Griquas set for Currie Cup final rematch with Pumas after dominant semi-final wins

Griquas will host the Pumas in the 2026 Currie Cup Premier Division final at Suzuki Stadium in Kimberley next Saturday after both sides won their semi-finals on Sunday.

Griquas secured their place in the showpiece with a commanding 52-12 victory over the Lions in Kimberley, while the Pumas produced a determined second-half display to defeat the Cheetahs 27-24 in Bloemfontein.

The final will begin at 15:00 and will be a rematch of the 2022 decider, when the Pumas from Mpumalanga won the Currie Cup for the first and only time in their history.

Griquas were in control from the start in the freezing winter conditions in Kimberley. Flanker Lourens Oosthuizen opened the scoring in the fifth minute after a slick attacking move exposed a gap in the Lions defence.

Lock Marco de Witt added a second try six minutes later after a fast counter-attack, giving the hosts a 14-0 lead.

The Lions responded shortly before the 20-minute mark, with hooker Armand Combrinck finishing a well-executed rolling maul.

That brief fightback did little to change the momentum. Inside centre Mnombo Zwelendaba powered over from close range before George Whitehead chipped a clever grubber kick for fullback Stefan Coetzee to collect and score.

Griquas added a fifth try on the stroke of half-time when hooker Tiaan Lange crossed from another maul. The hosts went into the interval 35-5 ahead.

Oosthuizen scored his second try six minutes into the second half to take Griquas beyond 40 points. The Lions were reduced to 14 players two minutes later after receiving a yellow card for poor discipline.

Junior Bok midfielder Ethan Adams gave the visitors a consolation try, but Griquas finished strongly. Replacement scrumhalf Jack Hart darted around the edge of a set piece for another score, and Whitehead kicked a late penalty to complete the 52-12 win.

The second semi-final was a far closer contest, with the Pumas needing to recover from a difficult first half against the Cheetahs.

The Cheetahs led 10-3 at the break after flanker Ramon Uys scored a try, while flyhalf Jaco van der Walt added the conversion and a penalty. Pumas birthday boy Clinton Swart kicked the visitors’ only points before half-time.

Pumas responded immediately after the restart. Darren Adonis scored in the corner and Swart converted to make it 10-10, before flanker Andre Goedhals crossed for another try. Swart’s conversion put the Pumas 17-10 ahead.

The Cheetahs levelled again through hooker Marko Janse van Rensburg, who finished a powerful maul, but the Pumas regained control when replacement hooker Gustav du Rand scored from another well-built maul. Swart’s conversion made it 24-17.

The lead lasted only a few minutes. Carel-Jan Coetzee broke through in midfield and scored under the posts, allowing Van der Walt to convert and make it 24-24 with less than 10 minutes remaining.

The decisive moment came when the Cheetahs were penalised for straying offside. Swart kicked his second penalty to restore the Pumas’ advantage.

The Cheetahs chose not to take a kickable penalty in the closing stages, instead opting for an attacking lineout and maul. The Pumas held firm, stopped the drive and won the turnover to secure their place in the final.

Griquas 52 (35), Lions 12 (5)

Griquas: Tries – Lourens Oosthuizen (2), Marco de Witt, Mnombo Zwelendaba, Stefan Coetzee, Tiaan Lange, Jack Hart. Conversions – George Whitehead (5), Liam Koen (2). Penalty goal – George Whitehead.

Lions: Tries – Armand Combrinck, Ethan Adams. Conversion – Exauce Kevani.

Cheetahs 24 (10), Pumas 27 (3)

Cheetahs: Tries – Ramon Uys, Marko Janse van Rensburg, Carel-Jan Coetzee. Conversions – Jaco van der Walt (3). Penalty goal – Jaco van der Walt.

Pumas: Tries – Darren Adonis, Andre Goedhals, Gustav du Rand. Conversions – Clinton Swart (3). Penalty goals – Clinton Swart (2).