This time a year ago, no one could have predicted that the 2022 Currie Cup final would be contested between the Griquas and the Pumas in Kimberley, but that was the case last June.
Once again, no one knows who will carry the favorite tag into the 2023 competition and maybe that’s a good thing.
It’s really an open competition, with seven of the eight teams in the Premier Division with a chance to go all the way.
Perhaps only the newcomers of the First Division, the Griffons, will not be considered as potential winners.
Then again, no one thought the Pumas would move to the Kimberley. And the question is, can they go back and forth?
Marutlulle to lead the Bull
At the end of this week’s first round of action on Sunday, South African rugby fans will have an idea of who looks good and who needs to do some work.
And the Pumas will know where they stand because they have a difficult opener, against the Bulls, at Loftus Versfeld on Saturday at 13.00.
Coach Jimmy Stonehouse will be desperate to get off to a winning start against what could be a Bulls line-up coached by Edgar Marutlulle.
The new Bulls Currie Cup coach has selected a side including Springboks Lionel Mapoe, Sbu Nkosi and captain Morne Steyn, and on the bench Cornal Hendricks.
Also in the mix are URC regulars Gerhard Steenekamp, Francois Klopper, Jan-Hendrik Wessels, David Kriel and Wandisile Simelane.
The Pumas have some big stars in their ranks and will be led by lock Shane Kirkwood.
The big question is, who will be more settled – the team that has spent months preparing for the Currie Cup (Pumas) or the team that is a mixed group and matches that have not spent much time, but have more. experience at 23?
In the first round of matches played this weekend, the Cheetahs beat the Griquas 42-19 in Kimberley on Saturday, while in Durban on Saturday the Sharks got the better of newcomers, the Griffons, 32-16.
And in Joburg, also on Saturday, Western Province beat the Lions 44-28.