Never tell Jimmy Stonehouse and the Airlink Pumas something is impossible.

The Pumas are determined to repeat history when they take on the Toyota Cheetahs in the 2023 Currie Cup final in Bloemfontein on Saturday at 16:00.

The defending champions are again on the same mission they accomplished in 2022, when they won the cup for the first time in their history.

The Pumas had to win an away semi-final to qualify for the final in 2022; they did. They achieved the same this year, with a 26-20 win against the Sharks. Then the Pumas had to beat the Griquas in Kimberley to win the 2022 Currie Cup final.

The last battle of their mission to defend the title awaits the Mpumalanga team at Toyota Stadium in Bloemfontein.

Although the Currie Cup was first competed for in 1889, it was only since 1939 that the champions have been decided in a final. Never has a team won the cup for the first time in a final and gone on to defend it the following year.

The Pumas started the season on fire and topped the log from the first week. Their victories included 63-15 and 61-21
thrashings of the Blue Bulls at home and the Cheetahs away.

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But after the big win in Bloemfontein, in which they lost hooker Eduan Swart to injury, the tries dried up as other teams seemed to work out the Pumas’ counterattacking game plan.

The Pumas suffered four consecutive losses late in the season, against the Sharks, Western Province, the Blue Bulls and the Cheetahs.

They dropped to fifth on the log, but a win on June 9 away against the Griquas, and the other teams’ own results, saw them finish third on the log.

The Cheetahs started off poorly, but improved with every match this season and were the form team of the second half of it.

The Free State team are the favourites to win the final. They topped the log table to secure home ground advantage. They were clinical in ripping the heart out of the Blue Bulls in the semi-final in Bloemfontein last Saturday.

But the Pumas are a team that embraces being the underdog. At their best, they can beat any other team in the competition on any ground.

It will be a final decided by discipline, defence and the ability to handle pressure.

The Pumas’ head coach, Jimmy Stonehouse, believes that the final will be won by the forwards. “We need to be strong in our scrums and we need to be able to score from our mauls. The Cheetahs’ biggest threat are their mauls; it’s their strongest weapon and they score most of their tries from rolling mauls. The Cheetahs’ loose forwards are excellent at the breakdown, so we need to compete,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday.

The coach believes the two matches played between the two teams this season count for nothing, come Saturday. “Anything can happen in the final. If we execute our game plan, if we are disciplined, if Tinus de Beer’s kicking is spot on and we defend like we did against the Sharks in the semi, then we can win.”

Mpumalanga captain Shane Kirkwood will play a vital role in the final. “Shane is a pillar of strength. He is a great captain, a great person and a great man. He keeps everything together and is very valuable for the Pumas.”

Stonehouse has no doubt that a vital cog in the Pumas’ success is their passionate supporters. “Thank you to the people who support us. Our sponsor, Citybug, which is sending a bus to Bloemfontein with spectators, thank you. It will be like Kimberley last year. You only see the small circle of pink on the grandstand. If they create a vibe like they did last year, it will add to our strength. All the fan parks in the Lowveld, thank you for supporting us. Yes, Mbombela is pink,” said the coach.

The Toyota Cheetahs’ coach, Hawies Fourie, agreed that the battle will be won by the forwards. “We must dominate up front. The Pumas have an excellent pack. They are very physical and defend well. Our focus will be speed at the breakdowns, and getting quick possession and attacking space,” he said in an online press conference on Tuesday.

“The Pumas are unpredictable. They have a good off-load game and counterattack well. Their tactical kicking is excellent. We will also need to counter the breakdowns and forward ball carries. There is pressure on them to retain the Currie Cup, and we will give 100% to win it. We have learnt our lessons and are well prepared.”

The Toyota Cheetahs have played in 15 Currie Cup finals. They have won the trophy four times and shared it with Northern Transvaal in 2006.

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs and Stephan Geldenhuys
Television match official: Egon Seconds

Pumas’ 2023 Currie Cup results:
• March 12: Blue Bulls 15 – Blue Bulls 63
• March 17: Pumas 34 – Lions 27
• March 24: Pumas 28 – Griquas 13
• March 31: Cheetahs 21 – Pumas 61
• April 7: Sharks 19 – Pumas 12
• April 16: Griffons 6 – Pumas 64
• April 28: Lions 26 – Pumas 10
• May 6: Pumas 45 – Griffons 25
• May 12: Pumas 22 – Sharks 24
• May 19: Western Province 24 – Pumas 14
• May 27: Pumas 17 – Blue Bulls 24
• June 3: Pumas 14 – Cheetahs 29
• June 9: Griquas 17 – Pumas 27
• June 14: Cheetahs 29 – Pumas 14
• June 17 (semi-final): Sharks 20 – Pumas 26.

Season stats
Points for:
• Cheetahs: 478
• Pumas: 462
Points against:
• Cheetahs: 334
• Pumas: 316
Tries for:
• Cheetahs: 66
• Pumas: 61
Tries against:
• Cheetahs: 40
• Pumas: 39.