Cheetahs v Pumas: Tale of the Tape
SPOTLIGHT: The Pumas are a mere ‘infant’ when compared to the rich Currie Cup history of the Cheetahs. One union was founded in 1895, the other almost a century later in 1969.
Yet, when they face off in the Currie Cup Final in Bloemfontein on Saturday, the scoreboard will read 0-all before kick-off.
However, in the ‘Tale of the Tape’ stats, the Cheetahs tower over the Pumas – who won their only title in their maiden Final appearance last year.
At least they have a 100 percent record in Currie Cup finals.
The Cheetahs (including their days as Orange Free State/Free State) have won six titles (one shared), nine times runners-up and 13 times losing semifinalists.
Their most recent title was the 31-28 win over the Lions in Bloemfontein in 2019.
The Pumas (including their days as South Eastern Transvaal) featured in one Final only (beating Griquas 26-19 in Kimberley last year) and had one previous appearance in a semifinal (a 6-49 loss to eventual champions Northern Transvaal in Pretoria in 1980).
Cheetahs in Currie Cup finals
1973: Northern Transvaal v Free State (30–22) Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1975: Northern Transvaal v Free State (12–6) Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1976: Free State v Western Province (33–16) Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1977: Northern Transvaal v Free State (27–12) Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1978: Northern Transvaal v Free State (13–9) Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
1981: Northern Transvaal v Free State (23–6) Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
1994: Transvaal v Free State (56–33) Springbok Park, Bloemfontein
1997: Western Province v Cheetahs (14–12) Newlands Stadium, Cape Town
2004: Bulls v Cheetahs (42–33) Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2005: Cheetahs v Bulls (29–25) Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2006: Bulls v Cheetahs (shared 28–all) Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2007: Cheetahs v Lions (20–18) Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2009: Bulls v Cheetahs (36–24) Loftus Versfeld, Pretoria
2016: Cheetahs v Bulls (36–16) Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
2019: Cheetahs v Lions (31–28) Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein
Pumas in the Currie Cup Final
2022: Griquas v Pumas (19-26) Griqua Park, Kimberley
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