Boland in for a difficult away fixture in Eastern Cape
ROUND TWO PREVIEW: The First Division champions Boland Cavaliers travel to Port-Elizabeth for a consecutive away fixture in the First Division.
They will come up against Eastern Province at the Wolfson Stadium, while the SWD Eagles and Border will lock horns in George to determine who will get their first win of the campaign.
The Leopards will be aiming for back-to-back wins when they welcome the Falcons in Potchefstroom.
All three clashes will kick off at 15.00 (SA time) on Saturday.
The Cavaliers opened their title defence with a 46-36 away victory over their 2023 Final opponents, the Falcons, in Kempton Park and will look to make it two from two on the road against Eastern Province this Saturday.
The Cavaliers' all-round game proved to be too much for the Falcons, while Eastern Province showed their class - especially with their electrifying backs against the Eagles in George.
Eastern Province's defence will, however, be tested against a formidable Boland pack as well as their dangerous backline that contains the likes of Duran Hoffman and Xavier Mitchell.
The duo scored five tries between them in the opening round against the Falcons, whilst EP fullback Jaydon Bantom will be the key to unlocking the Cavaliers' defence.
The SWD Eagles, coached by former Springbok fullback Zane Kirchner will want to move up from the bottom of the table when they come up against a Border side that pushed the Leopards until the end.
They will look to electrifying fullback Rosko Syster and flyhalf Marlo Weich to get them moving up the table in George.
Border's slow start against the Leopards proved costly in the end which they lost by two points, and will fancy their chances to register their first season victory against the Eagles.
They had a great second-half display but it just wasn't enough to clinch the win in the end and they'll need to be better defensively if they were to get one over the Eagles.
The big clash this Saturday will be between the Leopards and Falcons in Potchefstroom. The Falcons will want to correct the wrongs from their season-opening loss to the Cavaliers last weekend which sets up a mouthwatering clash.
Fixtures:
Eastern Province v Boland Cavaliers
Eastern Province v Boland Cavaliers
Date: Saturday, June 22
Venue: Wolfson Stadium, Port-Elizabeth
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Ruhan Meiring
SWD Eagles vs Border Bulldogs
SWD Eagles vs Border Bulldogs
Date: Saturday, June 22
Venue: Outeniqua Park, George
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Hanru van Rooyen
Leopards vs Falcons
Leopards vs Falcons
Date: Saturday, June 22
Venue: Olën Park, Potchefstroom
Kick-off: 15.00
Referee: Griffon Colby