Preview: Vodacom Cup, Round Five

The two most successful teams in the history of the Vodacom Cup, Griquas and the Golden Lions, clash in a crucial North Section match in Kimberley on Saturday.

Between these two sides, they have won the Vodacom Cup eight times (four times each) out of the 14 completed competitions.

Griquas won the first-ever Vodacom Cup, in 1998, and also took the trophy back to Kimberley in 2005, 2007 and 2009. The Golden Lions were crowned champions in 1999, 2002, 2003 and 2004.

The team from the Northern Cape are still unbeaten at the top of the North Section log on 14 log points, while the Golden Lions are in fourth on 11 points, the same as the third-placed Blue Bulls. The Pumas, second on 13, have a bye this weekend.

In the two other North Section encounters, both on Friday, the Blue Bulls, boosted by a host of stars from new Varsity Cup champions Tuks, host the Falcons in Pretoria, while the Griffons will be aiming for their first win of the season against the Leopards in Welkom.

In the South Section, Western Province, who are the only other unbeaten team in the competition aside from Griquas, face defending champions, the Pampas XV, in Stellenbosch on Saturday afternoon.

The Argentineans are fourth on the log and a defeat, coupled with a possible Boland Kavaliers victory over against the second-placed Sharks XV in Malmesbury, could see the Pampas XV drop out of current play-off contention.

The Free State XV have not been at their best this season, but should be regarded as favourites at home against the Border Bulldogs, while the SWD Eagles take on their neighbours, the EP Kings, in George on Friday evening.

Friday, April 13, 2012

Blue Bulls v Falcons
Venue: Loftus Versfeld B-field, Pretoria
Kick-off: 16:00
Referee: Rasta Rasivhenge

Griffons v Leopards
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 19:00
Referee: Lourens vd Merwe

SWD Eagles v EP Kings
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 19:10
Referee: Ben Crouse

Saturday, April 14

Free State XV v Border Bulldogs
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 14:45
Referee: Sindile Mayende

Griquas v Golden Lions
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Jaco Peyper

Boland Kavaliers v Sharks XV
Venue: Alpha Sports Grounds, Malmesbury
Kick-off: 16:00
Referee: Joey Salmans

Western Province v Pampas XV
Venue: Danie Craven Stadium, Stellenbosch
Kick-off: 17:30
Referee: Stuart Berry