The Leopards won the right to host the First Division final after finishing with five victories from their six league games – the same as the Griffons – but the team from North West had one more bonus point.
Friday’s hosts will go into the final high on confidence after securing a big win in their semi-final over the Boland Kavaliers, while the visitors from Welkom had to work a bit harder for their victory over the Valke, but both teams will know that there won’t be any second chances on Friday if they are going to lift the silverware.
If the previous encounter between the Leopards and Down Touch Griffons is anything to go by, the brand-new Carling Currie Cup First Division trophy will remain in Potchefstroom for the next year, but rugby doesn’t work like that, and all 46 players involved in Friday’s final know that.
Just under a month ago, in the fifth round on Saturday 17 July, the Leopards beat the Griffons by 36-26 at Olën Park – the Northern Free Staters’ only defeat in the competition to date.
The hosts scored four tries on that day and conceded three, while both teams were awarded a penalty try. But finals are seldom open affairs with brilliant running rugby, with more emphasis on defence.
In that regard, the Down Touch Griffons pose a serious threat – they conceded only nine tries during the league phase of the competition, half of what the Leopards let in.
Last weekend, in the semi-finals, the Leopards conceded five tries against the Boland Kavaliers en route to their 52-29 win, while the Valke scored three and were awarded a penalty try in their semi-final, which the Griffons won by 38-31.
Defences aside, if the Griffons let their guard down for a moment, the Leopards will look to pounce, as they have done all season long. The men from North West scored a total of 38 tries this season – including seven last weekend – while their opponents from Welkom are on 30 five-pointers for the season.
The Leopards last won the Carling Currie Cup First Division in 2015, and the Down Touch Griffons were crowned champions in 2016 and 2017.
Teams:
Leopards: 15 Duren Hoffman, 14 Lincoln Daniels, 13 Dries Truter, 12 Tjaart Benade, 11 Eugene Hare, 10 Danrich Visagie, 9 Riaan Genis, 8 Andries Fouche, 7 Heinz Bertram, 6 Siya Mdaka, 5 Vincent Maruping, 4 Malembe Mpofu, 3 Ruan Swiegers, 2 Robey Leibrandt, 1 Komape Moloto Replacements: 16 Gustav du Rand, 17 Ruben Du Plessis, 18 JP Mans, 19 HP Swart, 20 Shirwin Cupido, 21 Edmund Rheeder, 22 Johan Retief, 23 Keagan Fortune.
Down Touch Griffons: 15 Dommenic Smit, 14 Granwill Matthys, 13 Niel Stannard, 12 Duan Pretorius, 11 Morne Joubert, 10 Aphiwe Stemele, 9 Jaywinn Juries, 8 Soso Xakalashe, 7 Ludio Williams, 6 Jean-Jacques Pretorius, 5 Hannes Janse van Rensburg, 4 Michael Benadie, 3 Doctor Booysen, 2 Kwezi Mkhafu, 1 Stephan de Jager. Replacements: 16 Dandre Delport, 17 Bandisa Ndlovu, 18 Christo Bezuidenhout, 19 Wikus Nieuwenhuis, 20 Thato Mavundla, 21 Ethan Williams, 22 Arthur-William Williams, 23 Gurswhin Wehr.