Currie Cup final round will be a humdinger
WITH THE 2024 Carling Currie Cup approaching its climax, the top three semi-final spots have already been snapped up, but a thrilling battle looms for the final play-off place .
The Airlink Pumas and Toyota Cheetahs face off in a crucial “quarter-final” clash at 1.30pm on Saturday at Mbombela Stadium in Nelspruit. The winner of this crunch encounter will join the Fidelity ADT Lions, Vodacom Bulls, and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV in the knockout rounds.
The action-packed Currie Cup weekend begins on Friday in Kimberley with the Suzuki Griquas hosting DHL Western Province at 3pm.
Though both teams are out of semi-final contention, they enter the match with a renewed sense of confidence. Griquas upset the reigning champions, the Cheetahs, last week, while WP secured a morale-boosting victory over the Pumas.
The form book reminds us that Griquas have dominated recent clashes between the two sides, having won their last six meetings. Province will, however, be eager to break this streak, having last tasted victory over Griquas way back in December 2020.
During a media briefing on Thursday, Suzuki Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh made it clear that despite the team not reaching the semi-finals this season, morale remains high within the squad.
“The players are eager to finish strong on Friday,” The coach said, “Particularly as some will be playing their final game for the Griquas. This is our last match together as a group before others move on and new players join the team,” Bergh added.
Ahead of their game against WP, Bergh noted that the opposition plans to treat the match as a United Rugby Championship warm-up.
Suzuki Griquas vs. DHL WP
— Griquas Rugby (@GriquasRugby) September 5, 2024
06 Sep. 24 - 15:00
Suzuki Stadium
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“We’re expecting a very strong Western Province side in Kimberley, with several Springboks in their ranks. But as I told the players, the game is won on grass, not paper.
“We’ve shown before that we can beat a strong Western Province side at home. The team isn’t feeling down or sorry for themselves for missing the semis, and we’ve been playing better rugby as the season progressed.
“Hopefully, it will be a great match, and we encourage fans to come out and support us one last time,” Bergh told the media.
Reflecting on the season, Bergh highlighted the competitive nature of their group compared to the other pool in the Currie Cup. He explained that Griquas had faced tougher opposition, playing double rounds against teams like the Lions, Sharks, and Pumas.
“If we’d had a little more luck, we might have been playing for a semi-final spot this week,” he said, adding that the disparity in group strength had been a significant factor.
Meanwhile, later on Friday, the Lions will face NovaVit Griffons at 5.15pm in Johannesburg. Already assured of a home semi-final, the Lions will look to continue their winning form after knocking the Bulls off the top spot of the log last week. The Griffons, meanwhile, have a daunting task ahead, with the Lions having comfortably won their two previous encounters.
Saturday’s spotlight will be on the high-stakes encounter between the Pumas and the defending champions. The Free Staters will know that they must win to secure the last semi-final berth, but they enter the match on shaky ground, having lost their last three league games.
The Pumas, currently just one point ahead on the log, will fight to keep their Cup dreams alive in what promises to be a gripping contest.
Sunday’s final match features the Sharks XV taking on the Bulls in Durban at 3pm. The Sharks enter the game with a six-game unbeaten streak in their pocket, while the Bulls are reeling from last week’s loss to the Lions.
The two teams have split their last eight encounters, but the Sharks will look to continue their dominant form, having beaten the Bulls 41-27 in their most recent meeting.
As the final round of league fixtures unfolds, the stage is set for a thrilling conclusion to the 2024 Carling Currie Cup season.
The top four teams will advance to next week’s semi-finals, with the final showdown scheduled for September 21. Fans can expect a weekend of intense rugby as teams fight for pride, glory, and a shot at the coveted Cup title.