We've got another three Currie Cup fixtures to look forward to this weekend. Saturday's action gets underway at the Mbombela Stadium where the Pumas host the Cheetahs before the Lions and Sharks clash at Emirates Airlines Park. We round off the action in the Northern Cape where the Griquas face off against Western Province.
Saturday 21 August
Pumas v Cheetahs
11h45
Mbombela Stadium
With semi-final qualification in sight for both teams, the Pumas host the Cheetahs at the Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.
Jimmy Stonehouse’s side again narrowly missed out on a chance to claim a win over the Bulls, going down 26-33 on Wednesday. They are fourth with just two matches left, level on points (28) with the Griquas in fifth with just four-log points separating them from the last-placed Lions. A slip up here would be devastating to their playoff hopes.
The Cheetahs produced a rousing comeback to beat the Griquas by a single point midweek and, after a long period in last place, rose to sixth in the standings. A victory for them here will put them into the semi-final spots too.
Verdict: Pumas
This will be another highly competitive encounter throughout, but the Pumas have shown they have enough in them to get over the line against the inconsistent Free Staters.
Lions v Sharks
14h10
Emirates Airlines Park
The Lions can still salvage a semi-final place by claiming a win over the Sharks at Emirates Airlines Park on Saturday.
Cash van Rooyen’s charges have been a mixed bag this season and their 35-13 loss in Cape Town on Wednesday saw them drop to seventh on the Currie Cup standings. They are still four points adrift of a playoff berth though and need a big win here to stay in the fight.
The Durbanites are second, five points ahead of third-best Western Province with a superior points difference. That said, they’ll take nothing for granted and may be too powerful for this Lions side to handle.
Verdict: Sharks
The Lions won’t have enough in them to match a Sharks outfit who are improving all the time.
Sunday 22 August
Griquas v Western Province
13h30
Tafel Lager Park
The Griquas will look to ambush Western Province when they clash at Tafel Lager Park on Sunday.
Scott Mathie’s men have had a memorable campaign so far and are currently in fifth, level on points with the fourth-placed Pumas. Qualifying for the semi-finals would be a mammoth achievement for the Kimberley side and they may well be hungrier for the W than Province this week.
Province have had a topsy-turvy season, but it’s testament to the strength in their squad that they’re still in the top three of the standings. John Dobson’s men are just two points ahead of their opponents this week, and any complacency will be their downfall.
Verdict: Griquas
Back the hosts to pull off an upset win and keep their playoff hopes alive.
