Cat fight awaits in Mbombela for SA Cup third round

ROUND THREE PREVIEW: Three teams are still unbeaten with the third round of the SA Cup looming, but one of these, the third-placed Pumas, will have a big challenge on their hands when they welcome the Cheetahs, currently fifth on the log, to Mpumalanga on Friday evening.

Log leaders and defending champions, Griquas, travel to East London to take on Border Bulldogs, where the men from Kimberley are heavy favourites to continue their unbeaten streak, having won their opening two games this season and remaining undefeated since the competition’s inception last year.

The Bulldogs, who put up a good fight in their 22-48 loss to the SWD Eagles last week, will need to significantly up their game to challenge the defending champions.

Meanwhile, the Eagles will look to build on their first victory when they face their eastern neighbours, Eastern Province, at Outeniqua Park in George. The hosts are playing their second consecutive home game and will be motivated to leverage home-ground advantage against an EP side still seeking their first win.

#INTERVIEW: It’s a do or die this weekend in Cape Town #rugby #news #sports @WP_RUGBY #Boland #WomenInRugby #WomenInSports #WomensSports #WomensRugby @WomenBoks https://t.co/gQoqNLVvht

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Probably the biggest match of the weekend features last year’s runners-up, the Pumas, taking on the Cheetahs at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit.

The Free Staters bounced back from their opening-round loss with a strong performance against the Leopards in Potchefstroom, but they will face a stern test against Jimmy Stonehouse’s well-drilled Pumas side.

In last year’s corresponding fixture in Bloemfontein, the experienced Pumas whitewashed a youthful Cheetahs 50-0. A fierce battle is expected as the Free Staters aim to avoid losing further ground on the leading teams, with only the top four qualifying for this year’s Carling Currie Cup Premier Division.

On Saturday, the Valke have their second consecutive clash against one of the top sides when they host Boland Cavaliers at Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park. The Cavaliers, who narrowly lost in a thrilling contest last week in Welkom, will be eager to return to winning ways.

The weekend’s action concludes with the Leopards taking on the Griffons in Potchefstroom. The visiting Griffons are favourites to maintain their unbeaten run, while the Leopards, having managed just one converted try and conceded 135 points in the first two rounds, will be aiming to improve their performance.

See below for match information!

Friday, March 21

SWD Eagles v Eastern Province
(Outeniqua Park, George – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams:

Eagles: 15 Braam Abrahams, 14 Rosco Syster, 13 Clive Kruger, 12 Edwin Sass (co-captain), 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 Marlo Weich, 9 Sachin Toring, 8 Marquit September, 7 Dian Basson, 6 Damon Royle (co-captain), 5 Mncedisi Diwengu, 4 Liam Tattersall, 3 Stefaan Grundlingh, 2 Marco Fuhri, 1 Haggard Cole.
Replacements: 16 Wayne Khan, 17 Tandolwetu Matolengwe, 18 Hlomla Zondani, 19 Cecil Rittels, 20 Ethan Stuurman, 21 Stone Cloete, 22 Quaid Langeveldt, 23 Jordan Beukes.

Eastern Province: 15 Jayden Bantom, 14 Rodney Damons, 13 Sherwin Slater, 12 Troy Delport, 11 JD Jooste, 10 Chris Humphries, 9 Shirwin Cupido, 8 Athi Manetsa, 7 Laken Gray, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 JJ Scheepers, 4 Stefan Willemse (captain), 3 Zukisa Sali, 2 Deon Plaatjies, 1 Siyakubonga Nzuzo.
Replacements: 16 Masikane Mazwi, 17 Andile Ngonyama, 18 Arno Gustafson, 19 Hannes Huisamen, 20 Diego Williams, 21 Wayne Ngubane, 22 Chadwyn November, 23 Ayabonga Oliphant.

Referee: Jonathan Lottering

Border Bulldogs vs Griquas
(East London Stadium, East London – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams:

Border Bulldogs: TBC

Griquas: 15 Connor Mahoney, 14 Sako Makata, 13 Mnombon Zwelendaba, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Dylan Sjoblom, 4 Athenkosi Khetani, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Gustav du Rand, 1 Leon Lyons.
Replacements: 16 Dandré Delport, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Corné Weilbach, 19 Albert Liebenberg, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Carl Els, 22 Bobby Alexander, 23 Dylan Maart.

Referee: Dylen November

Pumas vs Cheetahs
(Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit – Kick-off: 19.00; 17.00 GMT)

Teams:

Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Stefan Coetzee, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart, 9 Ross Braude, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Jan-Henning Campher, 1 Etiene Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Claassen, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Eduan Swart, 19 Hanno Theunissen, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Conor van Eden, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Lundi Msenge.

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Michael Annies, 13 Raegan Oranje, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 George Lourens, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Neels Volschenk, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Carl Wegner, 3 Aranos Coetzee, 2 Louis van der Westhuizen (captain), 1 Hencus van Wyk
Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Matome Manyama, 18 Frankie dos Reis, 19 Pieter Janse van Vuuren, 20 Daniel Maartens, 21 Sisonke Vumazonke, 22 Rewan Kruger, 23 Jooste Nel

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Saturday, March 22

Falcons vs Boland Cavaliers
(Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams:

Falcons: TBC

Cavaliers: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Duren Hoffman, 13 Xavier Mitchell, 12 Cornal Hendricks (vice captain), 11 Lunathi Nxele, 10 Garth April, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Micheal Benadie, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Sibusiso Sangweni, 20 Gift Dlamini, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 James Tedder, 23 Jurick Lewis.

Referee: Paul Mente

Leopards vs Griffons
(Olën Park, Potchefstroom – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams:

Leopards: 15 Lwandile Mapuko, 14 Sino Tshontyi, 13 Bryan Breda, 12 Mihlali Nchukana (vice-captain), 11 Clyde Lewis, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 Gcino Mdletshe, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Uzile Tele, 5 Chris van Heerden, 4 Lood Prins, 3 Ig Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Tatenda Chayayi.
Replacements: 16 Liyema Mgwigwi, 17 Dima Lebelo, 18 Haitembu Shikufa, 19 Imaad Phillips, 20 Arminn Posthumus, 21 Eben Verster, 22 Chadd Adams, 23 André Grobler.

Griffons: 15 Kyle Cyster, 14 Keanu Vers, 13 Chris Hollis, 12 Jandre de Beer, 11 Qamani Kota, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Calla Pienaar, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Jared Kruger, 5 Matt Gray, 4 Curtly Thomas, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 Willem van den Hever, 1 Simon Westraadt
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Mthokozisi Gumede, 19 Lungi Mbiko, 20 Rian Olivier, 21 Ulrich Stander, 22 Aphiwe Stemela, 23 Quan Eymann, 24 Joshua Paris, 25 Mingo Piti, 26 Julin Samuels

Referee: Hernus Coetzee