Head coach Hawies Fourie made five changes to the side that was edged in the dying moments of the SA Cup Round Two match against the NovaVit Griffons in Welkom. The Sanlam Boland Cavaliers will be on the road again, this week when they travel to Kempton Park to face the Valke at the Barnard Stadium on 22 March 2025.
The 2024 Currie Cup First Division Player of the Year, Ashlon Davids, suffered an injury during the 38-35 loss last weekend against the Griffons. Davids will be sidelined for a few weeks and seasoned pivot, Garth April comes in to fill the gap with the University of Cape Town playmaker, James Tedder hoping to make his first SA Cup appearance for the season if he is introduced from the bench. Second rower and enforcer, Schalk Oelofse, has been rested to make way for former Golden Lions loose forward Sibusiso Sangweni.
“We decided for this game to go with two loose forwards on the bench, it is very unfortunate for Schalk, he has been making a tremendous impact when introduced from the bench,” Fourie said when announcing the team. “Sibusiso is a great player with a lot of energy, skill, and talent, something we need heading into the game against the Valke.”
Versatile back Darian Hock sustained a knee injury during one of the Monday practice sessions and has been ruled out for the match against the Valke, former Griffons speedster, Domenic Smit, comes in for the injured Hock on the fullback. Another stalwart and standout performer since the latter part of the warm-up matches, Keenan Opperman will also be missing out due to picking up an injury during the first half of the match against the Griffons. He will be replaced by Sauliegh Arendse in the back row with Khwezi Mafu and captain Thurlow Marsh.
With just two changes in the backline, Cornal Hendricks and Xavier Mitchell continue their midfield combination with Lunathi Nxele and Duren Hoffman being named in the left and right wing positions, respectively.
“There is a tremendous sense of relief because our tight five will start for a third time in a row, which is a massive credit to our strength and conditioning programme under the guidance of coach Iver [Aanhuizen]. The experience in the tight five will be crucial for us, especially at high altitude.”
Sidney Tobias, Doctor Booysen, and Wayrin Losper pack down in the front row with Tobias donning the number two jumper. Michael Benadie and Marlyn Williams will form the lock pairing. The match against the Valke will be Williams’ 84th first-class rugby cap.
Lamla Nunu, Neil Rautenbach, and Dayan van der Westhuizen provide cover for the front rankers while Sangweni and former Maties captain Gift Dlamini are the cover for the back rowers. Golden Masimla, Tedder, and Jurick Lewis are named among the replacements with Tedder providing cover at flyhalf.
Sanlam Boland Cavaliers: 15 Domenic Smit, 14 Duren Hoffman, 13 Xavier Mitchell, 12 Cornal Hendricks (v/c), 11 Lunathi Nxele, 10 Garth April, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Thurlow Marsh (c), 7 Khwezi Mafu, 6 Sauliegh Arendse, 5 Marlyn Williams, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Sidney Tobias, 1 Wayrin Losper
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Lamla Nunu, 18 Dayan van der Westhuizen, 19 Sibusiso Sangweni, 20 Gift Dlamini, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 James Tedder, 23 Jurick Lewis