Preview: Vodacom Cup, Round Three
The only two unbeaten sides left in the Vodacom Cup South Section face off in Cape Town on Saturday, when Western Province host the EP Kings.
Both these sides have been impressive in the opening fortnight of Vodacom Cup action, with WP grinding out a 17-15 victory over the Sharks XV in Durban last weekend and the EP Kings proving too strong for the Pampas XV in Stellenbosch in the first round (34-26).
It's been more than six years since the team from Port Elizabeth last managed to beat WP in the Vodacom Cup - 10 February 2006 to be precise, when EP won 26-17 at home in the opening round of that year's competition.
WP had the better of the Kings in 2007 (46-5), 2009 (49-13) and 2010 (28-23). They didn't play each other in 2011 and 2008. Saturday's game takes place at City Park in Crawford.
In the North Section, the Jukskei Derby at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria on Saturday afternoon between the Blue Bulls and the Golden Lions, two of the most successful sides in the history of the Vodacom Cup, will attract a lot of attention.
The Blue Bulls are still winless in 2012 and the Golden Lions have put their round one defeat to the Leopards behind them with a solid performance last weekend.
On Friday, the Pampas XV and Pumas are in action in East London and Welkom respectively, where they will probably be regarded as favourites against the Border Bulldogs and Griffons, but both sides would have learned the hard way that there are no easy games in the Vodacom Cup.
Also on Friday, the Sharks XV take on the Free State XV in Bloemfontein in a match that could determine the home playoff aspirations for both these teams.
Vodacom Cup Round Three fixtures:
Friday, March 23:
Border Bulldogs v Pampas XV
Venue: BCM Stadium, East London
Kick-off: 15.30
Referee: Sindile Mayende
Griffons v Pumas
Venue: North West Stadium, Welkom
Kick-off: 19.00
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Falcons v Leopards
Venue: Barnard Stadium, Kempton Park
Kick-off: 19.00
Referee: Tiaan Jonker
Free State XV v Sharks XV
Venue: Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Kick-off: 19.10
Referee: Ben Crouse
Saturday, March 24:
Blue Bulls v Golden Lions
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Kick-off: 14.45
Referee: Quinton Immelman
Western Province v EP Kings
Venue: City Park, Crawford, Cape Town
Kick-off: 16.00
Referee: Pro Legoete
SWD Eagles v Boland Cavaliers
Venue: D'Almeida Stadium, Mossel Bay
Kick-off: 16.00
Referee: Joey Salmans
Top points scorers:
36 - Demetri Catrakilis (Western Province - three conversions, nine penalties, one drop-goal)
35 - Elric van Vuuren (SWD Eagles - two tries, five cons, five pens)
34 - Juan Kotze (Falcons - one try, four cons, seven pens)
32 - Gouws Prinsloo (Sharks XV - one try, six cons, five pens)
29 - JC Roos (Pumas - seven cons, five pens)