Lions v Griquas - Teams and prediction
FINAL PREVIEW: History will be made at Ellis Park between the Lions and Griquas on Saturday.
The two sides will face each other in a Currie Cup Final for the first time in the competition’s 133-year history.
The Lions host their second consecutive Currie Cup Final after agonisingly losing the 2024 edition.
Former Lion Jordan Hendrikse slotted a penalty after the final hooter to snatch the trophy from his old team.
Griquas, on the flipside of the coin, will look to make history and win their first Currie Cup title in the professional era with their destiny firmly in their own hands.
Their third and final title came in 1970 under the leadership of Mannetjies Roux when they defeated Northern Transvaal (Bulls) in the Final.
Griquas competed in just one Final in the professional era back in 2022 against the Pumas (lost 19-26) and will be looking to get it over the line this time at the spiritual home of South African Rugby.
Griquas head coach Pieter Bergh spoke about their desire to win the Currie Cup and the stark contrast between their semifinal win in 2022 and this season.
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“Back in 2022, we celebrated that semifinal win over the Bulls to reach the Final.
“It was the first time for everyone, but after the semifinal against the Cheetahs, the changeroom was much different than it was back in 2022 against the Bulls.
“There weren’t any overly celebratory. It was a change room that had a sense of ‘listen, this job isn’t done’ and that’s a good sign for me for this group.
“It’s not just about reaching the Final, it’s about winning the trophy. This whole season, we had that mentality.
“I remember we lost our opening match against the Pumas whilst the Bulls won their first two games.
“They and the Lions were on 10 points after two games, and everyone said that the Bulls and Lions are the favourites to win the Currie Cup.
“I remember in week three the Bulls lost to the Pumas at Loftus and the Lions lost to Boland in Wellington.
“And I came to the office, and some staff members and players came to me and said, ‘those are bad results,’ and I stopped them and said that it’s actually good results for us.
“If you want to reach a semifinal, then it’s bad results.
“Then you want the Bulls and Lions to go top, and you go and fight for third or fourth place [on the log].
“However, if you want to win this trophy, it’s actually good results because it allows us to finish in the top two and get a home semifinal.
“That’s the mentality I have, and I said to the players that I don’t want to hear stuff like that.
“We want to play and host a semifinal and win this trophy.
“Eventually, it worked out that way.
“If you just wanted the Bulls and Lions to keep on winning, you’ll end up finishing third and play [the semifinal] away, which makes it so much tougher.
“Yes, we would’ve liked to finish first, but the mentality we’ve built in this group is not one of being satisfied with reaching a Final. We want to go and win this trophy.”
The Lions will be under no illusion coming up against a Griquas side that has proven that they can beat anyone, home or away.
The home side will have the psychological edge after defeating the visitors 37-7 at Ellis Park a fortnight ago in a match filled with drama, which was delayed due to inclement weather.
They will be out for redemption after losing the Final at home last year.
They are also competing in back-to-back Currie Cup Finals for the first time between 2014 and 2015, which they both played against Western Province and won the latter of the two.
The Lions will also have a new captain in Springbok Quan Horn, who will lead the side in the absence of the injured PJ Botha.
Lions head coach Mziwakhe Nkosi said that playing and beating Griquas two weeks ago has some advantages, but they expect the Kimberley-based outfit to come out all guns blazing on Saturday.
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“We won [a fortnight ago], but it probably wasn’t a comfortable win considering all factors.
“What it has allowed us to do is [regarding] the plans we had for them in that match, we’ll keep the ones that worked, and we can sharpen up and look at those [plans] that didn’t [work].
“In hindsight, it’s a positive experience for us because we’re able to take lessons from it and put them across and analyse the things that didn’t work for us and change tactically where the need arises.”
Nkosi added: “They’ll show a bit of their ball retention and come hard off the line.
“If you look at their [team] selection, they’ll show a bit of physicality too. I expect a trick or two at line-out time [as well].
“They’re going to throw the kitchen sink at it, and it’s last chance saloon for them.
“They’ve got a break after this, so they’ll leave everything on the field, and we’ve got to encourage our guys to do the same despite what’s coming next week.”
Winger Kelly Mpeku echoed Nkosi’s sentiments regarding Griquas’ forward pack and highlighted the danger their backs pose as well.
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“They’re a great team with awesome outside backs [complemented] by a powerful forward pack.
“Their set-piece is good, which will ensure a great and tight game.”
Prop Asenathi Ntlabakanye will start this Final as the vice-captain despite awaiting a hearing in December for two doping violations.
Hooker Franco Marais starts alongside Ntlabakanye and shared his thoughts on the Bok prop’s involvement in the Currie Cup Final.
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“It’s quite exciting for us to play [with Ntlabakanye].
“The future is so uncertain for him at the moment, so I feel it’s a great opportunity for him to go out and enjoy the occasion and express himself.
“It’s exciting to have him in the team. He’s a great player and a great team man.
“He’s definitely a big boost for us, which is great.”
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Prediction:
@rugby365com: Lions by 12 points
Teams:
Lions: 15 Quan Horn (captain), 14 Kelly Mpeku, 13 Henco van Wyk, 12 Richard Kriel, 11 Angelo Davids, 10 Chris Smith, 9 Nico Steyn, 8 WJ Steenkamp, 7 Ruan Venter, 6 Jarod Cairns, 5 Ruan Delport, 4 Dylan Sjoblom, 3 Asenathi Ntlabakanye (vice-captain), 2 Franco Marais, 1 SJ Kotze.
Replacements: 16 Morné Brandon, 17 Juan Schoeman, 18 RF Schoeman, 19 Darrien Landsberg, 20 Renzo du Plessis, 21 Haashim Pead, 22 Lubabalo Dobela, 23 Rynhardt Jonker.
Griquas: 15 Cameron Hufke, 14 Dylan Maart, 13 Zane Bester, 12 Mnombo Zwelenedaba, 11 Gurswin Wehr, 10 George Whitehead, 9 Caleb Abrahams, 8 Gustav Erlank, 7 Carl Els, 6 Lourens Oosthuizen, 5 Albert Liebenberg, 4 Derik Pretorius, 3 Cebo Dlamini (captain), 2 Janco Uys, 1 Eddie Davids.
Replacements: 16 Tiaan Lange, 17 Leon Lyons, 18 IG Prinsloo, 19 Marco de Witt, 20 Phumzile Maqondwana, 21 Thomas Bursey, 22 Tom Nel, Connor Mahoney.
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Expected weather: 27 degrees Celsius, wind gusts 40 km/h, no precipitation and no risk of rain.
Kick-off: 15.00 (13.00 GMT)
Referee: Christopher Allison
Assistant referees: Cwengile Jadezweni, Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Egon Seconds
