Sharks at home against Blue Bulls for Currie Cup semi-final
The Currie Cup may not have the prestige it used to, but there's still a lot at stake for teams and players this coming Saturday.
The Cell C Sharks will face the Vodacom Blue Bulls at Growthpoint King’s Park this Saturday, October 21 in the semi-finals of the 2017 Currie Cup.
Kick-off is at 5pm.
Although the Sharks lost to DHL Western Province last Saturday, they still comfortably topped the log.
While Province played some good rugby, the Sharks looked a little flat and it may have been that in the back of their minds they knew they did not need to win it.
However, with a break in international rugby, the Springbok players are back and so some teams will be a lot stronger than they have been during most of the season, others not necessarily so much.
The Blue Bulls have also seen some improved cohesion since John Mitchell has come in as coach.
In the other semi-final, Western Province will host the Xerox Golden Lions at Newlands.
Kick-off is at 2.30pm.
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While the Sharks should start as favourites against the Blue Bulls, the match in the Cape is too close to call.
That’ll be especially the case if both teams are at full strength with all their Springboks.
You can be sure the matches will be played at full intensity.
Bok places are in the offing for the four-match outgoing tour later in the year.
The 8th man slot, with Warren Whiteley still injured, is not settled.
The backline hasn’t always had the necessary finesse to finish off some promising attacking moves that should have seen the Boks beat Australia in both games, and upset the All Blacks at Newlands.
That’s especially the case at fly-half, possibly scrumhalf, and even maybe at fullback, with the likes of Handré Pollard and Curwin Bosch showing decent form.
At fullback, Warrick Gelant looks an exciting prospect. At centre, Rohan Janse van Rensburg can’t be ignored for much longer, and wing Ruan Combrinck will surely be on the tour.
Exciting times for rugby fans.
