First Division: Final push
The Falcons, SWD Eagles and Boland Cavaliers will go head-to-head this weekend for the two remaining semifinal spots in a thrilling end to the pool stages of the First Division.
The Leopards and Griffons have already booked their home semifinals, but only five points separate the Falcons and SWD Eagles in third and fourth place on the standings, with 25 points, and the fifth-placed Boland Cavaliers respectively.
The Boland Cavaliers will meet the Border Bulldogs in Wellington in the only match on Friday, and on Saturday the Leopards will go up against the Falcons in Potchefstroom and the Griffons take on the SWD Eagles in Welkom.
With Boland taking to the field first the Falcons and SWD Eagles will have the advantage of knowing exactly what they need to do to book their places in the semifinals when they run onto the field on Saturday.
In Wellington the Boland Cavaliers will be under immense pressure to register a bonus-point victory, and preferably with a good winning margin, against the Border Bulldogs to stay in the running for a semifinal berth.
Should they fail to secure a bonus-point win, however, the clash will mark the end of their campaign.
That said the hosts will enter the match with confidence after defeating the SWD Eagles last week.
The Border Bulldogs, meanwhile, come off three successive defeats, but Boland will not pay much attention to these results as the East London team delivered competitive performances in all three matches.
The Cavaliers made a few changes to their team with prop Ashton Constant and flank Yves Bashiya being handed starts, while lock Victor Kruger takes over in the engine room. Hooker Clemens Lewis will captain the side.
The clash between the Leopards and Falcons is expected to be entertaining as both teams come off victories and will look to build on that with an eye on the play-off stages.
The Falcons, in particular, have shown impressive form in the last few weeks with victories against the SWD Eagles, Boland Cavaliers and the Griffons respectively – which will bolster their confidence against the log-leaders.
The Leopards, meanwhile, will be looking to build on their victory against the Border Bulldogs last week, while they will also have the extra incentive of stretching their unbeaten run at home this season.
The Falcons made only one change to their starting team with flank JP Jonck replacing Brian Shabangu as the coaches proved their faith in the team that guided them to victory last week.
The battle in Welkom will be equally exciting as the Griffons and SWD Eagles will be desperate to bounce back from their defeats last weekend.
Adding spice the clash, the Griffons have yet to suffer a defeat at home this season – a record they would be determined to keep intact – while the SWD Eagles will know on Friday if they need to secure a bonus point in the clash to cement their semifinal berth.
In their last outing SWD registered a narrow 40-37 victory, and this clash could prove to be similarly hard-fought given the small margins between the teams on attack and defence this season.
The Griffons have bulked up their squad by including four props and a new centre pairing of Werner Griesel and Colin Herbert, while star scrumhalf Boela Abrahams reclaimed his place in the starting team.
Their SWD counterparts, meanwhile, reshuffled their backline which sees Martin du Toit start at flyhalf and a new centre pairing of Gerhardus Smith and Ashwin Scott.
First Division fixtures:
Friday, September 26
Boland Cavaliers v Border Bulldogs
Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington
Kick-off: 16.00
Referee: Pro Legoete
Assistant referees: Lusanda Jam and Linston Manuels
TMO: Jason Jaftha
Saturday, September 27
Leopards v Falcons
Venue: Olen Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 14.15
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistant referees: Stephan Geldenhuys and Ricus van der Hoven
Griffons v SWD Eagles
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistant referees: Lourens van der Merwe and AJ Jacobs
