Round 3 of the SARU u/20 could and will go a long way to determine the two teams to play in the final scheduled for 16 April 2022. An exciting weekend of u/20 rugby awaits, with some tears following the action.
The 2022 competition is played over a single round with the two top teams qualifying for a place in the final. Therefore a loss and especially two losses will see the championship hopes of a province go up in smoke.
On Friday at 13h00, the Lions u/20s will host the DHL Western Province u/20s. Both teams are still unbeaten and this game will be a repeat of the final played at Emirates Airline Park in 2021 which the Lions u/20s won with 36-35.
The Lions' u/20s had a big scare last weekend when the Leopards' u/20s gave them an unexpected run for their money while Western Province scored two tries in the last 5 minutes against the Vodacom Bulls to win 30-29.
The Lions' u/20s will definately not underestimate their visitors who will travel to Johannesburg well knowing how to close a game off at the end.
In Bloemfontein at 13h00 the Toyota Free State u/20s will host the Leopards u/20s.
The Leopards u/20s are still looking for their first win of the season after losses against the Lions u/20s and Vodacom Bulls u/20s while the Toyota Free State u/20s had a bye in week one and humiliated Eastern Province u/20 last weekend in Gqerbeha.
It will be the first real test for the Toyota Free State u20s while the Leopards has shown that they "deserve" a win.
In Pretoria at 13h30, the Vodacom Bulls u/20s will host the Cell C Sharks u/20s in a game that the loser might just have squandered their hopes of glory.
The Vodacom Bulls u/20s were guilty against both the Leopards u/20s and DHL Western Province u/20s to "relax" in the second half after they played brilliant rugby in the 1st half.
Against the DHL Western Province u/20s, it cost them a much-needed win and taking into account that the Cells C Sharks u/20s lost to DHL Western Province u/20s with only 17-20 the Vodacom Bulls u/20s will have to be at their best in the second half.