Preview: Currie Cup prelim, Round 3
Griquas and the Leopards will go head-to-head on Saturday for the top spot on the log in Round Three of the Currie Cup qualifiers – the match-up of the weekend.
Griquas and the Leopards are the only unbeaten sides after two rounds of the competition, but only one unbeaten team will remain.
They will go head-to-head in Kimberley on Saturday in a match that could place the winning team in a favourable position to secure the last remaining place in the Currie Cup competition this season.
In Friday's matches, the Border Bulldogs host the Boland Cavaliers at in East London and the SWD Eagles meet the Falcons in George.
The clash in Kimberley is expected to be hard fought, as the teams front up physically and try to create space for their exciting backs to cross the tryline.
With home ground advantage counting in Griquas' favour and the team determined to reclaim the top spot on the log, they will enter the clash as favourites.
But the Leopards will enter the clash with confidence after their 45-22 victory against the Falcons last week, which marked their second bonus-point victory in as many weeks.
The battle between influential flyhalves Francois Brummer and his Leopards counterpart, Springbok Andre Pretorius, will be thrilling, but the forward battle is expected to take centre stage – especially with the likes of Griquas prop Stef Robbers, lock Hilton Lobberts and flank Marnus Schoeman looking to make their presence felt.
The Boland Cavaliers, meanwhile, will back themselves to beat the Border Bulldogs after building momentum in the last two weeks, while they will also draw confidence from their strong first-half fight against Griquas last week.
Border, however, will be determined to make the most of their first home game, while they will also want to ensure that they do not fall too far behind the pace-setters in the qualifiers, which is expected to motivate them significantly.
However, with the likes of exciting Cavaliers centre Richard Lawson, scrumhalf Marnus Hugo and fullback Eric Zana posing attacking threats, the hosts will have to defend like demons to prevent their second defeat in as many matches.
In George the SWD Eagles will look to build on their victory against the Griffons when they go up against the Falcons.
Fortunately for the hosts they have had two matches to find their rhythm in the competition, while the Falcons are still finding their feet after playing their first match last week.
The battle up-front should be physical given the forwards in both teams, but the SWD backs could be the key to victory as they can be dangerous if they get the ball in space.
Currie Cup qualifiers – Round Three:
Friday, June 20
Border Bulldogs v Boland Cavaliers
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Kick-off: 18.00
SWD Eagles v Falcons
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 19.00
Saturday, June 21
Griquas v Leopards
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 13.00
