Pumas still in the run for a semi-final

Although the Pumas hit back strongly in the second half, Western Province were able to absorb the pressure to win the Absa Currie Cup match 37-23.

The Pumas are under pressure to win the last two matches, against the Vodacom Blue Bulls on Friday and the Eastern Province Kings on Friday, October 10. Even if they do, qualifying for a semi-final will depend on other matches’ results.

It would strengthen the Pumas position for a play-off place if they beat the Blue Bulls and scored a bonus point, as this would take the Pretoria team out of semi-final contention.

The other danger team are the Cheetahs. They are equal with the Pumas on log points, but have two tough games – at home versus Western Province and away against the Golden Lions.

Eight log points would probably secure the Pumas an away semi-final, 10 would virtually seal the play-off place, with only the unlikely scenario of the Pumas and Cheetahs ending equal on log points and points difference deciding the higher placed team.

It is also possible for the Pumas to overtake the Cell C Sharks, who play the Golden Lions at home, and Western Province away.

The best the Pumas can finish is third, the worst, sixth.

Western Province and the Golden Lions have secured semi-final qualification. The other two places will be decided by what happens on the fields over the next two weekends.

The Pumas need to stick to the high-risk, attacking rugby that has brought them unlikely victories this season. 

Western Province were pushed to the limit by the Pumas on Friday night. 

They deserved the win after dominating the first half and capitalising on the Pumas errors. 

Western Province’s pure class of execution of the game, kept the Pumas at bay. The local boys could not match the tactical precision of a well-oiled Province machine.

With a 20-6 half-time lead it seemed the Pumas might be in for their worst thrashing of the season.
But they stood up in the second half and fought back. It was a remarkable effort. In a match of two halves, the Pumas clearly won the second.

They dazzled their way back into the match and trailed by seven points before Province scored a late try.

Had the Pumas secured the first kick-off, had they not lost their own put-in at the scrums, the first half could have been very different.
However, it wasn’t and Province happily accepted the possession the Pumas errors gave them.

A mentally and physically challenging 11 days lie ahead for the Steval Pumas. They must execute their game plan for 80 minutes against the Blue Bulls and 80 minutes against the Kings. With all the permutations possible to claim the remaining semi-final places, the last two rounds will be thrilling.

Tickets for Friday’s match are on sale at Computicket, Mbombela Stadium and the Pumas offices at Sonpark.