SA Cup: Who'll come out swinging in round 2?
Today at 03:36 AM
It's still early in the race for Currie Cup qualification but the five teams on the wrong side of the scoreboard in the SA Cup opening round will be eager to bounce back this week.
Two matches will be staged on Friday and the remaining three on Saturday afternoon. Holders Griquas, last year's runners-up Pumas and Boland Kavaliers are eyeing their second wins of the campaign, while the Cheetahs will want to atone for their stumble last week.
The SWD Eagles and Border Bulldogs kick off the week's action when they clash at Outeniqua Park, before the Cheetahs host the Leopards later in Bloemfontein.
The Bulldogs gave a spirited first-half performance last week in East London against the Griffons before running out of steam in the second stanza, while the Eagles were overrun by the Pumas in Nelspruit. Based on last week's result, the Bulldogs will fancy their chances, but the Eagles will be equally determined to show they are capable of a much better performance in front of their supporters.
The Free Staters will be hopeful that the return to action by some of their injured regulars will boost their winning chances when they take on the Leopards at Free State Stadium. They came unstuck last weekend against the Kavaliers in Wellington when a high penalty count dented their hopes of an opening win.
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The Leopards were on the receiving end of a big defeat against the defending champions, and the Potchefstroom outfit will have to tighten up their defence considerably if they want to deliver a surprise in the Free State capital.
Griquas get the action going on Saturday when they clash with the Valke in Kimberley. During last week's opening-round fixture with Leopards in Potchefstroom, the side from Kimberley – who won all their games in 2024 – continued their unbeaten run in the competition by easily outplaying their North West opponents.
Based on their first-round 41-30 victory over a plucky Eastern Province, the Valke would fancy their outside chances, but they know it will take a special performance to bring down the defending champions.
The Kimberley encounter is followed by the clash between Eastern Province and the Pumas in Gqeberha, and the Griffons and Kavaliers in Welkom.
The team from Mpumalanga showed they meant business when they outplayed SWD last week in Nelspruit, and the 2023 Currie Cup champions are heavy favourites for this encounter.
The Bolanders will be out to strengthen their push for a top-four place – which will guarantee qualification to the 2025 Currie Cup Premier Division – when they travel to the Northern Free State to face the Purple People Eaters.
The Bolanders started their campaign with a solid performance last week with a bonus-point win over the Cheetahs, but the Griffons will have ambitions of their own, especially after their successful fightback against Border.
It won't be easy though, as the Kavaliers have several dangerous strike runners, which will test the hosts' defensive resolve.
The 10 teams will play a single round of league fixtures, and the four semi-finalists will qualify for the Currie Cup Premier Division while the rest will contest the First Division. The final will take place on Saturday, 24 May.
SA Cup round 2 fixtures:
Friday
SWD Eagles vs Border Bulldogs, Outeniqua Park, George, 3.30pm
Cheetahs vs Leopards, Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein, 6pm
Saturday
Griquas vs Valke, Suzuki Stadium, Kimberleyx, 2pm
EP vs Pumas, Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Gqeberha, 3pm
Griffons vs Sanlam Boland Kavaliers, Down Touch Investments Stadium, Welkom, 3pm
Photo: Danie Van Der Lith/Gallo Images
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