Lions, Bulls, Pumas and Kavaliers keen to keep winning momentum

The Toyota Cheetahs, who suffered a narrow defeat in a thrilling Carling Currie Cup Premier Division opening round fixture in Wellington last week, face another stern test on Friday evening when they host the Airlink Pumas in Bloemfontein, where the clash will kick off at 7pm.

The encounter in the Free State capital will start another exciting round of fixtures. On Saturday, the impressive Fidelity ADT Lions welcome DHL Western Province to Johannesburg for the early afternoon match at 3pm, followed by the meeting in Pretoria, where the Vodacom Bulls host the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at 5.10pm.

The weekend’s action wraps up on Sunday in Kimberley, where Suzuki Griquas host the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at 3pm.

Frans Steyn’s Cheetahs will be ruing their missed opportunity against the Kavaliers, who snatched victory after the final hooter last week in Wellington. On Friday evening, they face the Pumas, who are in third place on the log after the opening round.

The Pumas’ convincing win over Griquas last weekend has placed them among the early pacesetters on the log, albeit after just one round. Looking ahead to Friday’s match in Bloemfontein, the Free Staters will be hoping to maintain their strong record in this fixture, having won three of the last four encounters against their Mpumalanga rivals – including the 2023 Premier Division final in Bloemfontein.

However, the Pumas will draw confidence from their recent SA Cup form against the Cheetahs, which includes two victories, one of them a 12-point win in March.

In Saturday’s first match at Ellis Park, the Lions will be brimming with confidence as they take on WP. The Joburg side made a strong statement in the opening round, dismantling the Sharks by 41 points, while Province fell short against the Bulls in Cape Town.

The Joburgers have won the last two meetings between these sides, both home and away, while WP’s last victory over their Joburg rivals came in March 2023.

The Bulls and Sharks have produced some memorable clashes in this prestigious competition, including last year’s epic semi-final, which ended 40-40 after regular time.

Based on last week’s dominant performance in Cape Town, the Pretoria outfit will be favourites, while the Durbanites will need a marked improvement to be competitive on Saturday afternoon at Loftus after they lost by a big score against the Lions last week.

Sunday’s fixture in Kimberley sees Griquas take on the Kavaliers, a side they men from the Northern Cape have traditionally held the upper hand over, with the last two SA Cup meetings between these teams ending in Griquas victories.

However, Boland coach Hawies Fourie will point to his side’s recent improvement and their gritty home win over the Cheetahs last week as signs of their growing competitiveness.

All Carling Currie Cup Premier Division matches will be broadcast live on the SuperSport Rugby channel.

Fixtures

Toyota Cheetahs v Airlink Pumas - Friday @ Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein (7pm)

Referee: Hanru van Rooyen

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Fidelity ADT Lions v DHL Western Province - Saturday @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg (3pm)

Referee: Christopher Allison

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks XV - Saturday @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria (5.10pm)

Referee: Sean Muller

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Suzuki Griquas v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers - Sunday @ Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley (3pm)

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 ⁠James Verity-Amm, 14 ⁠Banie Britz, 13 ⁠Marko Jansen van Vuren, 12 ⁠Carel-Jan Coetzee, 11 ⁠Cohen Jasper; 10 ⁠Tiaan Swanepoel, 9 ⁠Jandre Nel; 8 ⁠Neels Volschenk, 7 ⁠Gideon van der Merwe, 6 ⁠Sasko Ndlovu; 5 ⁠Victor Sekekete (capt), 4 ⁠Pierre Raymond Uys; 3 ⁠Frankie Dos Reis, 2 ⁠Vernon Paulo, 1 Cameron Dawson. Replacements: 16 ⁠Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 ⁠Hencus van Wyk, 18 ⁠Aranos Coetzee, 19 ⁠Sisonke Vumazonke, 20 ⁠Daniel Maartens, 21 ⁠Rewan Kruger, 22 ⁠Franco Smith, 23 ⁠Clayton Blommetjies.

Airlink Pumas starting XV: 15 Tino Swanepoel, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis; 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Ross Braude; 8 Willie Engelbretch (capt), 7 Kwanda Dimaza, 6 Ntsika Fisanti; 5 Jeandre Leonard, 4 Heinz Bertram; 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke. Replacements: 16 Darnelle Osusgwu, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 JJ Scheepers, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Runwald van der Merwe, 22 Russwill Fredricks, 23 Stephan Coetzee.

Fidelity ADT Lions starting XV: 15 Gianni Lombard, 14 Angelo Davids, 13 Manuel Rass, 12 Rynhardt Jonker, 11 Rabz Maxwane; 10 Lubabalo Dobela, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Jarod cairns, 6 Renzo du Plessis; 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Raynard Roets; RF Schoeman, 2 Jaco Visagie (capt), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Marno Grobbelaar, 17 SJ Kotze, 18 Heiko Pohlmann, 19 Dylan Sjoblom, 20 Siba Qoma, 21 Layton Horn, 22 Kade Wolhuter, 23 Kellp Mpeku.

DHL Western Province starting XV: 15 Shilton van Wyk, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Luke Burger, 12 Damian Markus, 11 Jared Africa; 10 Kyle Smith, 9 Asad Moos; 8 Louw Nel, 7 Gideon van Wyk, 6 Zain Davids (capt); 5 Gary Porter, 4 Alex Groves; 3 Zachary Porthen, 2 Scarra Ntubeni, 1 Sti Sithole. Replacements: 16 Lukhanyo Vokozela, 17 Mhleli Khuzwayo, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Andre Goedhals, 20 Erhard Lambrecht, 21 Ezekiel Ngobeni, 22 Gino Cupido, 23 Tristan Leyds.

Vodacom Bulls starting XV: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 Chris Barend Smit, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Jaco van der Walt, 9 Zak Burger; 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Nama Xaba (capt); 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Sintu Manjezi; 3 Francois Klopper, 2 Juann Else, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Ruan Swart, 18 Jean Erasmus, 19 Dylan de Leeuw, 20 JJ Theron, 21 Steven Nel, 22 PA van Niekerk, 23 Cornel Smit.

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV starting XV: 15 Hakeem Kunene, 14 Phiko Sobahle, 13 Litelihle Bester, 12 Janco Purchase, 11 Jaco Williams; 10 Jean Smith, 9 Bradley Davids; 8 Nick Hatton (capt), 7 Jannes Potgieter, 6 Tino Mavesere; 5 Deon Slabbert, 4 Corne Rahl; 3 Lee-Marvin Mazibuko, 2 Bryce Calvert, 1 Phatu Ganyane. Replacements: 16 Jacques Marais, 17 Simphiwe Ngobese, 18 Dian Heunis, 19 Gideon Koegelenberg, 20 Matt Ramao, 21 Ceano Everson, 22 Simphiwe Moyo, 23 Albie Bester.

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 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen; 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 Witt, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, 23 Cameron Hufke.

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers starting XV: 15 James Tedder, 14 Marcqiewn Titus, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Donavan Don; 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Chriswill September; 8 Sibusiso Sangweni, 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Gift Dlamini; 5 Marlyn Williams (capt), 4 Michael Benadie; 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper. Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Thurlow Marsh, 21 Golden Masimla, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Xavier Mitchell.