Mpeku; 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Siba Qoma, 6 Jarod Cairns; 5 Rynhard Roets, 4 Dylan Sjoblom; 3 RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visgie (capt), 1 SJ Kotze. Replacements: 16 Franco Marais, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Stian de Bruyn, 19 Johnre Stopforth, 20 Luca Ribbens, 21 Renzo du Plessis, 22 Layton Horn, 23 Bronson Mills.