Rugby
Leopards to play for pride against the Griffons─── MORGAN PIEK 08:55 Thu, 20 Mar 2025
The Leopards will be looking to bounce back in the SA Cup this weekend when they take on the Griffons in Potchefstroom in round three of the competition.
The two teams will contest the Jan Fourie Trophy in this derby, and while the Leopards are still searching for their first win, they will also be playing for pride.
In their two previous matches, they conceded a staggering 135 points while scoring only seven.
The Griffons are one of three unbeaten teams in the competition after the first two rounds, and they will no doubt take a lot of confidence from their remarkable 38-35 victory over the Boland Cavaliers in Welkom, where they came back from a 28-7 deficit at half-time.
The clash against the Griffons is a big one for the Leopards, and coach Matt Proudfoot told OFM Sport that his team will be playing for pride this weekend. “We’ve got a trophy to play for – the Jan Fourie Trophy. Jan Fourie captained the Griffons, he was our president, and he sadly passed away last year,” said Proudfoot.
“So, we now have a new trophy for which the two teams compete. It’s a bit of a derby, and we’re expecting quite a few people at the Old Lady in Potch. It’s going to be a great game – they played well in their first match and beat Boland.
Matt Proudfoot and Frans Steyn. Photo: Morgan Piek
“These derby games are more about emotion – form goes out the window, and it all comes down to intent on the day.”
The former Springbok and England assistant coach added his team need to be better than they have been and must apply the lessons learned from their match against the Cheetahs.
“I’ll make sure this team improves. As Frans (Steyn) said during the week, maybe he was out-coached, but today, I was the one out-coached.
Getting into the trenches
“I was very impressed with the Cheetahs – their set-piece was outstanding, their loose forwards played well, and I liked the lines they ran. I thought they controlled the intensity of the game, which gave them an edge. There were a lot of positives for them, but for us, it’s about getting into the trenches on Saturday.”
Saturday’s big derby between the Leopards and Griffons at Olën Park in Potchefstroom kicks off at 15:00.
