A bridge too far for Griquas?

Spare a thought for Griquas coach Dawie Theron and his players after a season during which they have added new spice to the Currie Cup competition.

After thirteen of fourteen league matches, the men from Kimberley have not been out of the top four at any stage - and in fact were early standings leaders for most of the first round with a sequence of totally unexpected wins.

They only relinquished their log lead in the last game of the first round following successive defeats to the Blue Bulls and the Sharks after they had won their first five matches.

"It seems a little unfair," smiled Theron after his side were beaten 61-27 by the Blue Bulls at Loftus on Saturday, "to have that sort of record and then not make it to the playoffs.

"But we can, of course, still do it and we are confident of playing in the semis."

Griquas play the Sharks, shaky in their last two matches, in inhospitable Kimberley on Saturday. Two bonus points from that match will see their dream come true. Even one point could be enough, but then the Free State Cheetahs will have to return from Wellington without a bonus point win against the Boland Kavaliers - an unlikely scenario considering Boland's dismal season so far.

Full article: http://www.planetrugby.com/story/0,2...608762,00.html