Currie Cup cliffhanger
A disastrous run of three consecutive defeats for the Free State Cheetahs and a stunning comeback for Western Province have thrown the race for Currie Cup semi-finals wide open. We took a closer look at who needs to do what to crack a play-off berth.
A disastrous run of three consecutive defeats for the Free State Cheetahs and a stunning comeback for Western Province have thrown the race for Currie Cup semi-finals wide open. We took a closer look at who needs to do what to crack a play-off berth.
With two games to play, the Sharks and Blue Bulls are already guaranteed a semi-final but the Lions, Western Province and Cheetahs are all in with a shout of filling the other two spots.
A few weeks ago, Western Province looked dead and buried, but the return of their Springboks and the resultant facelift to their starting XV has seen the Cape side rack up a string a impressive results – most importantly a win over the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein two weeks ago – to put them right back into contention.
The defending champion Cheetahs, however, have had a dismal month of September and have been unable to score a single championship point in their last three games. Of the three candidates, the Lions are the best placed but have the hardest run of fixtures remaining.
Meanwhile at the other end of the table, the Griquas, Kavaliers and Falcons are in a three-way battle to avoid the relegation play-offs with the Griquas leading the pack.
It all makes for an intriguing climax to South Africa's domestic season. Here's what each team needs to do to make their fans happy, starting with the defending champs:
Currie Cup standings:
1 Sharks 47
2 Blue Bulls 44
3 Lions 41
4 Western Province 32
5 Cheetahs 32
6 Griquas 19
7 Kavaliers 13
8 Falcons 13
The Free State Cheetahs:
Remaining fixtures: Falcons, away; Boland, home
Naka Drotske and his troops are in a bit of a pickle. Champions for the last three years, the Cheetahs look unlikely to defend their crown. Forget a home semi-final, even a maximum haul of ten points from the remaining two weeks might not be enough to qualify for the semis.
The Free Staters are behind Western Province on points difference, so not only are bonus points essential, big winning margins are a must. They could not ask for better opposition for the task – the bottom two sides might be fighting for their Currie Cup lives but the Cheetahs will surely have enough to win both their games. The question remains, by how much?
Western Province:
Remaining fixtures: Boland, away; Lions, home
Boland could be the team to throw a spanner in the works of the big guns as both Province and the Cheetahs must face the Kavaliers. WP should have enough firepower to get past their neighbours in the Western Cape derby, but failure to secure a bonus point could leave them with a massive task in their final match against the Lions.
In fact, it looks likely that the fate of all three side will hinge on that result at Newlands which to all intent and purposes could be a virtual quarter-final.
The Lions:
Remaining fixtures: Sharks, home; WP, away
Championship points wise, the team from Jo'burg have the least amount to do. They do however have by far the hardest run-in of all.
Two points – in any shape or form – from the two games will be enough for the Lions. Eugene Eloff's team actually have a mathematical chance of cracking a home semi-final, but would require a surprise late-season collapse from the Blue Bulls, which is highly unlikely.
It is also possible that the Lions miss out completely. With two games against teams laden with international stars on the horizon, Cobus Grobbelaar and co. have their work cut out for them.
As alluded to above, the Lions' trip to Cape Town on October 4 could make or break their season.
Of course they could secure themselves of a play-off spot if they get a result against the Sharks at Ellis Park this Saturday. That will surely be their objective, for now at least.
The Blue Bulls:
Remaining fixtures: Griquas, away; Falcons, home
With Victor Matfield and his team looking like possible championship-winning material and two relatively easy matches on the horizon, the Blue Bulls will now be chasing the top spot on the table and the possibility of a home final.
Since the Sharks have a tricky game in Jo'burg this weekend, it's a scenario that is more than possible. Of course before the team from Pretoria can think of any such ramifications they must win convincingly in Kimberly on Saturday- by no means an easy task, as Western Province can attest.
The Sharks
Remaining fixtures: Lions, away; Griquas, home
With a three-point lead on the Blue Bulls, a team brimming with confidence and fixture at home in Durban to end the season, the Sharks must be favourites to finish the at the top of the pile in two weeks.
With a home semi-final virtually assured, the danger for the Sharks is taking their foot of the pedal and getting caught out at Ellis Park. But with the likes of Ryan Kankowski and Rory Kockott back and raring to go after injury lay-offs, chances are the Currie Cup Final will be played in Durban.