Currie Cup play-off race is at fever pitch

With just two rounds remaining, the race for the play-offs in the 2025 Carling Currie Cup Premier Division is reaching a fever pitch. The penultimate league round, scheduled for Friday and Saturday, promises four captivating clashes that will most likely define the top four.

This weekend’s action kicks off on Friday when log leaders Toyota Cheetahs host third-placed Suzuki Griquas in a Central Derby at 5pm in Bloemfontein and that clash in the Free State capital is followed by three equally important Saturday fixtures.

The first clash is a Jukskei Derby between the Fidelity ADT Lions and the Vodacom Bulls in Johannesburg (3pm); the second match sees the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV take on second-placed Sanlam Boland Kavaliers (5.10pm) in Pietermaritzburg; and in the final encounter, DHL Western Province are at home in Cape Town against Airlink Pumas (7.20pm), with the Cape side desperately searching for their first win of the season to snap a five-game losing streak. All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport.

While the weekend's four fixtures are all crucial for the teams fighting for a place in the semi-finals, or those seeking redemption, the Cheetahs versus Griquas meeting is arguably the match of the round, featuring the first and third-placed teams.

Success for the Cheetahs would almost certainly secure them a home semi-final. For Griquas, a victory would catapult them into contention for a top-two finish and a coveted home play-off. Both teams are in excellent form and this clash is expected to be a tight, high-stakes affair.

The two rivals have each won four of their last games, while they are also neck-on-neck in the five previous meetings between them. Each have won twice in this fixture, with the Griquas victorious in their last meeting in this competition, played last August, by 44-31 after their 29-29 draw in May 2023.

Saturday's first match sees the Lions host the Bulls at Ellis Park in Johannesburg. The Lions, currently lying fourth, are just one point ahead of the Pumas in the hunt for a coveted semi-final place.

A bonus-point win against the Bulls, who have lost three on the bounce after a strong start, would put significant pressure on the Pumas and strengthen the Lions’ claim for a final play-off spot.

However, a loss could see the Lions drop out of the top four if the Pumas secure a win. The Bulls, who are six points behind fourth place in the race for the play-offs, will be eager to end their three-match losing streak in this crunch Gauteng derby.

Heading into this game, the Bulls have a healthy 4-1 advantage in this meeting between the two Gauteng neighbours, however, the Lions have won their last clash 57-33 a year ago. According to their respective form guides, the Lions have won three from their last five across the competition and the Bulls just two.

Meanwhile, Hawies Fourie’s Kavaliers have been a revelation this season and sit comfortably in second place with four wins from five starts. A bonus-point win for the men from Wellington against the second-from-bottom Sharks XV would solidify their position and keep them firmly in the hunt for the top spot.

The Durbanites, however, are fresh off their first win of the season (over WP) and JP Pietersen’s young charges will be looking to build momentum and upward movement on the league table.

To conclude the weekend’s round six fixtures, last-placed Western Province and the fifth-placed Pumas go to battle at the DHL Stadium in Cape Town on Saturday.

Jimmy Stonehouse’s Pumas have a golden opportunity to climb into the top four and will no doubt target a bonus-point victory against winless Province.

If they can achieve this – and the Lions fail to beat the Bulls – the Pumas could find themselves in fourth place heading into the final round. WP, on the other hand, will be playing for pride and a chance to get off the bottom of the table.

Although WP head into this fixture with a 4-1 win advantage between them, Labeeb Levy’s team have lost all five previous games in this year’s competition, while the Pumas themselves will be looking to snap a worrying two-game losing streak.

WP will be encouraged though by their steady improvement despite the negative results, while the Pumas in turn are aiming to overturn their narrow losses (by a margin of one and three points respectively) into a much-needed winning performance. WP won the previous encounter against the Pumas 39-30 last September.

Fixtures

Toyota Cheetahs v Suzuki Griquas - Friday @ Toyota Stadium, Bloemfontein (5pm)

Referee: Christopher Allison

Broadcast: SuperSport

Fidelity ADT Lions v Vodacom Bulls - Saturday @ Ellis Park, Johannesburg (3pm)

Referee: Sean Muller

Broadcast: SuperSport

Hollywoodbets Sharks XV v Sanlam Boland Kavaliers - Saturday @ Woodburn Stadium, Pietermaritzburg (5.10pm)

Referee: Dylen November

Broadcast: SuperSport

DHL Western Province v Airlink Pumas - Saturday @ DHL Stadium, Cape Town (7.20pm)

Referee: Stephan Geldenhuys

Broadcast: SuperSport