It’s all or nothing in the Lowveld this weekend as the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers head into a crunch Carling Currie Cup Premier Division clash against the Airlink Pumas in Mbombela, with their sights firmly set on booking a semi-final spot.
Head coach Hawies Fourie has named a matchday 23 that blends grit with flair, featuring five changes to the side that pulled off a dramatic 33-32 win over the Vodacom Bulls in Wellington last Sunday. Momentum is with the Kavaliers – but standing in their way is a Pumas outfit that has had their number this season.
Tedder Back, Titus in for Try King Don
The backline sees the return of fullback James Tedder, who’s shaken off a back niggle in time for this crucial tie. Tedder’s kicking game and composure at the back will be key in managing territory against a Pumas side that thrives in transition.
In a major blow, flying winger Donovan Don – the Currie Cup’s leading try scorer with seven five-pointers in just four matches – misses out through injury. His spot on the right wing goes to Marcqwien Titus, a powerful runner with a knack for finding space.
The rest of the backs remain unchanged, with the familiar midfield pairing of Lunathi Nxele and David Brits set to keep things tight in defence and dangerous with ball in hand. The experienced Louis Schreuder continues at scrumhalf, while vice-captain Ashlon Davids pulls the strings at flyhalf. Xavier Mitchell retains his spot on the left wing.
New Front Row, Fresh Fire Up Front
In the engine room, Fourie has rotated heavily – bringing back the seasoned duo of Wayrin Losper and Dayan van der Westhuizen at loosehead and tighthead, respectively. HP van Schoor starts at hooker, while Mthokozisi Gumede, Laurence Victor and Llewellyn Claasen are primed to add impact off the bench. Sidney Tobias, a regular starter, is given a breather.
Michael Benadie and Jurie van Vuuren return as the lock combination, providing grunt in the tight phases and athleticism in the line-outs. Khwezi Mafu, who was outstanding off the bench last week, gets a deserved start at blindside flank. He joins Sibusiso Sangweni and skipper Thurlow Marsh in a balanced loose trio that can mix it up at the breakdown and offer serious go-forward.
Third Time Lucky Against the Pumas?
This will be the third time these two sides clash in 2024, and the last two meetings couldn’t have been tighter. The Airlink Pumas edged the Kavaliers 34-32 in Wellington during the SA Cup round robin in early May, and followed it up with a 31-29 semi-final win two weeks later in Mbombela.
But this is Currie Cup territory now, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. A win for Boland will almost certainly punch their ticket to the knockouts – a massive achievement for the Wellington-based side in just their second season back in the Premier Division.
We’ve taken plenty of lessons from our past games against the Pumas,” said Fourie ahead of the clash. “They’re physical, they don’t go away, and they know how to grind out wins. But we’ve grown as a team. The guys are hungry to prove themselves and play playoff rugby.
Boland Belief Running High
This Kavaliers squad has made a habit of upsetting more established teams this season, and there’s a sense that something special is brewing in Wellington. With experienced heads like Schreuder, Davids and Marsh guiding a crop of fearless young talent, this side has belief, balance, and bite.
Come Friday in Mbombela, they’ll need every ounce of that to topple the defending Currie Cup champs on their home turf.
SANLAM BOLAND KAVALIERS vs AIRLINK PUMAS
📍 Mbombela Stadium
🕔 Kick-off: TBC
Starting XV:
15. James Tedder
14. Marcqwien Titus
13. David Brits
12. Lunathi Nxele
11. Xavier Mitchell
10. Ashlon Davids (VC)
9. Louis Schreuder
8. Thurlow Marsh (C)
7. Sibusiso Sangweni
6. Khwezi Mafu
5. Jurie van Vuuren
4. Michael Benadie
3. Dayan van der Westhuizen
2. HP van Schoor
1. Wayrin Losper
Replacements:
16. Llewellyn Claasen
17. Mthokozisi Gumede
18. Laurence Victor
19. Ameer Hendricks
20. Ludio Williams
21. Chriswill September
22. Juan Mostert
23. Erik Lambrecht
