Rugby
Griquas brace for tougher SA Cup─── MORGAN PIEK 10:02 Thu, 30 Jan 2025
The players of the Suzuki Griquas are eager to get back on the field, with the 2025 SA Cup fast approaching. They are preparing for what promises to be a tougher and more competitive tournament.
As the defending champions, the Griquas have been training since last year. Over the past month, their focus has shifted to the SA Cup, which is now just over a month away. This will mark their first competitive action since the conclusion of the 2024 Currie Cup.
In 2024, the Peacock Blues went unbeaten in the SA Cup, and they will begin their 2025 campaign with the distinction of never having lost in the tournament.
Thomas Bursey. Photo: Morgan Piek
Earlier this week, coach Pieter Bergh indicated that there are no major work-ons for the team, and instead, their focus is on just taking their existing strengths to the next level. He emphasised the importance of raising the intensity of their game to match the level of the Currie Cup.
With this being only the second edition of the SA Cup, all teams are expected to have learned valuable lessons from last year’s campaign. Smaller teams, such as the Leopards, Boland, and Eastern Province, are expected to be stronger and more competitive through hard lessons learnt, better conditioning, and good contracting to bolster their respective squads.
Flanker Stephan Smith, who captained the Griquas to victory last year, acknowledged that defending their title won’t be easy.
“It’s been a hard preseason since last year, and we’re still working hard this year,” said Smith. “But we’re really excited for the SA Cup that’s coming up – it’s great to finally get game time again after all the preseason work. It’s definitely something to look forward to.”
Marcqiewn Titus. Photo: Morgan Piek
“I think this year’s SA Cup is going to be harder. Teams have learned a lot from last year’s tournament, but so have we. We know teams will be coming for us, and that’s even more reason for us to work harder.
“We’re really excited – it’s going to be a fantastic tournament. It’s going to be physical, and we’re ready for that, so we’re going to enjoy every moment of it.”
The SA Cup is set to kick off on 7 March, with the Leopards hosting the Griquas at Olën Park in Potchefstroom.
