2011 Currie Cup: Possible Top Four of the tournament
The eight South African provincial Rugby Union sides will be playing their last pool matches of the South African Rugby Union's (SARU) domestic competition called 2011 ABSA Currie Cup. The
results of the week will determine the top four of the tournament, which will compete in the semi-finalis starting from next weekend.
The Golden Lions with their 50 points coming from their 13 games in the tournament have already confirmed their place in the top four, while the remaining three positions are on offering,
as the teams will kick start week 14 of the tournament on Friday, October 14. Lions will play their last match against the defending Champions Natal Sharks.
Sharks are currently placed second on the table with 43 points coming from their 13 matches in the tournament, which includes 9 wins. Sharks will take on the Lions in their final match on Saturday,
October 15 at Kings Park Stadium, Durban.
Sharks encounter against the Lions is the last round match of the 2011 Currie Cup, which means that the Sharks will enter the match knowing what is required from them to make to the final top
four of the competition. Irrespective of the outcome of the Griquas and Free State Cheetahs encounter, Sharks will be looking forward to a bonus point win off the Lions to enter the knockout stages of the tournament on a higher note.
Sharks with the return of several of their first choice players from the Springboks Rugby World Cup duty, will fancy their chances for a bonus point victory over the table leaders.
Trailing by a difference of a single point from the Sharks on the points table is the Free State Cheetahs, with their 42 points, who will be hosting the Griquas at Free State Park, Bloemfontein.
Griquas on the other hand are placed at the sixth position with their 35 points. They will be eyeing a bonus point victory to give them any chance of making it to the top four. However, provided their poor point difference, the bonus point win, might not be
enough for them to secure their place in the semifinals. However, Cheetahs will be looking for a bonus point win to finish second on the table.
Besides Griquas, Western Province and Blue Bulls are also competing for the spot. However, only one of these three will enter the play-offs by finishing fourth on the table. Province and Bulls
are placed at the fourth and fifth position with 36 and 35 points respectively.
Province is more likely of the two to make it to the top four provided that they have a better points difference. They will also be scoping a bonus point win over the Pumas. Bulls on the other
hand will be enter the match as the favourites to secure a bonus point win over the Leopards, however, their chances to progress to the semi-finals of the tournament depends upon the results of the Province vs Pumas encounter.
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