Hungry Lions fighting for Currie Cup semifinal spot
With only a few points separating the top teams, Golden Lions coach Mzwakhe Nkosi says fans can expect humdinger battles as the race for Currie Cup Premier Division semifinal berths hots up.
The Lions are in fifth in the eight-team log and can catapult into playoff contention if they beat the Bulls at Ellis Park in Johannesburg on Saturday (kickoff 5.05pm).
A 33-26 triumph over the log-leading Cheetahs in their last outing will ensure the Lions have a spring in their step ahead of their derby battle against the Bulls.
“I said to the team last Monday that there are six points in it between third and sixth or whatever the case is, so there is very little in it,” Nkosi said.
“It is still a tight competition, and the next four rounds are going to be a humdinger.”
Nkosi said the Lions’ fans should not get accustomed to Sanele Nohamba’s shift from scrumhalf to No 10.
Nohamba scored 18 points and was the engine that drove the Lions to a notable victory against an in-form Cheetahs outfit.
“I am fortunate to have come a long way with Sanele,” Nkosi said.
“I have coached him since he was 16.
“He has spent, with Jaden Hendrikse being the scrumhalf, a long time at No 10 in 2020 with the Sharks.
“Before Covid-19, he was actually at 10 for a long time.
“It is not new to him and obviously it takes time to get used to it with time in the saddle.
“I don’t think it is something we are going to take forward as a franchise.
“Obviously, we are hoping for the return of our two flyhalves Gianni Lombard and
Jordan Hendrikse. We know that one swallow doesn’t make a summer.
“Our aim is to try be a whole lot more consistent. It will be a massive challenge against the Bulls, so we must replicate this.
“This was a big win in the bigger scheme of things.
“There will be motivation this week with the Jukskei derby, and by the looks of things, the Bulls are going gung-ho for the Currie Cup.”
Despite coming into this clash as underdogs against the Cheetahs, the Lions controlled the first half and took a 20-7 lead into the break.
The Cheetahs attempted to stage a comeback, but the accurate kicking of Nohamba ensured the Lions maintained a healthy lead throughout the second half.
While they were not able to secure a win, the Free Staters did enough to salvage two bonus points from the fixture.
The hosts scored two tries in the dying stages to earn the four-try bonus point.
John Lourens ’ s 82nd-minute conversion was particularly sig-* nificant as it allowed the Toyota Cheetahs to finish within seven points of the Fidelity ADT Lions and claim another bonus point.
After the weekend action, the only major change to the Premier Division log sees WP finishing the 10th round of the tournament in fourth place.
WP’s bonus-point win against the Griffons in Welkom catapulted them into the top four.
The Bulls recorded a convincing win against the Griquas in Kimberley on Saturday, but remain in seventh place and five log points behind WP.
They may need to keep winning over the final four rounds to give themselves a chance of qualifying for the semifinals.