Cape Times E-dition

Griquas out to create new memories in final

MIKE GREENAWAY mike.greenaway@inl.co.za

UNTIL the last weekend of the Currie Cup pool stages it appeared that the Free State Cheetahs were the champions-elect and that the final would be in Bloemfontein but instead, it is their cousins from Kimberley that are hosting the final and it is the Pumas that will be their opponents tomorrow afternoon (3pm kickoff).

The Cheetahs had led the standings from day one and only lost their unbeaten status late in the tournament, and even in the semi-final, they

seemed to have the Pumas well beaten only for the men from Nelspruit to fashion a miraculous comeback.

Likewise, Griquas shocked the Blue Bulls at Loftus after the team from Pretoria had long seemed destined to be finalists with the Cheetahs.

The semi-finals were indeed a mad scramble and the result is that the competition will have a new champion — Griquas last won it in 1970, while the Pumas have never made it this far.

Griquas coach Pieter Bergh says that at long last Griquas can create new memories after having dined out on their 1970 win for 52 years.

“For decades Griquas have talked about 1970 and Mannetjies Roux lifting the Cup,” Bergh said. “I have been involved with Griquas as an assistant coach from 2012-2018, and every year in that time, we never made a semi-final, with good teams, very good Griquas teams.

“There was always the talk of winning the Currie Cup, and talking

about 1970. Then in 2019 they made the semi-finals and in 2021, and they couldn’t take that step. So, I’m incredibly proud of these guys.

“Obviously we can take a lot of confidence. The last time I spoke to the media, I said we need to win three games to get into a semis. We treated it like three playoff matches, and this was our fourth playoff match, so we are used to this knockout rugby.”

The experienced Jimmy Stonehouse, coach of the Pumas, is equally excited about tomorrow’s final.

“It’s amazing that everything worked out for us,” said Stonehouse. “At one stage, we almost let it slip, but the emotions after that semi-final were amazing, I think we deserve this, and we are feeling very happy. There is big rivalry brewing between Griquas and us, and this is one of the best things that could ever have happened to rugby in SA.

“We are losing 10 players at the end of the season and Griquas are also losing players.”

SPORT

en-za

2022-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

2022-06-24T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://capetimes.pressreader.com/article/282093460417282

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