Things to look out for in this weekend’s Currie Cup action

Sometimes it pays to be the top dogs.

That’s definitely a feeling the Sharks will enjoy in this weekend’s round of Currie Cup fixtures because they aren’t actually under the microscope.

If they win against the Lions at King’s Park on Friday evening, they’re guaranteed a finish in the top spot.

If they don’t, they’ll still remain top.

Instead, it’s the congestion for a semifinal place that’s the most intriguing plot of the weekend.

Lions have reached last-chance saloon

When Swys de Bruin and co decided to release the experienced Ryan Kankowski last week, they kinda indicated what they want to achieve from this Currie Cup campaign.

And it doesn’t seem to be the title.

Instead, coach De Bruin wants to develop his group of young loose forwards with an eye on depth for next year’s Super Rugby campaign.

However, development can come at a cost – negative on-field results.

The Lions have patched together a good run of form but to go to Durban and win is a tall order, especially for a young side.

And a loss could very well end their playoff hopes.

Blue Bulls rookies don’t have a free pass

Just because coach John Mitchell has been forced through various factors to use youngsters in this campaign doesn’t mean they can just keep making mistakes in the name of “learning”.

“Yeah, we’re still in the learning phase but there comes a point where you’ve got to start seeing results,” the former All Blacks coach said.

“A lot of the youngsters obviously have Super Rugby selection next year at the back of their minds. But there’s a responsibility that they still perform at this level.”

To keep them on their toes, Mitchell has implemented a new data system.

“Ultimately, we’ve started collecting data. We’re becoming a lot more objective and logical on how we go about things. There’s not a lot of emotion in a selection decision anymore. It’s now pretty clear what a player has done and what he has to do to improve,” he said.

The Bulls have been warned.

The Damian Willemse experiment must be short-lived

We’ve seen this movie before.

An exciting young flyhalf bursts onto the scene.

But he makes a few mistakes and the coach, trying to limit the damage, picks him at fullback.

Over the next few years, the player loses his mojo because no-one could decide what was his best position.

Western Province coach John Dobson has picked the 19-yer-old prodigy at No 15 for Sunday’s derby against the Blue Bulls at Loftus.

It’s understood he wants Robert du Preez’s stability at flyhalf.

That arrangement must be very short-term in the interests of South African rugby.

Hopeful Cheetahs can’t tread water

The weakened Cheetahs did well to claim a narrow victory over the Pumas last weekend.

In the face of much adversity, they’ve kept second place on the log (after their ‘1st team’ started the campaign superbly).

This weekend they can come close to guaranteeing a playoff place with a win over Griquas in Kimberley.

It won’t be easy but they don’t want to rely on getting a result against the big guns in the coming weeks.

Fixtures: Sharks v Lions (Friday, 7.15pm); Griquas v Free State Cheetahs (Saturday, 2.00pm); Blue Bulls v Western Province (Sunday, 2.30pm)