Rugby
Unbeaten Griquas reset for pivotal match against Pumas─── MORGAN PIEK 14:39 Tue, 15 Apr 2025
The Suzuki Griquas have welcomed this week’s break in the SA Cup, as the competition rapidly approaches its business end.
The Griquas trained on Monday and again today, as they begin to shift their focus to next week’s crucial clash against the Pumas in Nelspruit.
After six rounds, the defending champions remain the team to beat. However, the upcoming match against their fierce rivals from the Lowveld is shaping up to be their biggest challenge yet.
Albert Liebenberg. Photo: Morgan Piek
The Griquas are still the only unbeaten team in the competition, boasting an impressive SA Cup record of 16 wins and no defeats. Head coach Pieter Bergh told OFM Sport that it’s vital for the team to be mentally fresh for next week’s encounter.
“It’s very important for us to give the guys a mental break,” said Bergh. “We’ll have two hard days of training this week, then give the players some time off. In this competition, even though it might seem like there are a few easier games, there’s a lot of pressure with Currie Cup qualification at stake.
“Every match is high-pressure because everyone’s pushing to finish in the top four. So it’s crucial that we take a bit of a mental breather before heading into the business end of the tournament.”
The Griquas’ next game in the SA Cup is against their long-standing rivals and the 2024 losing finalists, the Pumas. Known for their strong competitive spirit, the Pumas are always eager to settle scores when the opportunity arises.
Bergh added that there’s very little separating the two teams ahead of their trip to Nelspruit, and emphasised the importance of being fresh – both physically and mentally – for the big match.
“The Pumas and us, we know each other well. We know what to expect from one another.
Zane Bester and Tertius Kruger. Photo: Morgan Piek
“If you look at the log – we’ve scored almost the same number of tries, conceded about the same, and the points difference is minimal. I think we’re only about two points better off.
“So it’s very tight between the two sides, and it usually results in a close contest. That’s why it’s important for us to step back, reset, and gear up for what we hope will be five strong weeks to close out the SA Cup.”
Next week’s showdown between the Pumas and the Peacock Blues at Mbombela Stadium is set to kick off at 19:00 on Friday evening.
