The second round of the Currie Cup tournament will begin this weekend, with the Sharks XV team playing two away matches. Specifically, they will play against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein on Friday at 17:00.
Both teams secured one of the top two positions in the table following their intense victories in the first round. The Sharks defeated the Pumas 26-24, while the Cheetahs beat the Lions 29-27 on Sunday.
Coach Mike Woolls expressed satisfaction with the result against the Pumas, noting that such a victory helps build confidence, cohesion, and belief in the team. He adheres to the principle of 'if it ain't broke, don't fix it,' making only one mandatory change to the squad: Danilo Bota replaced Johannes Potgieter, who sustained a knee injury early last week.
Woolls noted that the team has not undergone significant changes because he believes that the more players play together, the better the collective becomes. He added that Danilo, who came from the Stormers, possesses huge potential, is a very physically fit player, and could become a valuable asset to the team after adapting to the system.
For Woolls and his team, the priority is continuous improvement throughout the tournament. He views the game against the Cheetahs as an opportunity to strengthen team spirit, find cohesion, and gauge their strength against a strong side. Woolls anticipates a physically demanding confrontation, as the Cheetahs are an established team with experienced players, but he is confident that his group can match them physically.
He emphasized that the team's focus is on self-improvement and consistent play, as winning this tournament is not achieved in one or two rounds, but requires consistently high results. Woolls also highly praised the positive culture within the group, which is supported by captain Tom Dyer and his leadership group.
The first round of the Currie Cup demonstrated intense competition, marking the start of an exciting season. During this tournament, which is South Africa's oldest domestic competition, several impressive victories took place, despite attention being diverted to the Springbok rugby team's final match in Durban.
On Friday in Cape Town, the Stormers XXIII team defeated Griquas with a score of 25-19. This victory was secured by a last-minute try, allowing the Cape Town team to start their campaign perfectly. Their next match will be a tough away game against neighbors from Boland in Wellington.
On Sunday in Wellington, Boland Kavaliers managed to defeat the Bulls visitors with a score of 24-10. Although the home team held the advantage in possession and territory, they failed to fully surpass the Bulls. Rainy conditions and careless play from both sides contributed to the match being tense, and referee Griffin Colby was very busy.
Despite both teams behaving indisciplinedly, Boland's forwards ultimately brought them the victory. The win was sealed by a penalty try scored through a powerful maul at the end of the game.
Boland's head coach, Hawies Fourie, noted the contribution of the forwards, stating: 'I must praise our forwards for taking responsibility, and they did well in securing the ball and executing pick-and-go attacks, as well as scoring two maul tries against a good Bulls team.' He also emphasized the importance of maintaining discipline and pride in the team's efforts despite difficult conditions.
In Bloemfontein, Cheetahs XV had to battle the Lions. After the initiative changed between the sides, the home team eventually won with a score of 29-27 in a very exciting, albeit error-filled, confrontation. Cheetahs XV star, two-time Faf de Klerk World Cup winner, distinguished himself with quick play in ball distribution and signature runs.
Faf de Klerk's visionary play attracted the attention of Springbok coaches. However, Lions visitor coach, Mziwakhe Nkosi, was not pleased with his team's opening performance. He admitted that the result did not meet expectations but noted an improvement in defense during the second half. Nevertheless, Nkosi pointed to a lack of discipline as the reason for the defeat and missed opportunities to finish attacks in the 22-meter area.
Furthermore, Sharks XV in Mbombela also showed impressive play, defeating Pumas with a score of 26-24, starting their campaign with a win.
