The final eight teams that will vie for the R1-million prize for winning the 2008 Vodacom Cup will be confirmed after this weekend’s final round of league matches.
Though defending champions Griquas and south section leaders Western Province (WP) are certain of their places in the quarterfinals, at least eight teams remain in contention for the six remaining play-off spots.
Griquas, who are currently leading the north section, travel to Newlands on Saturday to face WP, who are yet to lose a game this season. The match kicks off at 12.30pm.
While WP cannot be overtaken and are guaranteed of an easier home draw in the quarterfinals, Griquas can still be pipped to first place by the Blue Bulls if they lose to WP on Saturday. This would not deny them home advantage in the quarters but it could result in a tougher draw.
It will be a tight clash between arguably the strongest two sides in the tournament. Both have shown an ability to score tries while relying on well-organised defensive systems to protect their lines. The last time the two met in the Vodacom Cup was in 2006, with WP running out 48-42 winners in Kimberley. In their previous Vodacom Cup meeting in Cape Town in 2004, Griquas won 30-10.
The Blue Bulls will be backing themselves to take top honours in the north section when they travel to East London to face the struggling Border Bulldogs on Friday (7pm). The Bulldogs have lost all six of their matches so far and are yet to register a single log point.
Four teams are still in contention for the remaining two qualifying places in the north section, while three teams will be battling for two spots in the south section.
The Free State Cheetahs, who are second in the south section, are certain of qualifying but they will need to win against the Griffons in Bloemfontein on Friday (6pm) if they are to secure home advantage in the play-offs. After a good start, the wheels have come off with the Cheetahs taking heavy losses in their previous two outings.
The Golden Lions, Platinum Leopards and Valke are best placed to go through from the north section, and the Boland Cavaliers and Wildebeest have the inside track in the south section. The dark horses are the Pumas (north) and the SWD Eagles (south).
The Lions face a tough away clash against the Boland Cavaliers in Wellington on Friday (4pm). The Leopards also have a tough away assignment, travelling to Pietermaritzburg to face the Wildebeest on Friday (7pm). Both sides have other contenders breathing down their necks and the side that lose this one could be out of the competition
The Leopards have the same number of points as the Valke, who face the Mighty Elephants in Port Elizabeth on Saturday (5pm). On current form, the Valke will start as favourites to gain the log points to put them through should the Leopards go down.
If the Wildebeest slip up and fail to score a bonus point, the Eagles could sneak in if they are able to get five points from their clash with the Pumas in George on Saturday (3pm). It won’t be easy as they will face a Pumas team that will be clinging to the slightest hope that they too can qualify — if other results go their way.
The quarterfinals will be played on April 26. — Sapa