A home semi-final, or simply bragging rights. This is the contrasting possibility of what could be at stake for the Sharks when they take on Western Province in their final Currie Cup pool game at Newlands tomorrow evening.
Although the Sharks are assured of a semi-final place next weekend, and can finish no lower than third place, there could still be an unexpected opportunity for the Durban side to leap-frog the Lions into second spot.
That will all come down to the outcome of the Lions and Cheetahs clash that immediately precedes the encounter at Newlands, with the team from Johannesburg currently just two log points ahead of the Sharks.
The Lions will head into the match at Ellis Park as favourites, though, and they have control of their own destiny in the sense that a victory would guarantee that they cannot be displaced from second position.
However, a Cheetahs side that has been boosted by the return of three Springboks could certainly be capable of securing an upset win that would keep the Sharks’ hopes alive of clinching a home semi.
Should the Lions lose, the Sharks will have a massive incentive for victory over Western Province, and when one considers the team selections that have been made, the Durbanites should be confident in their ability to emerge victorious in Cape Town.
As expected, WP coach Allister Coetzee has picked effectively a second-string side for the clash, having made a raft of changes to his log-leading team as he looks to “protect” some of his top players from injury before next weekend’s semi-final.
While it’s a move that has taken some of the gloss off what is a re-match of last year’s Currie Cup final, it’s a luxury that Western Province have earned after attaining an unassailable lead at the summit of the standings.
The Sharks have made a couple of injury-enforced changes, but have still named a formidable line-up, which sees Bok scrumhalf Cobus Reinach coming in to start his first Currie Cup game of the season.
“It’s good to know, going into our game, what is needed if the Lions slip up,” said coach Brad Macleod-Henderson. “Whether it’s a draw, whether we need four tries, or whatever else is required. But the reality is that we need to prepare to go down there and put in a good performance regardless of the log permutations.”
Macleod-Henderson said that while they would keep a close eye on the earlier match in Johannesburg, he insisted it wouldn’t cause them to alter their approach.
“Obviously we will have a look at the game between the Cheetahs and Lions, and if the result goes our way, and we need to tweak a few things, we will chat about it then. But that’s not really entering our minds, we know we have to go down to Cape Town and perform well to get a result, and to give a good account of ourselves.”
And although the Western Province side that will take to the pitch is far from full-strength, the Sharks coach reiterated that this was not something that would preoccupy them.
“We’re not too focused on what Province are doing, we’re concentrating on what we want to do. If the Lions drop points, then there will be an opportunity for us to get a home semi, and that’s really where all our focus is.
“Earning a home semi-final would be fantastic, really for two reasons. One, it’s always great to play at home, you don’t need to travel, and you’re in familiar surroundings. Secondly, it’s also reward for all our supporters who have supported us throughout the Currie Cup campaign.”
Sharks: 15 SP Marais, 14 Tonderai Chavhanga, 13 Sibusiso Sithole, 12 Andre Esterhuizen, 11 Lwazi Mvovo, 10 Lionel Cronje, 9 Cobus Reinach, 8 Lubabalo Mtembu (captain), 7 Etienne Oosthuizen, 6 Jacques Botes, 5 Marco Wentzel, 4 Stephan Lewies, 3 Matt Stevens, 2 Monde Hadebe, 1 Thomas du Toit.
Replacements: 16 Franco Marais. 17 Dale Chadwick, 18 Lourens Adriaanse, 19 JC Astle, 20 Khaya Majola, 21 Conrad Hoffmann, 22 Fred Zeilinga
Western Province: 15 Dillyn Leyds, 14 EW Viljoen, 13 Pat Howard, 12 Michael van der Spuy, 11 Devon Williams, 10 Kurt Coleman, 9 Louis Schreuder, 8 Sikhumbuzo Notshe, 7 Rynhardt Elstadt, 6 Rohan Kitshoff, 5 Gerbrandt Grobler, 4 Jurie van Vuuren, 3 Brok Harris (captain), 2 Tiaan Liebenberg, 1 Oliver Kebble.
Replacements: 16 Neil Rautenbach, 17 Justin Ackerman, 18 Gavin Annandale, 19 Anton van Zyl, 20 Patrick O'Brien, 21 Godlen Masimla, 22 Chevandre van Schoor - Daily News