BBC SPORT | Rugby Union | International | Currie Cup reaches climax

Victor Matfield has recovered from injury

Local pride will be as much at stake as the biggest prize in South African rugby when the Blue Bulls and Lions meet in Saturday's Currie Cup final.

The Pretoria-based Bulls and the Lions of nearby Johannesburg will face each other for the sixth time in the domestic rugby showpiece.

Every one of those matches has been won by the team from the South African capital.

But this time, it is the Lions who are expected to start as favourites.

Captained by Andre Vos in his final match before leaving for Harlequins, the Lions have home advantage in front of a 62,000 capacity crowd at Ellis Park.

Vos heads for Harlequins

The Bulls have already sprung one shock by beating the Natal Sharks 22-19 in Durban with a 78th-minute penalty from 19-year-old stand-off Derick Hougaard.

But they will have to repeat those heroics if they are to return with the spoils across the Jukskei river on Saturday night.

Lions leader Andre Vos
Andre Vos is heading for England
Although they only pulled clear in the closing stages, the Lions scored four tries in winning their semi-final 43-29 against the Cheetahs in Bloemfontein.

And they have a more experienced line-up than the comparatively callow Bulls, for whom only captain Joost van der Westhuizen has appeared in a final before.

Both teams are expected to be unchanged, although only the Bulls unveiled their starting line-up on Wednesday.

Coach Heyneke Meyer received a major boost when his main injury doubt, Springbok lock Victor Matfield, was cleared to play.

"We're still slightly worried," Meyer admitted, "but the doctor did say he would be 100% by Saturday."

2001 final: WP lift Currie Cup

Openside flanker Johan Wasserman has also shaken off a hamstring problem to take his place in the team.

The Lions hope to have flanker Joe van Niekerk available after a groin injury forced him out of the semi-final win.

But a decision has not yet been taken on whether he will start the match or sit on the bench.

Blue Bulls: Jaco van der Westhuyzen; Wylie Human, Dries Scholtz, Tiaan Joubert, Gavin Passens; Derick Hougaard, Joost van der Westhuizen (capt); Wessel Roux, Danie Coetzee, Richard Bands, Bakkies Botha, Victor Matfield, Pedrie Wannenberg, Johan Wasserman, Anton Leonard.
Replacements: Gary Botha, Sias Wagner, Geo Gronje, Ruan Vermeulen, Norman Jordaan, JP Nel, Johan Roets.


	Links to more International stories