Bulls and Sharks chasing more points in Currie Cup clashes

With the league stage of the Currie Cup having reached the halfway mark, there will be plenty to play for on Saturday when last season’s runners-up Griquas face the Sharks and the Bulls aim to continue their impressive comeback against Western Province.

The Sharks, who were lying third in the standings ahead of this weekend’s round of matches, will be eager to narrow the gap on the top teams but they will face a battle against Griquas, who were tied with them on 19 points in fourth position before last night’s fixtures between the Lions and the Pumas in Johannesburg and the Cheetahs and Griffons in Bloemfontein.

The hosts, however, have already proved their ability to shine in the competition, having handed defending champions the Pumas their only defeat in their first seven games, and they will be confident against the visitors in their clash in Durban, which starts at 1.30pm.

In today’s later fixture (6.30pm), in Cape Town, Western Province and the Bulls will both be desperate for victories after picking up only three wins each from seven matches during a season which has seen them having to juggle the domestic competition with multiple European series.

After losing their opening four matches, the Bulls have picked up three wins on the trot and they will be hoping to build on their form after turning their campaign around.

With former World Cup winning coach Jake White in charge of the side, following the demotion of Edgar Marutlulle, Bulls loose forward Jacques du Plessis said they were in a good space.

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“It has been a very tough time for us, but it happens in sport. You can’t always be on top and sometimes you have to lose to learn more about your mistakes and about the game, and I think that’s what we did. We worked extremely hard after the losses we had,” Du Plessis said.

“I think we could have won the games we lost but the ball didn’t always bounce our side and a few referees’ calls didn’t go our way, but we stuck to our guns. We know what we can do and we’re happy now that we’re doing it on the pitch.”

Currie Cup fixtures, Saturday

Sharks v Griquas, Kings Park (1.30pm)

Western Province v Bulls, Cape Town Stadium (6.30pm)