Top of the table clash in SA Cup

ROUND SEVEN PREVIEW: Can the Pumas break Griquas’ incredible unbeaten run in the SA Cup when the two top teams on the log- and last year’s finalists – clash in Nelspruit on Friday?

Meanwhile, who between the Cheetahs and Falcons will prevail on Saturday in Bloemfontein?

These questions – and a few others – will be answered in an intriguing seventh round of the competition this weekend, when the action returns after a bye over the Easter Weekend, with the race for the four qualifying places for the Currie Cup going down to the wire.

The round kicks off on Friday afternoon in East London, where the Border Bulldogs host Eastern Province from 16.00 local time (14.00 GMT) at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium in a big Eastern Cape Derby, and is followed by the big clash in Nelspruit between the Pumas and defending champions Griquas at the Mbombela Stadium, starting at 19.00 local time (17.00 GMT).

Three games are scheduled for Saturday, with the Boland and Leopards involved in the early kick-off at 14.00 local time (12.00 GMT) in Wellington, followed by the two remaining games, both of which start at 15.00 local time (13.00 GMT) in the Free State.

The Cheetahs entertain the Falcons at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, while the Griffons welcome the SWD Eagles to the Griffons Stadium in Welkom.

The Pumas and Griquas have swept all opponents aside so far this season and both are unbeaten with a perfect 30 log points after six rounds, with the team from Kimberley first courtesy of a better points’ differential, by only two points, followed by the Mpumalanga outfit.

Griquas are also defending an unbeaten run built since the inception of the tournament last year. They beat their Nelspruit rivals by 31-26 in the league phase last year and then went on to lift the inaugural SA Cup title with a 46-24 victory over the Pumas in a pulsating Final in Kimberley.

These two rivals are most likely to finish in the top two positions, which will secure passage to the semifinals as well as qualification to the prestigious Currie Cup.

Only points’ difference separates the two at the top of the standings, and the winner of Friday evening’s crunch encounter in Nelspruit will have a firm grip on the number one ranking and the inside line for home ground advantage in the Final.

In Friday’s earlier match in East London, the Bulldogs will be hoping to gain their first victory when they tackle provincial neighbours EP, who have won two games to date and came close in some of their other league encounters, while Border have struggled to assert themselves although they have played good rugby in patches.

EP won last year’s corresponding fixture comfortably at the Wolfson Stadium, however, one can expect a huge arm wrestle in this Eastern Cape Derby as the Bulldogs go in search of their first win of the season.

The Kavaliers will fancy their chances in Saturday’s early fixture against the Leopards in Wellington as they look to step up their quest for a top-four finish and Currie Cup qualification.

With the race to the top four heating up, the Bolanders – currently in fourth spot on the log – cannot afford a slip-up against the outfit from Potchefstroom as they still have their destiny in their own hands.

The Falcons – also on 20 points like the Boland and the Griffons – are just two points below the Cheetahs, who they face on Saturday in Bloemfontein in another important clash in the race for Currie Cup qualification.

Both sides secured good wins two weeks ago before the Easter break, with the Bloemfontein outfit easily outplaying the Eagles while the Falcons had to grind for a hard-fought victory over the Griffons.

Last year, the Free Staters clinched a comprehensive victory when the two sides met on the East Rand, but current form suggests this will be a much closer affair.

Two weeks ago, the Griffons came unstuck against the Falcons in Kempton Park and they face another tricky encounter on Saturday against the Eagles in Welkom. The Northern Free Staters have the better form in their favour – they’ve lost only two compared to the Eagles’ five games – and they should be able to make home advantage count in this meeting.

In Andrew Kota, the side from Welkom have the joint second-highest points scorer to date with 67 points to his name from six games and the Eagles will have to keep him in check if they want to spring a surprise.

See below for match information!

Friday, April 25

Border Bulldogs v Eastern Province
(Sisa Dukashe Stadium, East London – Kick-off: 16.00; 14.00 GMT)

Teams:

Border: 15 Maxwell Klaasen, 14 Mbasa Nkonki, 13 Ryan Maree, 12 Hlumelo Zitha, 11 Sakhekile Dingile, 10 Oliver Zono, 9 Abdur Smail, 8 Soso Xhakalashe, 7 Hlomla Payi, 6 Esethu Zenani, 5 Caleb Radcliffe, 4 Camagu Dlisani, 2 Hlumza Nondonga, 2 Kamvelihle Fayela, 1 Sibusiso Lali (captain)
Replacements: 16 Mangaliso Zixesha, 17 Luxolo Koza, 18 Siphetho Manakaza, 19 Ayabonga Nomboyo, 20 Oyisa Balekile, 21 Hlumelo Pnatyo, 22 Simthembile Zozi, 23 Unathi Mayekiso

Eastern Province: 15 Jaden Bantom, 14 Rodney Damons, 13 Sherwin Slater, 12 Troy Delport, 11 Davian Swanepoel, 10 Chris Humphries, 9 Shirwin Cupido, 8 Diego Williams, 7 Laken Gray, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 JJ Scheepers, 4 Stefan Willemse (captain), 3 Duncan du Buisson, 2 Deon Plaatjies, 1 Zukisa Sali
Replacements: 16 Masikane Mazwi, 17 Arno Gustafson, 18 Andile Ngonyama, 19 Johannes Huisamen, 20 Athenkosi Manentsa, 21 Ruan Claassen, 22 Wayne Ngubane, 23 Chadwin November

Referee: Dylen November

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

Teams:

Pumas: 15 Jaycee Nel, 14 Lundi Msenge, 13 Sango Xamlashe, 12 Wian van Niekerk, 11 Darren Adonis, 10 Clinton Swart 9 Ross Braude, 8 Willie Engelebrecht, 7 Ruwald van der Merwe, 6 Ntsika Fisanti, 5 Tiaan de Klerk, 4 Jeandre Leonard, 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Eduan Swart, 1 Etienne Janeke
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Stephan de Jager, 18 Deward Maritz, 19 Heinz Bertram, 20 Andre Fouche, 21 Kwanda Dimaza, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Tino Swanepoel

Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Tertius Kruger, 11 Gurwin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Cone Weilbach, 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids
Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 Cebo Dlamini, 19 Athenkosi Khethani, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Bobby Alexander, 22 Tylor Sefoor, 23 Mnombo Zwelendaba

Referee: Christopher Allison

Saturday, April 26

Boland Cavaliers v Leopards
(Boland Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 14.00; 12.00 GMT)

Teams:

Boland:15 James Tedder, 14 Renaldo Young, 13 Lunathi Nxzele, 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Ashlon Davids, 9 Chriswill September 8 Thurlow Marsh (captain), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Gift Dlamini, 5 Michael Benadie, 4 Khwezi Mafu, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 HP van Schoor, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Doctor Booysen, 19 Sauliegh Arendse, 20 Ludio Williams, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Erik Lambrecht, 23 Domenic Smit

Leopards: 15 Luan van der Walt, 14 Sino Tshontyi, 13 Matthew Fortuin, 12 Bryan Breda, 11 Naiden Jaarts, 10 Brandon Keevy, 9 Chadd Adams, 8 Eben Verster, 7 Uzile Tele, 6 Gcino Mdletshe, 5 Chris van Heerden, 4 Hanro Potgieter, 3 Ig Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Jason Jansen
Replacements: 16 Richard Fourie, 17 Tatenda Chayayi, 18 Werner Geldenhuys, 19 Lead Prins, 20 Didi Sekati, 21 Sanele Zungu, 22 Shaun Baxter, 23 Clyde Lewis

Referee: Sean Muller

Griffons v SWD Eagles
(Welkom Stadium, Welkom – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams:

Griffons: 15 Keanu Vers, 14 Christiaan Nel, 13 Aphiwe Stemela, 12 Chris Hollis, 11 Qamani Kota, 10 Duan Pretorius, 9 Richman Gora, 8 Ulrich Stander, 7 Thomas Ongera, 6 Mingo Piti, 5 Curtly Thomas, 4 Lungi Mbiko, 3 Buhle Nojekwa, 2 Willem vd Hever, 1 Simon Westraadt
Replacements: 16 Chadley Wenn, 17 Xolani Jacobs, 18 Mthokozisi Gumede, 19 Matt Gray, 20 Calla Pienaar, 21 Rian Olivier, 22 Kyle Cyster, 23 Quan Eymann, 24 Edwin Nxumalo

Eagles: 15 Roshwin Abrahams, 14 Rosco Syster, 13 Edwin Sass, 12 JP Duvenhage, 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 Eric Zana, 9 Sachin Toring, 8 Leighton van Wyk, 7 Azola Mati, 6 Dian Basson, 5 Mncedisi Dlwengu (captain), 4 Ethan Stuurman, 3 Hlomla Zondani, 2 Marco Fuhri, 1 Tandolwetu Matolengwe
Replacements: 16 Stephan Leonard, 17 Cole Haggard, 18 Stefaan Grundlingh, 19 Wayne Khan, 20 Gerschwin Muller, 21 Keegan Schaefer, 22 Clive Kruger, 23 Dehovine Johannes, 24 Marlo Weich

Referee: Jonathan Lottering

Cheetahs v Falcons
(Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams:

Cheetahs: 15 Cohen Jasper, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Michael Annies, 10 George Lourens, 9 Jandre Nel, 8 Jeandre Rudolph, 7 Pierre-Raymond 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 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Cameron Dawson, 18 Robert Hunt, 19 Pieter Jansen van Vuuren, 20 Sisonke Vumazonke, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Raegan Oranje, 23 Banie Britz

Falcons: 15 Mbembe Payi, 14 Valentino Wellman, 13 Musa Tshabalala, 12 Zeilinga Strydom, 11 Ezrick Alexander, 10 Sergio Stalmeester, 9 Wernich Aucamp, 8 Abulele Ndabambi, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Andrew Volschenk, 4 Eddie Evans (captain), 3 Blaine Golden, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Kayden Kiewit
Replacements: 16 Sikholise Nanto, 17 Lindokuhle Seteni, 18 Cohen Kiewit, 19 Philip Apea-Adu, 20 Zingisa April, 21 Liam Kloosman, 22 Waqar Solaan, 23 Adrian Jouber

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys