Kimberley
A place in this year’s Carling Currie Cup Premier Division final is the big prize on offer when the two semifinals will be staged in Johannesburg and Kimberley on Saturday.
The Fidelity ADT Lions host the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers at 17h00 at Ellis Park in the first encounter, which will be followed by the 7:15pm kick-off at the Suzuki Stadium, where Suzuki Griquas host their central South African neighbours, the Toyota Cheetahs.
The Lions secured pole position with a commanding 37-7 victory over Griquas in the final round of the league action last weekend, meaning they will be brimming with confidence heading into the semifinal.
Their form this season has been impressive, which enabled them to finish the league phase at the top of the log with five wins from seven matches. Their only two losses came against the Cheetahs (47-31) and Boland (29-10), interestingly both on the road.
The latter result will no doubt be extra motivation for the Joburg outfit who will be keen to avenge that loss and continue their dominance at Ellis Park.
Boland, meanwhile, have enjoyed a memorable campaign since being promoted to the Premier Division after the SA Cup. They have consistently proved their credentials, securing a top four finish with four wins and a couple of close-fought losses.
Their home victory over the Lions in the league phase was a definite highlight, demonstrating their ability to ruffle the feather of the more experienced teams.
However, they are coming off a 40-22 derby defeat to DHL Western Province in their final league match, a result that saw them slip from second to fourth place on the final log. Kavaliers coach Hawies Fourie knows they would need to regroup quickly and rediscover the form that saw them winning on a regular basis.
According to their respective form guides, the Lions stand stronger with two losses from their last five games, while Boland in turn have three wins and two losses (both in their previous two outings), over the same period.
This match is set for a clash of styles, with the attacking rugby of the Lions against the tenacious, hard-working grit of the Boland side. The Kavaliers’ ability to defend stoutly and capitalise on their opportunities will be key, while the Lions on the other hand, will look to dominate the set piece with their more experienced pack, hoping to unleash their dangerous backline at their high-altitude venue.
The second semifinal pits two of the competition’s most consistent performers against each other, when Suzuki Griquas host the Toyota Cheetahs in Kimberley.
Both have been in good form for much of the season, and their neighbourly rivalry adds an extra layer of intensity to this knock-out encounter. source- Supersport.com
