Ruan Combrinck, Wandisile Simelane and Sylvian Mahuza have been named in the Golden Lions’ team to take on the Pumas in a Rugby Challenge clash on Saturday.
After three rounds of action, the Lions XV and Pumas and Griquas are yet to taste defeat, but this will change in Johannesburg on Saturday when the defending champions from Nelspruit travel to Ellis Park for their clash against the home side.
In the other big clash in the North Section, Griquas’ unbeaten status will be tested by a Blue Bulls side boosted by a number of players who participated in Super Rugby this year.
In a double header to be played in Rustenburg, the Griffons face the Welwitschias, while the Leopards take on the Valke in an encounter that’ll result in the losing side still without a win halfway through the competition.
In the South Section, Western Province are again setting the pace and appear to be in a comfortable position at the top of the log. They will play at Newlands for the first time this season when they line up against the Zimbabwe Academy, who will make the short trip north from False Bay Rugby Club where they are based.
The Sharks XV will host the undefeated Boland Cavaliers in Durban on Friday, and on Saturday the Free State XV welcome the SWD Eagles in a match that will decide which side keep their playoff hopes alive.
On Sunday the EP Elephants come up against Border in a highly-anticipated Eastern Cape derby that will be more about bragging rights than log positions, as both teams are currently languishing in the bottom half of the log.
Round 4 fixtures:
Sharks XV vs Boland Cavaliers (Durban, Friday, 3pm)
Golden Lions XV vs Pumas (Johannesburg, Saturday, 12pm)
Western Province vs Zimbabwe Academy (Cape Town, Saturday, 2:30pm)
Free State Cheetahs XV vs SWD Eagles (Bloemfontein, Saturday, 2:30pm)
Griquas vs Blue Bulls (Saturday, Kimberley, 2:30pm)
Griffons vs Welwitschias (Sunday, Rustenburg, 12:30pm)
Leopards vs Valke (Sunday, Rustenburg, 2:30pm)
EP Elephants vs Border (Sunday, Port Elizabeth, 3pm)
Photo: Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images
