The Currie Cup Semi-finalists have been confirmed following the last game of the open rounds, the game between the MTN Golden Lions and Vodacom Blue Bulls at Coca-Cola Park, Johannesburg.

Although the watered down Currie Cup, without the Springbok players for most of the season, has clearly lost popularity judging from the low spectator numbers at all the Currie Cup games, the good thing to come from the competition was the levelling of the playing field between the 6 competing sides.

In addition, some bright new future prospects have really come to the fore during the competition, players like Raymond Rhule – speed merchant from the Free State Cheetahs, Scarra Ntubeni – young hooker from Western Province, Ruan Combrinck – winger of the Golden Lions and Marnus Schoeman – flanker from the Griquas.

ABSA Currie Cup Premier Division – Log

On Friday night The Sharks demolished hopefull’s, GWK Griquas with an emphatic 42 / 3 win and The Sharks accordingly end top of the pops with 35 Log Points.

Despite their loss to the Vodacom Blue Bulls, the MTN Golden Lions end second on the Log with 28 Log Points.

The No 1 and No 2 teams now have the luxury of home semi-finals, the first one happening at Mr Price Kings Park, Durban, on Saturday and the second one at Coca-Cola Park in Johannesburg.

With only 2 games to go on Saturday, any of the remaining 4 Currie Cup sides were still in with a chance to advance through to the semi-finals.

DHL Western Province booked 3rd place and a semi-final against the MTN Golden Lions in Johannesburg when they ran in comfortable winners, by 36 / 15 over the Toyota Free State Cheetahs at Newlands, Cape Town.

That left the last game of the open rounds, to see whether GWK Griquas or the Vodacom Blue Bulls would advance to the semi-finals. After early butterflies and almost stuttering, at one time being down 13 / 3, the Vodacom Blue Bulls rallied and clawed their way back into the lead, with the score 22 / 16 at halftime in favour of the men in blue. It took the Vodacom Blue Bulls to score 5 tries to 2 and an eventual 50 / 29 win against the MTN Golden Lions, to book themselves 4th spot and an away semi-final against the Sharks in Durban.

With the Springboks back, the heat is now firmly on and your gueass is as good as mine who of the 4 sides will play in the final and eventually win the covetted trophy.

Unfortunately, finishing last on the Log has consequences and the Toyota Free State Cheetahs are now left the wooden spoon but even more important they are left the unenviable task to play home and away promotion / relegation games against the EP Kings, winners of the Currie Cup First Division.

The 1st promotion / relegation game is on Friday night at 19:10 in Bloemfontein and the second one a week later in Port Elizabeth.