Currie Cup Predictions – Round 14

It’s all to play for in the final round of the Currie Cup regular season this weekend, writes Quintin van Jaarsveld.

The league phase of the competition will reach a thrilling finale with the Pumas (36), Bulls (36), Griquas (35), Western Province (32) and the Lions (31) locked in a desperate fight for the final two semi-final places. 

The Sharks (48) and Cheetahs (46) have earned home-ground advantage in the playoffs and are in a shootout for the top spot to seal a potential home final. 

The Griffons (10), meanwhile, will look to finish their first season back in the big leagues on a high when they host the Lions on Friday afternoon. The game in Welkom will be followed by a clash in Kimberley pitting Griquas against the Pumas.

On Saturday, the Bulls battle the Cheetahs in Pretoria and Western Province square off against the Sharks in Cape Town.

Griffons v Lions

Friday, 9 June – 14:00

The Lions have the slimmest mathematical chance of reaching the semi-finals but it’ll take a miracle of events falling into place for that to happen. Mziwakhe Nkosi has accepted his side won’t make the playoffs and instead wants one last proper performance from his troops. 

The Griffons have found life tough in the Premier Division, registering just one win, but that historic triumph over the Bulls and other competitive outings give the Purple People Eaters positives to take out of their campaign. Their main issue has been their inability to stay in the fight for the full 80 minutes and that’ll trip them up again against a strong Lions team. 

Griquas v Pumas

Friday, 9 June – 15:00

A quarter-final in all but name, the winner of the clash in Kimberley will secure their spot in the final four. 

Griquas looked like the team who reached the final last year in their impressive 38-29 come-from-behind win over Western Province last weekend. This after their draw against the Cheetahs and win over the Griffons, all away from home. 

The Pumas’ nosedive continued with a 29-14 home loss to the Cheetahs, their fourth defeat in a row. The defending champions have failed to capitalise on opportunities in recent weeks while their ball protection has been poor.  

It could go either way, but Griquas are striking a good balance between spirited endeavour and smart tactical play, and have home-ground advantage, so I’m tipping them to end the Pumas’ reign.  

Bulls v Cheetahs

Saturday, 10 June – 15:00

A win or draw will be enough to guarantee the fourth-placed Bulls a spot in the semi-finals while the Cheetahs need to win and have Western Province upset the Sharks to move from second to first position. 

The Bulls racked up the points against the Griffons after a nervous three-hour wait brought about by a power failure at Loftus last weekend. Since the integration of their United Rugby Championship stars, the Bulls have been a different side, winning four on the bounce. 

The 29-14 win over the Pumas was a timely one for the Cheetahs. Before that, their last triumph came in Round Nine over Western Province. The most pleasing aspect of their performance in Nelspruit was their defensive effort, while Ruan Pienaar’s tactical nous in the No 10 jersey proved pivotal in helping the Free Staters correct course.

Aside from having superior momentum and playing at home, the Bulls have more weapons in their arsenal and should turn back the visitors in Springbok duo Morne Steyn and Bismarck du Plessis’ Loftus swansongs to book their playoff berth.  

Western Province v Sharks

Saturday, 10 June – 17:05

The form team and pacesetters of the competition, the Sharks’ hard-fought 29-21 win over the Lions last weekend was their seventh in a row. Win in Cape Town and they lock up top spot.  

Following their 38-29 loss to Griquas, sixth-placed Western Province have but an outside chance of progressing to the playoffs. To do so, they have to claim a full house and hope the Bulls fail to pick up any log points against the Cheetahs. 

After the Sharks gifted the Lions an early 14-point lead, John Dobson’s men will aim to come out firing in the hopes of similarly catching the Durbanites cold. 

Their scrum has been excellent but they’ve let themselves down in the lineout and with defensive lapses. Nevertheless, they’ll be a stern test for the surging Sharks. 

The Sharks will seek to fine-tune ahead of the semi-finals. They kick off No 9 a lot and haven’t been as accurate as they’d like or need to be come the playoffs. It won’t be easy by any means, but the Sharks should continue their winning ways.