Currie Cup Bulletin #23

The battle for Currie Cup Premier Division semi-final spots reaches a key stage this weekend, and by the end of the 12^th round, the playoff picture will be a lot clearer, while the First Division and Mzansi Challenge continues with matches in Kempton Park, East London and Windhoek.

The Toyota Cheetahs, Cell C Sharks and the Airlink Pumas are currently jousting for first position in the Premier Division standings. DHL Western Province, Windhoek Draught Griquas and the Vodacom Bulls are still in the running for the playoffs, while the Fidelity ADT Lions have a slim chance of making the top-four cut.

The Cell C Sharks will be targeting a bonus-point win they travel to Welkom on Friday. The KwaZulu-Natalians have won their last five matches, and could shoot to the top of the log if other results go their way this weekend. By contrast, the NovaVit Griffons haven’t won a game since upsetting the Vodacom Bulls in the fourth round.

DHL WP beat the Northern Free Staters and the Airlink Pumas recently, and will go into their next fixture against the Fidelity ADT Lions on Friday with confidence and momentum. Nevertheless, they are under pressure to maintain their winning streak.

Currently in fourth position, the Capetonians may be overtaken if they lose to the team from Johannesburg, and if Windhoek Draught Griquas and the Vodacom Bulls win their respective matches.

The Toyota Cheetahs have lost their last two matches, and will be desperate to bounce back against their neighbours from Kimberley on Saturday. Depending on the result in Welkom, the Free Staters may need to win big in Bloemfontein in order to retain their position at the top of the standings.

Like the Toyota Cheetahs, the Airlink Pumas have suffered a slump in form over the past two weeks, with defeats to the Cell Sharks and DHL WP. Currently in third place, they could slip further down the log if they don’t see off the Vodacom Bulls in Nelspruit this Saturday.

The men from Pretoria have transformed since welcoming back a host of star players from Vodacom United Rugby Championship duty. After claiming the scalps of Windhoek Draught Griquas and the Fidelity ADT Lions, Jake White’s charges will be targeting a third-successive victory this Saturday.

Wins for DHL WP and the Vodacom Bulls this weekend could spell trouble for the Airlink Pumas. They may slip down to fourth in the standings, and may well be overtaken by the Vodacom Bulls in the final two rounds of the league phase.

Currie Cup First Division / Mzansi Challenge

Three matches are scheduled for the Currie Cup First Division and Mzanzi Challenge tournament this Saturday, while two encounters were cancelled – between the Goshawks from Zimbabwe and the log-leading SWD Eagles, and between the San Clemente Rhinos and Eastern Province.

In the games kicking off at 15h00, the Simbas from Kenya will take on the Valke in Kempton Park after the game was moved to the East Rand from Nairobi, the Border Bulldogs will tackle the Leopards in East London, and in the final game of the round, the Windhoek Draught Welwitschias will battle the Boland Kavaliers in the Namibian capital at 16h00.

Match information:

NovaVit Griffons v Cell C Sharks

Venue: Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom

Date: Friday, 26 May

Time: 15h00

Referee: Christopher Allison

TV: SuperSport

DHL Western Province v Fidelity ADT Lions

Venue: Athlone Stadium, Cape Town

Date: Friday, 26 May

Time: 17h00

Referee: AJ Jacobs

TV: SuperSport

Toyota Cheetahs v Windhoek Draught Griquas

Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein

Date: Saturday, 27 May

Time: 13h30

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

TV: SuperSport

Airlink Pumas v Vodacom Bulls

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Date: Saturday, 27 May

Time: 15h35

Referee: Griffin Colby

TV: SuperSport