Pollard, Zeilinga on centre stage

THE Blue Bulls will lean on the broad shoulders of 20-year-old flyhalf Handre Pollard to somehow steer them to victory over the Sharks at Loftus tonight.

The Bulls know anything less than a win in the match – the pick of the weekend’s Currie Cup action – will probably end their semifinal aspirations, especially if the Free State Cheetahs beat Griquas tomorrow.

Pollard, the world championship-winning SA under-20 flyhalf, has notched up 32 points in four appearances this season. His goal-kicking has not been as consistent as he would like but his ability to take the ball to the line gives the Bulls attacking options.

He made his Currie Cup debut against the Sharks in round four in Durban and performed well even though the Bulls lost 34-18.

Tonight, as was the case on his debut, the teams’ fortunes will re- volve around Pollard and his opposite number, Fred Zeilinga.

Zeilinga is the tournament’s leading points-scorer with 73, which has ensured the Sharks have a semifinal berth booked.

A win would guarantee them a home semifinal.

Flyhalves continue to be in the spotlight this weekend. Tomorrow Demetri Catrakilis returns to the Western Province starting lineup after two appearances off the bench in the past two weeks.

Catrakilis kicked Western Province to the Currie Cup title against the Sharks last year, with a 20-point return in the final.

But negotiations over his contract broke down and he opted to play Super Rugby for the Southern Kings in 2013.

After the Southern Kings’ relegation from Super Rugby, Catrakilis renegotiated a return to Western Province and is now set to play a pivotal role in the final weeks of their campaign, with a semifinal place assured. Both the Bulls and Cheetahs will be hoping Western Province beat the third-placed Lions to ensure the two remaining semifinal places will be undecided until the final round next week.

Western Province require a win against the Lions to cement a home semifinal.

In Kimberley, the Cheetahs are in the same position as the Bulls and cannot afford to lose against Griquas in a tough away fixture.

Griquas’ season started with great promise when they beat the Sharks in round one, but since then they have gone downhill. They have a mathematical chance of reaching the last four but it would require two wins, probably with bonus points, and other results to go their way. They are playing for pride at this stage.

The Cheetahs have also struggled to find good form, but they still pack enough punch to scare any side on any given day.