Griquas know what needs to be done against Western Province

THE UPCOMING weekend marks a pivotal stage in the battle for the coveted Currie Cup semi-final spots, as it will bring a bit more clarity to which teams are still in the play-off picture.

The Windhoek Draught Griquas, currently placed seventh, refuse to be written off in the play-off race. Merely one log point adrift from the Lions, Western Province and the Bulls and six points behind the third-placed Pumas, the Kimberley kings still harbour aspirations of ascending the rankings.

A potential upset against Western Province in the upcoming round on Friday could significantly bolster their chances.

The race for the coveted fourth position took a captivating twist last weekend. Surprising defeats for the home teams in Cape Town and Nelspruit resulted in a fascinating logjam, with Western Province, the Lions, and the Bulls all boasting 31 log points after completing 12 rounds.

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Despite a 32-12 defeat at the hands of the Lions, Western Province retains their fourth-place standing by virtue of their superior points difference.

Meanwhile, the Sharks emerged triumphant in Welkom, soaring to the summit of the Currie Cup log. While it took some time for the Durban side to find their rhythm against the Griffons, their remarkable second-half performance ultimately propelled them to a resounding 35-9 win, accompanied by a valuable bonus point.

Then in Bloemfontein, lady luck smiled upon the Sharks as the Griquas performed admirably, holding the Free State Cheetahs to a hard-fought 29-29 draw last Saturday. And that was all the Durbanites needed to gracefully climb to the summit of the standings, overtaking the Free Staters.

Yet, despite the drawn match, the Cheetahs managed to accumulate three log points, placing them a mere two points behind the Sharks with two rounds remaining. The Free Staters’ hopes of securing a home semi-final remain firmly intact.

In Saturday’s other action, the Pumas encountered a stumbling block, suffering a setback with a 24-17 loss to the Bulls. The defending champions currently occupy the third spot in the standings, trailing the second-placed Free Staters by five points.

Speaking during a media briefing on Wednesday, Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh said that they learned a lot during the Cheetahs match in Bloemfontein. He said that they set up the same scenarios they had during the match and worked on areas they knew they had to fix.

“I think tactically that we were very good against the Cheetahs. They were clearly happier with the draw than we were; for us, it felt like a loss, even if we were tactically the better team. At the end of the day, we conceded 29 points, of which 26 of those 29 points were from mauls, and therefore we have worked on making our maul defence better this week,” said Bergh.

The coach further stated that if they can get two wins in the pocket, they can keep their Currie Cup hopes alive, but only wins from here on will make that possible.

Friday’s match between Griquas and Western Province kicks off at 3pm and will be a proper showdown. Spectators will be privileged to be at the stadium to experience the full impact of what promises to be a humdinger.

• The Windhoek Draught Griquas will be playing in PINK jerseys on Friday for the Beau van der Westhuizen Game, in aid of Cansa! Supporters are encouraged to join in the fight, dress in pink and pledge to support a worthy cause.

All funds will be handed over to Cansa at half time. Catch us on Twitter @GriquasRugby for details on how to support the cause.

🔵 Team Announcement
Not available due to injury:
Andrew Beerwinkel
Alex-Zander du Plessis
Gustav du Rand
Sako Makata
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💟 Beau vd Westhuizen Game, in aid of CANSA
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— Griquas Rugby (@GriquasRugby) May 31, 2023