On current form, the Fidelity ADT Lions should be considered firm favourites against defending champions, the Toyota Cheetahs, when the two sides meet in the first of two Carling Currie Cup Premier Division semi-finals on Saturday, with the Johannesburg clash starting at 14h30.
The second semi-final is scheduled for 17h00 in Pretoria between the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV. The two winning teams will battle it out for the historic trophy on Saturday, 21 September at 16h00. All matches will be broadcast live on SuperSport.
Last year, the Free Staters sprang a minor surprise by beating the Vodacom Bulls by 31-27 in a pulsating semi-final in Bloemfontein, while in the other semi-final, the Airlink Pumas edged the Hollywoodbets Sharks 26-20 to progress to the 2023 final, where the Toyota Cheetahs prevailed 25-17 over the team from Mpumalanga to lift the famous trophy for a seventh time.
This year, the defending champions followed the low road to the playoffs when their victory last weekend over the Airlink Pumas, in their final league match, saw them grab the last available knockout spot.
Playing in Saturday’s first semi-final in Doornfontein, the Fidelity ADT Lions will have both form and home ground advantage on their side when they take on their Free State rivals as they aim to reach the final for the first time since 2019.
Apart from playing at the imposing Emirates Airline Park, the Joburg outfit established themselves as the best side during the league phase of the Premier Division. They amassed 437 points in their 10 games and only conceded 215, which placed them as the most prolific scoring side as well as the team with the best defence.
Furthermore, the Fidelity ADT Lions have been consistent with their form and scoring abilities during that time, while the Toyota Cheetahs have been blowing hot and cold at the same time, only clinching their semi-final berth with a nervy win in the last round of regular action.
While the log leaders lost only once in the league, their Free State opponents could only manage five wins, a draw and four losses during the same period.
However, knockout rugby is an entirely different beast, as showed by last year’s results, and the Johannesburg hosts will be wary of the dangers of underestimating the gritty defending champions.
The second semi-final, between the Vodacom Bulls and Hollywoodbets Sharks XV at Loftus Versfeld, has all the hallmarks of another Currie Cup classic and is a repeat of the finals of the 2020 and 2021 seasons, both won by the team from Pretoria.
While the men from Pretoria have occasionally stumbled, they have considerable depth in talent and flexed their muscles to show their pedigree at the right time to grab second spot on the log which, crucially, earned them a home semi-final.
Although the KwaZulu-Natalians stuttered during the opening stages of the campaign, suffering three defeats in a row, they managed to regain their mojo by winning six and snatching a draw during an impressive seven-game unbeaten stretch.
Last weekend, the Hollywoodbets Sharks XV edged the Vodacom Bulls 24-18 in a wet and windy Durban during the final round of league action in what was a rehearsal for this week’s semi-final in the Jacaranda City.
Both sides have strengthened their match-day squads with Vodacom United Rugby Championship regulars, so it will be interesting who will come out tops in this intriguing encounter.
If a semi-final ends in a draw at the end of the 80 minutes playing time, the winner will be determined as follows:
- The team with the most points after two periods of eExtra time of 10 minutes each way, and if the scores are still level;
- The team to have scored the most tries during the match (including extra time), and if the scores are still level;
- The team with the higher log position after the completion of the league phase will be determined the winner.
Match information – Carling Currie Cup semi-finals:
Semi-final 1: Fidelity ADT Lions vs Toyota Cheetahs
Venue: Emirates Airline Park, Johannesburg
Date: Saturday 14 September
Time: 14h30
Referee: Christopher Allison
TV: SS Rugby
Semi-final 2: Vodacom Bulls vs Hollywoodbets Sharks XV
Venue: Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
Date, Saturday 14 September
Time: 17h00
Referee: AJ Jacobs
TV: SS Rugby
Street Squirrel
Still on the subject of cricket superstitions, the player with the most rituals performed during a match is arguably Neil McKenzie of South Africa. Before a game, for example, he would attach his cricket bat to the ceiling with tape. When it’s time for him to bat, he would check all the changing room lights to make sure they were shut off and that the toilet seats were down.
Petite Flurry
Australia has produced many rugby legends, including David Campese, John Eales, and George Gregan. Campese, a prolific try-scorer and skilful winger, held the record for the most tries scored in test matches for Australia (64) until it was surpassed by Adam Ashley-Cooper in 2019. John Eales, known as “Nobody,” is a revered Wallabies captain who led the team to their second Rugby World Cup victory in 1999. George Gregan, a scrum-half, holds the record for the most appearances for the Wallabies with 139 caps.