Blue Bulls-Cheetahs: Could Free State Win Another?

(Photo by Anesh Debiky/Gallo Images/Getty Images)

120 years of competition, 69 seasons, the history of the Currie Cup speaks for itself.

On Saturday night, the 70th final that bestows South African domestic rugby supremacy will be played out between one of the great dynasties in the Blue Bulls, and the modern-day upstarts, the Cheetahs.

Note: Western Province won the first recognised title in 1883, but most acknowledge that the competition proper commenced in 1889.  Finals were played from 1939.

To call the Free State based team nouveau riche may be a bit harsh, but their four Currie Cup crowns pale into significance when compared to the 22 that Northern Transvaal/the Blue Bulls have won, and the 32 titles (including 23 of the first 26 Cups) that Western Province have been victorious in.

The Cheetahs are looking at becoming the third great side of the history books, with the Bloemfontein team looking at establishing their own modern-day Currie Cup Empire.

Of recent times, the Cheetahs have been arguably the best team in South African domestic rugby, winning three of the last five titles.  This year sees them in their fifth final in six years. 

The Cheetahs reached their first final in 1973, before winning it in their third decider in 1976.  Despite reaching another six finals since their debut Cup, they would wait until 2005 before winning their second, but would then win three straight (only the third side after WP and the Blue Bulls to do so). 

The Blue Bulls though are well versed and already can claim to be a ruling party of the Currie Cup history books, with this being their seventh final in eight years.

While they may have less overall titles than Province, they have won 20 finals, eight more than the team they beat in the semi final, with 16 finals being played at the grand fortress of Loftus Versfeld.

There are more Springboks on the Bulls than any other side, and their influence on the team is immense.  In the 10th round of the Currie Cup, they were fifth in the competition and on a three-match losing streak.

Since their shock troops have returned, they have not lost a game, and in the five matches played (including the semi final win) they have scored 245 points.

The Cheetahs were all but finished after a month of competition, sitting on four losses.  But they won eight of their next 10 to pip the Griquas into fourth spot.  With the best offense in the competition and a tournament leading 61 tries, they then upstaged the Sharks in Durban.

Some, including Cheetahs backline coach Hawies Fourie, believe that it is because they became more rounded as the competition drew on.

"The first few games we just didn't get the balance right between attack and kicking,” Fourie said.

"The big difference for me between how we played in the last 10 games and the first four of the season was that we managed to find that balance - knowing when to attack and when to kick, when to be more conservative and when to take risks."

But it is also the Cheetahs' character that has impressed, not only from coming back from a 0-4 win loss start to their season, but also dealing with injuries. 

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