Sport

No one can be written off in bumper Currie Cup semi-final clashes

Supplied|Published

Stedman Gans of the Vodacom Bulls during the 2024 Currie Cup game between the Natal Sharks and Blue Bulls at Kings Park Stadium in Durban on 08 September 2024. Picture: Gerhard Duraan, BackpagePix

On current form, the Fidelity ADT Lions should be considered firm favourites against defending champions, the Toyota Cheetahs, when the two sides meet in the first of two Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals on Saturday, with the Johannesburg clash starting at 2.30pm.

The second semi-final is scheduled for 5pm in Pretoria between the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV. The two winning teams will battle it out for the historic trophy on Saturday, September 21 at 4pm. All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

Last year, the Free Staters sprang a minor surprise by beating the Bulls by 31-27 in a pulsating semi-final in Bloemfontein, while in the other semi-final, the Airlink Pumas edged the Sharks 26-20 to progress to the 2023 final, where the Cheetahs prevailed 25-17 over the team from Mpumalanga to lift the famous trophy for a seventh time.

This year, the defending champions followed the low road to the play-offs when their victory last weekend over the Pumas, in their final league match, saw them grab the last available knockout spot.

Playing in Saturday’s first semi-final in Doornfontein, the Lions will have both form and home ground advantage on their side when they take on their Free State rivals as they aim to reach the final for the first time since 2019.

Apart from playing at the imposing Emirates Airline Park, the Joburg outfit established themselves as the best side during the league phase of the Premier Division. They amassed 437 points in their 10 games and only conceded 215, which placed them as the most prolific scoring side as well as the team with the best defence.

Furthermore, the Lions have been consistent with their form and scoring abilities during that time, while the Cheetahs have been blowing hot and cold at the same time, only clinching their semi-final berth with a nervy win in the last round of regular action.

However, knockout rugby is an entirely different beast, as shown by last year’s results, and the hosts will be wary of the dangers of underestimating the gritty defending champions.

The second semi-final, between the Bulls and Sharks XV at Loftus Versfeld, has all the hallmarks of another Currie Cup classic and is a repeat of the finals of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, both won by the team from Pretoria.

While the men from Pretoria have occasionally stumbled, they have considerable depth in talent and flexed their muscles to show their pedigree at the right time to grab second spot on the log which, crucially, earned them a home semi-final.

Although the KwaZulu-Natalians stuttered during the opening stages of the campaign, suffering three defeats in a row, they managed to regain their mojo by winning six and snatching a draw during an impressive seven-game unbeaten stretch.

Last weekend, the Sharks XV edged the Bulls 24-18 in a wet and windy Durban during the final round of league action in what was a rehearsal for this week’s semi-final in the Jacaranda City.

Both sides have strengthened their match-day squads with Vodacom United Rugby Championship regulars, so it will be interesting who will come out tops in this intriguing encounter.

SA Rugby Communications

Match information – Carling Currie Cup semi-finals:

Semi-final 1: Fidelity ADT Lions vs Toyota Cheetahs

Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg

Date: Saturday 14 September

Time: 2.30pm

Referee: Christopher Allison

TV: SS Rugby

Semi-final 2: Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks XV

Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria

Date: Saturday 14 September

Time: 5pm

Referee: AJ Jacobs

TV: SS Rugby

Related Topics:

rugby
No one can be written off in bumper Currie Cup semi-final clashes