Okay this is what possibly can happen in the rest of the Currie cup.
| Home/Away | Win/Lose | Points | |
| Sharks: | |||
| vs Pumas | Away | Win | 4 |
| vs Cheetahs | Home | Lose | 1 |
| vs Lions | Away | Lose | 1 |
| vs Leopards | Home | Win | 5 |
| vs WP | Away | Lose | 1 |
| 12 | |||
| Total points: | 48 | ||
| Western Province: | |||
| vs Leopards | Home | Win | 5 |
| vs Pumas | Away | Win | 5 |
| vs Griquas | Home | Win | 5 |
| vs Bulls | Away | Lose | 1 |
| vs Sharks | Home | Win | 4 |
| 20 | |||
| Total points: | 48 | ||
| Cheetahs: | |||
| vs Bulls | Home | Win | 4 |
| vs Sharks | Away | Win | 4 |
| vs Pumas | Home | Win | 5 |
| vs Lions | Home | Lose | 1 |
| vs Leopards | Away | Win | 5 |
| 19 | |||
| Total points: | 47 | ||
| Bulls: | |||
| vs Cheetahs | Away | Lose | 1 |
| vs Lions | Home | Win | 4 |
| vs Leopards | Away | Win | 5 |
| vs WP | Home | Win | 4 |
| vs Griquas | Away | Win | 5 |
| 19 | |||
| Total points: | 47 | ||
| Xerox Lions: | |||
| vs Griquas | Home | Win | 5 |
| vs Bulls | Away | Lose | 1 |
| vs Sharks | Home | Win | 4 |
| vs Cheetahs | Away | Win | 4 |
| vs Pumas | Home | Win | 5 |
| 19 | |||
| Total points: | 44 | ||
| Griquas | |||
| vs Lions | Away | Lose | 1 |
| vs Leopards | Home | Win | 5 |
| vs WP | Away | Lose | 0 |
| vs Pumas | Away | Win | 5 |
| vs Bulls | Home | Lose | 1 |
| 12 | |||
| Total points: | 36 |
Seriously guys, we shouldn`t have a problem with the Pumas this weekend, any team with serious Currie Cup aspirations should be able to take the Pumas in their stride. As long as you don`t underestimate them and bring your A team . . . with your A game . . .
You might frown on my prediction for the next two rounds but hey let`s face it, I`ve learned my lesson with the Cheetahs in Durban and the Lions are on the up. If the Sharks don`t keep their eye on the prize here I foresee serious difficulties with both these fixtures. The Leopards will probably be another must win for us to hold onto a home semi final position. Luckily the Leopards have not been too good on the road. Having said that, a bonus point win is absolutely crucial in this fixture. We will know what is needed before the final match in Cape Town. Who knows, maybe the Sharks are sitting pretty on the log by then? I would be surprised if Plum pulls a Bulls stunt by sending an inexperienced team to Newlands though.
So according to my crystal ball we could very well end up with the following semi-final fixtures: Sharks vs Bulls, WP vs FS.
Of course points difference will come into play here as well. We already know FS is a difficult proposition even in Durban, some might say especially in Durban so maybe the Sharks should look to secure a semi final against the Bulls rather? I know they proved too difficult for us this weekend but depending on our injury position come semi final time I feel we might be in with a shout against them. A lot will depend on our personnel at the time. It looks to me as if the Sharks might be a little out classed . . . on paper at least. But if rugby was a predictable sport the guys at Sportsbet wouldn`t be so happy to hear my voice! Remember chances are we would`ve suffered a loss against Free State in Durban by then so Free State will come into the Sharktank with their tails up! The Bulls, not so much. The last time they travelled to Durban they lost. . . Ditto Western Province, if they can get past Free State in Cape Town of course, which won`t be that easy if you take into account the unexpected defeat they suffered against Free State two weeks ago, at Newlands.
The Lions are the wild card in this equation. If they can get a result in Snor City the Bulls might miss out altogether. Unfortunately the realist inside me feels this is a long shot so, I won`t go any further down Optimistic Street.
Tweet
Seriously guys, we shouldn`t have a problem with the Pumas this weekend,
Famous words uttered by Frans Ludeke 2 weeks ago
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 1) :
Well done Clay..
I need to learn to get the formatting right?!
I always find these articles as a sign of panic 🙂
Anything can happen in a semi or final, and the Sharks are good enough to reach those, so don’t worry.
@Richard Ferguson (Comment 2) : Nah, one of those times where it just worked.
so according to your reckoning the big upset game will be lions vs bulls. if lions win bulls are out.
@Morné (Comment 3) :
Like you said the Sharks would dominate at S14 and yet look how your own team performed!!
Nee man Morne!! 😈
We should take at least 5 points out of the games against WP, FS and Lions.. Pretty conservatively.
You have us down for 3 points (eg. 3 losses within 7.). Topping the log from here can be done fairly (that’s a relative term!) easily. Semi finals though are going to get tough.
Comes down to how we do without Bissie, JPP, Smitty, Jannie and Beast..
@wpw (Comment 6) :
Nah my bru, if you remember correctly I warned our fellow Sharks supporters about Plum not being too clever in the S14 and how it will come to bite them…
This is why the Sharks pissed me off so much over the weekend. They actually had a great oppertuinity to possibly deny the Bulls a semi spot and they blew it. The Bulls will now have their well rested, well conditioned Boks back for the Semi’s and Final’s and will be very hard to beat.
Damn… I might just not watch anymore CC games based on those predictions. But I see what you are getting at. Cheetahs have been known to leave their best for the Sharks (My opinion anyway) and will again when we meet in Durban. The Lions look like a team on a mission and want to prove a thing of two. As for province… well let’s just say that this game can decide who has home ground advantage for the play-offs and they will be on form at home.
I like these predictions, but sharks will for sure not lose so many games, the bulls lost this passed weekend cannot for sure cause so much havock that we should start to see troubles ahead. If i am wrong and the sharks does dissapoint, i would give the lions a wish op luck ahead of the bulls. Because lets face it, this Bulls finals taking the cup each time isnt something to write about anymore.
“Because lets face it, this Bulls finals taking the cup each time isnt something to write about anymore.”
@Farlington (Comment 10) :
Hehe, I called it right on Superbru…
You should have called this article…’The Doomsayer’s, possibilities and probabilities…’
😕
You lose one game and…”
There is no way the Sharks will lose against The Cheetahs, Lions and WP…maybe one of them, but not all of them.
…and if we don’t have confidence to beat these teams now, then we should stop playing, you have to be better than everyone to be able to take the cup in the end.
The Bulls won’t beat WP, and I have a feeling the Lions can take them as well. If the Bulls lose one of the games that you predicted they would win, then the Lions can still shoot past them into the Semi’s…not that I care, we can take the Bulls in the semi’s or the Finals. Bring it on!!!
@Letgo (Comment 15) :
The Sharks vs WP at Newlands in the final round is gonna be a cracker!!
Wp may have all their Boks back and so too the Sharks!! 😎
I will definitely be attending the match!!
Relax guys I was just going according to a possible worst case scenario. Surely we won`t lose against FS, Lions And Wp? Although I do feel we might lose at least one of those.
We`ll still have the home semi final and like you guys said, from then on anything can happen. But then our boys must under no circumstances lose concentration . . .
Dont do a WP and loose to the Lions on EP hey … 😈
@Original Pierre In Mourning (Comment 17) : So what you were trying to say was, worst case scenario the Sharks lose three more game, but still make it to a home semi? It doesn’t sound so bad when you say it like that.
@wpw (Comment 16) : Yip, I’m thinking of going down to CT for that weekend. Haven’t watched a game at Newlands yet and I think it will be fun.
Pretty good work put into this – well done Pierre (although I am not a worsecase scanario person – still a good read!)
@Letgo (Comment 20) : 😎
Let us know. Maybe we can do a SW get together!! 😉
@wpw (Comment 22) :
Hope you have a big enough room so you all can fit in! 😉 😆
@wpw (Comment 16) : Ek is al daa… 😆
@wpw (Comment 22) : Bring jou papsak neh, ek deelie… 😆
@Charlie (Comment 25) :
Hehehehehe – Charlie is on the bol toerry!!
@Ice (Comment 21) : HeHeHe
” Some say I just have too much time on my hands” but thanx Ice.
Urm when do we see the next installment of your SW member expose series?
@Original Pierre In Mourning (Comment 27) :
Check under Feisty Little Italian Dudette…
@Charlie (Comment 24) :
Ek gaan definitely da wies!! Moet ons vir Big Feesh invite??
Jy wiet hy gedra hom nie altyd nie!! 😈 😉
@wpw (Comment 29) : the tickets for that game available yet? i`m going down to the mother city for that weekend, if i can get my hands on a pair of tickets, then it would be my first visit to newlands…
@VanWilder (Comment 30) :
How old are you? You in JHB? Please see my posting re Sharks Research!!
@Clayton(PJLD) (Comment 1) : 😆
i started reading “we” and got confused as i thought your “we” is WP. 😉
Before you guys get all excited about a possible wp vs Sharks showdown in the Fairest Cape cast your eye on the log.
As I mentioned, the Sharks might be in a position to give the Wildebeeste a run!
@Morné (Comment 3) : I have no doubt that the Sharks will reach semis – but you right the real thing starts then.
@VanWilder (Comment 30) :
I doubt it very much. 🙄
@rekinek (back to rugby) (Comment 32) : 😀
Man, I’m having a busy week. If we lose this many matches, as Original Pessimist would like, I would really worry about our semi final chances 😉
@wpw (Comment 22) : That sound good, I’ll let you know.