The break is over, the boots are laced, and the stakes couldn’t be higher. When the Airlink Pumas take on the Suzuki Griquas this Friday night under the lights at Mbombela Stadium, it’ll be more than just another SA Cup fixture – it’s a battle for bragging rights, home semi-final advantage, and perhaps even a shot at hosting the final.
Coach Jimmy Stonehouse, never one to mince his words, summed it up perfectly in a voice note interview with Renaldo Bothma: “This is one of the big games of the competition. Griquas are a quality outfit – top of the log, great pack of forwards, dangerous back three – and they want the same thing we do: a home semi and final.”
The Pumas are second on the log, trailing Griquas by mere points difference. A win on Friday will catapult them to the summit and place their fate firmly in their own hands as the business end of the competition approaches.
Well-Earned Rest, Laser-Sharp Focus
The Easter weekend break came at just the right time for the Pumas, who had been charging hard in the SA Cup campaign. According to Stonehouse, the team kept things ticking over until midweek before switching off and recharging their batteries.
“We trained last week until Wednesday and gave the guys a long weekend,” said Stonehouse. “They came back fresh on Monday morning, and now the focus is 100% on Griquas. The energy is there, the intent is there – now it’s about executing under pressure.”
That clarity of purpose will be vital. The Griquas have been flying high, blending brute up-front power with explosive pace out wide – and at the heart of it all stands the ever-reliable George Whitehead.
Whitehead Watch
Stonehouse was quick to highlight the influence of Griquas’ flyhalf, George Whitehead, who has been in imperious form this season.
He’s the master. George Whitehead,” Stonehouse noted. “Everything revolves around him. He controls the game beautifully, kicks with precision, and punishes your mistakes.”
Whitehead currently sits second in the SA Cup’s points-scoring charts with 67 points and leads the conversions tally with 31. If the Pumas are to wrest control of the match, neutralising his influence will be key.
Front Row Fireworks and Backline Brilliance
While Whitehead may be the Griquas’ conductor, Stonehouse believes the game will be won or lost up front.
“It’s going to be a massive battle at the front,” he said. “They’ve got a physical pack, and we’ll need to match them there. But they’ve also got quality in the back three, so we can’t switch off anywhere.”
For the Pumas, the blueprint is clear – bring the heat in the forwards, be clinical at set-piece time, and apply scoreboard pressure to force Griquas out of their rhythm.
Home Advantage on the Line
The Pumas have made Mbombela a tough hunting ground for visiting sides, and Stonehouse knows just how crucial a home semi – and potentially final – could be.
“It’s important for us to get this home one,” he said. “You want your supporters behind you, familiar conditions, no travel fatigue – all those little things matter when it comes to knockout rugby.”
Looking Ahead
Friday night’s showdown has all the ingredients of a Currie Cup classic in the making – two evenly matched sides, top-class players on display, and massive playoff implications on the line.
For Stonehouse and his Pumas, it’s more than just a game. It’s a litmus test of their title credentials, a chance to throw down the gauntlet, and a golden opportunity to claim top spot when it matters most.
