Currie Cup Final?

Did anyone tune into watch the Currie Cup final. To be honest, I wasn't really that interested. The bools were throwing the kitchen sink at it and used their front line players, where as the Stormers tried to bring in some of their stars. The sharks did really well but also struggled when they introduce their URC players. 

I just don't know if the Currie Cup is that good or those URC players simply not interested anymore given the long season and disappointment not making the bok squad. Those who didn't make it are also probably looking to get a contract from France or Japan to go earn some big bucks. 

But I do think that they might have figured out how to fit the cup into the current schedule, but to be honest, I think it should have started round about now and run in the back ground while the internationals are on. 

I would also make a rule, that 22 of your URC players may not participate in the Currie Cup or depending on how many minutes they have played. 

Knowing that the URC ended in May, Should we simply not start in July, give a complete 4 week break from Rugby and then play until the end of September. 12 Weeks or something. 

my logic is that we do need a competition to run alongside the international so that those fringe bok players can get game time. 

Unless they start introducing A games instead, might be worth watching. 

Given that we often see squads of 45 these days, would it simply not be better. 

I also think the championship can do with a shake up. Instead of playing home and away, simply play one year at home and one year away. 2 games, if there is time, add a third. Let the dirt trackers play mid week. Maybe a counties game. 

In return, Imagine the all blacks touring, their A team could play the Cheetahs and the Pumas currie cup teams. 

That would be a massive income for those smaller unions. 

On the flip side, we can experiment with our fringe boss and it will keep them match sharp incase they are needed. 

https://rugby365.com/tournaments/currie-cup/news-currie-cup/cheetahs-crowned-as-2023-currie-cup-champions/

MATCH REPORT: Cheetahs playmaker Ruan Pienaar sent the ball hurling into the stands as his team romped to Currie Cup victory after defeating the Pumas in the final in Bloemfontein on Saturday.

The men from Bloemfontein triumphed 25-17 in an entertaining final in front of a crowd of 33804.

The Cheetahs dominated possession for most of the match while the Pumas were made to defend for long periods, and this time round, unlike their semifinal against the Sharks last week, defence did not bring them victory.

With two minutes to go in the match, celebrations started in the stands as the Bloemfontein faithful watched their team secure another turn-over and the last scrum of the match was set on the middle line.

The Cheetahs scored three tries to the one of the Pumas, the first only in the 28th minute when Reinhardt Fortuin dived over in the corner.

The first 25 minutes were dictated by the boot of the two flyhalves, Pienaar and the Pumas’ Tinus de Beer, and kept the score at 6-6.

The Pumas fought back valiantly and managed to send over Aliqhayiya Mgijima five minutes after Fortuin scored.

After 35 minutes Cheetahs coach Hawies Fourie changed both his props but it paid off and from a line-out in the Pumas 22, a powerful maul by the men in orange sucked in the Pumas defence and from the ball the ball was distributed quickly to the outside backs.

Quick hands by Fortuin, Pienaar and Tapiwa Mafura, who sent Jasper Cohen over in the corner, stretched the homesides’ lead to 18-11 at half-time.

The second half was more of the same from Pienaar and his charges and the Pumas could only manage two more penalty kicks by De Beer.

When Cheetah scrumhalf Rewan Kruger dotted down in the 51st minute, it was all but sealed for the homeside.

To their credit, the Pumas never gave up the fight and battled galliantly to the bitter end.

But the Cheetahs were the dominant team on the day, with Pienaar the absolute playmaker, varying his game with high kicks, quick ball through the hands to his attacking backs and often sending the ball coast to coast to try and find cracks in the Pumas defensive lines.

It was the first time these two teams clashed in a Currie Cup final, and the Cheetahs’ 33rd Currie Cup encounter. The first clash was on 11 October 1996 in the Free State Stadium, Bloemfontein.

It was also the third time in a row that the Cheetahs had the privilege of playing in the Currie Cup final in Bloemfontein.

Scorers:

For the Cheetahs:
Tries: Fortuin, Kruger, Cohen
Cons: Pienaar 2
Pens: Pienaar 2

For the Pumas:
Tries: Mgimima
Cons: De Beer
Pens: De Beer 3

Cheetahs: 15 Tapiwa Mafura, 14 Daniel Kasende, 13 David Brits, 12 Reinhardt Fortuin, 11 Cohen Jasper, 10 Ruan Pienaar, 9 Rewan Kruger, 8 Friedle Olivier, 7 Sibabalo Qoma, 6 Gideon van der Merwe, 5 Victor Sekekete (captain), 4 Rynier Bernardo, 3 Conraad van Vuuren, 2 Marnus van der Merwe, 1 Nqobisizwe Moxoli
Replacements: 16 Louis van der Westhuizen, 17 Alulutho Tshakweni, 18 Hencus van Wyk, 19 Jeandre Rudolph, 20 George Cronje, 21 Daniel Maartens, 22 Siyabonga Masuku 23 Robert Ebersohn.

Pumas: 15 Devon Williams, 14 Andrew Kota, 13 Diego Appollis, 12 Ali Mgijima, 11 Etienne Taljaard, 10 Tinus de Beer, 9 Chriswill September, 8 Kwanda Dimaza, 7 Francois Kleinhans, 6 Andre Fouche, 5 Shane Kirkwood (captain), 4 Deon Slabbert, 3 Simon Raw, 2 Pieter Jacobs, 1 Corne Fourie.
Replacements: 16 Darnell Osuagwu, 17 Etienne Janeke, 18 Dewald Maritz, 19 Malembe Mpofu, 20 Ruwald van der Merwe, 21 Giovan Snyman, 22 Gene Willemse, 23 Wian van Niekerk.

Referee: Cwengile Jadezweni
Assistant referees: AM Jacobs, Stephan Geldenhuys
TMO: Egon Seconds

Photo: Johan Orton

I watched it…..but fell asleep part way through ! 

Yup, not really that good, it is for the other Club players moonlighting as professional players and players such as Ruan Pienaar that should have retired, age 39 already. 

The support and interest in currie Cup rugby has fallen off dramatically over the years as has the standard of the games.

I started watching some CC games again this season but found nothing exciting or of interest to watch any complete game.

Boring.