After watching the weekend’s Currie Cup rugby, with the exception of the Western Province match, I found myself looking forward to the play-offs and trying to position the teams in their finishing order.
Although it pains me to say that the Sharks will not be at top spot come the end of the final round of pool games, it is only a matter of time until the Lions have an unassailable lead at the top, sowing up what should be a home semi-final and subsequent home final.
The question then remains, which of the teams will finish up in second spot, the team that will by assumption be the one to take on the Lions at Coca Cola Park. This is a three horse race, and from what I have seen this season, I can rule out one team already.
The Cheetahs, the Sharks and Western Province are the three other teams that will be facing up in the semi-finals, but in which order will they finish. From what I have seen over recent weeks, my choice for fourth spot and a match against the Lions in the first semi final will be the Cheetahs. Thye have lacked that killer instinct in the bigger matches, seemingly not pitching up for tough encounters. They also still face a few tricky away games against Province and the Pumas.
As for that second spot, the Sharks narrowly take second, and this is not based on their weekend performance but rather on what lies ahead. The Sharks are in the position where they still have to face Western Province at home, and based on the assumption that they will keep their home record intact, and the fact that the Lions are also still to travel to sunny Durban, I am reasonably certain that the Sharks will tie up second and with that a match against Western Province in the semi’s, which will be a replay of last year’s final.
You would have noticed the complete ommission of the Blue Bulls, who still have a mathematical chance of qualifying for the play-offs, as do Griquas, but based on weekend performances and their schedule to the end of the play-offs, it is highly unlikely that Griquas will get up for fourth, and the Bulls just don’t seem to have the team to be able to catch up. But that’s just my opinion.
So from the above, I am looking forward to final at Coca Cola Park, something that has not happened since 2002, when the Bulls took the Cup. Based on the amazing rugby the Lions are playing at the moment, I am tipping them to lift the cup, and worthy winners they will be, based purely on the attractive rugby they are playing at the moment.
yeah. they are not doing too bad for a super15 team
Aaw Richard, you say the nicest things sometimes
I really do think the season is over for the Bulls. They can really start rebuilding their team now… Oh wait…
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 3) : lol
@Greg (Comment 2) :
Richard
I think you forgot that WP still have to tour!!
No way will they finish 3rd on the log.
@wpw (Comment 6) : lots can still happen…. cos we still have Sharks-WP, Lions-WP and Sharks-Lions to play.
I reckon it would take a brave man to bet against the Bulls or Cheetahs pulling off at least one win each against those three sides…
@robdylan (Comment 7) :
Call me a brave man then..
Will the Lions have that BMT needed to win a final? I do agree with the top 4 teams although final positions may vary
@JarsonX (Comment 9) :
I think the rugby they are playing at the moment will result in a Currie Cup win for them..
Bulls vs lions final in 2002 @ jhb..
I’m saying this so often that I even irritate myself, but here goes again – even if we do manage to win the Currie Cup, the general standard of our play does not bode well for the Super 15. Sure, we are missing some Springboks, but I don’t believe that having them back will significantly improve us in the areas where we are currently struggling.
Also, never thought I’d ever sy it, but I LOVE the brand of rugby the Lions are playing at the moment.
Let’s see what happens this weekend when bulls face weepee at loftus.
Sharks need to pitch for 80mins vs cheetahs this weekend.
@robdylan (Comment 7) : And those three games, Sharks-WP, Lions-WP and Sharks-Lions happen in the last three weeks of the comp, I think it will go right down to the wire.
Lions shouldve won the ’07 cc final .. but cheetahs did the job in the end.
That after beating sharks in dbn semi- which most people thought sharks would take.
Which we most probably wouldve if we didn’t have players away on bok duty winning the rwc.
@Culling Song: agree with you
@Culling Song (Comment 12) :
It’s the only match I look forward to watching on the weekends..
Although it pains me to say that the Sharks will not be at top spot come the end of the final round of pool games, it is only a matter of time until the Lions have an unassailable lead at the top, sowing up what should be a home semi-final and subsequent home final.
Big call with 5 rounds remaining…
Yes,still a lot that can happen..
But if lions weren’t heading the log,then there’d be something seriously wrong,because it isn’t like they’ve lost 8,9,10 boks to rwc squad now is it..?
@klempie (Comment 20) :
It is a big call.. but I am a betting man
@bergshark (Comment 22) :
Nowhere do I mention anything about the missing Springboks, because that is not what this Currie Cup is about.
The type of rugby being played by the Lions has nothing to do with their players, but more so the coaching staff..
It is an important point to mention,re: missing boks.
Some coaches will have to bring in more players and get them used to the style of play and pressure of cc comp,whereas other teams (read lions),are virtually playing their first choice team weekend in and weekend out(barring injuries).
Andf if this ccv is about “blooding new talent for next year’s sr season,then I don’t know of one can give lions any points there..
It is an important point to mention,re: missing boks.
Some coaches will have to bring in more players and get them used to the style of play and pressure of cc comp,whereas other teams (read lions),are virtually playing their first choice team weekend in and weekend out(barring injuries).
Andf if this cc is about “blooding new talent for next year’s sr season,then I don’t know of one can give lions any points there..
@bergshark (Comment 26) :
You are missing my point completely..
Do you not think the Lions play is of an attacking and attractive nature, whether they have all their players or not?
So is the griquas and the pumas.also the cheetahs and weepee .I think one can even say the leopards try and play an attractive brand of rugby(though I haven’t seern them play at all this year).point is: being together week in and week out since last year def helps performance on the field.
@bergshark (Comment 28) :
I cannot argue with you.. You win..
@richardferguson: not about winning an argument,just trying to put their performance-and some other teams’- into perspective.that the lions are playing attractive rugby _and succesful rugby at that- no one can argue.
Might as well give the trophy to the Lions now.
@McLovin (Comment 31) : I don`t like it.
If we can get a result against the lions in durban and manage to edge out the Cheetahs in Bloem, surely we might be in with a shout for the coveted home final spot?
@Original Pierre (Comment 32) : The Lions have it. They’re unbeatable. Unstoppable. Supermen.
The other teams might as well give up and concentrate on watching the world cup.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 19) : Lions to 0choke in Semi’s, Sharks to make it 2 in a row. Semi’s Wp vs sharks, Lions vs Cheethas…sharks cheethas final at the House of Kings ‘snor stad’ durban!!!and We will klap them…
@McLovin (Comment 33) : sounds like heart break is at your door step…
@BoerSeun (Comment 35) : does your browser not correctly interpret irony tags?
@robdylan (Comment 36) :
Higher grade comment that!!
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 37) : I should know better
@BoerSeun (Comment 35) : Being a WP supporter, it probably is.
Considering that the Lions consist of a 3rd choice hooker from the Bulls, a reserve Vodacom cup prop from the Sharks, two old loose forward convert locks, another two Vodacom cup loose forwards from the Sharks, a scrumhalf from the Leopards, a 21 year old flyhalf, a 20 year old fullback, a injury prone fullback playing centre from the Cheetahs, a aging centre playing wing from the Leopards, with only one capped Springbok and no real star players in the team they aint doing to bad
Considering that the Lions consist of a 3rd choice hooker from the Bulls, a reserve Vodacom cup prop from the Sharks, two old loose forward convert locks, another two Vodacom cup loose forwards from the Sharks, a scrumhalf from the Leopards, a 21 year old flyhalf, a 20 year old fullback, a injury prone fullback playing centre from the Cheetahs, a aging centre playing wing from the Leopards, with only two capped Springboks and no real star players in the team they aint doing to bad
Capped Springboks
Lions 2, Maku and van Heerden
Bulls 10, Greyling, Botha, Kruger, VD Merwe, Stegman, Potgieter, Olivier, Basson, Krusty the Clown and Pretorius
WP 2, Jantjies, Lobberts
Sharks 6, Hargreaves, Daniels, McCloud, Bosman, Mvovo, Terreblance and a French international in Freddie
Cheetahs 1, Johnson
Looking at this who Should realy be on top
@Mutley (Comment 42) : Lions, for sure.
@McLovin (Comment 43) : have we given them the cup yet? Really should have…
@robdylan (Comment 44) : Dude, the perfectionist in me is screaming in frustration. I think you know what I mean.
@war1 (Comment 45) : it could be any one of about 50 things, to be honest
@robdylan (Comment 46) : Not what you said. Maybe I should just mail you. Have you got to Amsterdam yet?
@war1 (Comment 47) : I am here, yes… have been for almost 24 hours
@robdylan (Comment 48) : You there just for the week? My sister is there next week.
@war1 (Comment 49) : yeah. Going home on Friday
@SharksRTB (Comment 1) :
ONE season of super rugby where they end second last . if we had a host of all black players , like richi Macaw and dan Carter i would have said sure thing … buuuuuuut … we dont
@Mutley (Comment 42) :
and now if you would please pay attention to what this guy here said … The Sharks have almost $ times as many Internationals as the lions , the bulls have 5 times ( and yet the Bulls sucks ..)
is it to much for some people to admit the Lions are playing the better rugby ?
@Zibbie (Comment 51) : See comments 12, 19, etc. There are actually quite a number of people here showing appreciation for what the Lions are achieving.
@Culling Song (Comment 52) :
im converting them one person at a time
@Zibbie (Comment 53) : hahahaaaaa heheheeeee
@bergshark (Comment 26) :
“Andf if this ccv is about “blooding new talent for next year’s sr season,then I don’t know of one can give lions any points there.”
So Taute , Jantjies and Strauss doesnt count ?
Taute, Jantjies, Straus, Kriel, Whiteley, Snyman, Bezuidehoud, Mapoe, Cilliers, Rhodes, Minnie al under 25 years old
@Zibbie (Comment 55) : Add all three of those together, and the combined ages is still less than Terblanche
@Greg (Comment 57) :
hehe . so what your saying is the lions and the sharks are doing the same thing . the Lions are just doing it better :p
@Mutley (Comment 56) : But how many of those guys broke into the the team this year? Only Kriel. Not that it really matters, different teams have different objectives in this Currie cup and it really looks like the Lions are fulfilling theirs and well done to them.
@bergshark (Comment 30) :
so in essences your saying the Lions have the best team in the Currie cup . and because we have the best team in the currie cup this would make us winning the currie cup not valid ?
if the Sharks had all there boks back they would have had the better Currie cup team and would most propabbly won the curry cup . but then it would also not have been valid since the Lions have no current springboks in our team . and also so dont the Griquas , Pumas and leopards
Your argument holds no water . in any competition in any sport the better team will win .
if the All black win the world cup what are we going to say ? no no it doesnt count … we didnt have carter and mecaw in our teams .. you all blacks are celebrating about nothing …
@Zibbie (Comment 60) :
We might be called bad losers …
please dont let this happen to either the boks OR The Sharks
@Zibbie: I’m not sayin the lions have the best team in the cc ( I still through biased eyes look at this sharks team and see champions),but what I’m saying is that you now in the position the cheetahs were for a few years.not losing many boks to bok duty or training camps,thereby being able to build continuity from sr season .
Compare your team to weepee andperhaps,just perhaps,it is weepee that should be smiling more at this moment in time?(Okay they losing 2 players to bulls next season).
No-one has the trophy yet.. Just speculation..
@bergshark (Comment 62) :
so that means were taking continuity into the next SR season as well. But we also getting back Butch and gaining CJ . So hopefully the Lions will use this continuity into SR and have a much better tournament .
yes maybe WP could smile more . but you know what . im smiling because for the first time in about 10 years my team is busy improving . we have a core of players with ability . if we dont loose them to other unions just maybe we might have an improved Super season .
may i be allowed to smile more if we have an improved super rugby season ?
@Zibbie (Comment 64) : The Lions will win the Super15 next season hands down!
@Ben (Comment 65) :
haha . that would make my life .
well if we could end like not in the bottom 2 id be a bit more happy hehe
If the Lions win the Superxv I’m going to party the whole week
@Zibbie (Comment 66) : @Mutley (Comment 67) : Don’t get too excited. I’m only kidding. Lions to finish between 10th and 15th!
@Ben (Comment 68) :
id take 10th with a smile ….
@Zibbie (Comment 69) : Watered down Currie Cup or not, I do think the Lions are improving. Will be deserved CC winners if they win it this year.
@Zibbie (Comment 69) :
although . the reds went from 13th to 5th to champs in 3 years … maybe we should aim higher … ?
Perhaps we should just give up now ..I mean whats the piont winning a cup if not all the best players are playing ..
Same old story …
I’ll say it again go back and look at the Lions matches against Bok laden teams in Superrugby ..personaly we gave a very good account of ourselves and with more experience we should have won a couple of those matches ..
@Ben (Comment 70) :
yea . look i take more pleasure from the fact that for the first time since 2008 we beat Griquas twice in one season ( which every good team should do ) and the Pumas also now twice in one season (Again which every good team should do )
so do i feel we are improving . Yes most defiantly
do i feel we will win the super 15 in 2012 . no most defiantly not
do i feel the lions will do much better in super rugby 2012 . yes for sure !!
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 72) :
we need to crawl before we can walk …
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 72) : Howzit “MeyerBosman’s biggest fan”?
@Zibbie (Comment 73) : I concur..
@Ben (Comment 75) :
Put a decent center outside him and then u may see a better Bosman..he wasnt this crap at the Cheetahs ..what does that tell you ..
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 77) : Thats what I’ve been telling Pierre
@CoffeeshopBok;-) (Comment 77) : Can’t see how putting a better centre outside him will improve his tackling? Which is Meyer’s biggest problem.