SA CUP: Cheetahs on the verge of Currie Cup exclusion

The next two weeks will be crucial for the hopes of the Toyota Cheetahs as they currently stand on the verge of not qualifying for this year’s Currie Cup competition.

Days after newspaper reports said the Bloemfontein side may well be included in a future version of the Vodacom United Rugby Championship, should Wales drop one of their four sides, the franchise is sitting in fifth spot in the SA Cup competition, with the top four teams qualifying for the Currie Cup alongside the four URC franchises.

There have been several upsets in the SA Cup of late, none more so than last Saturday’s upset where the Valke stunned the Cheetahs 43-36 and raised the spectre of the Bloemfontein side not qualifying for the domestic showpiece.

At the moment the defending Currie Cup champions Suzuki Griquas, under Pieter Bergh, lead the competition, and scored a confidence-boosting 44-34 win over the Airlink Pumas this past weekend to cement their spot at the top of the log.

Griquas have all but qualified to defend their title in the Currie Cup and with two rounds left are seven points ahead of the Pumas, who occupy second spot on 28 points to Griquas’ 35.

But this is where the bunfight starts. Third is Heyneke Meyer’s Dotsure SWD Eagles, surprising all with the former Springbok coach set on rebuilding rugby in George. They scored an early season shock, beating Sanlam Boland Kavaliers and have been on a huge path to try and qualify for the Currie Cup for the first time in years.

The Eagles are on 27 points, one behind the Pumas. Boland are fourth on 25 points and the Cheetahs on the same points but behind on points difference. If qualification was decided today, the Cheetahs - who recently announced a big name signing in double World Cup winner Faf de Klerk - would play the rest of the season in the B-section and miss out on Currie Cup action altogether.

CRUCIAL TWO WEEKS

The next two weeks will be crucial in deciding the fate of the five teams and who qualifies.

The Eagles have a tough assignment, travelling to Kimberley to face Griquas, but have the Leopards in their final game next weekend at home. They should win at least one of those two games.

The Cheetahs travel to East London this weekend and should have an easy win over Border, but then host Griquas in their derby game on the final weekend. Their qualification may go down to this result, which will be the highlight of the final weekend.

The Pumas play Boland this weekend in a massive game for both sides, and then their final game is at home to the Griffons. For Boland, who have Eastern Province in their final game, this weekend’s match against the Pumas will be crucial.

At this stage, all five teams in line for the four places look to have one tough game and one relatively easy fixture, meaning the qualification is likely to rest on the results of Griquas v SWD Eagles, Pumas v Boland and the Cheetahs v Griquas game.

The Valke - who are on 19 points - six behind the Cheetahs and Boland, have two easier fixtures to finish the season, playing Leopards and Border, and if there is an implosion or another shock from those above them, still have a mathematical chance of sneaking in as well.

Either way the next fortnight will be a crucial one for all involved, and a very nervous one for the Cheetahs and their fans.

Remaining fixtures

Saturday

Griffons vs EP Elephants

Suzuki Griquas vs Dotsure SWD Eagles

Valke vs Leopards

Border Bulldogs vs Toyota Cheetahs

Sunday

Airlink Pumas vs Sanlam Boland Kavaliers

Friday 8 May

Toyota Cheetahs vs Suzuki Griquas

Airlink Pumas vs Griffons