Griquas adopt all-out attack mindset for Currie Cup final

TEAM ANNOUNCEMENT: Defending Currie Cup champions Griquas are not going into Saturday’s final against the Pumas thinking about protecting their title.

Instead, head coach Pieter Bergh says the Peacock Blues has one clear message: attack the Currie Cup.

After securing a home final in Kimberley, Bergh believes that mindset will carry Griquas to another title decider and must now take them over the finish line.

“From the beginning of the season we said we don’t want to defend the Currie Cup. We want to go and attack the Currie Cup,” Bergh said.

“That’s worked for us this season. We just have to do it one more week now.”

Saturday’s clash will be only the third Currie Cup final to be staged in Kimberley in 56 years, following previous showdowns in 1970 and 2022. This season also marks 140 years of Griquas rugby, adding another layer of history to an already significant occasion.

On top of that, their mercurial flyhalf George Whitehead will run out in his 150th game for the Peacock Blues.

Griquas return to the final with the core of the squad that lifted the trophy last season, and Bergh says last year’s success has given the group invaluable experience in handling knockout pressure.

But this final carries extra meaning because it will be played in front of their own supporters in Kimberley.

Bergh recalled the emotional scenes when the team returned home with the Currie Cup trophy last year.

“When we drove into Kimberley and saw the people in the streets waiting for us at the stadium and welcoming us home with the trophy, we had one goal – to give them another home final.

“That’s half the goal achieved. Now we have to finish the job and give them the trophy.”

The coach admitted his squad is desperate to reward Kimberley after falling short in this year’s SA Cup final despite a packed stadium.

“The stadium was almost sold out for the SA Cup final. It was crazy.

“We couldn’t give them that win. We’re desperate this week. The players are desperate to give Kimberley what they’ve been waiting for for a long time.”

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Continuity gives Griquas confidence

Bergh has resisted the temptation to make changes for the final, naming the same side that produced an emphatic semifinal victory.

“There was no reason to change the team.”

“The group that played last week performed really well. I’ve always been a believer in continuity.”

He believes the defending champions have reached this stage because the squad has been built over four years rather than one successful season.

“Last year, when we won the Currie Cup, we said this was a team that had been together for three years.”

“We’ve managed to keep 80 to 85 percent of that team, so you can say we’re in year four now with the same coaching group.”

“We know each other so well. The players know the coaches, and we’ve got that cohesion as a group.”

Griquas finished the league phase as the competition’s most consistent side, scoring the most tries while conceding the fewest points and tries in the Currie Cup.

Their only defeat came in the dying moments against the Stormers XXIII in the opening round before embarking on a six-match winning streak.

Bergh said there is no secret formula behind their success.

“I don’t think there’s a secret ingredient. We’ve been able to adapt to different conditions, whether it’s wet fields or dry fields, and we’ve added different profiles to the squad.”

Those additions, combined with a settled coaching staff and experienced core, have allowed Griquas to evolve without losing their identity.

No fear of peaking too early

Griquas arrive at the final after a dominant semifinal performance, but Bergh insists there is no concern his team has hit top form too soon.

Instead, he believes the squad has been preparing all season for this moment.

“We plan to peak when it matters. I don’t have any fears, to be honest. The guys are calm. They’re desperate to win, but they’re calm because they know the processes that get us onto the scoreboard.”

Griquas: 15 Stefan Coetzee, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelendaba, 11 Sako Makata, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Bobby Alexander, 8 Carl Els, 7 Marco de Witt, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg (captain), 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ig Prinsloo, 2 Tiaan Lange, 1 Leon Lyons
Replacements: 16 Janco Uys, 17 Eddie Davids, 18 Ntobeko Shezi, 19 Derik Pretorius, 20 Carl van der Merwe, 21 Jack Hart, 22 Liam Koen, 23 Connor Mahoney

Date: Saturday, September 12
Venue: Suzuki Stadium, Kimberley
Kick-off: 15.00 SAST; 13.00 GMT
Referee: Morné Ferreira