The Pumas will aim to end Griquas’ unbeaten run over two SA Cup tournaments when last year’s finalists clash in Mbombela tomorrow night.
The action returns after a bye over the Easter weekend, with the race for the four qualifying places for the Currie Cup Premier Division going down to the wire.
Round 7 kicks off tomorrow afternoon in East London, where the Border Bulldogs host Eastern Province at the Sisa Dukashe Stadium, and is followed by the big clash in Mbombela.
Three games are scheduled for Saturday, with the Boland Kavaliers and Leopards involved in the early kick-off in Wellington, followed by the two remaining games in the Free State. The Cheetahs entertain the Valke in Bloemfontein, while the Griffons welcome the SWD Eagles to Welkom.
The Pumas and Griquas are both unbeaten this season with a perfect 30 log points after six rounds – the team from Kimberley are first courtesy of a better points’ differential (by only two points).
Griquas are also defending an unbeaten run built since the inception of the tournament last year. They beat their Mbombela rivals 31-26 in the league phase last year and then went on to lift the inaugural SA Cup title with a 46-24 victory over the Pumas in a pulsating final in Kimberley.
The Cheetahs are currently third on the log, with 22 points, followed by Boland, the Griffons and Valke (all on 20).
SA Cup round 7 fixtures:
Friday
Border vs EP, East London, 16:00
Pumas vs Griquas, Mbombela, 19:00
Saturday
Boland vs Leopards, Wellington, 14:00
Griffons vs SWD, Welkom, 15:00
Cheetahs vs Valke, Bloemfontein, 15:00
This article first appeared on SA Rugby magazine.
