CURRIE CUP PREVIEW: Boland's ambitions tested in Nelspruit in a big moving weekend

The high-flying Sanlam Boland Kavaliers will have their Carling Currie Cup hopes tested on Friday as they head to the unforgiving Mbombela Stadium to take on the Airlink Pumas in one of the most anticipated clashes of the weekend.

Hawies Fourie’s side have built a reputation as giant-killers, and have beaten the Toyota Free State Cheetahs, Fidelity ADT Lions and Vodacom Bulls in Wellington to put themselves joint top of the log with the Cheetahs.

But those victories have come at home, where they have entered the domestic competition with a remarkable fortress and a crowd that has willed them on to victory, underlining just how wonderful it is to have them back in the Currie Cup.

The trip to Nelspruit, however, is a different kettle of fish. Jimmy Stonehouse’s warriors have had a mixed season thus far, losing out to the Cheetahs in a close game and then thumping the Bulls at Loftus, but then being outclassed by the Lions last week in a game that they were never in.

PUMAS TOUGH AT HOME

Yet, as any team knows, if the Pumas get a head of steam at home, they’re going to be hard to stop, and Stonehouse will be banking on this.

The clash is at a crucial stage in a single-round competition, with both sides looking hard for semifinal spots.

And while they may be looking for a win to catapult them closer to a playoff space, across in Durban, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and DHL Western Province will have a totally different outlook - just wanting to get their first win in the competition.

It is no secret that both sides have prioritised a good off-season for their URC squads and, therefore, are playing a very young side in the competition, which has caused a lot of debate among their supporters.

But the URC is the dominant competition, and their decision is understandable, even though it will probably only pay off later in the season. Still, both JP Pietersen and Labeeb Levy will be feeling the pressure of being at the bottom of the log and will need some inspiration, even if it is at the expense of the other side.

BIG FRANCHISES PACKED WITH UNDER-21S

The big franchises - apart from the Lions - are all packed with under-21 players and in the long term this should improve their URC depth, but that’s little consolation to their fans who want their team to win the Currie Cup.

Both Sharks and WP are probably out of the running, bar a miracle turnaround, and the game will very much be focused on the stars of the future.

The Bulls are very quickly joining the other two big guns in a bit of trouble in the competition. The team they have picked for Sunday’s game at the aptly named Grizzly’s Park in Tuine, Pretoria will be very much reliant on their junior programme, as 46 of their 56 players are unavailable - either through Bok call-ups, URC preparation or injuries. Coach Phiwe Nomlomo’s side started exceptionally well - including that 64-0 win over the Sharks at Loftus - but now that URC preparation and injuries have robbed him of several stars, they will find it tough to make the semifinals.

The game against Griquas, who are two spots ahead of them in fourth, is crucial for their hopes, but that won’t stop Pieter Bergh’s side from looking for a good away win to cement their title aspirations.

CATFIGHT IN BLOEMFONTEIN

Saturday’s only game will see the Cheetahs host the high-flying Lions, who despite all the URC players in their squad, got a bloody nose in Wellington two weeks ago. Their win over the Pumas will give them confidence, but the catfight in Bloemfontein will be an interesting one with the Cheetahs top and Lions third, so any points will be key for both sides.

The Lions may well pay later in the season, given their reliance on URC players, but it is clear they want to win the Currie Cup after coming oh-so-close last season. If Frans Steyn’s team can hold them off, the Cheetahs will be very close to a home playoff spot.

Either way, it is moving time, and the four results will give us a clearer picture of what the semifinals will look like and if the big franchises will feature at all when they come around.

Match Information:

Airlink Pumas vs Sanlam Boland Kavaliers

Date: Friday, 22 August 2025

Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit

Kick-off: 5pm

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni

Broadcast: SuperSport

Prediction:  Pumas by seven

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV vs DHL Western Province

Date: Friday, 22 August 2025

Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban

Kick-off: 7.10pm

Referee: Robbie Jenkinson

Broadcast: SuperSport

Prediction:  Sharks by five

Toyota Cheetahs vs Fidelity ADT Lions

Date: Saturday, 23 August

Venue: Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein

Kick-off: 2pm

Referee: Dylen November

Broadcast: SuperSport

Prediction:  Lions by 10

Vodacom Bulls vs Suzuki Griquas

Date: Sunday, 24 August

Venue: Grizzly Park, Pretoria

Kick-off: 3pm

Referee: AJ Jacobs

Broadcast: SuperSport

Prediction: Griquas by six