Can Suzuki Griquas, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and DHL Western Province bounce back and gain their first Carling Currie Cup Premier Division victories this coming weekend, and are the NovaVit Griffons capable of causing an early-season upset?
These are some of the questions that will be answered during round two of the Premier Division to be staged between Friday and Sunday.
Suzuki Griquas play at home in Kimberley for a second week in a row, this time against the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV, in an exciting match kicking off at 15h00 on Friday. Airlink Pumas host the Fidelity ADT Lions, also on Friday, from 19h00.
In Saturday’s only encounter, the defending champions Toyota Cheetahs welcome DHL Western Province to Bloemfontein, with the Free Staters favoured to register their second win in a row after last weekend’s romp over the NovaVit Griffons. The game is scheduled to start at 13h55.
Sunday’s 14h00 clash between the NovaVit Griffons and Vodacom Bulls at the Down Touch Investments Stadium in Welkom wraps up the weekend’s action.
Suzuki Griquas went down to the Airlink Pumas in last weekend’s opening round clash in Kimberley, and the men from the Diamond City will fancy their chances against a youthful looking Hollywoodbets Sharks XV.
Kimberley is a difficult spot for any visiting team and the Durbanites will also have to cope with the home side’s controlled aggression as the recently crowned SA Cup champions seek to get their first win.
While the Airlink Pumas gained a deserving victory in Kimberley, the Fidelity ADT Lions had to work extremely hard for their one-point triumph in Durban and an exciting game is on the cards between the two attack-minded sides at the Mbombela Stadium.
Judging on last weekend’s results, the Toyota Cheetahs should have too much firepower for a young DHL WP outfit. The men from Bloemfontein swept aside their neighbours from the Northern Free State last weekend and the Capetonians will have to show a lot of improvement from their loss to the Vodacom Bulls, if they want to succeed away from home.
In the last match up of the weekend, the Vodacom Bulls are favoured over home side the NovaVit Griffons in Welkom. Success in this fixture will keep the Pretoria outfit amongst the front runners on the log, while the purple jerseys are seeking their first league points.
Although it’s very early days, it’s no surprise Toyota Cheetahs dominate proceedings on the leading scorers list.
Ethan Wentzel heads the list with 19 points following his seven conversions and a try in the opening round. Fidelity ADT Lions flyhalf Kade Wolhuter is just three points behind on 16, while Airlink Pumas playmaker Clinton Swart is on 14 points.
Three Toyota Cheetahs players, namely Gideon van der Merwe, Daniel Kasende and Jandre Nel, as well as the Suzuki Griquas’ Mnombo Zwelendaba, have scored two tries each.
All the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division action will be broadcast live on Supersport.
Match information:
Suzuki Griquas vs Hollywoodbets Sharks XV
Date: Friday, 12 July
Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Time: 15h00
Referee: Christopher Allison
TV: SS Rugby
Airlink Pumas vs Fidelity ADT Lions
Date: Friday, 12 July
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Time: 19h00
Referee: Sean Muller
TV: SS Rugby
Toyota Cheetahs vs DHL Western Province
Date: Saturday, 13 July
Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein
Time: 13h55
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
TV: SS Rugby
NovaVit Griffons vs Vodacom Bulls
Date: Sunday, 14 July
Venue: Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom
Time: 14h00
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
TV: SS Rugby
>>>Story courtesy of www.sarugby.co.za/news<<<