RECAP: Free State Cheetahs v Golden Lions

READERS' FORUM: Welcome to the Currie Final between the Free State Cheetahs and Golden Lions in Bloemfontein.

A gripping catfight is set to play out at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein on Saturday when the Free State Cheetahs host the Golden Lions in the Currie Cup Final.

This will mark the third time the teams meet in the Final. Interestingly, both previous finals between these sides were in Bloemfontein, in 1994 and 2007.

With both sides finishing the pool stages of the with 22 log points after winning four of their six pool games, and only two points separating the teams on the scoreboard in their pool match in Bloemfontein earlier in the season (the Golden Lions won 24-22), the Final is expected to be epic.

Recent results:

2019: Golden Lions won 24-22, Bloemfontein

2018: Golden Lions won 47-14, Johannesburg

2017: Golden Lions won 44-17, Johannesburg

2017: Free State Cheetahs won 30-24, Bloemfontein

2016: Free State Cheetahs won 55-17, Bloemfontein (semifinal)

Prediction: Free State Cheetahs

Margin: Five

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Teams:

Free State Cheetahs: 15 Clayton Blommetjies, 14 William Small-Smith, 13 Benhard Janse van Rensburg, 12 Dries Swanepoel, 11 Tian Meyer (captain), 10 Tian Schoeman, 9 Ruan Pienaar, 8 Henco Venter, 7 Junior Pokomela, 6 Gerhard Olivier, 5 Walt Steenkamp, 4 Sintu Manjezi, 3 Erich de Jager, 2 Joseph Dweba, 1 Retshegofaditswe Nche.

Replacements: 16 Jacques du Toit, 17 Charles Marais, 18 Reinach Venter, 19 JP du Preez, 20 Jasper Wiese, 21 Abongile Nonkontwana, 22 Louis Fouche, 22 Darren Adonis.

Golden Lions: 15 Tyrone Green, 14 Madosh Tambwe, 13 Wandisile Simelane, 12 Duncan Matthews, 11 Stean Pienaar, 10 Shaun Reynolds, 9 Ross Cronje (captain), 8 Hacjivah Dayimani, 7 Cyle Brink, 6 Marnus Schoeman, 5 Marvin Orie, 4 Ruben Schoeman, 3 Jacobie Adriaanse, 2 Pieter Jansen, 1 Dylan Smith.

Replacements: 16 Jan-Henning Campher, 17 Nathan McBeth, 18 Johannes Jonker, 19 Wilhelm van der Sluys, 20 Len Massyn, 21 Dillon Smit, 22 Jan-Louis la Grange, 23 Jamba Ulengo.

Referee: Marius van der Westhuizen

Assistant referees: AJ Jacobs, Egon Seconds

TMO: Shaun Veldsman