Currie Cup 2019: Round 4 fixtures, results, highlights and log

Note: Scroll down for the latest Currie Cup results and highlights as they become available. Additional reporting from ANA.

The Currie Cup’s unbeaten sides the Free State Cheetahs and Golden Lions will be hunting their third victories in a row when they meet in the city of roses in.

Both sides have been impressive in attack, scoring 30 points or more in both their matches this season, while the Free Staters boast the best defence in the competition, which is expected to set the scene for an exciting encounter.

The Johannesburg outfit won the last two matches between the sides, but they will be wary of the fact that the last time they toppled the Toyota Free State Cheetahs in Bloemfontein was way back in 2015.

Pollard gets perspective from injury

The Golden Lions opted for continuity in selection with the only change to the Currie Cup starting team that defeated Western Province being the inclusion of lock Wilhelm van der Sluys in place of Marvin Orie, who has joined the Springbok squad.

The Toyota Free State Cheetahs team shows three personnel changes, with Tapiwa Mafura (winger), Marnus van der Merwe (flanker) and Ox Nche (prop) earning starts, while a notable inclusion on the bench is former Springbok scrumhalf Ruan Pienaar.

In Nelspruit, the Phakisa Pumas and Cell C Sharks will enter their encounter under pressure to win, with an eye on the semi-final stages. The hosts have lost all three of their matches so far and need to win all their remaining games with bonus points to salvage any hope a possible place in the top four, while the KwaZulu-Natalians have won one of their two games and will be determined to build momentum after coming off a bye.

Should the Phakisa Pumas succeed in earning their first win of the season, it would mark their first victory against the Cell C Sharks since 2015. But they will have to step up their defence significantly to achieve this after conceding 100 points in the last three matches.

The Phakisa Pumas named the same starting team that faced the Vodacom Blue Bulls last week, while the only change to the Cell C Sharks starting XV was the inclusion of Junior Springbok captain Phendulani Buthelezi on the side of the scrum, which saw Jacques Vermeulen being included among the replacements.

The Currie Cup battle between the Vodacom Blue Bulls and Tafel Lager Griquas is also expected to be a tight tussle as they both take to the field in their third-last pool matches.

The Kimberley outfit will be determined to return to their winning ways after suffering their first defeat last week, while their Pretoria counterparts – who are second last on the log – will be keen to build on their first win last week to power their way up the standings.

The Vodacom Blue Bulls have dominated the encounters between the sides for the last six years, but this will have no significance this weekend as a slip-up for either team could come at a big price in the next few weeks as the pool stages nears its conclusion.

In the only change to the Vodacom Blue Bulls starting team, former Junior Springbok flyhalf Manie Libbok returns to pivot, while Marnitz Boshoff has been named among the replacements. Springbok Sevens player Stedman Gans has also been drafted in among the replacements.

The Tafel Lager Griquas Currie Cup team, in turn, shows a few changes, with Victor Sekekete (lock), Andre Swarts (centre) and Anthony Volmink (fullback) earning starts.

Currie Cup Round 4 results

Friday, 2 August

Toyota Free State Cheetahs 22-24 Xerox Golden Lions

The Golden Lions stunned the Free State Cheetahs 24-22 in an entertaining Currie Cup encounter at the Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein on Friday evening.

The visitors came from behind after being left helpless in the opening stanza as the Cheetahs raced into a 19-7 halftime lead.

Joseph Dweba, Walt Steenkamp and Marnus van der Merwe put the hosts in control. The boot of Tian Schoeman and replacement Benhard Janse van Rensburg added some extras as the hosts moved towards victory.

Madosh Tambwe, Tyrone Green and Wandisile Simelane kept the Lions in the match with flyhalf Shaun Reynolds knocking over the extras. The pivot then helped his side to the win with a 78th minute penalty.

The Golden Lions remain unbeaten and moved top of the Currie Cup log. The Cheetahs will head to the Sharks in Durban looking to reverse their first loss.

The Golden Lions host the Blue Bulls in a local derby at Ellis Park in their next match.

Scorers: Free State Cheetahs 22 (19) Tries: Joseph Dweba, Walt Steenkamp, Marnus van der Merwe. Conversions: Tian Schoeman, Benhard Janse van Rensburg. Penalty: Louis Fouche.

Golden Lions 24 (7) Tries: Madosh Tambwe, Tyrone Green, Wandisile Simelane. Conversions: Shaun Reynolds (3). Penalty: Shaun Reynolds.

Saturday, 3 August

Phakisa Pumas 27-20 Cell C Sharks

The Pumas overturned an eight-point halftime deficit to claim a 27-20 Currie Cup win over the Sharks in Nelspruit on Saturday.

It was quite a result for the Pumas, who had lost the previous three games, and did enough to send coach Jimmy Stonehouse into tears at the final whistle.

The Sharks came into the game on the back of a bye, which was preceded by a win over Western Province. That stood them in good stead, and they made a confident start to proceedings.

By halftime, the Sharks enjoyed a healthy 17-9 lead, and it appeared that the Durban-based side were well on their way to victory.

However, the Pumas made the perfect start to the second half as former Sharks player Francois Kleinhans claimed a try after the restart, while a couple of penalties then edged the hosts into a surprise lead.

It would have rattled the Sharks’ nerves to some degree, but these were settled when Curwin Bosch knocked over a penalty to edge his side back in front.

Yet, the momentum continued to sway, with Pumas replacement hooker Simon Westraadt barging his way over the tryline just before the hour mark.

From there, all the confidence was with the home side, who went into a four-point lead as they enjoyed plenty of possession and territory.

In the context of what had become an extremely entertaining and open game, a key moment came a few minutes from full time when flyhalf Chris Smith struck a superbly-angled penalty.

From there, the Pumas held on for a remarkable first victory of the season, and against the defending champs to boot.

Scorers: Pumas 27 (9): Tries: Francois Kleinhans, Simon Westraadt. Conversion: Chris Smith. Penalties: Smith (5).

Sharks 20 (17): Tries: Lwazi Mvovo, Kobus van Wyk, Curwin Bosch. Conversion: Bosch. Penalty: Bosch. 

Vodacom Blue Bulls 15-37 Tafel Lager Griquas

Griquas produced an outstanding performance of percentage rugby on Saturday in beating the Blue Bulls 37-15 in a Currie Cup match at Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria.

The visitors from Kimberley had less possession and played most of the match defending, but yet scored a bonus-point victory over the Bulls to take top-spot on the league table.

Leftwing Rosko Specman opened the scoring for the Bulls with a try, which was converted by flyhalf Manie Libbok (7-0). The Bulls increased their lead with a penalty in the 14th minute (10-0). But not even a yellow card for rightwing Ederies Arendse could stop Griquas.

Two tries by scrumhalf Zac Burger, which were both converted by flyhalf George Whitehead gave the visitors the upperhand (14-10). Whitehead also slotted two penalties before halftime to put his team in command by 20-10.

The Bulls had chances to move closer early in the second half, but opted for kicks at the line instead of going for the poles with penalty kicks.

Leftwing Eduan Keyter increased the lead with a try (25-10) and Whitehead converted (27-10). The Bulls finally hit back when flanker Marco van Staden forced his way over. Libbok missed the conversion (27-15).

Whitehead took the match further out of reach of the home side when he put over a penalty in the 65th minute (30-15).

Lock Victor Sekekekete secured the bonus-point victory with a try just before the end and Whitehead converted (37-15).

Scorers: Blue Bulls 15 (10): Tries: Rosko Specman,  Marco van Staden.  Conversion:  Manie Libbok.  Penalty: Libbok.

Griquas 37 (20): Tries:  Zac Burger (2), Eduan Keyter, Victor Sekekete.  Conversions:  George Whitehead (4).   Penalties: Whitehead (3). – African News Agency (ANA)

Live log