“We are going to bring the Currie Cup home.”

These were the words of the Pumas director of rugby Jimmy Stonehouse in an interview with Lowvelder on Wednesday.
History will come full circle after 131 years when the Windhoek Draught Griquas host the Airlink Pumas at Windhoek Lager Park in Kimberley on Saturday.

In 1891, the British Lions toured South Africa and played Griqualand West in Kimberley. The tourists won 3-0 and afterwards presented a gold trophy to their hosts.

The trophy was donated to the British Lions by Sir Donald Currie, a Scotsman and owner of Union-Castle Lines, with instruction that it be awarded to the team that gives the Lions the hardest match.

The Griquas were the first “holders” of the Currie Cup.

Griqualand West donated the trophy to the South African Rugby Board. Since 1892, it has been presented to the Currie Cup champions.

Tomorrow, the two smallest unions competing in the Premier Division, the Griquas and the Pumas, will go to battle for 80 minutes. The prize at stake in the title of champions of the oldest provincial rugby competition in the world, the Currie Cup.

The Griquas, established in 1886, won the Currie Cup in 1899, 1911 and 1970.

The Pumas, established in 1969, have never won the Currie Cup.

On February 2, the Windhoek Draught Griquas beat the Pumas 41-20 in Kimberley, in the Pumas’ biggest defeat of the 2022 season. On June 10, the Griquas defeated the Pumas 45-44 at Mbombela Stadium.

Playing at home, and with two victories over the Pumas this season, the Griquas are the favourites to win the 2022 Carling Currie Cup.

Both teams have shown a lot of fight this season and both were underdogs in their respective semi-finals. They have stood up against the richer rugby unions. On the field, smaller budgets and smaller playing squads were neutralised by blood-and-guts performances on the rugby fields.

The two best teams in the Premier Division of the Currie Cup are playing in the final. They are also the two financially poorest teams in the Premier Division.

It is a remarkable achievement.

Griquas coach Pieter Bergh and Stonehouse have created a miracle.

On Saturday, there can be only one champion.

Stonehouse is proud of the Pumas being in the final in what has been a challenging season.

“It has been a season with ups and downs. We lost badly to the Griquas and got five yellow cards in that game. We lost five players to the Cheetahs and Lions. We fought on, aiming to keep the penalty count against us down. Then we still had another 13 yellow cards this season.

“We made a decision six weeks ago to chase the points and go for the tries. This worked for us.

“On Saturday, we must keep the penalty count low, take the points and be brilliant on the day,” said Stonehouse on Wednesday.
The coach was full of praise for the tenacity shown by the Pumas this season.

“They never give up. Even in training they pick one another up if it’s not going good. The spirit of this Pumas team is amazing. We fought until the end against the Cheetahs (in the semi-final). With seven minutes left, we sent the message to the players that the Cheetahs are out on their feet and we are fit – pull it through.

“We took guys out of Varsity Cup, guys out of nowhere that the big unions did not want. They came here and grew; they became men. They want it so badly, they fight so hard. It’s a special squad.”

Stonehouse agrees that the Pumas are the underdogs, but is confident of an upset.

“Griquas are the favourites to win. They beat us by 21 points in Kimberley. They came to Mbombela and fought back from 20 down points to win. We have to win the set pieces and stop their continuity. We are ready for it. We are going to bring the Currie Cup home.”

Griquas wing and former Pumas player Luther Obi said in a press conference at Windhoek Draught Park on Tuesday that the final is the most important match of the Griquas players’ lives.

“I want to be at my best and help the team lift the trophy. Playing the Pumas is not personal. If I think about it in a personal perspective, I can cloud my judgement. It’s about the team. I am a Griqua now.

“Saturday is a final. Nothing else matters. We have one shot – 80 minutes. It’s our biggest game ever and we want to lift the trophy. We will never say die; it’s backs to the wall. That is what Griquas are about,” said Obi.Stonehouse said the Pumas would not be in the final were it not for the support they receive.

“Thank you to the whole community. The people have backed us strongly. To all our sponsors – thanks. To all the schools that came to the home games and that let us come and visit them today – thanks. To the supporters who greet us all over – thank you so much. Thank you all for believing in us.

“The board of the Pumas, for what you do, thanks. A special word of thanks to Marius (van Rensburg, CEO of the Pumas). A great person who trusts us and helps us with anything we ask.

“Credit also must go to the coaching and backroom staff for what they bring to the team,” said Stonehouse.

Kick-off at Windhoek Lager Park is at 15:00.

Cwengile Jadezweni has been appointed to referee his first Carling Currie Cup final. He will be assisted by Morné Ferreira and Griffin Colby, while Quinton Immelman has been appointed as TMO.

Windhoek Draught Griquas

1. Kudzwai Dube
2. Janco Uys
3. Janu Botha
4. Cameron Lindsay
5. Derik Pretorius
6. Werner Gouws
7. Hanru Sirgel
8. Siba Qoma
9. Stefan Ungerer
10. Zander du Plessis
11. Luther Obi
12. Rynhardt Jonker,
13.  Sango Xamlashe (c)
14. Munier Hartzenberg
15.  George Whitehead
16.  Simon Westraadt
17. Eddie Davids
18. Andries Schutte
19. Johan Retief
20. Michael Amiras
21. Johan Mulder
22. Fiela Boshoff
23. Chris Hollis

Airlink Pumas

1. Corné Fourie
2. Eduan Swart
3. Ig Prinsloo
4. Deon Slabbert
5. Shane Kirkwood
6. Daniel Maartens
7. Willie Engelbrecht (c)
8. André Fouche
9. Chriswill September
10. Tinus de Beer
11. Jade Stighling
12. Eddie Fouché
13. Sebastian de Klerk
14. Tapiwa Mafura
15. Devon Williams
16. Llewellyn Classen
17. Dewald Maritz
18. Simon Raw
19. Kwanda Dimaza
20. Francois Kleinhans
21. Giovan Snyman
22. Ali Mgijima
23. Alwayno  Visagie

A Citybug Pumas supporters bus will be taking fans to Kimberley.

The bus will leave Mbombela Stadium at 04:00 on Saturday and return after the final.

Tickets for this have unfortunately been sold out. But there will be a Pumas Fan Fair @ Mbombela Stadium on Saturday.

The family-friendly fan park will open at 11:00, and entry is free.

The game will be shown on a big screen and there will be braai facilities and drinks and food on sale.

Pumas Fan Fair @ Mbombela Stadium will continue the family culture that reigns the stands during home matches and mums, dads and children are invited.

There will be supervised entertainment and child care so the parents can watch the match.

Facts and stats
• The Griquas have scored 50 tries and conceded 45 in their 13 Currie Cup matches. The Pumas have scored 49 tries and conceded 35.
• Pumas fly half Eddie Fouché is the third top points scorer in the 2022 Currie Cup with 58 points.
• Teammate Sebastian de Klerk is the second top try scorer with eight tries.
• The Pumas scored 95 points in two matches versus the Sigma Lions this season.
• Griquas last won the Currie Cup in 1970 when they beat Northern Transvaal 11-9 at the De Beers Stadium.
• In 1980, the Pumas lost their only other Currie Cup semi-final 49-6 to Northern Transvaal at Loftus Versfeld.
• Griquas (est. 1889) are the second-oldest rugby union in South Africa; the Pumas (est. 1969) are the youngest.