The quest among the country’s 14 rugby provinces to qualify for the Super 8 of the country’s premier domestic tournament, the Absa Currie Cup, is set to intensify this weekend as teams gain a clearer idea of what they need to do to qualify.
In section X, the weekend’s big clash sees the KwaZulu-Natal Sharks hosting the Lions at the Absa Stadium in Durban. Both sides are unbeaten at this stage with the Lions topping the section on points difference from the defending champions, the Blue Bulls.
The Blue Bulls travel to George to play the Eagles this weekend, while the Boland Cavaliers host the Mighty Elephants in Wellington.
In section Y, Wildeklawer Griquas are the surprise log leaders after recording their third straight win last weekend. While they have a bye this weekend, things will get tough for them in the coming weeks as they face the Cheetahs and Western Province on successive weekends.
The Cheetahs will be looking to move into top spot in the section when they face the Pumas at home this weekend, and Western Province could also move up the log if they are successful against the Border Bulldogs in Cape Town.
The Bulldogs, however, will take encouragement from their narrow loss to the Cheetahs last weekend.
In the other section Y fixture this week, the Griffons host the Leopards in Welkom.
Griquas flyhalf Braam van Straaten heads the leading points-scorers’ table this week with 52 points, closely followed by Willem de Waal of the Cheetahs on 48 and Naas Olivier of the Leopards on 43.
The leading try-scorer standings lists six players — Vuyani Dlomo (Elephants), Anton Leonard and John Mametsa (Blue Bulls), Akona Ndungane (Bulldogs), Anvor Schooney (Leopards) and Egon Seconds (Western Province) — having scored four tries apiece. — Sapa