SRC final round two: Who’ll win this time?

The Pumas and the Tafel Lager Griquas – last year and this year’s SuperSport Rugby Challenge finalists – are two teams who are supposed to mirror each other.

Their forwards are big, abrasive men with nothing but bad intentions; their respective flyhalves, Chris Smith and George Whitehead, like nothing but to exploit the space behind opposition teams with their boot; unleashing the two sides’ potent back-threes as and when the occasion demands it.

Given that they’ve played in the last two finals, with last year’s decider settled by a late drop-goal in favour of the Pumas, the chances of their date at Saldanha Stadium on Sunday going quietly into the night are unlikely.

The Pumas beating Griquas 37-28 in the round robin stages – having won last year’s final – places Jimmy Stonehouse’s team as the favourites going into the match. But Boland Cavaliers coach Randall Modiba, whose team lost 57-32 to the Pumas in their semifinal in Nelspruit, isn’t sure it’s that simple.

“It’s going to be an arm wrestle,” he ventured. “It’s going to be a tough battle between two good and well-coached teams. It’ll come down to pressure in critical moments and who wants to win the most.

“The thing here is they’ve played each other and they saw each other’s (knockout) games when Griquas played Western Province and the Pumas against us. So that might give them an even better insight into each other.

“But I know that the Pumas are a team for the big moments and I know their coaching staff will prepare them well.”

Jerome Paarwater, the DHL Western Province coach, also leaned on the side of the team that eliminated his from the tournament and must have a bright future in the competition: “I think the way Griquas were playing today was perfect and typical semifinals rugby.

“They played in the right parts of the field so I think they have a chance, especially with their pack. Actually it’s an even match-up when it comes to the packs, but because they outplayed us and played smart rugby, I tip them to win.”