A mouth-watering top-of-the-table clash in Port Elizabeth is the big one in the Absa Currie Cup First Division on Friday.
The EP Kings top the log in the First Division by four points, but they have played one game more than their opponents this weekend, the Regent Boland Cavaliers. These two teams have opened up a bit of a lead in the standings ahead of the other four teams.
Last year, the EP Kings beat the Boland Cavaliers in all three of their matches, including a nail biter in the semi-finals and tomorrow’s clash should be another tightly contested affair.
In the other games, both also on Friday, the Border Bulldogs and Tasol Solar Griffons will fight it out to avoid the last place on the log in East London, while the SWD Eagles host the Valke in a mid-table clash in George.
The EP Kings Team to play Boland is:
- STARTING: 15. SP Marais, 11. Joe Breytenbach, 13. Jaco Bekker, 12. Matthew Tayler-Smith, 14. Norman Nelson, 10. Louis Strydom, 9. Falie Oelschig (Vice-Captain), 1. Jaco Engels, 2. Hannes Franklin, 3. Clint Newland, 6. Luke Watson (Captain), 4. Barend Pieterse, 5. Ross Kennedy, 7. Devin Oosthuizen, 8. Jacques Engelbrecht.
- REPLACEMENTS: 16. Frank Herne, 17. Ronnie Uys, 18. Wayne van Heerden, 19. Jacques Potgieter, 20. Danie Faasen, 21. George Whitehead, 22. Tiger Mangweni.
Last year in Absa Currie Cup First Division:
- 31 July: EP Kings won 33-22 in Wellington
- 10 September: EP Kings won 23-16 in PE
- 8 October: EP Kings won 26-25 in PE (semi-final)
Rugby Fixtures this weekend:
- 12 August – EP Kings vs Regent Boland Cavaliers: Kick-off at 19:00 at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth. Referee: Quinton Immelman
- 12 August – Border Bulldogs vs Tasol Solar Griffons: Kick-off at 19:00 at Buffalo City Stadium, East London. Referee: TiaanJonker
- 12 August – SWD Eagles vs Valke: Kick-off at 19:00 at Outeniqua Park, George. Referee: Pro Legoete
- 13 August – MTN Golden Lions vs Toyota Free State Cheetahs: Kick-off at 19:10 at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg. Referee: Jason Jaftha
- 13 August – DHL Western Province vs The Sharks: Kick-off at 19:10 at DHL Newlands, Cape Town. Referee: Lourens van der Merwe
- 13 August – GWK Griquas vs Platinum Leopards: Kick-off at 19:00 at GWK Park, Kimberley. Referee: Joey Salmans
- 13 August – Ford Pumas vs Vodacom Blue Bulls: Kick-off at 17:05 at Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit. Referee: Andrew Lees (Australia)
- 13 August – Springboks vs Australia: Kick-off at 17:05 at Kings Park, Durban
