An exciting week awaits in South Africa as we have games on Wednesday and Saturday. The selection of teams will give insight into the URC and Currie Cup squads of several unions. Only the Emirates Lions have a bye in the Currie Cup competition and will relax a bit.
On Wednesday we have three games with the winner of the match in Kimberley may be an early indication of who of the two "minor" unions will qualify for the playoffs of the Currie Cup.
Currie Cup - 02/02/2022
Tafel Lager Griquas vs Airlink Pumas @ 15h30
An expected battle of the forwards will determine the winner with the role of the flyhalves paramount to the performance on the day. Tinus de Beer of the Pumas may be just the favourite to clinch the game for the visitors.
Vodacom Bulls vs Toyota Cheetahs @ 17h45
Team selection for the Bulls will be interesting. They need to combine experience with youth successfully if they want to continue their performance in the Currie Cup. The Cheetahs on the other hand had two weeks to test combinations and apart from the lock position they have a settled squad.
Cell C Sharks vs DHL Western Province @ 20h00
The match of the day. As with the URC game on Saturday past, no clear favourites with the Stormers' performance in the front row are most likely the determining factor.
We discuss the URC, Currie Cup and new Scrum Law
URC - 05/02/2022
In a repeat of last weekend's matches, the teams will play each other again with only the venues that will differ.
Vodacom Bulls vs Emirates Lions @ 15h00
Can not see that the result will differ much although we can expect some backlash from the Emirates Lions.
DHL Stormers vs Cell C Sharks @ 17h05
The quicker surface and sunny weather at the Cape Town Stadium will result in a more open game and could be to the advantage of the DHL Western Province. The return of Evan Roos is also eagerly awaited by the faithful to get Western Province on the front foot.