READY TO RUMBLE

WESTERN Province will need to rumble in the Johannesburg jungle when they tackle the Lions in Saturday's 3pm Currie Cup Premier Division clash at Ellis Park.

Coach Labeeb Levy’s Kaapse span need a win after going down 48-23 in their opener against the Bulls at Cape Town Stadium  last week.

And the round one loss will have Province fans paaping about their span’s hopes of putting in a better performance after last year’s second-from-bottom finish.

Again, finding themselves in tweede laaste plek, WP face a Lions team sitting pretty at the top of the standings after the Johannesburg katte mauled the Sharks 46-5 in their opening game in Jozi.

Former WP and Stormers wing Angelo Davids scored on debut for the Lions.

However, WP backline coach Dewaldt Duvenage says of a young Kaapse span, captained by Blitzbok yster Zain Davids, wanting to outrun the Lions: “We are a young group and in a sense we are youthful, and adventurous, so, in that sense, I don’t think we have a fear [to take on the Lions].”

Adding of how playing at altitude is not a problem for WP’s laaities, Duvenage added: “I don’t think we need to read too much into the altitude, we have been playing at altitude every second week, it’s not a big deal for us… they don’t get tired like some of the older guys here.”

Meanwhile, cross-town neighbours, Boland Cavaliers, will be hoping to continue their fairy-tale return to the Currie Cup Premier Division after a nine-year absence, when they travel to Kimberley for a Sunday showdown against Griquas at Griqua Park at 3pm.

The Cavas beat the Cheetahs 37-35 after Donovan Don scored a try in injury time at Boland Park and face a Griquas team that will be desperate after getting klapped 49-28 by the Pumas in Nelspruit.

Round two of the competition starts on Friday as the Pumas travel to Bloemfontein to face the Cheetahs at 7pm and the Bulls welcome the Sharks to Loftus for Saturday's 5.10pm kickoff.