CURRIE CUP PREVIEW: Early jeopardy for coastal teams

If this isn’t the first weekend of knock-out rugby for the two coastal teams in the Carling Currie Cup, it can’t be far away, as both the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV and DHL Western Province face early jeopardy in the competition.

The Sharks lost their opening three games last year and went on to win the competition, but with the Currie Cup being played over only a single round league phase this season, there is naturally less time to correct. If they beat the Toyota Cheetahs at the Sugar Ray Xulu Stadium in the Durban suburb of Clermont on Saturday evening, their hopes of making the semifinals will be alive.

However, a defeat that leaves them with little to show from their three games and just four games to get it right will arguably leave them with too much to do. At the very least, they will have to win all their remaining games after this.

So the stakes are high for the young Sharks team that will again feature a clutch of newcomers, as will WP, who face a similar scenario to the Sharks when they travel to Kimberley on Friday afternoon for a tough clash with Suzuki Griquas. Like the Sharks, WP have yet to register so much as a bonus point from their two games so far.

They’ve both played the same opponents, the two Gauteng teams, with only one of those games, that being the Province opener against the Vodacom Blue Bulls, not being played on the Highveld. So there is context. However, the Sharks in particular just weren’t at the races last weekend and will be searching for a big improvement against a Cheetahs team that bounced back from their upset at the hands of the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers with a fairly comfortable home win against the Airlink Pumas last week.

DERBY ATMOSPHERE LIKELY AT LOFTUS

Speaking of the Pumas, the lowvelders have much to play for as they head to Pretoria for what is considered a derby and is usually played in that kind of atmosphere. The Pumas have shocked the Bulls quite a few times in the recent past and will be looking to do so again, but the Bulls are arguably stronger than they have been in the past.

As winners of the SA Cup, the Pumas are considered the top team representing unions that don’t double as Vodacom URC franchises, and this game will be a good marker of where they stand after they were a bit disappointing in Bloemfontein in the second-round game.

Griquas boast an excellent record over WP in Kimberley and will start as strong favourites against a team that is inexperienced and will not include many players who have played against Griquas at Suzuki Park before. However, with Province placing a high emphasis on development in this competition, some additional strong individual performances to go with those turned in against the ADT Fidelity Lions last week will mean the effort will not be in vain, regardless of the result.

BOLAND LOOKING FOR ANOTHER STATEMENT WIN

At this point, the Western Cape team making the most waves in the competition are the Kavaliers, who will subject the unbeaten Lions to what is arguably their first proper examination. That is said in the sense that the first two Lions games were both at Emirates Airlines Park against coastal teams that were largely inexperienced.

The Kavaliers, who want to use this competition to make a statement that they merit being a franchise team, have only played two games at Premier Division level subsequent to their return, so you wouldn’t say they are experienced at this level either, but in upsetting the Cheetahs in the first round and then pushing Griquas all the way in Kimberley this past Sunday, they have shown their commitment and passion.

They lost the forward battle to Griquas and will have to be much better against the Lions, but the attitude of the players interviewed on television after last week’s game showcased just how focused on their mission the Bolanders are. Although they had provided some great entertainment, they were furious at themselves for not getting across the line as winners.

They did return to the Cape with a try-scoring bonus point, but with a bit of luck, they could have won or, at the very least, picked up a losing bonus point to go with the try-scoring bonus point. That despite having to survive on scraps of possession. In front of their home fans, they should push the Lions hard, and it should be another classic edition of Sunday afternoon entertainment.

That is provided it doesn’t rain, of course, and it is likely to as the weather forecast for the weekend in the Western Cape is not a promising one.

Carling Currie Cup fixtures (third round)

Suzuki Griquas v DHL Western Province (Kimberley, Friday 15.00)

Vodacom Blue Bulls v Airlink Pumas (Pretoria, Saturday 15.00)

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV v Toyota Cheetahs (Sugar Ray Xulu - Durban, Saturday 17.10)

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers v ADT Fidelity Lions (Wellington, Sunday 15.00)