Stormers XXIII hooker Vernon Paulo was one of the standout players in the opening Currie Cup victory over Griquas on Friday in Cape Town.
There were winning starts for the Boland Kavaliers, Cheetahs, Sharks and Stormers XXIII in the opening round of the latest edition of the Currie Cup.
While the oldest domestic competition in South Africa had to take a back seat to the final Nations Championship Springbok Test in Durban, a number of impressive victories signalled that it will be a fiercely contested tournament this season.
On Sunday, in a muddy Wellington, the Kavaliers were almost their own worst enemies as they triumphed 24-10 over the visiting Bulls in an error-strewn encounter. While the home side, cheered on by a vociferous crowd in the Winelands, enjoyed plenty of possession and territory, they failed to make the most of it to put the Bulls away.
The rainy conditions did little to help, but both sides were also guilty of sloppy play in an ill-tempered match where referee Griffin Colby had his hands full. Knock-ons halted several promising opportunities, while poor discipline from both teams prevented the game from finding any real rhythm.
