The Leopards XV and Hino Valke have it all to play for in the final round of 2015 Vodacom Cup pool action in the North Section, with DHL WP chasing a 100% league record in the South Section.
These two sides will be competing to be the final team in the top four of the tightly-contested North Section, with the Xerox Golden Lions, Vodacom Blue Bulls and Steval Pumas already assured of the top three spots on the log.
The Xerox Golden Lions need two log points to go top of the North Section and would like to keep their unbeaten record in-tact when they travel to Welkom to take on the Down Touch Griffons.
It won’t be easy as the Northern Free Staters can still sneak into the top four, but it’s going to take a big win over the Johannesburgers and some other results to go their way.
A bonus-point win on Friday evening in Namibia will be enough to see the Leopards XV through to the top four, but anything less could still leave the door open ever so slightly for the Hino Valke, who will know exactly where they stand when their game against the Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls kicks off in Polokwane on Saturday afternoon.
On the contrary, the South Section is basically decided, with the top four playing against each other as they jockey for final positions – only seven points separate them at the moment.
DHL Western Province, first on 27 points, are at home to the plucky SWD Eagles at DHL Newlands in Cape Town on Saturday.
The 2012 champions will look to stay unbeaten as the quarterfinals loom – knowing that a win will not only secure them top spot in the South Section but also home-ground advantage in the semifinals too.
In the other crucial match in the South Section, the Toyota Free State XV can move up to send position if they can beat neighbouring GWK Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday afternoon.
Pride is all that is at stake in the final two matches of the season for the EP Kings, at home in Port Elizabeth against the Cell C Sharks XV on Friday evening, and the Border Bulldogs, who host the Boland Cavaliers in Alice on Saturday afternoon.
ROUND NINE FIXTURES:
Friday, May 8:
Down Touch Griffons v Xerox Golden Lions
Kick-off: 15h00
Venue: HT Pelatona Projects Stadium, Welkom
Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys
EP Kings v Cell C Sharks XV
Kick-off: 19h00
Venue: Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium, Port Elizabeth
Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
FNB Welwitschias v Leopards XV
Kick-off: 20h00
Venue: Hage Geingob Stadium, Windhoek
Referee: Archie Sehlako
Saturday, May 9:
DHL Western Province v SWD Eagles
Kick-off: 14h45
Venue: DHL Newlands, Cape Town
Referee: Linton Lloyd (Scotland)
Assupol Limpopo Blue Bulls v Hino Valke
Kick-off: 15h00
Venue: New Peter Mokaba Stadium, Polokwane
Referee: Oregopotse Rametsi
GWK Griquas v Toyota Free State XV
Kick-off: 15h00
Venue: GWK Park, Kimberley
Referee: Pro Legoete
Border Bulldogs v Boland Cavaliers
Kick-off: 15h30
Venue: Davidson Rugby Stadium, Alice
Referee: Ben Crouse
Byes: Steval Pumas, Vodacom Blue Bulls