Currie Cup preview: North-South derby headlines round 8 fixtures

The defending champion Pumas remain the leaders of the pack as the 2023 Currie Cup enters the second half of its league phase this weekend.

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CURRIE CUP OVERVIEW

The Premier Division’s two front-runners – the Pumas and Cheetahs – will be looking to increase the gap between themselves and the chasing pack this weekend.

Meanwhile, the Sharks, Griquas, Bulls, Western Province and Lions will all be scrapping for log points with the aim of finishing the eighth round in the top four. As things stand, only five points separate the teams ranked third and seventh on the Currie Cup Premier Division table.

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LIONS VS PUMAS (FRIDAY, 5PM, JOHANNESBURG)

The defending champions may be favourites to topple the Lions when they travel to Johannesburg on Friday. The Pumas won the previous match-up 34-27 in Mpumalanga.

The Lions have lost their last three matches, and will be desperate to bounce back. The injection of several star players – who are no longer required for United Rugby Championship duty – should boost their cause.

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CHEETAHS VS GRIFFONS (FRIDAY, 59PM, BLOEMFONTEIN)

The Cheetahs went down to the Sharks in Bloemfontein last week, and may have a point to prove when they host the Griffons in the Free State Derby this Friday.

A win against the bottom-placed side will ensure that Hawies Fourie’s charges stay in touch with the Pumas at the top of the standings. The game will mark Springbok flanker Oupa Mohoje’s 100^th appearance for the team.

The Cheetahs romped to a 52-12 win over the Northern Free State outfit earlier in the tournament. However, the Purple People Eaters have progressed since then, and claimed a four-try bonus point in their recent defeat to Griquas.

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SHARKS VS GRIQUAS (SATURDAY, 1:30PM, DURBAN)

The Sharks will be buzzing after securing a valuable win in Bloemfontein last week. They should take nothing for granted this Saturday, though, when they host Griquas in Durban.

The men from Kimberley won the previous encounter between the teams (48-40) and have since claimed notable wins against WP and the Lions. Both sides have accumulated 19 log points to date, and the winner of the upcoming clash will strengthen their bid for a playoff place.

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WESTERN PROVINCE VS BLUE BULLS (SATURDAY, 6:30PM, CAPE TOWN)

The traditional North-South Derby in Cape Town this Saturday has been billed as an appetiser to next week’s Vodacom URC quarter-final between the Stormers and Vodacom Bulls at the same venue. That said, the coming match will be massively important in the context of the Currie Cup Premier Division.

WP were in a position to win their previous two fixtures against the Cheetahs and Pumas. Poor game management and discipline in the dying stages, however, cost them dearly. They won’t want for motivation when they meet their arch-rivals this Saturday.

By contrast, the Bulls have enjoyed a great run of form over the past few weeks, winning three matches on the bounce. Another victory this weekend will catapult the Pretoria-based side into the top four on the Premier Division log.

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THE CHEETAHS IN ACTION IN THE PREMIER DIVISION