The Carling Currie Cup Bulletin #5

DHL Western Province moved to the top of the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division standings after a hard-fought victory over the Cell C Sharks in Cape Town on Wednesday, but the New Nation Pumas can overtake the Capetonians in Nelspruit on Friday.

With less than three rounds completed, there are no unbeaten teams left in the competition, underlining the tight nature of the Carling Currie Cup.

Tim Swiel kicked 22 points in windy conditions at Cape Town Stadium and now top the list of points’ scorers in the competition with 37, followed by Eddie Fouche of the New Nation Pumas on 31 and DHL WP hooker JJ Kotze on 20, courtesy of his four tries in their first round clash with the Vodacom Bulls.

After three matches, DHL Western Province are on 11 points, followed by the Vodacom Bulls (10), Cell C Sharks (7 after two matches) and New Nation Pumas (6 after two matches).

UPDATE: Three First Division matches were planned for this weekend, with the Border Bulldogs on a bye, but the match between the Down Touch Griffons and SWD Eagles has been cancelled. with the Leopards, Valke and Boland Kavaliers will be aiming to keep their unbeaten status.

DHL WP edge Cell C Sharks in Cape Town thriller

DHL Western Province returned to the top of the Carling Currie Cup log thanks to a thrilling 32-31 win over the Cell C Sharks in challenging conditions in Cape Town on Wednesday, with Tim Swiel (flyhalf) kicking 22 points to help steer his side to victory.

Rain was expected but never came, treating fans at home to an entertaining encounter that ebbed and flowed for the full 80 minutes. Despite being outscored by four tries to two, John Dobson’s charges dug deep to get the job done in their first Carling Currie Cup match at Cape Town Stadium.

The impressive Evan Roos (No 8) scored a superb try for DHL Western Province shortly after the break, while Jaden Hendrikse (scrumhalf) crossed twice for the visitors, but in the end it was Swiel who was the hero as his flawless kicking off the tee won it for the Capetonians, that earned him the Champion of the Match award.

Scorers:

DHL Western Province 32 (19) – Tries: Paul de Wet, Evan Roos. Conversions: Tim Swiel (2). Penalty goals: Swiel (6).

Cell C Sharks 31 (21) – Tries: Thembelani Bholi, Jaden Hendrikse (2), Fez Mbatha. Conversions: Curwin Bosch (4). Penalty goal: Bosch.

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division

Tafel Lager Griquas will have their work cut out for them if they want to build on last weekend’s impressive Premier Division victory over the Toyota Cheetahs, when they travel to the Lowveld to take on the New Nation Pumas on Friday.

The men from Mpumalanga have had a great start to the competition, with a big win over the Lions in the opening round before they made the Vodacom Bulls sweat for victory in Pretoria, leaving Loftus Versfeld with a losing bonus point.

The last time the Peacock Blues travelled to Mbombela Stadium, in December last year, they lost by 22-17 and conceding a penalty try in the process, but Eduan Keyter will have fond memories of that match as the Tafel Lager Griquas flyer scored both his team’s tries.

The New Nation Pumas’ pack laid the foundation that night and they will be looking for more of the same on Friday night.

Match information:

New Nation Pumas v Tafel Lager Griquas
Date: Friday, 2 July
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 16h00
Referee: Griffin Colby
Assistant Referees: Local appointments
Television Match Official: Ben Crouse
TV: SuperSport

Taine Booysen goes over for a try for Boland last weekend.

Carling Currie Cup First Division

It’ still early days in the Carling Currie Cup First Division, but Friday’s match in Brakpan, where the Valke host the Leopards, is sure to have a big influence on the eventual standings.

The Leopards are unbeaten and occupy second spot on the log, but the Valke showed they will be a team to be reckoned with this season when they have SWD 50 points in their opener a few weeks ago.

The final match of the weekend is on Saturday in Despatch, where Eastern Province will be looking to reverse their fortunes against the impressive Boland Kavaliers.

The Elephants are still seeking their first win of the season while the Bolanders were very impressive in dismantling the Border Bulldogs in Wellington last weekend, when the flying Dylan Maart scored four of their eight tries.

UPDATE: SWD's match with the Down Touch Griffons in George on Friday was cancelled after positive COVID tests in the Eagles' team. The score will be recorded as 0-0 and the team from the Northern Free State – losing finalists in 2019 – will be awarded four log points.

Match information:

Valke v Leopards
Date: Friday, 2 July
Venue: Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Morne Ferreira

Eastern Province v Boland Kavaliers
Date: Saturday, 3 July
Venue: WJ de Wet Stadium, Despatch
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Ruhan Meiring

Carling Currie Cup Premier Division First Division

Boks expecting physical onslaught from Scotland...

The Springboks are bracing themselves for a physical onslaught from Scotland when the teams meet at Murrayfield on Sunda...

Afrika: Pressure and purpose for Bok Women's 7s...

The Springbok Women's Sevens squad will travel to Ghana on Wednesday well aware of the pressure the Africa Women's Seven...

SA Rugby gets “growing the game” makeover...

SA Rugby has concluded a restructuring process that will ensure greater emphasis on participation at amateur level, as p...

Rescheduled Vodacom URC derbies confirmed...

The new dates for the two opening round Vodacom United Rugby Championship derbies involving the four South African teams...

Boks arrive in Scotland ready for tough showdown...

The Springboks touched down in Edinburgh on Sunday afternoon ready to switch into full-out Test mode with an eye on thei...

Pollard and Reinach itching for Test rugby

Springbok halfbacks Handré Pollard and Cobus Reinach are itching to reunite in the green and gold against Georgia for the first Test since winning the Rugby World Cup in 2019 and said the excitement in the national squad was palpable.

Georgia name team for Loftus Versfeld Test

Georgia coach Levan Maisashvili has named his match-day squad for Friday’s Test against the Springboks in Pretoria, only the second time these two teams will meet in the international arena.

Nché thrilled to be back in the Bok fold

Springbok prop Ox Nché is thrilled to be back in the Bok team after earning his only Test cap in 2018 against Wales, and said his focus in the last few years was on doing everything he could to give himself another chance at this level.

WP edge Sharks in epic Coastal Derby

DHL Western Province returned to the top of the Carling Currie Cup log thanks to a thrilling 32-31 win over the Cell C Sharks in challenging conditions in Cape Town on Wednesday.

Three players on Springbok debut against Georgia

Rosko Specman, Aphelele Fassi and Jasper Wiese are in line to make their Springbok debuts on Friday when the Rugby World Cup champions line up against Georgia at Loftus Versfeld in the team’s first Test since lifting the Webb Ellis Cup in November 2019.

Boks outmuscle Georgia in Test return at Loftus

Jacques Nienaber started his tenure as Springbok coach on a satisfactory note, with South Africa beating Georgia 40-9 at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Friday night.

Match Programme - Boks v Georgia (First Test)

Download the match day programme for the first Test between the Springboks and Georgia - click on the cover below (14Mb).

Pumas pip Griquas in hard-fought battle

The New Nation Pumas closed out the third round of the Carling Currie Cup with a tense 26-22 win over Tafel Lager Griquas in Nelspruit on Friday afternoon.

Newlands final culmination of hard work says Alexander

The final match of the U20 International Series between South Africa and Argentina at Newlands will mean more than just a result to the Junior Springboks, according to Bobby Alexander, who returns to the starting team at scrumhalf after missing two matches.