First division Currie Cup finals
Down Touch Griffons vs Jaguares XV in the Currie Cup First Division final on Friday.
The Down Touch Griffons will have their work cut out when they take to the field against the Jaguares XV in the Currie Cup First Division final in Potchefstroom on August 30 after the Argentinians showed their class with eight wins in a row in their debut season, which will see them enter the match undefeated.
The Currie Cup First Division final will be preceded by the South African Rugby Union u-20 championship final between defending champions Griffons and the EP Elephants, who will both have their eyes on a dream season after advancing to the final unbeaten.
The SA Rugby u-20 championship final will kick off at 3.30pm and the Currie Cup First Division final at 6.15pm.
The Jaguares XV set the field alight with their fine attacking play in the competition registering bonus-point victories in all of their games, which saw them top the standings for a home semi-final and home final.
The Griffons, in turn, won three and drew three of their pool matches, but they made a strong statement in their semi-final against the Elephants last week with a comprehensive 62-31 victory.
The Jaguares have been superior on attack and defence, scoring 75 tries and conceding 148 points to the Griffons’ 42 tries scored and 230 points conceded.
But with the title on the line and the Valke having proved in the semi-final last week that the Jaguares are not invincible after they fell short by only eight points, their form up to now will have no significance for the men from Welkom, who know what it takes to win the title after lifting the trophy in 2017 and 2016, the latter being away from home.
The Northern Free Staters will also be inspired by their narrow 50-43 defeat against the Argentinians in the pool stages of the competition. The Argentinians, however, will be determined to build on their impressive form and complete their first season in the competition on a memorable note with a clean sweep of victories.
