The Cheetahs are now the team to catch in the Currie Cup. Picture: Johan Pretorius/Gallo Images
The race for top spot in this year’s Currie Cup competition is well and truly on, with the Cheetahs and Pumas favourites to bag that all-important position.
But, there are now also several other teams in the hunt, following a weekend of somewhat surprising results in the competition.
Having started the second round of matches (the return fixtures) with a win against the Griffons in Bloemfontein on Friday night (33-10), the Cheetahs lead the way with 31 points. Hot on their heels though are the defending champions, the Pumas, with 29 points.
Jimmy Stonehouse’s men arguably delivered their weakest showing of the competition so far in going down 26-10 to the Lions in Joburg, also on Friday. The Pumas will now have to play catch-up and hope the Cheetahs slip up somewhere if they are to top the table in a few weeks’ time.
But, credit must also go to the Lions who, with a few United Rugby Championship players in the squad, produced a quality outing in downing the defending champions, something that pleased coach Mziwakhe Nkosi.
“Obviously it was an improved performance, in particular that it was against the defending champions,” said Nkosi about the Lions’ four-try-to-one victory against the Pumas.
“We had a good start, but there are still concerns about our discipline. It is something that let us down in the first round, and we vowed to turn it around (in the second half of the competition).
“But, also, there was some courageous defence as well … to keep the Pumas tryless for nearly 80 minutes was something to congratulate the boys about. I’m proud of that and I’m happy to get the five points.”
With the win the Lions moved up to fifth in the standings with 19 points.
In third are the Sharks with 23 points, the big movers of the last two weeks following wins against the Cheetahs and Griquas (on Saturday), while in fourth place are Western Province with 21 points. They beat the Bulls 31-7 and look to be a team on the up.
Griquas are sixth (19), the Bulls seventh (17) and the Griffons eighth (7).
Friday: Griquas v Lions (3.30pm)
Saturday: Pumas v Griffons (1pm), Cheetahs v WP (3.05pm), Bulls v Sharks (5.10pm) ends
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