RUGBY NEWS - The erosion of the Free State Cheetahs’ Currie Cup challenge due to that union’s participation in the northern hemisphere PRO14 competition has strengthened the probability that this year’s final will be played in Durban.
With the Golden Lions clearly missing players away in Japan or playing for the Springboks and the Blue Bulls looking a little lightweight during the period that new coach John Mitchell is doing his stock-take before the real business of preparing for Super Rugby starts, the weakening of the Cheetahs has left the Sharks and Western Province as the strong teams in the competition.
The Sharks won by one point in a titanic coastal showdown in the previous round – WP enjoyed a bye this last weekend – and currently look to have the edge on their coastal rivals, but the smart money should be on the two teams re-enacting the Currie Cup finals of 2010, 2012 and 2013, with the Sharks winning twice and WP once.
As expected, the Sharks won easily at the weekend against what was effectively the Free State C team.
The Cheetahs, coached in this competition by Daan Human, were competitive for a while, and showed that at the very least their first choice team participating in PRO14 will have some battle ready talent to draw on should they hit an injury crisis.
But while the Cheetahs’ participation in both competitions might be good for the Cheetahs if it builds depth, it isn’t good for the domestic competition. It will be interesting to see what the Cheetahs learned from what for many of them was a first taste of Currie Cup rugby when they visit Newlands this coming weekend.
The Sharks weren’t particularly good in dispatching the Cheetahs but individual players will have gained some confidence from the experience.
The Sharks have been through the tough part of their league season with away matches against the Bulls, WP and the Lions, all of them games they won, and of course their only defeat was in the opening round in Bloemfontein when we had the reverse of this last Saturday – the Cheetahs were at full strength then and the Sharks were under-strength.
