Preview: Griffons loom for Kavaliers
Defending First Division champions the Boland Kavaliers will have their work cut out for them when they tackle the unbeaten Griffons this weekend.
The Kavaliers are still searching for their first victory of the season so they will be determined to impress when they welcome the Griffons to Boland Park in Worcestor on Friday.
In the day's other match, the competition's only other unbeaten team, the EP Kings, host the bottom-of-the-table Border Bulldogs in what promises to be a tightly-contested Eastern Cape derby at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium.
Saturday sees two mid-table clashes, with the sixth-placed Valke travelling to Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit to face the fifth-ranked Ford Pumas, while the Leopards, currently lying fourth, are at home to the third-placed SWD Eagles in Potchefstroom.
The Griffons, after early-season wins over the Valke, Leopards and Bulldogs, have a full house of 15 logs points – one ahead of the EP Kings. But the men from Welkom will have to pull out all the stops if they are to register a first-ever victory over the Kavaliers in Worcester after losing three of their Cheetahs-contracted players who turned out in last week's 29-24 victory over Border.
Veteran fullback Philip Burger is replaced by the dependable Tiaan van Wyk, who moves from flyhalf to the last line of defence; Derick van Heerden takes over from PW van Vuuren at hooker; and Boetie Groenewald packs on the side of the scrum in place of Francois Uys.
Van Wyk's shift to fullback means the impressive Tertius Maarman keeps his place at flyhalf, while the side is once again captained from midfield by Werner Griesel, whose partnership with the abrasive Japie Nel will be crucial to the outcome from a Griffons point of view.
Pumas coach Jimmy Stonehouse meanwhile has to do without the competition's top try-scorer, flank Jaco Bouwer, who is injured, while he has also replaced No.8 Doppies le Roux and scrumhalf Shaun Venter with RW Kember and Faf de Klerk respectively, in the hope of turning around his team's fortunes after suffering two defeats in their opening three matches.
The Leopards, who, like the Pumas, have also lost two of their opening three matches, have made wholesale changes to their pack ahead of their clash against the Eagles, including the introduction of teenage lock Armandt Liebenberg. Veteran Springbok flyhalf Andre Pretorius takes his place in the starting team as does former Lions hooker Edgar Marutlulle.
Griffons left wing Reinhardt Erwee tops the First Division point-scoring log after Round Three, with 45 points made up of three tries, six conversions and six penalties. Just behind Erwee is EP Kings flyhalf George Whitehead on 44, with Eagles No 10 Kurt Coleman in third place on 35.
First Division Round Four fixtures:
Boland Kavaliers vs Griffons
Date: Friday, 20 July
Kick-off: 16.00
Venue: Boland Park, Worcester
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Assistants: Joey Salmans, Linston Manuels
Last meeting: 7 October 2011 in Wellington (First Division): Boland won 50-20.
EP Kings vs Border Bulldogs
Date: Friday, 20 July
Kickoff: 19.10
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Assistants: Marius van der Westhuizen, Christie du Preez
TMO: Johann Meuwesen
Last meeting: 16 March 2012 in Port Elizabeth (Vodacom Cup): Kings won 40-23.
Pumas vs Valke
Date: Saturday, 21 July
Kick-off: 15.00
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Referee: Marius Jonker
Assistants: Lesego Legoete, Stefan Breytenbach
TMO: Deon van Blommenstein
Last meeting: 10 March 2012 in Kempton Park (Vodacom Cup): Pumas won 55-30.
Leopards vs SWD Eagles
Date: Saturday, 21 July
Kick-off: 15.00
Venue: Profert Olen Park, Potchefstroom
Referee: Stuart Berry
Assistants: Tiaan Jonker, Francois de Bruyn
Last meeting: 19 March 2011 in Mafikeng (Vodacom Cup): Leopards won 47-8.
