On current form, the Fidelity ADT Lions should be considered firm favourites against the defending champion Toyota Cheetahs, when the two sides meet in the first of two Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals on Saturday, with the Johannesburg clash starting at 2.30pm.
The second semi-final is scheduled for 5pm in Pretoria between the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV. The two winning teams will battle it out for the historic trophy on Saturday, 21 September at 4pm. All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Last year, the Free Staters sprang a minor surprise by beating the Bulls 31-27 in a pulsating semi-final in Bloemfontein, while in the other semi-final, the Airlink Pumas edged the Sharks 26-20 to progress to the 2023 final, where the Cheetahs prevailed 25-17 over the team from Mpumalanga to lift the famous trophy for a seventh time.
This year, the defending champions followed the low road to the play-offs when their victory last weekend over the Pumas, in their final league match, saw them grab the last available knockout spot.
Playing in Saturday’s first semi-final in Doornfontein, the Lions will have both form and home ground advantage on their side when they take on their Free State rivals as they aim to reach the final for the first time since 2019.
Apart from playing at the imposing Emirates Airline Park, the Joburg outfit established themselves as the best side during the league phase of the Premier Division. They amassed 437 points in their 10 games and only conceded 215, which placed them as the most prolific scoring side as well as the team with the best defence.
Furthermore, the Lions have been consistent with their form and scoring abilities during that time, while the Cheetahs have been blowing hot and cold at the same time, only clinching their semi-final berth with a nervy win in the last round of regular action.
While the log leaders lost only once in the league, their Free State opponents could only manage five wins, a draw and four losses during the same period.
However, knockout rugby is an entirely different beast, as showed by last year’s results and the Johannesburg hosts will be wary of the dangers of underestimating the gritty defending champions.
The second semi-final, between the Bulls and Sharks at Loftus Versfeld, has all the hallmarks of another Currie Cup classic and is a repeat of the finals of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, both won by the team from Pretoria.
While the men from Pretoria have occasionally stumbled, they have considerable depth in talent and flexed their muscles to show their pedigree at the right time to grab second spot on the log which, crucially, earned them a home semi-final.
Although the KwaZulu-Natalians stuttered during the opening stages of the campaign, suffering three defeats in a row, they managed to regain their mojo by winning six and snatching a draw during an impressive seven-game unbeaten stretch.
Last weekend, the Sharks edged the Bulls 24-18 in a wet and windy Durban during the final round of league action in what was a rehearsal for this week’s semi-final in the Jacaranda City.
Both sides have strengthened their match-day squads with Vodacom United Rugby Championship regulars, so it will be interesting who will come out tops in this intriguing encounter.
If a semi-final ends in a draw at the end of the 80 minutes playing time, the winner will be determined as follows
The team with the most points after two periods of extra-time of 10 minutes each way, and if the scores are still level;
The team to have scored the most tries during the match (including extra-time) and if the scores are still level;
The team with the higher log position after the completion of the league phase will be determined the winner.
Fixtures
Semi-final 1: Fidelity ADT Lions v Toyota Cheetahs @ Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg - Saturday (2.30pm)
Referee: Christopher Allison
TV: SS Rugby
Semi-final 2: Vodacom Bulls v Hollywoodbets Sharks XV @ Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria - Saturday (5pm)
Referee: AJ Jacobs
TV: SS Rugby
Teams
Fidelity ADT Lions starting XV: 15 Quan Horn, 14 Rabz Maxwane, 13 Rynhardt Jonker, 12 Marius Louw, 11 Tapiwa Mafura; 10 Kade Wolhuter, 9 Nico Steyn; 8 Jarod Cairns, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Renzo du Plessis; 5 Darrien Landsberg, 4 Ruben Schoeman; 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye, 2 Jaco Visagie (capt), 1 Morgan Naude. Replacements: 16 Morne Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 Conrad van Vuuren, 19 Raynard Roets, 20 JC Pretorius, 21 Siba Qoma, 22 Sanele Nohamba, 23 Kelly Mpeku.
Toyota Cheetahs starting XV: 15 Michael Annies, 14 Cohen Jasper, 13 Munier Hartzenberg, 12 Evardi Boshoff, 11 Daniel Kasende; 10 Ethan Wentzel, 9 Jandre Nel; 8 Jeandrè Rudolph, 7 Oupa Mohoje, 6 Gideon van der Merwe; 5 Victor Sekekete (capt), 4 Carl Wegner; 3 Robert Hunt, 2 Corne Fourie, 1 Schalk Ferreira. Replacements: 16 Vernon Paulo, 17 Hencus van Wyk, 18 Laurence Victor, 19 Friedle Olivier, 20 Aidon Davis, 21 Marco Jansen van Vuren, 22 George Lourens, 23 Litha Nkula.
Vodacom Bull starting XV: 15 Boeta Chamberlain, 14 Henry Immelman, 13 Stedman Gans, 12 David Kriel, 11 Stravino Jacobs; 10 Johan Goosen, 9 Keagan Johannes; 8 Cameron Hanekom, 7 Nizaam Carr (capt), 6 Marcell Coetzee; 5 Cobus Wiese, 4 Jannes Kirsten; 3 Wilco Louw, 2 Akker van der Merwe, 1 Dylan Smith. Replacements: 16 Joe van Zyl, 17 Jacques van Rooyen, 18 Francois Klopper, 19 Sintu Manjezi, 20 Merwe Olivier, 21 Bernard van der Linde, 22 Katlego Letebele, 23 Celimpilo Gumede.
Hollywoodbets Sharks XV starting XV: 15 Jordan Hendrikse, 14 Eduan Keyter, 13 Francois Venter, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Ethan Hooker; 10 Siya Masuku, 9 Bradley Davids; 8 Phepsi Buthelezi, 7 Vincent Tshituka (capt), 6 James Venter; 5 Emile van Heerden, 4 Corne’ Rahl; 3 Hanro Jacobs, 2 Fez Mbatha, 1 Ntuthuko Mchunu. Replacements: 16 Ethan Bester, 17 Dian Bleuler, 18 Trevor Nyakane, 19 Gerbrandt Grobler, 20 Emmanuel Tshituka, 21 Tian Meyer, 22 Lionel Cronje, 23 Litelihle Bester.
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