Frans Steyn in action for the Cheetahs. Photo: SA Rugby website
Currie Cup: THREE huge clashes scheduled for TODAY – Wednesday, 23 March
There are three enticing clashes scheduled for Wednesday, 23 March in what is a full round of mid-week action in the Currie Cup.
Frans Steyn in action for the Cheetahs. Photo: SA Rugby website
The first-placed Cheetahs will be aiming for their sixth straight win of the 2022 Currie Cup campaign when they tackle the Sharks in another important clash in Durban on Wednesday, while defending champions, the Bulls will be hoping to build on last week’s win when they travel down the N1 to Johannesburg to face the Lions in a Jukskei derby.
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A clash between Western Province and the Pumas in Cape Town complete midweek fixture list, with Griquas enjoying a bye.
The game at the Cape Town Stadium will get the proceedings underway at 15:00, and that will be followed by the match at Hollywoodbets Kings Park between the Sharks and the Cheetahs, which kicks off at 17:45.
The Jukskei derby between the Lions and Bulls kicks off at 20:00 at Ellis Park, with all three matches to be broadcast live on SuperSport.
In the first match of the day in Cape Town, WP will be determined to land a second win after falling to four losses in their previous five outings.
After spending some time on the road, the Capetonians now have three back-to-back home matches and will be hoping that home ground advantage will lead to better results, starting with the Pumas on Wednesday afternoon.
In their two meetings last season, the Cape side beat the Lowvelders 37-23 in Nelspruit, while the sides played out to an exciting 40-40 draw in the Mother City.
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Hawies Fourie’s Cheetahs – the only unbeaten side left in the competition – are enjoying a rich vein of form which gained them five straight wins, with the latest a solid 24-17 triumph over WP in Bloemfontein.
However, the Sharks will be looking to their double dose of wins last year over the Free Staters as motivation for their intention to bounce back from last week’s 35-21 loss in Pretoria.
In 2021, the team from KwaZulu-Natal ran out winners 38-31 and 47-30 against the Cheetahs.
However, the Cheetahs – with experienced Springboks Frans Steyn and Ruan Pienaar in sublime form and fit-again Clayton Blommetjies now back at fullback – are a far more dangerous proposition this season.
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On current form, the Bulls should have the measure of their Gauteng neighbours in the late evening kick off in Johannesburg.
The defending champions are placed nicely in second spot on the log with only one loss in five games, while the Lions are still hunting their first win of 2022.
Last year, the men in the light-blue jerseys won their two fixtures between the sides 48-21 and 40-21 respectively.
Springbok prop Lizo Gqoboka will lead an otherwise youthful-looking Bulls against the Sigma Lions in Johannesburg.
Currie Cup: Match information:
Wednesday, 23 March
Western Province v Pumas
Venue: Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Kick-off: 15:00
Referee: Griffin Colby
Sharks v Cheetahs
Venue: Hollywoodbets Kings Park, Durban
Kick-off: 17:45
Referee: Morne Ferreira
Lions v Bulls
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Kick-off: 20:00
Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen
