Unbeaten streaks on the line in Welkom

ROUND FOUR PREVIEW: The Griffons and Griquas’ unbeaten status will be on the line when they clash in a highly anticipated SA Cup match in Welkom on Saturday afternoon, when all five Round Four encounters kick-off at 15.00.

The Northern Free Staters and the defending champions from Kimberley are two of the three remaining unbeaten teams in the competition.

In another clash that is sure to capture the imagination, the fourth-placed Falcons, who have won two out of their three matches, host the second-placed Pumas – the other unbeaten team in the SA Cup in Kempton Park.

In the other three fixtures, the Cheetahs will be eager to get their campaign back on track when they take on Eastern Province in Gqeberha.

The Boland Cavaliers will play at home for the first time in three weeks against the SWD Eagles in Wellington

The Border Bulldogs entertain the Leopards in East London.

With a third of the league phase now completed, the race for the top four places – and qualification for this year’s Currie Cup Premier Division – is becoming clearer.

The article continues below…

Currently, the unbeaten trio of Griquas, the Pumas, and Griffons lead the standings with 15 points each.

The Falcons are in fourth place with 10 points, followed by the Cavaliers (eight points) and the Cheetahs (seven points) in fifth and sixth place, respectively.

The Griffons will be hoping that home ground advantage in Welkom can play a key role when they face the formidable holders from Kimberley, who have not lost a match in the SA Cup since the start of last season, and have dominated their opponents, amassing 252 points at an average of 84 points per game, while conceding only 25 points.

The Welkom-based side will need a strong defensive effort to contend with the competition’s most prolific try-scoring team, which includes a former Blitzbok speedster in Gurshwin Wehr.

Expect Wehr – who played his rugby in Welkom last year – and Griffons playmaker Andrew Kota to play important roles in this encounter.

Kota is the leading points scorer with 49 points, while Wehr tops the try-scoring chart with seven tries.

Elsewhere, the Pumas are favoured to maintain their unbeaten run when they tackle the Falcons at the Barnard Stadium in Kempton Park, but they can’t afford to underestimate the East Randers, despite the men from Mpumalanga boasting a better defensive effort in their three games to date.

After two losses on the road, the Boland Cavaliers are hoping to turn the corner when they host the SWD Eagles at Boland Stadium in Wellington.

The Cavaliers easily won the corresponding fixture last year in George and will target this game to bounce back to winning ways after last week’s setback in Kempton Park.

Meanwhile, the remaining fixture between the Border Bulldogs (ninth place) and the Leopards (last place) in East London will provide one of these teams with their first win of the campaign.

See below for match information!

Saturday, March 29

Falcons v Pumas

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

Teams: 

Falcons: Falcons: 15 Mbembe Payi, 14 Valentino Wellman, 13 Musa Tshabalala, 12 Waqar Solaan, 11 Ezrick Alexander, 10 Keagan Fortune, 9 Wernich Aucamp, 8 Abulele Ndabmbi, 7 Godfrey Muzanargwo, 6 Kelvin Kanenungo, 5 Andrew Volschenk (co-captain), 4 Eddie Evans (co-captain), 3 Thabo Ntunja, 2 Pierre Rabie, 1 Kayden Kiewit
Replacements: 16 Joshua Eras, 17 Lindokuhle Seteni, 18 Blaine Golden, 19 Philip Apea-Adu,
20 Zingisa April, 21 Tiaan Jonker, 22 Liam Kloosman, 23 Zeilinga Strydom

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 dce Klerk, 4 Jeandre Leonard 3 Sampie Swiegers, 2 Llewellyn Classen, 1 Etiene Janeke.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Dewald Maritz, 18 Eduan Swart, 19 Heinz Bertram, 20 Andre fouche, 21 Conor van Eden, 22 Danrich Visagie, 23 Lundi Msenge

Referee: Dylen November

Eastern Province v Cheetahs

(Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams: 

Eastern Province: 15 Jaden Bantom 14 Rodney Damons, 13 Sherwin Slater, 12 Troy Delport, 11 JD Jooste, 10 Chris Humphries, 9 Shirwin Cupido, 8 Athi Manentsa, 7 Stefan Willemse, 6 CJ Velleman, 5 Hannes Huisamen, 4 JJ Scheepers, 3 Zuki Sali, 2 Deon Plaatjies, 1 Siya Nzuzo
Replacements: 16 Masikane Mazwi, 17 Arno Gustafson, 18 Duncan Du Buisson, 19 Laken Gray, 20 Diego Williams, 21 Wayne Ngubane, 22 Chadwn November, 23 Ayabonga Oliphant

Cheetahs: 15 Micheal Annies, 14 Prince Nkabinde, 13 Marco Janse van Vuren, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Litha Nkula, 10 Clayton Blommetjies, 9 Rewa Kruger, 8 Sisonke Vumazonke, 7 Pierre Uys, 6 Daniel Maartens, 5 Victor Sekekete, 4 Pieter Janse van Vuren, 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Vernon Paulo, 1 Schalk van der Merwe.
Replacements: 16 Marko Janse van Rensburg, 17 Banele Mthenjane, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Mzwanele Zito, 20 Andisa Ntsila, 21 Reagan Oranje, 22 Jandre Nel, 23 Andell Loubser.

Referee: Jonathan Lottering

Boland Cavaliers v SWD Eagles

(Boland Stadium, Wellington – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams: 

Boland Cavaliers: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Riaan Louw, 13 Lunathi Nxele, 12 Jurick Lewis, 11 Xavier Mithcell, 10 James Tedder, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Gift Dlamini, 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Marlyn Williams (captain), 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Vernon Matongo
Replacements: 16 Emile Booysen, 17 Wayrin Losper, 18 Doctor Booysen, 19 Schalk Oelofse, 20 Taine-Randall Booysen, 21 Bentley Geldenhuys, 22 Garth April, 23 Erik Lamprecht

SWD Eagles:  15 Roshwin Abrahams, 14 Kirwan Cupido, 13 JP Duvenage, 12 Edwin Sass (co-captain), 11 Mpho Ntsane, 10 Marlo Weich, 9 Sachin Toring, 8 Leighton van Wyk, 7 Dian Basson, 6 Damon Royle (co-captain), 5 Laim Tettersall, 4 Ethan Stuurman, 3 Stefaan Grundlingh, 2 Marco Fuhri, 1 Haggard Cole.
Replacements: 16 Stephan Leonard, 17 Tandolwetu Matolengwe, 18 Cecil Rittels, 19 Mncedisi Dlwengu, 20 Michael Cloete, 21 Arden-Lee Meyer, 22 Quaid Langeveldt, 23 Jordan Beukes.

Referee: Eon van Zyl

Border Bulldogs v Leopards

(Sika Dukashe Stadium, East London – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams: 

Border Bulldogs:15 Mbasa Nkonki, 14 Simthembile Zozi, 13 Awonke Sonishe, 12 Ryan Maree, 11 Sakhile Dingile, 10 Maxwell Klaasen, 9 Hlumelo Pantyo, 8 Soskuphumla Xakalashe, 7 Hlomla Payi, 6 Oyisa Balekile, 5 Calbe Radcliffe, 4 Camagu Dlisani, 3 Hlumelo Nondonga, 2 Kamvelihle Fatyela, 1 Luxolo Koza (captain)
Replacements: 16 Mangaliso Zixesha, 17 Sibusiso Manakaza, 18 Sipheto Manakaza, 19 Mzamomuhle Vidima, 20 Uyathandwa Fana, 21 Esethu Zenani, 22 Jaden Shaw, 23 Aphiwe Sidloyi

Leopards: 15 Lwandile Mapuko, 14 Sino Tshontyi, 13 Bryan Breda, 12 Mihlali Nchukana (vice-captain), 11 Brandon Keevy, 10 Charles Williams, 9 Sylvester Hassien, 8 Gcino Mdletshe, 7 Ghudian van Reenen, 6 Arminn Posthumus, 5 Chris van Heerden, 4 Dries du Preez, 3 Ig Prinsloo (captain), 2 Jason Alexander, 1 Tatenda Chayayi.
Replacements: 16 Liyema Mgwigwi, 17 Dima Lebelo, 18 Werner Geldenhuys, 19 Hanro Potgieter, 20 Uzile Tele, 21 Didi Sekati, 22 Chadd Adams, 23 André Grobler.

Referee: Phumzile Mbewu

Griffons v Griquas

(North West Stadium, Welkom – Kick-off: 15.00; 13.00 GMT)

Teams: 

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

Griquas:15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead (captain), 9 Thomas Bursey, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Thabo Ndimande, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Cebo Dlamini, 2 Gustav du Randt, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Corne Lavagna, 18 Corne Weilbach, 19 Athenkosi Khetani, 20 Stephan Smit, 21 Carl Els, 22 Bobby Alexander, 23 Connor Mahoney

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys