The unbeaten Cheetahs and defending champions Griquas headline this weekend’s Currie Cup action, while Stormers, Sharks and Bulls players battle to boost their hopes of earning a place in Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry against the All Blacks starting next week.
All eyes will be on Springbok veteran Faf de Klerk, who has been at the helm of the Free State side’s onslaught, as they look to extend their winning run against their neighbours in Kimberley. It will be another opportunity for De Klerk to deliver a commanding performance and put his hand up for a Bok recall ahead of the New Zealand tour.
However, the Cheetahs will also be wary of the challenge the title holders present, especially at home in Kimberley (7pm kick-off). Griquas got their campaign up and running with a round-two victory over the Bulls and, despite struggling with injuries, will look to end the winning run of their more-fancied Bloemfontein neighbours.
On Saturday, a coastal derby in Cape Town (3pm kick-off) highlights the action.
The Stormers XXIII and Sharks XV will field several exciting Junior Springbok world champions. However, with the All Blacks’ midweek games against their senior United Rugby Championship sides looming, spots are up for grabs for several players.
Although the Cape side’s head coach, Tom Dawson-Squibb, said his troops are not focused on the Greatest Rivalry game, Saturday presents an opportunity to put their hands up. Outside centre Markus Muller will make his Currie Cup debut after already featuring for the senior side, and he will be one of the players looking to impress.
“If you want to get selected for a higher team, you have to train and play well at your current one. There is no better method,” Dawson-Squibb said.
“How are they gonna do that? They are going to focus on the task at hand and ultimately, things are in their hands. At this stage, we won’t lose too many players for the All Black match, but injuries could change that.”
On the Sharks XV side, four Junior Boks will bolster the team for Saturday’s showdown, and for fullback Luan Giliomee it presents a chance to push for more senior minutes and a look-in against the New Zealanders. Like Muller, he played for the SA ‘A’ team this year before helping the SA U20s to a second consecutive world title.
However, like the Stormers XXIII, the Durbanites are coming off a defeat, and their first priority will be to get their campaign back on track.
In the other match on Saturday (5.05pm kick-off), the injury-hit and winless Bulls will look to claim their first victory of the season against the Lions in Johannesburg.
Coming off a heavy 56-26 defeat to Griquas, things are not getting any easier for the side coached by Phiwe Nomlomo. Captain Nama Xaba broke his finger and will miss the rest of the campaign alongside exciting young centre PA van Niekerk.
A host of other players also find themselves on the sidelines, with the Bulls calling on Bok Nicolaas Janse van Rensburg to take over the captaincy.
The Boland Kavaliers, the only other unbeaten side, host the Pumas in Wellington on Sunday. It is their final home match for a while, and they must capitalise with a victory before embarking on a three-match road trip. A third consecutive win could set them up for a successful tour and potentially put them in a strong position to challenge for a home semi-final later in the season.
