Blue Bulls-Cheetahs: Could Free State Win Another?

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. 

Not only was Springbok stalwart and Captain Juan Smith was ruled out for the season, but many of his replacements suffered injuries throughout, including Meyer Bosman, Hendro Scholtz and Adriaan Scholtz, before Nico Breedt was named fifth captain of the team.

But whether this character can stand up to the sheer class evident in the Blue Bulls is another question.

Their key weapon also appears to be their ability to adjust.  Against Western Province, their lauded scrum and world class lineout stuttered, but their outside backs rose to take control.

Fourie Du Preez may not have been as effective with a pack that was on the back foot, but the holy trinity of Du Preez, Morne Steyn and Wynand Olivier settled the ship. 

The backline of the Bulls is the one area the Cheetahs will be wary of, because Free State has the ability to match the hosts in the lineout, dominate the scrum with a marvellous front row, and rule the loose via the brilliance of Heinrich Brussow.

Brussow’s combination with Frans Viljoen and Ashley Johnson will likely have the edge on the Bulls despite the presence of five Springbok forwards in the likely Bull’s match day 22 - which will give the Cheetah’s less decorated back division more possession and opportunity.

Equally, the Bulls pack will be wary that they delivered a performance against Western Province below their lofty standards, and they could come out like men possessed this week.

So finally, the defining factor may be the boot of Steyn.

Like legendary Northern Transvaal Losskakel Naas Botha, Steyn could by himself determine the result, but the Cheetahs will be wary about either conceding kickable penalties or getting in a territorial dual with arguably world rugby’s most educated boot.

Either way a classic spectacle waits.