Currie Cup: Griquas aim to halt Cheetahs’ perfect start in Kimberley derby showdown

Defending Currie Cup champions Griquas will attempt to derail the flying start of log leaders Cheetahs when the central rivals collide in Kimberley on Friday night in the standout fixture of the third round of the Premier Division.

The Suzuki Stadium clash, which kicks off at 19:00, pits the only side with a perfect record against a home team rebuilding momentum after an early stumble. Cheetahs arrive in the Northern Cape with 10 points from two bonus-point wins, while Griquas sit fourth on six points after a win and a defeat.

The Free State outfit edged the Lions 29-27 in their opening match before overpowering the Sharks XV 43-21 in Bloemfontein to move clear at the top of the standings.

Griquas, however, have shown enough to suggest the leaders face their sternest examination so far. Pieter Bergh’s side slipped to a narrow home defeat to Stormers XXIII in round one – their first loss in five matches in all competitions – but responded in emphatic fashion by dismantling the Bulls XV 56-26.

The Kimberley club also hold a recent psychological edge over their neighbours. Griquas have taken three of the last five meetings between the teams, including a convincing 25-5 semi-final victory last season, underlining why Kimberley remains one of the more intimidating away destinations for the Cheetahs.

Coastal rivals collide in Cape Town

Saturday’s programme is headlined by another traditional rivalry as Stormers XXIII host Sharks XV at DHL Stadium in Cape Town, with kick-off at 15:00.

Sharks XV make the trip from Durban in fifth place after an inconsistent opening fortnight. They began by snatching a 26-24 away win over the Pumas, but fell back with a 43-21 defeat to the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

Stormers XXIII sit just behind them in sixth with four points. They opened their campaign with a hard-fought 25-19 home win over Griquas, only to be blown away 41-3 by Boland Kavaliers in Wellington a week later.

Recent results favour the visitors. Sharks XV have won the past two meetings between the sides, prevailing 29-21 in Durban last season and 31-23 in Cape Town earlier in 2024. Stormers XXIII last beat their KwaZulu-Natal rivals in June 2023, when they ran out 44-5 winners at DHL Stadium.

Referee Dylen November will take charge of the encounter.

Jukskei Derby on the Highveld

Later on Saturday, attention switches to Johannesburg and the Jukskei Derby as Lions face Bulls XV at UJ Stadium at 17:05.

Lions are third on the log with seven points and are building momentum after a narrow 29-27 loss to Cheetahs in round one. They responded by running in seven tries in a 52-29 victory over the Pumas at home last weekend, taking their tally to 11 tries in two matches.

In contrast, a youthful Bulls XV side prop up the table after back-to-back defeats. They went down 24-10 to Boland Kavaliers in the opening round and were then overwhelmed 56-26 by Griquas.

The Lions’ attack promises a searching examination of their Gauteng rivals’ defence, and Bulls XV will require a major improvement without the ball if they are to contain a backline that has been among the most potent in the competition so far. Juan de Bod will oversee proceedings.

Unbeaten Boland target win over struggling Pumas

The round concludes on Sunday in Wellington, where the in-form Boland Kavaliers host the winless Pumas at Boland Stadium from 15:00.

Boland Kavaliers have enjoyed an impressive start, collecting nine points from two home victories. They opened with a 24-10 success over Bulls XV before stunning Stormers XXIII 41-3 last weekend. Hawies Fourie’s side have tasted defeat just once in their last five outings and carry considerable momentum into another match in the Cape Winelands.

Pumas, traditionally one of the strongest outfits in the competition, have endured a difficult beginning. They are second from bottom on three points after a pair of narrow reverses – 26-24 away to Sharks XV and 52-29 against Lions in Johannesburg.

The visitors face the tournament’s most miserly defence so far. Boland Kavaliers have conceded only 13 points in two matches, setting up a stern test for a Pumas pack that will need a significantly improved performance if the visitors are to ignite their campaign.

Morne Ferreira has been appointed referee for Sunday’s fixture.

Third-round fixtures and officials

Griquas v Cheetahs Date: Friday, 31 July Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley Time: 19:00 Referee: Christopher Allison

Stormers XXIII v Sharks XV Date: Saturday, 1 August Venue: DHL Stadium, Cape Town Time: 15:00 Referee: Dylen November

Lions v Bulls XV Date: Saturday, 1 August Venue: UJ Stadium, Johannesburg Time: 17:05 Referee: Juan de Bod

Boland Kavaliers v Pumas Date: Sunday, 2 August Venue: Boland Stadium, Wellington Time: 15:00 Referee: Morne Ferreira