Lions need points to secure a spot in Currie Cup semifinal

23 September 2016 - 16:09 By Chumani Bambani

The Currie Cup defending champions‚ Golden Lions‚ may only be in sixth place on the log‚ but are still hopeful of securing a semifinal berth and retaining the domestic title. While teams such as the Blue Bulls and Free State Cheetahs can book their semifinal spots on Friday‚ the Lions believe their fate still lies in their hands given that they have two remaining matches in the competition.The Johannesburg-based side take on bottom-of-the-log Eastern Province Kings in Port Elizabeth on Saturday. They will then host the Sharks at Ellis Park in the last round of matches next week.Bulls prioritise Currie Cup top four finish rather than home semifinalA top four finish remains the priority for the Blue Bulls as they head into their last round-robin match of the domestic competition on Friday. Mathematically‚ if the Lions collect a maximum bonus-point five log points over the next two games‚ a semi spot may beckon for the Johannesburg pride.“I think we still have our destiny in our own hands‚” Lions coach Johan Ackermann said.“It's simple – we have two games which we cannot afford to lose and where we must get maximum points. However‚ it is important that we don’t put pressure on ourselves.”While they may still control their fate‚ the Lions also have themselves to blame for making the latter parts of their season an uphill climb in their bid to finish in the top four spots on the Currie Cup log.“We let it slip in the past games‚” conceded Ackermann. “We often missed out on bonus points when we won.“It’s not going to be easy [against the Kings]. They have shown a lot of heart this season. We have to be clinical.”De Jongh answers SOS from Western Province ahead of Currie Cup clash against GriquasCentre Juan de Jongh was a late release from the Springbok squad to answer an SOS from Western Province for Friday’s Currie Cup match against Griquas in Kimberley. The Lions will have a new captain this weekend in Blitzboks star Kwagga Smith‚ who is being groomed alongside a number of Lions players for a leadership role‚ with Super Rugby in mind.The side had also been boosted by the inclusion of Bok duo Malcolm Marx and Julian Redelinghuys in the front row.Meanwhile‚ on Friday afternoon at 3pm the Bulls will be in Wellington where they will be facing the Boland Cavaliers.The Pretoria side will need a victory to ensure that they are in the semis and a bonus point win can almost hand the side from Loftus Versfeld a home semi.The Bulls are wary of the Cavaliers and are cognisant of the fact that a defeat in Wellington could well see them being knocked out of the top four spots‚ depending on the results of other matches over the next two weekends.“If we lose on Friday we might lose out totally [on a semifinal berth]‚” Bulls coach Nollis Marais said.“They don't have anything to lose. That is always a dangerous thing.“We don't want a situation where we need to score twice in the last 10 minutes or need a penalty at the end to win it. We need the points this weekend.”Venter returns from injury to start for the Cheetahs against the PumasCheetahs captain Francois Venter will start for the Cheetahs in a Currie Cup clash against the Pumas on Friday after a lengthy injury lay off. In other matches on Friday‚ the Cheetahs can consolidate a top spot finish with a victory over the Pumas in Nelspruit at 6.40pm.Fifth-placed Western Province will be out to topple the Griquas from fourth place on the log when the two sides meet in Kimberley at 7pm.Saturday's match between the Kings and Lions kicks off at 5.10pm.Friday: Boland Kavaliers v Blue Bulls (Boland Stadium‚ Wellington‚ 3pm)Pumas v Free State Cheetahs (Mbombela Stadium‚ Nelspruit‚ 6.40pm)Griquas v Western Province (Griqua Park‚ Kimberley‚ 7pm)Saturday:Eastern Province Kings v Golden Lions (Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium‚ Port Elizabeth‚ 5.10pm). - TMG Digital..

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