Currie Cup heads for nail-biting tussle for play-off spots
SPRINGBOK coach Allister Coetzee has had very little to cheer this season but he could not have asked for a better venue to face the Wallabies than Pretoria’s Loftus Versfeld.
After losing three of their four Rugby Championship matches and four of seven Tests this season‚ the Boks are on the ropes as they head into Saturday’s clash against Australia.
Although the Wallabies have had their own problems in 2016‚ which included losing their first five Tests of the year‚ they have found some form after home wins over the Springboks and Pumas earlier in September.
So‚ if nothing else‚ they will be a more confident side coming to Loftus than might have been the case.
But Wallaby coach Michael Cheika will not be urging his players to delve too deeply into the history books this week as part of their preparation because it might darken the mood again. In six visits to Loftus the Wallabies have suffered six losses. It is also the venue of a 61-22 defeat in 1998 (which was the most points Australia have ever conceded in a Test) while the last time they were in Pretoria in 2012 they lost 31-8.
And even when it seemed they would win‚ like in 2010‚ Loftus helped the Boks salvage a desperate situation.
It was the occasion of Victor Matfield’s 100th Test and the Boks helped celebrate the great lock’s seminal moment with a superb comeback after the Wallabies led 21-7 after only 10 minutes. It was a Test seemingly played without much consideration for defence as the Boks eventually ran out 44-31 winners in a 75-point thriller‚ which saw nine tries scored.
That day flyhalf Morné Steyn and scrumhalf Francois Hougaard started together and six years on‚ the pair could start together again this weekend.
On average the Boks beat the Wallabies by 32-16 in the six matches played at Loftus. Coetzee would take that outcome if he could.
The Springboks overall record in Pretoria is excellent too. SA have played 33 Tests at Loftus and won 25‚ for a winning record of 75.8%. The last time they lost at Loftus was 10 years ago when the All Blacks ran out 45-26 winners.
Since then the Boks have notched up seven consecutive Loftus wins‚ which included 2010 and 2012 victories against the Wallabies. THE Sharks and Golden Lions are headed for a showdown for the fourth Currie Cup semifinal place — unless something dramatic happens to Western Province at Newlands on Friday, writes Craig Ray.
To be safe, WP need to beat Boland with a try-scoring bonus point to claim a semifinal berth‚ and on the evidence of this season that should be a formality. Boland have managed two victories — against the winless EP Kings and Pumas — while they have been solidly beaten by the four “big” unions.
The Lions host the Sharks in Friday’s early match and both will enter the game with a quarterfinal mind-set because they cannot rely on WP stumbling later that evening. It should be a straight knockout‚ albeit with some subtle scoring variables.
The Sharks have 25 log points and the Lions 22. WP are on 23. If the Lions beat the Sharks with a four-try bonus point‚ but the Durban side grab two bonus points of their own‚ WP would be eliminated if they fail to beat Boland with a bonus point because they have an inferior points difference. At least the Cape team will kick off just after 7pm knowing what the permutations are.
For the Lions, it is a case of beating the Sharks and stopping them from claiming two points from the game to be safe. And even if the Sharks do earn two bonus points from their clash to move to 27 log points‚ it might not be enough. If the Lions take five points from the match and move to 27‚ and WP win later with a try-scoring bonus point‚ moving to 28 points‚ the Lions would safely make the semis because of a superior points’ difference to the Sharks.
Griquas (20 points) also have an outside chance of making the semis‚ but it’s a long shot. Griquas would have to beat the top-ofthe-table Free State Cheetahs with a bonus point, while hoping the Lions and WP both lose without bonus points.