It’s all to play for in the final round of the Currie Cup regular season this weekend, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.
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The pace-setting Griquas and Cheetahs not only remained in the coveted top two spots but also booked home semi-finals after their wins last weekend.
With both on 26 points, they won’t rest on their laurels and will do everything in their power to finish the round-robin phase in pole position.
Meanwhile, five teams will fight it out for the two remaining playoff places. The Pumas are in third place on 17 points while the Boland Kavaliers and Stormers XXIII are tied on 16 points.
The Lions, on 15, and Sharks XV, on 13, have a chance of forcing their way into the top four if they win and other results go their way, whereas the winless Bulls XV, on 5, only have pride to play for.
There are two games on Friday; the first will see the Lions square off against the Stormers XXIII at Ellis Park and the second will see the Sharks XV play host to the Bulls XV at Kings Park.
The Pumas and Cheetahs will be locked in a catfight in Nelspruit on Saturday before the regular season wraps up on Sunday in Wellington, where the Kavaliers cross swords with Griquas.
Lions vs Stormers XXIII
Friday, 28 August – 17:05
This is not the same pride of Lions who hosted the last two finals, but it’ll nevertheless be a disappointment for the Johannesburg franchise if they don’t feature in the playoffs this year.
They showed good fighting spirit to score a late try and give themselves a shot at snatching victory over the Sharks XV last weekend, but Sam Francis’ failed conversion attempt resulted in a 22-all draw.
One point and one place ahead of them, the fourth-placed Stormers XXIII will be as motivated as the hosts and will rock up at Ellis Park with confidence after battering the Bulls XV 50-26 at Loftus Versfeld last weekend.
In what should be a hard-fought battle, the Lions’ home ground advantage should prove decisive.
Prediction: Lions by 2.
Sharks XV vs Bulls XV
Friday, 28 August – 19:15
Given that the duel in Durban is between the bottom two teams, it might not seem as significant as the other final-round fixtures, but it actually has some historical stakes.
Fail to break their duck, and the Bulls will be condemned to their first winless season in Currie Cup history.
The Sharks XV still have a slim shot at sneaking into the semis, and with the Bulls having been also-rans throughout the campaign, the hosts should shine in front of their fans.
Prediction: Sharks XV by 21.
Pumas vs Cheetahs
Saturday, 29 August – 14:00
The third-placed Pumas can no longer earn a home semi-final, and this is a massive game for them as playoff qualifying itself hangs in the balance.
This will be a huge test of not just their skills and systems, but of their mental make-up as well, as last weekend’s 38-14 hiding at the hands of Griquas was a particularly bitter pill to swallow considering it came at home.
The Cheetahs, meanwhile, are full of confidence after yet another solid win last weekend. The 33-24 victory over Boland made it three on the bounce for the Free Staters, who are going from strength to strength.
They also know how to beat the Pumas, having won the last four games in this rivalry, two of which were played in Nelspruit. Hence, Frans Steyn’s troops should triumph to move into first place for the time being.
Prediction: Cheetahs by 9.
Boland Kavaliers vs Griquas
Sunday, 30 August – 15:00
Wrapping up the regular season means Griquas will know exactly what’s required of them to finish the weekend where they started it – in pole position.
The same is true for the Kavaliers, who’ll feel the pressure as they would’ve likely slipped out of the top four after Friday and Saturday’s matches.
Boland are always tough to beat in Wellington, and with their season likely on the line, it’ll take a big effort from the Peacock Blues to come away with the spoils.
That said, Griquas are such a powerful and polished outfit. Fresh off a statement 24-point triumph in Nelspruit that stretched their winning streak to five, the defending champions should continue their imperious form against a Boland side who’ve struggled with indiscipline all season.
In doing so, they should move back into first place as they start the round with a commanding buffer of 52 over the Cheetahs in terms of points difference.
Prediction: Griquas by 7.
Quintin van Jaarsveld is a former MDDA-Sanlam SA Local Sports Journalist of the Year and a former three-time Vodacom KwaZulu-Natal Sports Journalist of the Year. Formerly the sports editor and Outstanding Journalist of the Year award winner at The Fever Media Group, deputy editor at eHowzit, editor at SARugby.com and senior staff writer at Rugby365.com, he boasts over 20 years of experience.
