With two just knockout rounds left until the 2015 Absa Currie Cup champions are crowned this year, the four remaining teams in the country's oldest and most prestigious domestic rugby competition have it all to play for in the two Semi-finals this weekend.
DHL Western Province, the 2014 champions, travel to Pretoria for their clash on Friday evening against the Vodacom Blue Bulls. The Bulls, who finished second on the log, will host their first Absa Currie Cup Semi-final since 2008, with the match starting at 19h00.
DHL Western Province, the 2014 champions, travel to Pretoria for their clash on Friday evening against the Vodacom Blue Bulls. The Bulls, who finished second on the log, will host their first Absa Currie Cup Semi-final since 2008, with the match starting at 19h00.
The in-form Xerox Golden Lions, meanwhile, have so far swept aside every challenge before them this season and they are currently on a ten-match unbeaten run in the competition. They are playing in the second Semi-final at home in Johannesburg at Emirates Airline Park against the Toyota Free State Cheetahs. This Saturday fixture kick-off at 13h45.
The clash in Pretoria will mark the third time that the two great North South rivals meet this season, and they currently share the spoils between them with a home victory each. Last year, the Cape side defeated their rivals 31-23 in the Semi-final at Newlands.
Province eventually went on to lift the coveted Absa Currie Cup trophy in front of their home crowd after former coach Allister Coetzee's charges edged the Golden Lions 19-16 in the 2014 final.
The Golden Lions scored a runaway 73-31 victory over the Cheetahs in their round-robin meeting last month in Bloemfontein and they should be fresh and rejuvenated after fielding a new-look side for last weekend's last league fixture against the ORC Griquas.
However, the Cheetahs will approach the meeting with the Lions knowing that previous form will count for nothing in the knockout phase. They managed to escape defeat against the Sharks last Saturday thanks to a gritty fightback in Bloemfontein, and this week they will have to show that fighting spirit from the start against the team that have so far have thrived on their high-tempo, fast attacking style of play.
The clash in Pretoria will mark the third time that the two great North South rivals meet this season, and they currently share the spoils between them with a home victory each. Last year, the Cape side defeated their rivals 31-23 in the Semi-final at Newlands.
Province eventually went on to lift the coveted Absa Currie Cup trophy in front of their home crowd after former coach Allister Coetzee's charges edged the Golden Lions 19-16 in the 2014 final.
The Golden Lions scored a runaway 73-31 victory over the Cheetahs in their round-robin meeting last month in Bloemfontein and they should be fresh and rejuvenated after fielding a new-look side for last weekend's last league fixture against the ORC Griquas.
However, the Cheetahs will approach the meeting with the Lions knowing that previous form will count for nothing in the knockout phase. They managed to escape defeat against the Sharks last Saturday thanks to a gritty fightback in Bloemfontein, and this week they will have to show that fighting spirit from the start against the team that have so far have thrived on their high-tempo, fast attacking style of play.
By: Farai Diza
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