A Currie Cup feast for the fans

Four of the six teams taking to the field in the Currie Cup Premier Division this weekend will kick off a challenging stretch in the competition in which they will play three matches within eight days in a real treat for rugby fans.

In an exciting weekend’s action, the Sharks will meet Griquas at King’s Park tonight, while Western Province take on the Pumas at Newlands and the Blue Bulls host the Golden Lions at Loftus Versfeld tomorrow night. Leaders and defending champions, the Free State Cheetahs, have a bye.

In Durban, the Sharks will look to build on their first victory of the season when they meet Griquas, but with two defeats in a row to their name, the Kimberley side will be equally determined to register a victory. The KwaZulu-Natalians boast a good win record against Griquas over the last two seasons as they won three of the four matches between the sides. However, the visitors won by a narrow three points in Durban in 2014, which will inspire them.

In Pretoria, the Gauteng derby between the Blue Bulls and Golden Lions is expected to be exciting given the balanced results between the sides in the last few seasons. Each of the teams have won two of their last four encounters, with both the Bulls’ victories coming at home.

The hosts come off a bye last week after a victory in the opening round, while the Golden Lions recovered from their first-round defeat to beat Griquas last week, meaning both sides will enter the match with confidence.

The Lions also made six changes to their team, which sees hooker Michael Willemse, prop Andrew Beerwinkel, flanker Fabian Booysen and centre Stokkies Hanekom (pictured) being promoted from the bench to the starting team.