The SWD Eagles and Boland Cavaliers will kick off the weekend’s action in George on Friday, while Saturday’s jam-packed schedule will see the Leopards host the Border Bulldogs in Potchefstroom, the Valke meet the Down Touch Griffons in Brakpan, and the EP Elephants take on the in-form Jaguares XV in Port Elizabeth.
Match previews:
Defending Currie Cup First Division champions, the SWD Eagles, will look to continue their dominance against the Boland Cavaliers and maintain their unbeaten run in the competition when the teams meet at Outeniqua Park.
The hosts, who come off two draws and a win in the first three rounds, will be determined to build winning momentum, but they will face a side hurting from a one-point defeat last week and who are desperate to build momentum after only one win.
SWD won their last two matches against the Wellington outfit, scoring over 50 points in the process, while they played to a 28-28 draw at this venue in 2015.
The clash between the Valke and Down Touch Griffons in Brakpan is also expected to be thrilling as the home side goes in search of their third successive victory against a Welkom team hoping to build their performance.
The last match between the sides proved to be a proper showpiece with 108 points scored in the match – with the Valke winning 56-52 – and with both teams determined to remain on the higher end of the log standings, it could prove to be another tight tussle.
The EP Elephants will be bracing themselves for a big battle against the Jaguares XV in Port Elizabeth after the Argentineans got their campaign off to flying start with three bonus-point wins in a row.
The hosts will draw inspiration from their first win last week – albeit by one point. They will, however, have to deliver a solid performance all around, and be rock-solid on defence in particular, to contain the Argentineans, as the side has been hot on attack, scoring 182 points so far.
In Potchefstroom, the Leopards and Border Bulldogs will both have their sights set on a victory after a slow start to the competition, which has seen them languishing at the foot of the log standings.
Border have yet to win a match, while Leopards have struggled to gain momentum, although they will be inspired by their competitive performance last weekend in which they tested the Valke thoroughly. With the Leopards having won all the match-ups between the sides in the competition dating back to 2014, they will enter the match with a mental edge.
Currie Cup First Division Round 4 Fixtures:
Friday, 26 July
SWD Eagles v Boland Cavaliers
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 19h00
Referee: Griffin Colby
Saturday, 27 July
Leopards v Border Bulldogs
Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Pablo Deluca
Valke v Down Touch Griffons
Venue: Bosman Stadium, Brakpan
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Quinton Immelman
EP Elephants v Jaguares XV
Venue: Wolfson Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: AJ Jacobs
