Classic clashes light up Currie Cup weekend

A classic central derby lights up Friday night in Kimberley as the defending Carling Currie Cup champions, Suzuki Griquas, host the pace-setting Toyota Cheetahs in a high-stakes third round Premier Division clash, with kick-off scheduled for 7pm.

Two matches are scheduled for Saturday, while the third-round fixtures will conclude on Sunday with the remaining fixture.

The DHL Stormers XXIII face Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at home at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town, where the early Saturday afternoon game will kick off at 3pm. That is followed by the encounter at the University of Johannesburg Stadium, where the Fidelity ADT Lions host northern neighbours the Vodacom Bulls XV from 5.05pm.

Sunday’s fixture is set to be another humdinger at the Boland Stadium in Wellington, when the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers host the Airlink Pumas from 3pm.

On Friday evening, the table-topping Cheetahs travel to Kimberley with a perfect 10 log points in the bag, having secured maximum points through victories over the Lions (29-27) and Sharks XV (43-21) in the opening rounds.

They will however find the fourth-placed Griquas – who currently have six points from one win and one loss – a tough nut to crack at the Suzuki Stadium. The men from Kimberley bounced back from a narrow opening-round loss to the Stormers XXIII – their first reverse in five games overall – by dismantling the Bulls XV 56-26 last time out in the Diamond City.

Pieter Bergh’s side hold the edge in recent head-to-heads between the sides, winning three of the last five encounters – including a decisive 25-5 semi-final win last year – making Kimberley a formidable place to visit for the Free Staters.

A classic coastal clash highlights Saturday afternoon’s action in Cape Town as the Stormers XXIII host the Sharks XV.

The Durbanites arrive in fifth place in the standings following a mixed start to their domestic campaign. After grinding out a thrilling 26-24 away win against the Pumas on the opening weekend, they were brought back to earth by the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Meanwhile, the Stormers XXIII occupy sixth place with four points from their one win in two games. They kicked off their tournament with a hard-fought 25-19 home victory over Griquas before suffering a heavy 41-3 defeat against Western Cape neighbours the Kavaliers in Wellington.

Looking at their form guide, the Durban outfit hold a slight advantage over their coastal opponents. The Sharks won their last two fixtures against the Capetonians, in August last year by 29-21 in Durban, and in 2024 by 31-23 in Cape Town, while the Stormers XXIII’s last win over their KZN rivals was a 44-5 triumph in Cape Town in June 2023.

Saturday’s late afternoon clash is a Jukskei Derby as the Lions lock horns with the Bulls XV at the UJ Stadium.

The hosts enter this clash in third position on the log with seven points from a win and a loss, having bounced back in emphatic style in round two by running in seven tries to dispatch the Pumas 52-29 in Johannesburg last week. That was after they suffered a narrow loss to the Toyota Cheetahs in their season opener.

In contrast, the youthful visitors from Pretoria find themselves anchored at the bottom of the table in eighth place after consecutive away defeats to the Kavaliers (24-10) and Griquas (56-26).

With 11 tries scored across two outings, the Lions’ attack will present a formidable test for their Gauteng neighbours and the Bulls XV must bolster their defence if they are to halt their opponents’ high-octane attack.

Another intriguing clash closes out this weekend’s action as the high-flying Kavaliers host winless Pumas at Boland Stadium in Wellington on Sunday.

The Kavaliers are riding high after a bright start to their campaign with nine points from consecutive home victories. After beating the Bulls XV 24–10 in round one, they stunned the Stormers XXIII last weekend. Hawies Fourie’s side have lost only one of their last five games, so they have all the momentum on their side.

Normally a perennial powerhouse in the competition, the Pumas find themselves struggling in second from last with just three league points following two opening defeats. The men from Mpumalanga were narrowly edged by the Sharks XV two weeks ago and last week they suffered a defeat against the Lions in Johannesburg.

The Kavaliers’ defensive frugality – they have conceded only 13 points in two matches – presents a major hurdle for the Pumas. The visitors' traditionally formidable pack will have to step up to turn their season around in the Cape Winelands.

Fixtures

Suzuki Griquas v Toyota Cheetahs - Friday @ Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley (7pm)

Referee: Christopher Allison

Broadcast: SuperSport

DHL Stormers XXIII v Hollywoodbets Sharks XV - Saturday @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town (3pm)

Referee: Dylen November

Broadcast: SuperSport

Fidelity ADT Lions v Vodacom Bulls XV - Saturday @ UJ Stadium, Johannesburg (5.05pm)

Referee: Juan de Bod

Broadcast: SuperSport

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers v Airlink Pumas - Sunday @ Boland Stadium, Wellington (3pm)

Referee: Morne Ferreira

Broadcast: SuperSport