2025 SA Cup Finalists

Airlink Pumas will host the 2025 SA Cup final next weekend in Nelspruit against Suzuki Griquas following their dramatic 31-29 win over the Sanlam Boland Kavaliers on Friday at Mbombela Stadium, while defending champions Griquas managed to edge Toyota Cheetahs 41-38 in their drama-filled semi-final Saturday afternoon in Kimberley.

Griquas and Cheetahs were locked at 24-24 in the Diamond City after an incident-packed first half. The teams were level three times, twice in the second half, and the men from Kimberley booked their final spot thanks to a late penalty goal by ace kicker and captain George Whitehead.

Loose forward Gideon van der Merwe went over for the Free Staters to give them a 7-3 lead, which was quickly increased to 12-3 when hooker and captain Louis van der Westhuizen dotted down for an unconverted try.

Jaco Uys then scored Griquas’ first try when he was mauled over from a lineout, reducing the score to 12-10, and he was followed over the line by Gurshwin Wehr when the Blitzbok speedster slid through the defence (17-12). Uys was the recipient of another maul try eight minutes before the halfway stage, taking the score to 24-12. However, two tries from Ali Mgijima and Michael Annies allowed them to level matters at the break (24-24).

The two teams continued their tit-for-tat on the scoreboard after the resumption, with Mgijima (Cheetahs) and Cameron Hufke (Griquas) each going over for a converted try to level the scores once more at 31-31. Maart then danced his way through the defence to give the home side the lead once more at 38-31. However, that lead was unsurprisingly short-lived as Annies stepped his way to the try line to pull the sides level once more at 38-38.

Whitehead then hit the target with a long-range penalty to hand his side the advantage at 41-38 with just over ten minutes remaining. With the clock running down, the Cheetahs piled on the pressure and made the Griquas defend for dear life. The holders displayed amazing courage in defending their line, eventually managing to hold up a Cheetah forward over the try line, forcing the turnover and ending an extraordinary game in the most dramatic way.

Playing at home on Friday evening in Nelspruit, the Pumas were at one stage reduced to 12 men following three yellow cards, and they had to do it the hard way with a late penalty by fly-half Danrich Visagie. The nail-biting, two-point win means the Pumas are still on course to finish the season unbeaten, should they manage to win next weekend’s home final in Nelspruit.

The Pumas and Kavaliers observed a minute’s silence in remembrance of Boland’s former Springbok wing Cornal Hendricks, who died of a heart attack on Wednesday at his home in Wellington. After kick-off, the determined Kavaliers enjoyed the most territory in the first half, but they trailed 20-10 at the halfway stage as the home team made the most of their scoring opportunities.

Visagie and James Tedder, Boland fly-half, traded penalty goals early in the first half. Darnell Osuagwu then scored the first of the Pumas’ three tries when he went over. Boland responded through a Sydney Tobias converted try, which was their only one of the first period.

Another successful penalty goal by Visagie, who also converted Ross Braude’s try a few minutes later, put the Lowvelders in the driving seat at the break. The Pumas extended their lead to 15 points after halftime when Lundi Msenge also went over.

They Pumas then had three men sent to the sin bin, in the 55th, 57th, and 58th minutes, as they were suddenly reduced to just 12 men. Boland made their numerical advantage count when they forced a penalty try to pull back within two points of the home side. Three minutes later, the Kavaliers were 29-25 in front via Xavier Mitchell’s unconverted try.

However, the pressure was too big for the Bolanders as they conceded the first of two late penalties, which Visagie slotted to make the score 29-28. With just eight minutes to go in this tense affair, Visagie landed the winning penalty goal kick to send the Pumas to their second successive SA Cup final.

Match information

Suzuki Griquas 41 (24), Toyota Cheetahs 38 (24)

Suzuki Griquas – Tries: Cameron Hufke, Janco Uys (2), Gurshwin Wehr (2). Conversions: George Whitehead (5). Penalty goal: Whitehead (2).

Toyota Cheetahs – Tries: Michael Annies (2), Ali Mgijima, Prince Nkabinde, Gideon van der Merwe, Louis van der Westhuizen. Conversions: Tiaan Swanepoel (3), Cohen Jasper.

Airlink Pumas 31 (20), Sanlam Boland Kavaliers 29 (10)

Airlink Pumas – Tries: Ross Braude, Darnell Osuagwu, Lundi Msenge. Conversions: Danrich Visagie (2). Penalty goals: Danrich Visagie (4).

Sanlam Boland Kavaliers – Tries: Sidney Tobias, Xavier Mitchell, Thurlow Marsh, Penalty try. Conversions: James Tedder (2). Penalty goal: Tedder.