AUDIO: Pumas get international opposition in Currie Cup build-up

James Stonehouse may be one of South Africa’s most celebrated coaches, but his Pumas team continues to scramble for scraps on the international competition tables.

Stonehouse, more affectionately known as Jimmy, has been coaching for nearly three decades and 10 days ago added the SA Cup to his Currie Cup gold medal, won in 2022.

Having started as a schools coach in Ermelo, he also had stints in Russia, Japan and Pretoria, before returning to Nelspruit to resume the long-term project of making the Pumas a domestic force.

Winning the SA Cup, a second-tier domestic competition, was vital for a team like the Pumas, which has limited opportunities to get exposure for their financial backers.

With no international competition, the SA Cup and Currie Cup are their playgrounds.

That is why beating Griquas (39-14) in the SA Cup Final was such a big issue.

“It also helps with a positive mindset, heading into another competition,” Stonehouse said of the upcoming Currie Cup, scheduled to get underway next month.

The Pumas will host Griquas in Nelspruit on July 25 – a rematch of the recent SA Cup Final – in the opening match of South Africa’s premier domestic competition.

“Winning and delivering new players to the bigger franchises attracts new players to your union, because they see value and opportunity,” the veteran Pumas mentor added.

He said the SA Cup was also good preparation for the Currie Cup, allowing him to give game time to all his players and assess them in a competitive environment.

(LISTEN as champion coach Jimmy Stonehouse chats exclusively to @king365ed about winning the SA Cup and the future of the Currie Cup…..)

“Winning the SA Cup gives you the belief that you can do well in the Currie Cup.

“We know it won’t be easy,” he said.

Stonehouse revealed that the local franchises were not willing or able to play warm-up games against them before the start of the Currie Cup, resulting in them looking outside the South African borders.

“We will play Uganda and Namibia,” the Nelspruit team’s coach told @rugby365com.

He added that it appears the South African Rugby Union is not putting a high-enough premium on domestic competitions, with the emphasis on Europe.

“We didn’t have TMOs [television match officials] and ARs [with the host union’s officials acting as assistant referees], so I don’t know how much value SARU places on the SA Cup.

“I also don’t know how much value the Currie Cup still has for the bigger unions.

“For [the Pumas], Griquas, Cheetahs and Boland it is a massive event.

“That is the biggest competition we can participate in and give exposure to our sponsors.

“Now that the Currie Cup is a single round, it reduces that exposure even more.

“In my honest opinion, the focus is on the international competitions and Europe.

“SARU can correct it and add more value to the Currie Cup.

“They can also get the smaller unions into one of the lesser international competitions.”

@king365ed
@rugby365com