Scintillating SA Cup semi-finals on the cards this weekend

May 15 • copa 2015, Currie Cup, General News, Guinness Pro14, National, Pale Toe, South Africa, South Africa • 432 Views • Comments Off on Scintillating SA Cup semi-finals on the cards this weekend

Riveting action is expected when the Airlink Pumas host Sanlam Boland Kavaliers in
the first SA Cup semi-final in Nelspruit on Friday evening (19h00), and when the
defending champions, Suzuki Griquas, face the Toyota Cheetahs in Kimberley on
Saturday afternoon (15h00) as the competition winds to a thrilling finish.

With the four sides having secured qualification for the Carling Currie Cup Premier
Division following the completion of the league phase, attention now shifts to the
weekend's two playoff games to see who will fight it out next week in the final of
the SA Cup.

The Airlink Pumas have swept aside all before them so far in the league, including a
deserving win over last year's champions, and the Kavaliers will know Jimmy
Stonehouse's side is always a tough nut to crack at home in Mpumalanga.

They defeated Boland by two points a fortnight ago in Wellington in a game where the
hosts' determination secured two crucial bonus points to set them up for
qualification for the Carling Currie Cup Premier Division action for the first time
since 2016.

Under the guidance of Hawies Fourie, coupled with vital investments from their
corporate partner, the Bolanders - Carling Currie Cup First Division champions in
2023 and 2024 - have been building steadily towards their return to the Premier
Division.

Their progress can be gauged from the fact that when these two sides last met in
Nelspruit last year, the Pumas whitewashed the men from Wellington 49-0 in round
eight clash of the inaugural SA Cup.

Two weeks ago, when they met again in Wellington, it was a different story, with the
visitors from Mpumalanga edging a close-fought clash 34-32 against the determined
Kavaliers.

The Airlink Pumas recently handed Suzuki Griquas their first defeat in the SA Cup
after they were unbeaten in 2023, in a show of strength and their ambition to add
silverware to their trophy cabinet in Nelspruit.

On Friday evening, another tight battle is expected between the Pumas and Boland,
with the host team's supporters hoping home ground advantage at the Mbombela Stadium
will tilt the scales in their favour.

In Saturday's second semi-final in Kimberley, Suzuki Griquas go into their playoff
with two SA Cup victories against the Toyota Cheetahs. While the 2023 result was a
comfortable 39-17 win in Bloemfontein, last week's final league encounter between
the two Central South African sides finished in a 31-29 win for the hosts in the
Diamond City, thanks to two late tries.

Meanwhile, Pieter Bergh's Griquas team will feel confident of a repeat against their
close rivals, while Frans Steyn's rebuilt Cheetahs side will be determined to go one
step better and reach their first SA Cup final, dethroning the defending champions
in the process.

The winners of the weekend's two semi-finals will contest next weekend's SA Cup final.

Match information:
Airlink Pumas vs Sanlam Boland Kavaliers
Date: Friday, 16 May
Venue: Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit
Kick-off: 19h00
Referee: Sean Muller

Suzuki Griquas vs Toyota Cheetahs
Date: Saturday, 17 May
Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15h00
Referee: Dylen November