The Vodacom Bulls will be smarting from their loss to the Pumas, and the Sanlam Boland Cavaliers, even though they are playing in front of their passionate supporters, can brace themselves for a tough encounter against the side of Phiwe Nomlomo on Sunday in Wellington at 15:00 (SA Time).
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.
Sanlam Boland Cavaliers captain Marlyn Williams has been ruled out due to a facial fracture, with Jurie van Vuuren taking his place in the second row with number eight, Thurlow Marsh, assuming the captaincy. Van Vuuren will make his Kavas debut.
The experienced Sibusiso Sangweni has recovered from the ankle injury he picked up in round two and replaces Ludio Williams at blindside flank, who moves to openside in place of Sauliegh Arendse.
In the front row, Mthokozisi Gumede gets his first start at loosehead prop with Wayrin Losper moving down to the bench. Tighthead Doctor Booysen will be in action for the first time in the competition, replacing Dayan van der Westhuizen, who now plays a role from the bench.
Hooker Llewellyn Classen is likely to make his debut for the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers after joining from the Airlink Pumas ahead of the competition. Godlen Masimla has also been named on the bench in place of Chriswill September.
The backline is unchanged after Blitzbok, Donovan Don, who has scored six tries in the first three rounds, was declared fit to play.
With injuries to Vodacom Bulls’ form man Jeandre Rudolph, Chris Smit and prop Dylan Smith, Nomlomo’s squad for this weekend’s Carling Currie Cup fixture against Boland looks very different to what came before.
Five of the pack, including the entire front row, are in their 20s, but the return of captain Nama Xaba from injury, plus the wiles of lock pair Sintu Manjezi and Marvin Orie, adds steel to the pack that will be required away from home. In all, there are 12 under-21s in the squad, seven of them starting this weekend.
Teams:
Sanlam Boland Kavalier: 15 James Tedder, 14 Donavan Don, 13 David Brits, 12 Lunathi Nxele, 11 Xavier Mitchell, 10 Ashlon Davids (vice-captain), 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Thurlow Marsh (c), 7 Sibusiso Sangweni, 6 Ludio Williams, 5 Jurie van Vuuren, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Mthokozisi Gumede. Replacements: 16 Llewellyn Classen, 17 Wayrin Losper, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Ameer Hendricks, 20 Khwezi Mafu, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Juan Mostert, 23 Erik Lambrecht.
Vodacom Bulls: 15 Stravino Jacobs, 14 Katlego Letebele, 13 Demitre Erasmus, 12 Cornel Smit, 11 Aphiwe Dyantyi, 10 Boeta Chamberlain, 9 Zak Burger, 8 JJ Theron, 7 Sintu Manjezi, 6 Nama Xaba (c), 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Jaco Grobbelaar, 3 Jean Erasmus, 2 Juann Else, 1 Ruan Swart. Replacements: 16 Esethu Mnebelele, 17 Lizo Gqoboka, 18 Bryan le Roux, 19 Marco Ferreira, 20 Junior Pokomela, 21 Brooklyn Newman, 22 Jaco van der Walt, 23 Cheswill Jooste.
