Top spot on the line as unbeaten Griquas face Pumas in SA Cup showdown

The Suzuki Griquas will put their perfect record – and an astonishing 16-match unbeaten streak in the SA Cup – on the line when they face the equally formidable Airlink Pumas in a highly anticipated clash under the lights at Mbombela Stadium on Friday evening.

Both teams are locked on 30 points after six rounds, having bulldozed their way through the competition so far. However, it's Griquas who sit atop the standings thanks to a slender two-point advantage in points differential. That razor-thin margin sets the stage for what promises to be a thrilling top-of-the-table showdown between last year’s finalists – and likely title contenders again in 2025.

Griquas have history on their side, having edged the Pumas 31-26 during last season's league phase before clinching the inaugural SA Cup title with a convincing 46-24 win in the final in Kimberley. But head coach Pieter Bergh knows that past success counts for little in a competition this tightly contested.

“The Pumas and us, we know each other well. We know what to expect from one another,” said Bergh. “If you look at the log – we’ve scored almost the same number of tries, conceded about the same, and the points difference is minimal. So it’s very tight between the two sides, and it usually results in a close contest.”

Bergh has stressed the importance of maintaining both mental and physical sharpness ahead of what could be Griquas’ toughest test yet.

With the top two finishers securing both a semi-final berth and a place in the prestigious Carling Currie Cup Premier Division, Friday’s winner will take a significant step toward securing home-ground advantage in the final.

Griquas, as defending champions and the only team yet to lose a match since the tournament’s inception, remain the team to beat. But the Pumas, fierce competitors with a score to settle after last year’s final, will be eager to break that streak in front of their home fans.

For Bergh and his Griquas side, it’s all about finishing strong.

“We need to step back, reset, and gear up for what we hope will be five strong weeks to close out the SA Cup,” he said.