Jimmy Stonehouse says he has the Pumas prepped to block out the “mass of Griquas supporters” when the two sides contest the Currie Cup final in Kimberley on Saturday, reports DEVIN HERMANUS.
A full house is expected in attendance for a fairy-tale matchup between Griquas and the Pumas in the Northern Cape to decide a new champion in the sport’s oldest competition.
At the beginning of the week, only 50% of stadium capacity was allowed at sports matches due to national restrictions, and Griqua Park looked set to accommodate half of its 12,800 seats for the final on Saturday afternoon.
However, government repealed the lockdown regulations on Wednesday night and the remaining tickets for the final were quickly snapped up on Thursday.
Griquas, making a first appearance in a Currie Cup final since 1970, have beaten the Pumas twice this year – 41-20 at home in February, and 45-44 after a cliff-hanger in Nelspruit in their final match of the regular season.
A five-minute scoring blitz by the Pumas in a semi-final thriller against the Free State Cheetahs – one of the pre-season title favourites – clinched the men from Nelspruit a spot in the showpiece, and Stonehouse has trained his troops not to be overawed by the occasion on Saturday.
ALSO: Pumas coach: We owe Griquas one
Speaking as the Pumas prepare for a first-ever Currie Cup final appearance, he told SA Rugby magazine: “We’ve played well away from home, beating the Sharks and the Cheetahs twice so we’re confident with that, and I think we’ve got the players to do it and that’s the most important thing.
“What makes it easy is that if it was a Cheetahs or Bulls final with guys who played in the URC or with Springboks in, then it’s a different issue. Playing Griquas, who are the same guys you always play… they’re the same as us, a small union – five of them were in the Pumas side two years ago.
“So that’s the focus we went on and I don’t think there’s anyone who has got the big eyes or whatever on the situation.”
The Pumas coach added: “The only thing we worked on in the build up was when we are jogging out there and they see that mass of Griquas supporters, that’s the biggest thing we have to control, getting in there and just start our warm-up.
“We lost twice against Griquas this season, once at home and the biggest concern was the yellow card, and then they came back into the game in Mbombela.
“Keep the discipline right and then we can make it. We just have to keep our foot on the pedal, minimise our mistakes and take the points when we have to.”
