The Springboks are on a break meaning rugby fans have four Currie Cup Premier Division fixtures to look forward to this weekend. Last weekend’s opening round saw the Sharks beat the Pumas in Mbombela (26-24), the Stormers edge Griquas 25-19 in Cape Town, the Cheetahs beat the Lions 29-27 in Bloemfontein and the Boland shock the Bulls 24-10 in Wellington. The two top-placed teams after round one, the Cheetahs and Sharks, meet in the first game of round two on Friday, with two matches scheduled for Saturday – the Lions against the Pumas and the Griquas against the Bulls.
On Sunday, Boland await their neighbours, the Stormers XXIII, in Wellington and what a game that promises to be. Boland have already knocked over the Bulls this campaign and last season also beat a few of the so-called big guns at home. Also note, the First Division final takes place on Friday evening in George (7.10pm) when the SWD Eagles host the Valke.
Here then are all the details of the weekend’s Currie Cup action: Currie Cup First Division Final: SWD Eagles v ValkeDate: FridayVenue: Outeniqua Park, GeorgeTime: 7.10pmReferee: Jonathan Lottering Currie Cup Premier Division: Cheetahs v Sharks XVDate: FridayVenue: Toyota Stadium, BloemfonteinTime: 5pmReferee: Hanru van Rooyen Lions v PumasDate: SaturdayVenue: Ellis ParkTime: 3pmReferee: Griffin Colby Griquas v Bulls XVDate: SaturdayVenue: Suzuki Stadium, KimberleyTime: 5.05pmReferee: Morne Ferreira Boland Kavaliers vs Stormers XXIIIDate: SundayVenue: Boland Stadium, WellingtonTime: 3pmReferee: AJ Jacobs Junior Springbok loose forward Thomas Beling is one of two players who will make their Currie Cup debut for the Bulls when they take on the Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday (kick-off 5pm) The Bulls will want to bounce back from their 24-10 defeat to Boland in Wellington, while the defending champions, the Griquas, will likewise want to prove a point after falling 25-19 to the Stormers in Cape Town. Captain Nama Xaba leads a Bulls squad that combines experienced campaigners, exciting young talent and a strong club rugby representation.
Scrumhalf Neil le Roux and Beling are both in line to make their Currie Cup debuts, with Beling returning to domestic action after helping the Junior Springboks lift the World Rugby U20 Championship title last week. The selection also underlines the strength of the region’s club rugby pathway, with JJ Motlhodi, Abongile Nonkontwana, Damian Baker and Dian Coetzee all earning places in the squad. Coetzee and Cephas van Biljon will each enjoy another special occasion when they make their first Currie Cup starts.
Bulls include some experienced players Up front, Dylan Smith, Shaun Schürmann and Coetzee form the front row, while Sintu Manjezi and Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg provide experience in the second row. Xaba joins van Biljon and JJ Theron in a hardworking loose trio. Brooklyn Newman and Keagan Johannes combine at halfback, with PA van Niekerk and Demitre Erasmus pairing up in midfield.
Out wide, Riyaad Bam and Hakeem Kunene provide attacking spark, while Devon Williams starts at fullback. The bench offers plenty of energy and impact, including the debuting Le Roux and Beling. Bulls starting XV Devon Williams, Hakeem Kunene, Demitre Erasmus, PA van Niekerk, Riyaad Bamm, Keagan Johannes, Brooklyn Newman, JJ Theron, Cephas van Biljon, Nama Xaba (c), Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg, Sintu Manjezi, Dian Coetzee, Shaun Schürmann, Dylan Smith.
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