CURRIE CUP PREVIEW: Griquas on a mission, Pumas host Lions

The fourth round of the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division kicks off on Friday at 15h00 in Kimberley, where Suzuki Griquas will be eager to increase their points tally when they host the winless Hollywoodbets Sharks XV.

While the defending champions from KwaZulu-Natal have won three of their last five meetings against Griquas, they've had a tough start to the season, losing all three of their games, including a narrow two-point loss to the Toyota Cheetahs last week.

In contrast, the men from Kimberley have won their last two matches after going down by 49-28 to the Airlink Pumas in the opening round, securing impressive home victories against DHL Western Province (47-17) and a very competitive Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (48-39) outfit.

The Sharks XV’s most recent victory against Griquas was a 40-21 win last August, while Griquas won the last meeting in Kimberley, by 34-31, in July 2025.

Coached by Pieter Bergh, Suzuki Griquas have shown their usual strong attacking form, scoring a competition-high 18 tries. The Durbanites, however, have struggled to cross the line, with a low tally of just two tries in three games. It looks to be another tough assignment for JP Pietersen's young outfit in Kimberley, where hosts are notoriously difficult to beat.

PUMAS HOST LIONS

In one of Saturday’s two games, Airlink Pumas will host the Fidelity ADT Lions from 14h00 at the Nelspruit Rugby Club ground, where the visitors will be keen to bounce back after a loss to the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers last Sunday.

The Pumas hold a slight edge in their last five encounters, with three wins to the Lions’ two. The Gautengers’ last three wins in this fixture have all been comprehensive, including a 55-12 triumph at Ellis Park last August.

Mziwakhe Nkosi’s Lions team lost 29-10 to an impressive Kavaliers side after winning their previous two games on the Highveld.

Meanwhile, Jimmy Stonehouse's Pumas bounced back from a 42-25 loss to the Cheetahs two weeks ago to thump the Vodacom Bulls 41-7 in Pretoria. An entertaining game is expected in Nelspruit from two of the competition’s most attacking outfits.

Also, on Saturday at 14h00, the resurgent Toyota Cheetahs host Labeeb Levy’s DHL Western Province in Bloemfontein. Frans Steyn’s Free Staters will be looking for a seventh consecutive Carling Currie Cup win over WP.

The form guide does not make good reading for Province, who have lost four of their last five games in the competition, while the Free Staters have won three of their last five, including their last two in a row.

DHL WP have struggled to find their form, scoring just eight tries in three games and conceding 135 points, leaving them rooted to the bottom of the table without a win or a single point to show for their efforts.

KAVALIERS WELCOME BULLS

The weekend's action concludes on Sunday when the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers welcome the Vodacom Bulls to Wellington for what promises to be another cracker of a game.

Hawies Fourie’s Bolanders have secured home wins over the Lions and Cheetahs on either side of a nine-point loss to the Griquas, and they’ve proven to be a force to be reckoned with in Wellington.

The team from the Jacaranda City, though, will be smarting from their loss to the Pumas, and the Kavaliers – even though they are playing in front of their passionate supporters – can brace themselves for a tough encounter against the side of Phiwe Nomlomo.

The Bolanders have shown that they can mix it with the top teams since winning promotion to the Premier Division, displaying potency on attack. They have scored 15 tries in three games, six of which have come from Blitzbok speedster Donavan Don, who is top of the charts after three rounds.

However, the Kavaliers have also leaked the same number of tries during this time, and aspect of their game that would need improvement. The Bulls, by contrast, have only conceded eight tries, which is the joint-lowest in the competition alongside the Lions.

All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Match information:

Suzuki Griquas v Hollywoodbets Sharks XV

Date: Friday, 15 August

Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley

Kick-off: 15h00

Referee: Griffin Colby

Broadcast: SuperSport Rugby

Airlink Pumas v Fidelity ADT Lions

Date: Saturday, 16 August

Venue: Nelspruit Rugby Club, Nelspruit

Kick-off: 14h00