Currie Cup carnage: Comebacks, thrashings, and table-turning drama

THE SUZUKI Griquas produced a stunning second-half comeback on Sunday afternoon to beat the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 48-39 at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley, concluding the second round of the 2025 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division in spectacular fashion.

In a match that had fans on the edge of their seats, Griquas turned a 19-34 halftime deficit into a memorable victory, showcasing the grit and never-say-die attitude that has become synonymous with the Kimberley side. With the Kavaliers dominating the first half through five well-executed tries and capitalising on defensive gaps, it appeared as if the Griquas were headed for their second defeat in the competition.

But the home team had other plans.

Led by standout performances from Caleb Abrahams, who crossed the line twice, and Gurshwin Wehr, who also bagged a brace of tries, Griquas rallied with renewed intensity after the break. Dylan Maart, Lourens Oosthuizen, and Derik Pretorius also added their names to the scoresheet in a flurry of second-half action that stunned the visitors and turned the stadium electric.

George Whitehead’s dependable boot added crucial conversions as the Griquas completed a 29-point turnaround to hand Boland their first loss of the season. While Boland had controlled the first half with tries from Lunathi Nxele, David Brits, Donavan Don, and Marcqiewn Titus, their inability to stop the Griquas’ momentum in the second stanza proved costly.

Griquas now shift their focus to this Friday evening when they welcome the winless DHL Western Province to Kimberley at 19h00 for their third-round clash. With confidence riding high and momentum firmly in their favour, Griquas will look to continue their upward climb on the log.

Meanwhile, the second round also brought more high-octane rugby action across the country, with the Toyota Cheetahs, Fidelity ADT Lions, and Vodacom Bulls all securing victories in their respective matches.

On Friday night, the Toyota Cheetahs got their campaign back on track with a clinical 42-25 win over the Airlink Pumas at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein. Scrumhalf Jandre Nel was the star of the show, scoring four tries, including three in the first half, as the Cheetahs built a 28-13 halftime lead.

The Free Staters, eager to bounce back after their narrow opening-round loss to Boland, were impressive on attack and made the most of their opportunities. The Pumas, despite two tries from Ross Braude and a generally competitive showing, struggled to match the intensity of their hosts in key moments. A yellow card to wing Banie Britz for repeated team infringements didn’t help their cause either.

Saturday's double-header started with a dominant Fidelity ADT Lions side overpowering DHL Western Province 40-19 at Emirates Airline Park in Johannesburg. Tries from Jaco Visagie (2), Lubabalo Dobela, Rabz Maxwane, WJ Steenkamp, and a penalty try laid the foundation for a commanding performance by the home team.

Province, who had shown promise in patches, scored through Louw Nel and Gideon van Wyk but were unable to contain the Lions’ attack. The match saw its share of physicality, with both sides receiving yellow cards, Lions scrumhalf Nico Steyn and WP prop Sti Sithole, as tensions flared late in the contest.

The late fixture on Saturday saw the Vodacom Bulls make a resounding statement with a 64-0 demolition of the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at Loftus Versfeld. The Pretoria outfit was ruthless from the start, surging to a 35-0 halftime lead and never looking back.

Chris Smit, Jeandre Rudolph and Juann Else each scored two tries as the Bulls ran in 10 tries in total in a match that highlighted their intent to dominate this year's competition. Their forward pack laid a solid platform, and the backline took full advantage of every opportunity, leaving the Sharks without a response.

The second-round results have shaken up the Premier Division standings, with the Vodacom Bulls now sitting at the top of the log with a full 10 points from two wins, followed closely by the Fidelity ADT Lions, who also have 10 points but a slightly lower points differential.

The Toyota Cheetahs, thanks to their weekend win, are third on seven points, while the Airlink Pumas and Sanlam Boland Kavaliers are tied on six. Suzuki Griquas moved up to five points, and DHL WP and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV remain rooted at the bottom, yet to open their accounts.

Looking ahead to the third round, all eyes will be on Kimberley this Friday evening when Suzuki Griquas look to continue their resurgence against the visiting Western Province. Saturday's fixtures include a mouth-watering clash between the Vodacom Bulls and the Airlink Pumas at Loftus Versfeld (15h00), followed by the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV hosting the Toyota Cheetahs in Durban (17h10).

The round wraps up on Sunday in Wellington, where the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers will look to bounce back from their loss when they host the Fidelity ADT Lions at 15h00.

With the Currie Cup delivering fireworks in every round so far, fans can expect even more drama, intensity, and memorable moments as the battle for supremacy continues.